After the DJI Mini 3 Professional was launched in Might 2022, one of many dilemmas folks had was selecting between it and the Air 2S.
Now DJI has launched a brand new drone, the Air 3.
The Mini 3 Professional was a worthy contender in opposition to the Air 2S, as you bought nearly the identical options with just a few benefits in every, however how does it maintain up in opposition to the Air 3?
The DJI Air 3 is the higher drone because of its superior flight options, 360-degree impediment avoidance, twin digicam system, superior imaging capabilities, and longer flight time.
Nevertheless, the selection between the Air 3 and Mini 3 Professional largely relies on your particular wants and preferences.
In the event you prioritize superior digicam capabilities {and professional} options, the Air 3 is the way in which to go.
Nevertheless, when you worth portability, simplicity, and a budget-friendly choice with out compromising on respectable digicam high quality, the Mini 3 Professional is healthier for you.
High Drone Programs
Maintain studying to make the proper selection on which drone it’s best to get.
DJI Air 3 overview
✅ Execs
- Latest DJI drone
- Inexpensive with professional-level efficiency
- It has a singular twin digicam, able to glorious low-light pictures and filming.
- The DJI Air 3 comes with an omnidirectional sensing system.
- Superior ActiveTrack and Observe-Me options.
- Can fly for a very long time
- High-notch transmission system, OcuSync 4.0
- Can fly lengthy vary with out points
❌ Cons
- The DJI Air 3 needs to be registered (above 250 grams)
- It’s not the only option for climbing and light-weight touring.
- The digicam’s sensors are smaller than the one present in its predecessor, DJI Air 2S.
Being the newest addition to DJI’s catalog of shopper drones, the Air 3 is filled with options, a few of which we had hoped to see within the Mini 3 Professional.
Under is a quick overview of the principle options this drone has.
- Twin digicam system: The Air 3 contains a twin digicam system, every with a special aperture. This lets you take photographs from two totally different views to mix them later or choose the perfect one.
These cameras embrace a 1/1.3, f1.7 24mm extensive angle lens and a 1/1.3, f2.8, 70mm 3X telephoto digicam.
- Superior ActiveTrack: The Air 3 comes with the newest ActiveTrack 5.0, which permits it to trace objects in additional instructions and lets the consumer change the monitoring course.
- OcuSync 4.0: The Air 3 additionally options the newest transmission from DJI that guarantees a variety of as much as 12 miles and higher efficiency in areas with interference.
- 360-degree impediment avoidance: The Air 3 is the primary Air drone to characteristic 360-degree impediment avoidance, making it usable for extra complicated photographs than its predecessors.
- Extra clever flight modes: Along with the flight modes we’re used to in Mini and Air drones, comparable to QuickShots, MasterShots, and FocusTrack, the Air 3 additionally options modes like Night time Mode, Cruise Management, and Waypoints, which had been solely out there within the Mavic 3 drones.
- Longer flight time: DJI is upping their sport when making batteries.
With all of the options and weight of the Air 3, it’s marketed to last as long as 46 minutes within the air, although you may count on at the least 40 minutes because of the varied elements that have an effect on a drone’s flight time.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 Evaluation – Is This the Drone for You?
DJI Mini 3 Professional overview
DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)
It’s unbelievable how a small drone can have highly effective options, particularly for aerial pictures. The compact and light-weight qualities of the DJI Mini 3 Professional make it sturdy sufficient to face up to sturdy winds.
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09/12/2023 07:56 pm GMT
✅ Execs
- One of the crucial widespread drones ever.
- It’s small, transportable, and light-weight.
- It weighs below 250 grams and will profit from relaxed drone legal guidelines.
- Glorious for pictures and filming for its value
- 3-way anti-collision sensors
- Can fly for a very long time
- Can fly long-range
- It has two batteries appropriate.
- Good for newcomers
❌ Cons
- With the clever battery plus, the Mini 3 Professional weights above 250 grams
- It doesn’t have an omnidirectional sensing system.
- The Energetic Monitor is inferior to the one present in Air 3.
Launched in Might 2022, the Mini 3 Professional is DJI’s most superior mini drone.
It comes with a variety of options that had been firsts within the Mini drone collection, making it the proper drone for newcomers on the lookout for a flexible choice. These options embrace:
- Vertical capturing mode: In contrast to within the Air 3, the digicam within the Mini 3 Professional modifications the orientation to vertical mode, and the utmost decision is 4K.
