Within the nice battle of the manufacturers, it virtually at all times comes all the way down to Autel and DJI when evaluating the very best drones. It may well’t be helped!
DJI continues to steer the drone {industry}, with the Mini 3 Professional as one in all its most interesting improvements so far. It’s been one in all my favorites since its launch, and regardless that the Mini 4 Professional has come out since, there are nonetheless many days the place I’d somewhat fly my Mini 3.
However oh, the Autel EVO Lite and its four-axis gimbal. That’s a factor of magnificence, proper there.
So, which is healthier? It’s time to resolve.
This evaluate will evaluate and distinction the Autel EVO Lite and DJI Mini 3 Professional, inspecting their variations in areas like efficiency, digital camera and video high quality, transmission distance, security options, battery life, and sensible options. As you learn, it’s possible you’ll understand why the Mini 3 Professional – my private decide – is a troublesome one to beat.
I’ve loved utilizing each these drones completely, and I’m glad to share my flight experiences with you to information your resolution so that you don’t waste a cent of your hard-earned moolah.
Temporary overview
Autel EVO Lite
The Autel EVO Lite has a few of the perfect options you could find in a client drone, particularly for beneath $1,000.
Granted, the EVO Lite simply squeaks by for that value if you choose the Premium Bundle, however it’s decrease price if you are going to buy the usual version.
This drone got here out in January 2022, which already seems like a coon’s age within the drone world, because it was properly over a 12 months in the past. I stored ready, considering some product from DJI would have a four-axis gimbal apart from the Ronin 4D, however it hasn’t.
That makes the EVO Lite the king of its fort. So, what sorts of options does this drone have? Let’s have a look.
- An industry-leading four-axis gimbal. Autel calls it the “first on this planet,” however what’s clear is that you simply actually can’t discover this in any DJI client drone. The gimbal goes the additional mile for the drone’s stability, making certain your images and movies are laser-sharp and lightning-focused.
- A world-class 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor that shoots in 4K HDR and 50 MP picture decision with RYYB coloration filtering. The share of sunshine absorption that occurs with this mild array is bigger than most, resulting in crystal-clear photographs and excessive ranges of element for constructing a powerful portfolio.
- Wonderful impediment avoidance cameras that may see as much as 150 levels in entrance of the drone, enhancing your security whether or not you’re a newbie or a seasoned vet.
- A battery lifetime of 40 minutes, a regular for Autel that is still spectacular, however. Working extra effectively is less complicated with Autel.
- Configurable choices, like a regular or upgraded bundle, and two colours, together with my private favourite – orange. It’s an amazing selection for higher visibility!
» MORE: Autel vs. DJI – Which Drones Are Higher?
DJI Mini 3 Professional
The Mini 3 Professional got here out later than the EVO Lite, in Could versus January 2022. It’s an upgraded model of the unique Mini 3 and was later adopted up by the Mini 4 Professional.
So, certain, the Mini 3 Professional isn’t the innovative anymore, however this drone nonetheless has a lot to like.
There’s a purpose I and plenty of different drone pilots can’t cease speaking about it a 12 months and a half after its preliminary launch.
Really, there are a lot of causes, they usually embody the next.
- An ultra-lightweight profile of beneath 250 grams, making the Mini 3 Professional mild sufficient that you simply don’t must register it when flying as a hobbyist. It’s additionally transportable, foldable, and able to go on each journey in your bucket checklist, as you’ll be able to at all times discover area for it in your carry-on or checked baggage.
- A 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor that shoots photographs in 48 MP RAW and 4K HDR. The RAW information are stuffed with wealthy, authentic element, simply as you captured them.
- Prime Clever Flight Modes, together with slow-mo video, True Vertical Taking pictures, Hyperlapses, MasterShots, Digital Zoom, FocusTrack, and Panorama. These modes automate drone flight for cinematic masterpieces you’ll be able to ship on the go utilizing QuickTransfer.
- Three-direction dual-vision impediment sensing and APAS 4.0 for impediment avoidance, a function the Mini collection has not at all times had. This makes the Mini 3 Professional one of many most secure within the collection to fly.
- Assist for daytime and nighttime flights (if you happen to’re legally allowed to) so you’ll be able to proceed having fun with the enjoyable together with your Mini 3 even after darkish.
» MORE: The right way to Join DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Professional to Wi-Fi (Step-by-Step Information)
Fast verdict
Listed below are two drones that got here out inside the final 12 months and – much more pertinently – inside six months of each other. But they’re so distinctive in lots of ways in which selecting the very best one was tough.
