At the height of the lock-down in 2020 (might have been the last quarter of 2020 but excuse me, the entire year felt like the height of the lock-down), I wrote about the DJI Mini 2 entry-level aerial quad-copter (click here to read) and in true DJI fashion, the company has released an update to the Mini 2 and well… Its a total redesign hardware and otherwise.
Okay, so let’s get specs out of the way; the DJI Mini 3 Pro is equipped with a 1/3 sensor which is quite close to the 1-inch sensor on the Mavic Air 2S. This sensor churns out 10-bit 4K video that goes up to 60fps and 1080p/120fps so you can get that smooth slow motion that everyone loves. The camera takes 48 megapixel still RAW photos so there’s plenty of detail to work with. It is equipped with a lens that opens up to f/1.7 so low light creativity is encouraged (but do expect some noise as this is no Mavic Air 2S or Mavic 3).
Also, the Mini 3 is equipped with a three-way obstacle avoidance sensor system (which is a first in the Mini series) so you can fly with a restful heart, knowing that your drone won’t bump into stuff and finally, there’s a new smart controller that comes with DJI’s own Ocusync 3.0 so you’re sure your drone would stay synced to your remote at all times plus there’s the added bonus of a remote that has its own screen and drone pilots would tell you how relieving that is.
With the specs out the way, what do I think about this drone; DJI has created an entry-level masterpiece. The Pro bundle with the new smart controller is basically the Mavic 3 Cine but 4x less expensive. DJI is revolutionizing the aerial photography and cinematography space and for less than the cost of an iPhone Pro ($999), You can get an entry-level aerial device that delivers on quality and so much more. Much like the initial Mavic, the Mini 3 shoots true vertical video (the gimbal turns the drone’s camera a full 180 degrees) so mobile content creators are going to have a blast.
As regards whether the drone will suffice for professional work, it varies to what degree of professionalism. It’s not going to beat the low light performance of the Mavic series of drones but it will offer an insight into what it is to fly a DJI aerial device for vloggers, YouTubers, Aerial photography and cinematography enthusiasts as well as those creating content for the small screen (Phones, Laptops, etc), the Mini 3 Pro will more than deliver premium quality for the price and for those who’d be upgrading from the Mini 2, you can simply get the Mini 3 Pro without a remote controller and pair with the Mini 2’s controller.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro starts at $699 for the drone only and dependent on what accessory you want, the price adds on from there, peaking at $1299 with the new remote controller and fly more combo.