- Light-weight design: Being a Mini drone, the Mini 3 Professional weighs lower than 250 grams, making it an ideal drone for anybody on the lookout for a light-weight companion or those that don’t wish to register their drone.
Nevertheless, it comes with two batteries, and one of many batteries makes the drone heavier than 250 grams by just a few grams.
This implies you’ll have to register it, which is value it contemplating you get additional flight time.
- Impediment avoidance: The Mini 3 Professional was the primary mini drone to characteristic impediment avoidance.
Whereas it’s not 360-degree impediment avoidance, it detects obstacles in three instructions: entrance, downward, and backward, making extra maneuvers potential in comparison with a drone with out impediment avoidance.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional: One-Yr Evaluation (Video)
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional – The comparability
Now, let’s dig deeper into the principle options, how these drones evaluate, and which it’s best to get.
Weight and design
Each drones have a folding design, making them simpler to pack right into a smaller bag. Nevertheless, in the case of weight, there’s an enormous distinction.
The Mini 3 Professional weighs 249 grams, qualifying it as a pastime drone, particularly in the USA.
As such, you don’t need to register it and don’t want a license to make use of it until you’re utilizing it for industrial functions.
Even with the bigger battery, this drone continues to be gentle and excellent for anybody who wants a succesful drone to slot in their backpack as they have interaction of their favourite actions.
Alternatively, the Air 3 is bigger and weighs 720 grams.
Nevertheless, contemplating the 2 cameras, superior impediment avoidance, and improved and extra flight modes, this additional weight feels value it for customers who need a drone that may do extra.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a small, gentle, and simply transportable drone that may produce glorious footage with out the complexities of two cameras, the Mini 3 Professional will fit your wants.
» MORE: Greatest 4K Drones Beneath 250 Grams
Pricing and availability
These drones are priced in another way, catering to totally different markets.
The Mini 3 Professional is cheaper, beginning at $669 with out the controller. This selection is nice for anybody upgrading from the Mini 2 or any drone that makes use of the DJI RC-N1 or the DJI RC controllers.
In the event you don’t have a controller, you will need to pay $759 for the Mini 3 Professional with the RC-N1 controller or $909 for the Mini 3 Professional with the DJI RC controller with a built-in display.
The Air 3, then again, begins at $1,099 with the RC-N2 (an improve from the RC-N1) and $1,349 with the DJI RC 2 (an improve from the DJI RC).
The Mini 3 Professional’s Fly Extra Combo is bought individually at $249, whereas the Air 3’s Fly Extra Combo is bought as a whole package deal, together with the drone for $1,549.
» MORE: Greatest Digicam Drones Beneath $2,000
Picture and video recording
Each drone fashions have respectable cameras, however there are some important variations.
Whereas they each have an identical lens, the Air 3 contains a twin digicam system.
So, when you get an identical lens within the twin digicam setup, it comes at totally different apertures and zooming capabilities at as much as 3X within the tele lens.
This enables customers to change between the extensive angle and the tele lens throughout the identical flight. Taking footage from totally different views means that you can additionally get artistic in post-production.
Whereas the Mini 3 Professional doesn’t have two cameras, it does assist zooming at as much as 2X in 4K, 3X in 2.7K, and 4X in Full HD.
The standard might not be as nice when zooming like within the Air 3, nevertheless it’s ok for observing the topic from a distance.
The Air 3 additionally shoots at a most of 4K at 100fps, which is somewhat greater than the Mini 3 Professional’s 60fps, however this shouldn’t be a deal breaker for informal customers since you’ll typically be utilizing the 60fps or decrease until you need some complicated photographs.
One other benefit of the Air 3 is its potential to shoot in D-Log M and HLG, that are extra superior shade profiles that offer you extra room for creativity throughout post-processing.
The Mini 3 Professional is restricted to 10-bit, which is a plus in comparison with drones just like the Mini and Mini 2, however you don’t have as a lot room for enhancing as you’ll get with the Air 3.
Concerning photographs, each drones help you take stills in 12 MP and 48 MP, although the twin digicam system and extra up to date imaging capabilities of the Air 3 give it an higher hand.
The Mini 3 Professional does have one important benefit, although, particularly for content material creators who love posting their footage on social media platforms, and that’s the vertical capturing mode.
As talked about within the overview, the digicam modifications to a portrait place, which suggests you’ll not need to crop the footage to put up in your channels.
Secondly, you may movie as much as 4K and even take photographs with this mode.
