After the DJI Mini 3 Professional was launched in Might 2022, one of many dilemmas individuals 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 virtually 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 due to its superior flight options, 360-degree impediment avoidance, twin digital camera system, superior imaging capabilities, and longer flight time.
Nevertheless, the selection between the Air 3 and Mini 3 Professional largely will depend on your particular wants and preferences.
In the event you prioritize superior digital camera capabilities {and professional} options, the Air 3 is the best way to go.
Nevertheless, for those who worth portability, simplicity, and a budget-friendly possibility with out compromising on respectable digital camera high quality, the Mini 3 Professional is best for you.
Prime Drone Programs
Preserve studying to make the precise alternative on which drone it is best to get.
DJI Air 3 overview
✅ Execs
- Latest DJI drone
- Reasonably priced with professional-level efficiency
- It has a singular twin digital camera, able to glorious low-light images and filming.
- The DJI Air 3 comes with an omnidirectional sensing system.
- Superior ActiveTrack and Comply with-Me options.
- Can fly for a very long time
- Prime-notch transmission system, OcuSync 4.0
- Can fly lengthy vary with out points
❌ Cons
- The DJI Air 3 must be registered (above 250 grams)
- It isn’t the only option for mountaineering and light-weight touring.
- The digital camera’s sensors are smaller than the one present in its predecessor, DJI Air 2S.
Being the newest addition to DJI’s catalog of client drones, the Air 3 is filled with options, a few of which we had hoped to see within the Mini 3 Professional.
Beneath is a short overview of the principle options this drone has.
- Twin digital camera system: The Air 3 encompasses a twin digital camera system, every with a special aperture. This lets you take photographs from two completely different views to mix them later or decide one of the best one.
These cameras embody a 1/1.3, f1.7 24mm vast angle lens and a 1/1.3, f2.8, 70mm 3X telephoto digital camera.
- 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 route.
- OcuSync 4.0: The Air 3 additionally options the newest transmission from DJI that guarantees a spread 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 function 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, resembling QuickShots, MasterShots, and FocusTrack, the Air 3 additionally options modes like Night time Mode, Cruise Management, and Waypoints, which had been solely obtainable 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 very least 40 minutes because of the numerous 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 unimaginable how a small drone can have highly effective options, particularly for aerial images. The compact and light-weight qualities of the DJI Mini 3 Professional make it sturdy sufficient to resist sturdy winds.
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09/12/2023 07:56 pm GMT
✅ Execs
- One of the vital standard drones ever.
- It’s small, transportable, and light-weight.
- It weighs underneath 250 grams and should profit from relaxed drone legal guidelines.
- Glorious for images and filming for its worth
- 3-way anti-collision sensors
- Can fly for a very long time
- Can fly long-range
- It has two batteries appropriate.
- Excellent for rookies
❌ Cons
- With the clever battery plus, the Mini 3 Professional weights above 250 grams
- It doesn’t have an omnidirectional sensing system.
- The Lively Observe 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 sequence, making it the right drone for rookies on the lookout for a flexible possibility. These options embody:
- Vertical taking pictures mode: Not like within the Air 3, the digital camera 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 price it contemplating you get additional flight time.
- Impediment avoidance: The Mini 3 Professional was the primary mini drone to function impediment avoidance.
Whereas it’s not 360-degree impediment avoidance, it detects obstacles in three instructions: entrance, downward, and backward, making extra maneuvers doable 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 is best to get.
Weight and design
Each drones have a folding design, making them simpler to pack right into a smaller bag. Nevertheless, in terms of weight, there’s an enormous distinction.
The Mini 3 Professional weighs 249 grams, qualifying it as a interest drone, particularly in the USA.
As such, you don’t should 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 mild and excellent for anybody who wants a succesful drone to slot in their backpack as they interact 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 price it for customers who need a drone that may do extra.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a small, mild, 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: Finest 4K Drones Below 250 Grams
Pricing and availability
These drones are priced in a different way, catering to completely different markets.
The Mini 3 Professional is cheaper, beginning at $669 with out the controller. This feature 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 should 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 screen.
The Air 3, alternatively, 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 an entire package deal, together with the drone for $1,549.
» MORE: Finest Digital camera Drones Below $2,000
Picture and video recording
Each drone fashions have respectable cameras, however there are some important variations.
Whereas they each have an analogous lens, the Air 3 encompasses a twin digital camera system.
So, when you get an analogous lens within the twin digital camera setup, it comes at completely different apertures and zooming capabilities at as much as 3X within the tele lens.
This permits customers to change between the vast angle and the tele lens inside the similar flight. Taking footage from completely different views permits you to additionally get inventive in post-production.
Whereas the Mini 3 Professional doesn’t have two cameras, it does help 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 a bit 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 means to shoot in D-Log M and HLG, that are extra superior shade profiles that provide you with extra room for creativity throughout post-processing.
The Mini 3 Professional is proscribed 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 modifying as you’d get with the Air 3.
Relating to photographs, each drones will let you take stills in 12 MP and 48 MP, although the twin digital camera 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 taking pictures mode.
