The very first Generation Mavic Mini was a great drone at the moment, packing DJI’s clever design and technological capabilities into a compact drone that fell just below the weight limit, which requires registration in several countries. The Mavic Mini was ideal for leisure exploration, but the absence of features as well as a weak camera kept it in its use for anything other purposes. The introduction of Mini 2 Mini 2 (sans ‘Mavic’ branding) offered features that were on par with more expensive models and the camera was significantly better however, the quality of the images was not as good as pixels. In the present, DJI has gone above and beyond incremental upgrades with its most recent model that is it’s the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which combines the small frame with a significantly better camera and new gimbal that can rotate 90 degrees to allow vertical video.
DJI Mini 3 Pro DJI Mini 3 Pro is the latest version of the ultralight Mini family, with a top camera that is usually to a larger drone. It is awarded the “Pro” name thanks to its high-quality images as well as a variety of advanced features. For the first time, DJI is allowing customers to select between two models of controllers.
Specifications
Brand: DJI
Camera 48 megapixel (effective) 1/1.3-inch Sensor: CMOS
Speed: 16 m/s (36mph)
Weight: <249g (standard battery), ~290g (Flight Plus battery)
Range: 12km (7.4 miles)
Connectivity DJI O3
Battery: 34 min (standard battery), 47 min (Flight Plus battery)
Storage: 1.2 gigabytes (expandable to 1TB with microSD)
Dimensions: 145x90x62mm (folded) 171x245x62 millimeters (unfolded)
Video Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) @ 24/25/30/48/50/60fps, or 1080p @ 120fps
Video Formats MP4/MOV (H.264/H.265) at between 150 and 150 Mbps
Color Profiles: Normal, D-Cinelike
Pros
Incrediblely compact and light
Amazing camera
Up-angle gimbal rotation
More than 30 minutes flight time
Intelligent flight modes
Cons
There is not enough internal storage
Smart flight modes aren’t able to support vertical video
Avoidance of obstacles isn’t great both on the back and sides.
A bit expensive
Hardware, design, what’s inside the box
Mini 3 Pro Mini 3 Pro looks exactly like a slender version of nearly any other consumer drone currently manufactured by DJI, with the exception of the FPV. It’s the exact similar color scheme, featuring The body is white and the propellers are dark grey. The classic folding arms are included, however, unlike previous models, it’s not necessary to fold the arms in a certain order. But, the one thing that’s shared by Mini is that Mini series is the absence of spring-loaded mounts to propellers. If they need to be changed, it will need make use of a screwdriver in order to take off a pair of screws from each set of propellers. However, this shouldn’t be a problem if are able to avoid hitting any structures or trees.
Naturally, the distinctive characteristic that distinguishes this Mini series is the weight. Many regulatory and government bodies require drones to register if they weigh 250g or greater. DJI has created this drone to be able to pass just below the threshold of the 249g mark or lower. Keep in mind that some countries will require pilots to have an authorization to fly even if the drone does not require registration. Examine the drone laws in your country (or destinations) to find out more.
If the arms fold when the arms are folded, it’s a mini 3 Pro. Mini 3 Pro has about the size of a smartphone (say Pixel 6 Pro) Pixel 6 Pro) and measures just 2.5 inches tall. It’s compact enough to be tucked away in the pockets of jackets or cargo shorts. In actuality, the controller is slightly heavier and bulkier that the drone.
DJI provides a choice of two controllers at the point when you purchase. There’s the classic “RC-N1” model, which comes with every regular DJI drone in the years since Air 2 came out in the mid-2020s. There’s a spring clamp at the top to secure the phone, as well as USB-C ports with cables that can be connected to smartphones with USB-C or Lightning ports.
There’s also a brand new version that’s called the DJI RC model, which comes with an in-built display, and is powered by the custom-built Version of Android to use DJI’s flight software. It’s pretty similar with it’s predecessor, the DJI RC Pro controller released with the highest-end model last year from Mavic 3 Cine. Mavic 3 Cine. It’s much faster and easier to connect and set up as compared to the older controller and the experience on the software is more optimized because it’s focused only on flights.
Naturally, the primary advantage to this DJI RC controller lies in the elimination of your personal phone out of the equation. This means that the phone’s notifications and calls won’t have the potential of interrupting the display when you fly. A number of drone owners have resorted the decision to carry a second phone to get around this issue However, it comes with some drawbacks. As many Android users have found when they downloaded a new OS update that DJI Fly’s DJI Fly app is often not compatible with the latest OS version for the initial two months following the release but that shouldn’t be an issue for users of the DJI RC controller.
