You might need seen the rumours already, however they’re true: DJI has launched a extra reasonably priced model of the Mini 3 Professional.
As you’d anticipate, it doesn’t have all the Mini 3 Professional’s options nevertheless it does have the identical digicam, which might shoot horizontally and vertically. Nevertheless, there are particular limitations which we’ll get to in a bit.
When is the DJI Mini 3 launch date?
As traditional, DJI has made the Mini 3 that can be purchased as quickly as it's formally introduced. Meaning you'll be able to head to DJI’s website or certainly one of its companions and purchase one proper now.
How a lot does the DJI Mini value?
- From $469/£439 (with out distant controller)
There are 5 completely different bundles, though not all can be found in each area.
As with the Mini 3 Professional, there’s the choice to purchase the Mini 3 by itself with no controller (you continue to get a battery and spare propellers), however you may as well get it with the RC-N1 controller or the DJI RC, which is the distant that has a built-in display screen and doesn’t require your telephone.
Even that bundle is about the identical worth because the Mini 3 Professional naked drone.
There are two Fly Extra Combo bundles, one with the RC-N1 controller, and the opposite with the DJI RC (beneath).
Jim Martin / Foundry
The Fly Extra Combo Plus is accessible solely in Australia.
Most individuals gained’t have already got a appropriate distant controller, which suggests the true base worth of the Mini 3 is $559/£519.
That’s fairly much more than the value of a Mini 2, which is at the moment $449/£419 from DJI, however cheaper at different retailers. It’s about twice the value of a Mini SE, though this appears to have been discontinued, and shoots solely 2.7K video.
UK | EU (from) | US | AUS | |
DJI Mini 3 (Drone Solely) | £439 | €489 | $469 | $699 |
DJI Mini 3 (RC-N1) | £519 | €579 | $559 | $829 |
DJI Mini 3 (DJI RC) | £669 | €749 | $699 | $1019 |
DJI Mini 3 Fly Extra Combo (RC-N1) | £678 | €768 | $718 | N/A |
DJI Mini 3 Fly Extra Combo Plus (RC-N1) | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1188 |
DJI Mini 3 Fly Extra Combo (DJI RC) | £828 | €938 | $858 | N/A |
DJI Mini 3 Fly Extra Combo Plus (DJI RC) | N/A | N/A | N/A | $1378 |
If the Mini 3 is just too costly for you, then check out our roundup of the most effective drones for a few alternate options.
DJI Mini 3 vs Mini 3 Professional and Mini 2
In fact, the massive query is which options has DJI chopped with a purpose to cut back the Mini 3 Professional’s worth for the Mini 3.
There are fairly just a few. One of the crucial noticeable is the shortage of sensors for impediment avoidance: the Mini 3 has solely downward-facing sensors, which aren’t the identical as these on the Mini 3 Professional.
This implies you must be extra cautious when flying the Mini 3: it gained’t brake and keep away from crashing into timber and different issues routinely, except you’re descending the the impediment is beneath.
Sadly, it signifies that ActiveTrack is one other casualty: the Mini 3 has no monitoring capabilities in any respect, similar to the Mini and Mini 2 earlier than it. Apart from QuickShots and return-to-home, which can set off if the battery is just too low or the sign from the distant is misplaced, there aren't any computerized flying modes.
The Mini 3 additionally has DJI’s O2 video transmission system, which suggests a reduced-quality video feed (720p at 30fps) from the Mini 3 over a shorter distance (10km within the US and 6km within the UK / EU) than the Mini 3 Professional. Nevertheless, it is a wise compromise to convey the value down which most individuals gained’t care about.
Some taking pictures modes are lacking: there’s no timelapse, no slo-mo, no MasterShots and no Asteroid mode inside QuickShots (enjoyable computerized video clips).
Though the digicam sensor and lens is similar because the Mini 3 Professional, the Mini 3 is restricted to taking pictures at 4K at 30fps, moderately than at 60fps, however nonetheless gives the choice of HDR video at 24, 25 and 30fps, together with in 4K.
Jim Martin / Foundry
Should you do wish to shoot at 60fps, you’ll must drop all the way down to 2.7K. 60fps is the very best body price on provide at any decision.
High quality isn’t fairly the identical as from the Mini 3 Professional as a result of the Mini 3’s video bitrate is restricted to 100Mbps, moderately than 150Mbps, and there’s no choice to shoot within the flat D-Cinelike color profile for enhancing later. Neither is there an choice to file in H.265: solely H.264. There’s no on-board storage, both, so you'll be able to’t neglect to insert a microSD card.
Whereas the lacking taking pictures modes aren’t ideally suited, for the overwhelming majority of individuals in search of an entry-level drone, not one of the different digicam variations will matter in any respect: the Mini 3 nonetheless gives a noticeable improve over the Mini 2’s digicam because of a bigger f/1.7 aperture which ought to imply higher high quality video at evening.
It’s attainable to make use of digital zoom as much as 2x at 4K30, 4x in 1080p and 2x in 12Mp pictures.
Plus, just like the Mini 3 Professional, the Mini 3’s digicam can rotate to a vertical orientation for taking pictures video for social media, and taking ‘true vertical’ pictures.
Speaking of a pictures, there are alternatives for 180°, Broad, and Sphere panorama, HDR single shot, auto publicity bracketing, and the selection of saving in JPEG and RAW (DNG) format.
Right here’s how the Mini 3 compares to the Mini 3 Professional and older Mini 2 (which was launched in 2020):
DJI Mini 3 Professional | DJI Mini 3 | DJI Mini 2 | |
Digital camera, max video decision | 1/1.3’’ CMOS, 24mm, f/1.7 4k/60fps | 1/1.3’’ CMOS, 24mm, f/1.7 4k/30fps | 1/2.3’’ CMOS, 24mm, f/2.8 4k/30fps |
True Vertical Taking pictures/ Giant-angle Tilt | Sure | Sure | No |
Flight Time | 34/47min | 38/51min | 31min |
Video Transmission | DJI O3, 12 km | DJI O2, 10 km | DJI O2, 10 km |
Clever Options | QuickShots, Panorama, Timelapse, MasterShots | QuickShots (No Asteroid), Panorama | QuickShots (No Asteroid), Panorama |
Impediment Sensing | Ahead, Backward, Downward | Downward | Downward |
Wind Resistance | Stage 5 | Stage 5 | Stage 5 |
Distant Controller (DJI RC) | Sure | Sure | No |
As you'll be able to see, the Mini 3 has the longest flight occasions of all three, with as much as 38 minutes from an ordinary battery. It’s attainable to fly for 51 minutes provided that you purchase the non-compulsory Battery Plus, which has a better capability and pushes the load up over 250g. These batteries aren’t offered in every single place: you'll be able to’t purchase them within the UK or EU, for instance.
When it comes to equipment, the Mini 3 is appropriate with the identical ND filters because the Mini 3 Professional, and you should purchase a set of prop guards to make indoor flights safer.
The Mini 3 additionally helps QuickTransfer, for video downloads over Wi-Fi as much as 25MB/s.