As talked about within the overview, the digital camera modifications to a portrait place, which implies you’ll not should 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 taking pictures mode in each of its cameras, it crops the footage, and you’ll solely get a most decision of two.7K at 60 fps.
This function can also be not obtainable for photographs.
» MORE: Finest Reasonably priced Drones with 4K Digital camera
Clever flight modes
These drones function frequent clever flight modes resembling QuickShots, MasterShots, Panoramas, Hyperlapse, and ActiveTrack.
Nevertheless, the Air 3 has extra modes, making it an excellent higher possibility. These embody:
- Improved ActiveTrack: With the Mini 3 Professional, the one possibility is for the drone to comply with you from behind or from the facet.
However with ActiveTrack 5.0 within the Air 3, you may select the drone to comply with from eight completely different positions and change between these instructions because the drone flies.
This permits for some dynamic and higher-quality footage.
- Cruise management: This function permits the drone to fly at a continuing velocity. All it’s important to do is fly at your required velocity and provoke this function, and the drone will keep that velocity with out a lot enter from you.
This function is helpful when it’s worthwhile to take a shot however are having bother sustaining the perfect velocity.
This function was solely obtainable within the Mavic 3 sequence drones. This function can also be obtainable when utilizing the Highlight function.
- Waypoints: Additionally solely obtainable within the Mavic 3 and enterprise drones, the Waypoints function permits you to set a course for the drone to comply with whereas taking photos.
This function works nice for mapping duties or once you wish to automate a selected shot.
The Mini 3 Professional has its model of Waypoints, as mentioned right here, however this function solely works within the Hyperlapse mode, and you’ll 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: Comply with Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Defined for Learners)
Vary and transmission energy
The vary of a drone, or how far it could possibly fly from the controller, in addition to the transmission high quality, are essential since they have an effect on how properly you should use the drone.
That stated, the Air 3 comes with the latest DJI transmission system, the OcuSync 4.0, with a spread 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 best due to extra antennas and upgraded anti-interference expertise.
Nevertheless, the Mini 3 Professional is just not 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’d 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 resulting from numerous 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 for those who’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 is best to take into account which possibility provides you probably the most worth to your cash.
Pace and wind resistance
Being heavier and sturdier, the Air 3 can face 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 velocity of 42.5 mph in comparison with the Mini 3 Professional’s 35.7 mph.
A sooner velocity permits you to get to a vacation spot sooner and get out of emergencies rapidly.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional and Climate
Controller compatibility
As talked about earlier, these drones include completely different controllers.
The Mini 3 Professional is appropriate with the DJI RC-N1 and DJI RC, commonplace controllers which can 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 the moment solely appropriate with the Air 3.
Except DJI makes them appropriate with different drones, for those who’re on the lookout for a drone appropriate with different controllers you might have, the Mini 3 Professional could be the best choice on this case.
Alternatively, future drones from DJI could function the 04 system, making the brand new controllers appropriate with different drones.
Contemplating the options you’re on the lookout for, you should 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 doable by means of 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 function is just not but obtainable for the Air 3.
» MORE: FPV Drones vs. Common Drones (Defined for Learners)
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional – Which must you select?
Each are succesful drones, have glorious options, and would attraction to completely different individuals. Beneath is why you’d select both of them.
Why select the DJI Air 3?
The Air 3 is good for individuals who prioritize superior images and videography capabilities. Right here’s who ought to take into account 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 suppleness.
- Skilled content material creators and filmmakers: The Air 3’s superior taking pictures modes, together with Night time Mode, enable professionals to seize high-quality footage even in difficult situations. Its versatile flight modes and longer flight instances additionally make it appropriate for skilled use.
- Drone pilots needing superior monitoring: The ActiveTrack 5.0 function with multi-directional monitoring and the flexibility to alter monitoring instructions is a big benefit for drone pilots who require exact object monitoring in numerous eventualities.
- 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 big benefit over the Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Right here’s my Alternative)
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 picture and video high quality. Right here’s who ought to take into account it:
- Informal photographers and videographers: In the event you’re on the lookout for a drone that’s simple to hold round and gives good-quality footage with out the complexity of a number of cameras and superior settings, the Mini 3 Professional is a superb alternative.
- Hikers and out of doors fans: Its light-weight design and compact type issue make the Mini 3 Professional an excellent companion for out of doors actions. The impediment avoidance system in three instructions enhances security throughout out of doors adventures.
- Social media content material creators: The Mini 3 Professional’s vertical taking pictures mode permits for simple creation of portrait-oriented movies and photographs, excellent for sharing on social media platforms.
- Customers on a funds: The Mini 3 Professional is extra budget-friendly than the Air 3, making it an appropriate alternative for these on the lookout for a cheap drone with out compromising an excessive amount of on options.
- FPV fans: In the event you’re concerned with 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 digital camera, extra taking pictures choices, sturdiness, additional clever flight modes, higher vary, and higher total efficiency deliver it nearer to drones just like the Mavic 3 sequence, making it an excellent 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?
Finest 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 rapidly 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, beneath are some SD playing cards you should purchase to your drone.
Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 3
Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Mini 3 Professional