The new controller isn’t perfect, and there’s room for improvement. The screen is pretty large and attractive however it is rated with 700nits. It’s not bright enough to match direct sunlight or an overcast day. If you’re in those circumstances, you’ll be staring at a screen that has minimal discernible details. Although, the majority of older phones aren’t much brighter however, some flagships have a brightness of more than 1,000 nits, which will provide enough clarity on bright days. Additionally, DJI should think about adding a screen protector at the beginning of production since microabrasions can develop over time, and will be noticeable in daylight.
The controllers are both easy to hold, but they’re not as bulky to the Xbox and PlayStation controller. Both come with metal thumbsticks that can be removed and have untreated teeth that are simple enough to grasp, but they’re not recommended to be left in transportation. The RC-N1 features an antenna that is built inside the phone clamp that is spring loaded The new RC has two antennas that fold. In both cases, they’re designed for the same range of transmission. The latest RC also features an opening on the bottom to accommodate microSD cards that can be used for storing screen recordings or low-quality video footage that was directly derived from video transmission.
Stability and flight performance
Its Mini 3 Pro design is slightly better optimized to fly forward over its previous model, however it is generally flying as a regular Mavic drone. All the drones in this series are simple and easy to control, which means there’s really nothing special about them.
Moderate to strong winds can make it move just like any drone. The lightweight frame that is Mini 3 Mini 3 does make it somewhat more susceptible to large wind gusts. The built-in gimbal will take care of any shake that generated by the wind, but you might need a more powerful drone if you have to be able to stay in the air for a long period of time. If winds increase after you’ve taken off. In that scenario the updated body and more powerful motors of Mini 3 Mini 3 seem to make it more able to fly in headwinds, compared to older Mini models.
One thing that I was not getting from larger models was more robust obstacle elimination. The Mini 3 Pro Mini 3 Pro has sensors for detecting obstructions in the front, bottom and rear, the last of which I found to be 100% reliable. The sensors offer a large view of the peripheral. However, they do have an incredibly large blind spot in the side that doesn’t safeguard you, particularly since they’re mostly disabled in flight modes that are intelligent which include lateral movements.
Battery life
The length of flight times will always go by a bit with each generation, and this trend continues with Mini 3 Pro’s flight time increases. Mini 3 Pro climbs to 34 minutes of flight time compared to 31 minutes on Mini 2. Mini 2. Three minutes might not sound like much however, when you factor into landing, takeoff, and the time required to frame your shot, the additional 10% is closer to 15 percent or 20% more time spent shooting.
If you’re in need of longer duration, DJI is also selling the “Flight Battery Plus’ that can last for up to 47 minutes. But, the battery weighs higher than the regular version which means that the total weight exceeds the 250g threshold that allows the drone to not register.
When I tested Mini 3 Pro, using the Mini 3 Pro using the standard battery, I was able to achieve up to 27 minutes of flight time as I recorded 4K video, before having to return it. Then, it took around an hour for the battery for the battery to fully charge. The “Plus” battery was not available for testing when we conducted our this review.
Camera and Gimbal
Through the entirety of DJI’s history the quality of its cameras increased according to the size of the drones. The bigger the drone is, the better the camera it was mounted to. Internet users have been arguing for many years that there’s no reason why DJI could not put one of its top cameras on one of its most compact drones It took around 10 years before DJI proved them right. In the end, this is a win-win-win for all.
The new camera system is the reason for the “Pro” designation. Without it this is a relatively minor upgrade. Mini 3 Pro Mini 3 Pro comes equipped with the 1/1.3-inch sensor which is a significant improvement over the 1/2.3-inch sensor in Air 2’s Mini 2. The Mini 3 Pro is not only leaping ahead of its predecessor, but the sensor is bigger that the smaller 1/2-inch one in the bigger Air 2 drone. However, it isn’t as powerful as the 1 inch sensor that was found in Air 2S. Air 2S — which was essentially a pro version that was a pro version of Air 2. Air 2. In fact, it’s not right to compare Mini 3 Pro with Mini 3 Pro against the Mini 2 since it has more in common with Air 2 and 2S.