Whereas the Air 3 comes with the vertical capturing mode in each of its cameras, it crops the footage, and you may solely get a most decision of two.7K at 60 fps.
This characteristic can also be not out there for photographs.
» MORE: Greatest Inexpensive Drones with 4K Digicam
Clever flight modes
These drones characteristic widespread clever flight modes comparable to QuickShots, MasterShots, Panoramas, Hyperlapse, and ActiveTrack.
Nevertheless, the Air 3 has extra modes, making it an excellent higher choice. These embrace:
- Improved ActiveTrack: With the Mini 3 Professional, the one choice is for the drone to comply with you from behind or from the aspect.
However with ActiveTrack 5.0 within the Air 3, you may select the drone to comply with from eight totally different positions and swap between these instructions because the drone flies.
This enables for some dynamic and higher-quality footage.
- Cruise management: This characteristic permits the drone to fly at a continuing pace. All you need to do is fly at your required pace and provoke this characteristic, and the drone will preserve that pace with out a lot enter from you.
This characteristic is helpful when it is advisable take a shot however are having bother sustaining the best pace.
This characteristic was solely out there within the Mavic 3 collection drones. This characteristic can also be out there when utilizing the Highlight characteristic.
- Waypoints: Additionally solely out there within the Mavic 3 and enterprise drones, the Waypoints characteristic means that you can set a course for the drone to comply with whereas taking pictures.
This characteristic works nice for mapping duties or whenever you wish to automate a selected shot.
The Mini 3 Professional has its model of Waypoints, as mentioned right here, however this characteristic solely works within the Hyperlapse mode, and you may solely use it to execute a selected Hyperlapse sample.
- Night time mode: In the event you take pleasure in taking photographs and movies at night time, you’ll love the Air 3’s devoted Night time Mode that mechanically lowers the ISO and reduces the noise, leading to higher night time footage.
» MORE: Observe Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Defined for Novices)
Vary and transmission energy
The vary of a drone, or how far it might fly from the controller, in addition to the transmission high quality, are essential since they have an effect on how properly you need to use the drone.
That stated, the Air 3 comes with the most recent DJI transmission system, the OcuSync 4.0, with a variety of as much as 12 miles.
Alternatively, the Mini 3 Professional makes use of the older OcuSync 3.0 that guarantees a vary of as much as 5 miles.
In a contest for the strongest transmission, the 04 system is healthier because of extra antennas and upgraded anti-interference expertise.
Nevertheless, the Mini 3 Professional will not be that far behind and performs fairly properly.
» MORE: Lengthy Vary Drones: Final Information
Flight options
The Air 3 has higher flight options and efficiency than the Mini 3 Professional. It excels within the following features:
360-degree impediment avoidance
This can be a important improve from its predecessor, the Air 2S, which has four-way impediment avoidance and a substantial distinction to the Mini 3 Professional, which options three-way impediment avoidance.
Whereas each drones carry out properly in areas with obstacles, you may fly in tighter areas with the Air 3 than you’ll with the Mini 3 Professional.
Longer battery life
The Air 3 is marketed to final 46 minutes in flight, whereas the Mini 3 Professional comes with a 34-minute battery.
Whilst you could not get the marketed minutes because of varied elements like wind, battery well being, and temperature, the Air 3 would nonetheless last more.
Nevertheless, you may go for the Mini 3 Professional’s Clever Battery Plus, which lasts 47 minutes, however you’ll compromise on weight, particularly when you’re on the lookout for a drone weighing lower than 150 grams.
Getting this battery additionally brings the price of the Mini 3 Professional nearer to that of the Air 3, so it’s best to think about which choice provides you essentially the most worth in your cash.
Velocity and wind resistance
Being heavier and sturdier, the Air 3 can stand up to winds as much as 12m/s in comparison with the Mini 3 Professional’s 10m/s.
The Air 3 can also be sooner, with a most pace of 42.5 mph in comparison with the Mini 3 Professional’s 35.7 mph.
A sooner pace means that you can get to a vacation spot sooner and get out of emergencies shortly.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional and Climate
Controller compatibility
As talked about earlier, these drones include totally different controllers.
The Mini 3 Professional is appropriate with the DJI RC-N1 and DJI RC, customary controllers which might be additionally appropriate with a number of different Mavic and Mini drones.
The Air 3 comes with the RC-N2 and RC 2 controllers designed for the brand new 04 transmission.