I’ve loved flying the EVO Lite and Mini 3 Professional, and whereas they shine in numerous areas, you’re not right here since you need to purchase each. You solely need one.
Right here at Droneblog, we’re dedicated to recommending solely essentially the most glorious drones to you for leisure {and professional} use. These options come after tons of of hours of flight testing.
We’ve concluded that the DJI Mini 3 Professional is superior to the Autel EVO Lite, though granted, it isn’t by a lot. The Mini 3 Professional has equal video high quality and comparable picture high quality, whereas its security options are in the identical league as Autel. Nonetheless, its Clever Flight Modes can’t be beat.
The EVO Lite will at all times stay one in all my favorites.
It has loads the Mini 3 Professional doesn’t, similar to an extended battery and a greater gimbal. It’s a wonderful selection in so many respects and a drone I’m personally fairly obsessive about.
It’s an amazing drone for a lot of pilots, however I believe the Mini 3 Professional continues to be higher.
» MORE: Autel Evo Lite+ Evaluation
What are the primary variations?
Now that you simply’ve seen my advice for the very best drone of the 2, let’s take a deep dive into how they’re completely different.
There are sufficient options between these two drones that it doesn’t matter what you like, you may get what you’re in search of.
- Gimbal: The Mini 3 Professional has a three-axis gimbal, the usual for DJI drones. Oppositely, it’s a four-axis gimbal for the EVO Lite, a distinction value noting. The extra axis provides a pan mechanic, giving the EVO Lite’s digital camera a higher diploma of management and precision throughout operation, however a three-axis gimbal is simply high-quality for many pilots.
- Picture high quality: Right here is one other class the place the EVO Lite excels. It shoots in 50 MP picture high quality, whereas it’s solely 48 MP for the Mini 3 Professional. Nonetheless, the DJI drone additionally takes RAW footage, so I’d argue the standard and element are comparable.
- Weight: Right here’s an space the place the distinction between these two drones is extra obvious. The EVO Lite weighs a reasonable 835 grams, however it looks as if a heavyweight in comparison with the Mini 3 Professional. You’ll recall that it solely weighs 249 grams, so the Autel drone is about 4 instances heavier.
- Colour choices: The EVO Lite is obtainable in vibrant orange for nice visibility or grey for an understated fashion. You possibly can’t select the colour of the Mini 3 Professional, or any DJI drone, for that matter.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional – The right way to Manufacturing unit Reset (Step-by-Step Information)
Autel EVO Lite
Autel proved that it’s prepared to push the envelope and innovate simply as a lot, if no more so, than DJI when it launched the EVO Lite, a starring version in its EVO Lite Collection.
Let’s get proper to it and focus on the gimbal as a result of it’s some of the distinct options of the EVO Lite.
It’s a four-axis gimbal able to panning, yawing, pitching, and rolling with extra precision and accuracy than three-axis gimbals.
The EVO Lite can shoot vertically, a function DJI has already provided in a number of of its drones, so that is Autel’s reply to that.
Talking of capturing, you’ll end up getting carried away with this drone’s video and photograph capabilities, as they’re unimaginable. Its tiny 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor has a 50 MP picture decision and 4K HDR video decision.
That’s not the best video res in an Autel drone, however it’s among the many greatest picture high quality you could find in its drones.
Autel calls the digital camera “supersensitive,” and I’d agree with that sentiment, in one of the best ways.
The RYYB coloration filter array has extra mild than common and a brighter palette of coloration.
Your sunrises will probably be vibrant pink and orange, your daytime photographs an ideal blue, and your night time pictures of a glimmering cityscape a rainbow of city chaos.
Activate HDR mode, and the EVO Lite will cobble collectively the last word shot primarily based on the very best dynamic vary, distinction, and publicity settings.
It is a function Autel has replicated throughout a few of its drones, and I’m so glad to seek out it within the EVO Lite. It’s one in all my favorites for saving time in submit.
Ship the EVO Lite into the sky and watch it do its factor utilizing cinematic modes like Orbit, Rocket, Flick, and Fade Away.
» MORE: Are Autel Drones Any Good? (You May Be Shocked)
The automated path the drone takes is nice for social media professionals desirous to appear to be drone professionals when missing expertise.
That’s not the one automated mode, by the way in which. The EVO Lite consists of Dynamic Observe 2.1 for extra precision monitoring of something that strikes, together with animals and autos.
SkyPortrait is your greatest buddy if you happen to dwell for selfies, as it should take them for you, together with all your folks within the shot.