A number of other camera features were also improved. Mini 3 Pro can now record at a speed of Mini 3 Pro can record 4K@60fps or 1080p@120fps. This is currently standard on all DJI drones, however it is more than the 30fps or 60 frames per second (respectively) from Mini 2 Mini 2 and a couple of other models of the previous generation. Also the highest video bitrate can reach 150Mbps, which means there are no noticeable compression effects and it also supports natively recording H.265 in order to reduce the size of your files.
In terms of photography The Mini 3 Pro can now produce images with 48MP resolution, as opposed to the 12MP resolution offered in Mini 2. Mini 2. I’m pretty certain this isn’t a camera’s native resolution, but an outcome from stitching several lower-resolution photos. This isn’t a problem but it’s the probable reason DJI advertises this as the “effective” resolution.
The most important thing is whether the image appears nice, and it is. Mini 2 Mini 2 was notorious for oversharpening in order to make up for the lens and sensor, however, there’s no evidence of any indication that Mini 3 Pro is any different. Mini 3 Pro has to conceal any flaws. In the majority of cases the image quality is very comparable that of Air 2S. Air 2S. The only spot where I believe it falls significantly short is when it comes to extreme dynamic lighting like shooting into the sun , with dark shadows. The result is more similar to the ones that of Air 2, or maybe even less, but they are still superior to what the Mini 2 could ever accomplish.
In the update released just a few days after the launch, DJI also added support for the D-Cinelike color profiles with 10 bit color. This might not be a big deal to many users however it’s an important feature for anyone who wants to color grade their footage. It’s a flat profile (read it appears desaturated) designed to record the details in lighting that is dynamic. Additionally the support for 10-bit color provides more detail in the colors, making footage more easy to edit.
The bulk of Mini 3 Pro marketing has been focused on its capability of rotating the camera in 90-degrees in order to capture vertical video and photos and it certainly does accomplish this. It’s the result that’s uploaded direct onto Instagram Reels YouTube Shorts, and other stories-style posts , without cutting landscapes and losing the majority of the quality. This is completely practical and effective which is all you need to know… isn’t it?
Unfortunately, no. If you rotate your camera in a vertical direction then all the flight modes that are intelligently designed are disabled, which includes ActiveTrack Master Shots and points of importance. I think this is because objects tracking tends to be lost in narrow frames however even that assumption has its own problems. Whatever the reason, DJI should consider enabling this feature in an update, otherwise the vertical orientation will be just an advertising tool.
The gimbal deserves an award that it can now support the upward-facing angle. The previous models couldn’t make the camera point further than straight forward, however Mini 3 Pro can. Mini 3 Pro can reach an angle of around 60 degrees. It’s a great perspective when you fly under the bridge or at the edge of high cliffs.
In the event that you forget to take the microSD card in your bag Mini 3 Pro will still work. Mini 3 Pro also has 1.2GB of internal storage that you can access in the event of a need. But, it only holds approximately 100 seconds of video in H.265 which is roughly 40 images in the event that you shoot JPEG+RAW. It is possible to get more of it by reducing the resolution to 1080p or using only JPEG however it is a bit of a waste for this drone. I would like to have seen something more than 8GB that would be about 9 minutes of footage in 4K.
Should you purchase it?
Yes. It’s true. Mini 3 Pro checks almost every box. It’s extremely light and compact which makes it easy to carry around and allows you to fly to many locations without red tape. It’s got great quality images straight out of the camera as well as 10-bit D-Cinelike support in case you wish to grade the footage yourself. It’s even got a choice of two controllers and the flight duration is among the most efficient available. Apart from changing the camera model that are either Air 2S or Mavic 3 There’s nothing else DJI could have done to improve the performance of this drone.
Of course, everything is priced at around $749, this is before making the upgrade to the latest RC remote and including ND filters, and an accessory called the Fly More Kit (which sadly does not have ND filters) as well as purchasing memory cards or other accessories. But, if you require the best quality images that you can squeeze into the smallest drone and still get the best image quality, this is a great option.
But is it worth paying this much money if you’re only flying to relax? Most likely not. DJI is still selling its Mini 2, and it’s an excellent choice with a price of $449. It’s still able to produce really great video, but it might not be able to make the pixel-lovers content. At the other end in the range, anyone looking for the highest video quality, regardless of price or how much it weighs, ought to look at the Air 2S or the Mavic 3.