As such, whereas they appear much like the earlier fashions, they’ve extra antennas and carry out higher. Sadly, these controllers are at present solely appropriate with the Air 3.
Except DJI makes them appropriate with different drones, when you’re on the lookout for a drone appropriate with different controllers you will have, the Mini 3 Professional can be the most suitable choice on this case.
Alternatively, future drones from DJI could characteristic the 04 system, making the brand new controllers appropriate with different drones.
Contemplating the options you’re on the lookout for, you need to use the Mini 3 Professional and the older controllers or get the brand new Air 3 and anticipate an replace on compatibility.
One fascinating compatibility that DJI made potential by an replace is between the Mini 3 Professional and the Goggles 2, Goggles Integra, and the Movement Controller 2.
This lets you expertise FPV with out getting an precise FPV drone.
So, if you wish to do that, you may go for the Mini 3 Professional. This characteristic will not be but out there for the Air 3.
» MORE: FPV Drones vs. Common Drones (Defined for Novices)
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional – Which must you select?
Each are succesful drones, have glorious options, and would attraction to totally different folks. Under is why you’ll select both of them.
Why select the DJI Air 3?
The Air 3 is good for many who prioritize superior pictures and videography capabilities. Right here’s who ought to think about it:
- Fanatic filmmakers and photographers: The twin-camera system with various apertures and zoom capabilities, together with 4K at 100fps and superior shade profiles like D-Log M and HLG, makes the Air 3 excellent for creators who demand the utmost in picture high quality and adaptability.
- Skilled content material creators and filmmakers: The Air 3’s superior capturing modes, together with Night time Mode, enable professionals to seize high-quality footage even in difficult situations. Its versatile flight modes and longer flight occasions additionally make it appropriate for skilled use.
- Drone pilots needing superior monitoring: The ActiveTrack 5.0 characteristic with multi-directional monitoring and the flexibility to alter monitoring instructions is a major benefit for drone pilots who require exact object monitoring in varied situations.
- Customers in windy areas: With its greater wind resistance and sturdier construct, the Air 3 can deal with stronger winds, making it appropriate for customers in windy places.
- These wanting prolonged flight time: If longer flight time is a precedence, the Air 3’s marketed 46-minute flight time (although real-world flight time could also be barely much less) is a major benefit over the Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Right here’s my Selection)
Why select the DJI Mini 3 Professional?
The Mini 3 Professional is designed for customers who prioritize portability and ease of use whereas nonetheless demanding good photograph and video high quality. Right here’s who ought to think about it:
- Informal photographers and videographers: In the event you’re on the lookout for a drone that’s straightforward to hold round and supplies good-quality footage with out the complexity of a number of cameras and superior settings, the Mini 3 Professional is a wonderful selection.
- Hikers and outside fanatics: Its light-weight design and compact kind issue make the Mini 3 Professional a fantastic companion for outside actions. The impediment avoidance system in three instructions enhances security throughout outside adventures.
- Social media content material creators: The Mini 3 Professional’s vertical capturing mode permits for simple creation of portrait-oriented movies and photographs, excellent for sharing on social media platforms.
- Customers on a price range: The Mini 3 Professional is extra budget-friendly than the Air 3, making it an acceptable selection for these on the lookout for an economical drone with out compromising an excessive amount of on options.
- FPV fanatics: In the event you’re all for experiencing FPV (first-person view) flying with out investing in a devoted FPV drone, the Mini 3 Professional is appropriate with the DJI Goggles 2, Goggles Integra, and the Movement Controller 2, providing an FPV-like expertise.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional (Which One is Proper for You?)
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional – Which one’s higher?
If I had been to decide on between these drones, the Air 3 would is the higher total drone.
Its higher digicam, extra capturing choices, sturdiness, additional clever flight modes, higher vary, and higher total efficiency convey it nearer to drones just like the Mavic 3 collection, making it a fantastic bang for the buck.
To see each drones in motion, here’s a detailed video:
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Air 2S vs. Mini 3 Professional: Which One is Proper for You?
Greatest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 2 and Mini 3 Professional
Whether or not you go for the Air 3 or Mini 3 Professional, one of many equipment you’ll shortly understand you want is an SD card.
And never simply any SD card, however an SD card with the suitable write and skim speeds and sufficient storage. To make it simpler, under are some SD playing cards you should purchase in your drone.
Greatest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 3
Greatest SD playing cards for the DJI Mini 3 Professional