Then there’s this drone’s impediment avoidance. Autel has confirmed again and again that it excels in impediment avoidance in ways in which typically DJI doesn’t, no less than not persistently.
The EVO Lite has an ultra-wide impediment avoidance digital camera, an innovation Autel created across the time of this drone’s launch. The sensors constructed into the mannequin present a frontal view that’s 150 expansive levels.
This function will make you are feeling safer when flying, particularly if you happen to’re nonetheless studying.
Should you’re a extra skilled pilot, you’ll admire how one can focus extra on the EVO Lite’s dazzling cinematics and let it deal with the remainder.
DJI Mini 3 Professional
The Mini 3 Professional has the very best traits of the Mini line so far, and that’s saying one thing, contemplating how critically acclaimed these DJI drones have been.
Dwelling as much as its title, it weighs beneath 249 grams, so it’s about the identical weight as your smartphone. You received’t thoughts carrying this drone in your pocket or in your again for hours, even days, similar to when backpacking.
DJI sharpened up the design in comparison with different Mini drones, growing the size of the props so the Mini 3 Professional is extra beginner-friendly.
In contrast to the Mini 3, the Professional has a greater gimbal, facilitating True Vertical Taking pictures. It won’t be a four-axis gimbal, however I believe it’s glorious.
Now, what about its digital camera? The Mini 3 Professional incorporates a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with an f/1.7 aperture.
You possibly can’t modify it, however the price of sunshine is designed to brighten low-light videography and pictures, explaining why the Mini 3 Professional is appropriate for nighttime photographs.
You possibly can depend on its aperture in all kinds of situations, broadening your drone flight horizons and your portfolio in sort.
The 48 MP picture high quality is a few of DJI’s greatest, and the identical goes for its 4K HDR video, which is similar to what the EVO Lite affords.
Keep in mind, the images are all in RAW format, which suggests extra knowledge and element are retained in each shot.
You possibly can edit out what you don’t need in submit, which received’t be a lot, contemplating this drone has D-Cinelike Colour in its movies and pictures for a brighter, richer world your purchasers will marvel over.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional: One-Yr Evaluation (Video)
The Mini line has not at all times had impediment avoidance, however the Mini 3 Professional does.
Its tri-directional impediment sensing system would possibly solely gauge downward, backward, and frontal threats with a dual-vision sensor system, however the Superior Pilot Help System or APAS 4.0 is for impediment avoidance.
APAS 4.0 won’t be the most recent version (that’s APAS 5.0, as of this writing), however it greater than suffices, particularly if the choice is not any impediment avoidance in any respect.
Moreover True Vertical Taking pictures, the Mini 3 Professional is able to so many Clever Flight Modes.
You possibly can cut back pace and take slow-mo movies, a great function for cinematics, or pace up the whole lot round you with a dramatic Hyperlapse.
Digital Zoom facilitates safer capturing situations of wildlife and harmful nature, as you may get in on the motion with out being in the course of it.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Professional – The right way to Reside Stream on YouTube (Video)
FocusTrack is like Autel’s Dynamic Observe, permitting for topic monitoring, whereas MasterShots makes use of automated flight modes to seize reliably superior movies.
These options are the type that make me preserve coming again to DJI.
This suite of enjoyable, sensible modes has one thing for each sort of pilot, from business consultants trying to make their jobs simpler to influencers anticipating distinctive footage to get these likes and clicks.
DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)
Light-weight and Foldable Digicam Drone
- 4K/60fps Video
- 48MP Picture
- 34-min Flight Time
- Tri-Directional Impediment Sensing, Built-in RC and display screen
We earn a fee if you happen to make a purchase order, at no extra price to you.
11/30/2023 07:42 pm GMT
Head-to-head comparability
Digicam system
Winner: Autel EVO Lite
Congratulations go to the EVO Lite for its four-axis gimbal.
Do I personally assume a four-axis gimbal is a gamechanger?
No. It’s positively cool, don’t get me flawed, however I can go from flying a four-axis gimbal drone just like the EVO Lite and again to a three-axis gimbal drone just like the Mini 3 Professional and never really feel like I’m lacking out on too terribly a lot.
DJI’s gimbals supply a excessive diploma of flexibility and adjustability regardless of having three axes as an alternative of 4.
Nonetheless, a four-axis gimbal is technically higher, so the EVO Lite wins this class.
There are extra causes to reward it, in fact. It has distinctive picture high quality, top-notch video high quality, a twin CDAF and PDAF autofocus system, a 0.8-inch CMOS sensor, and an RYYB coloration filter array.
They’re altogether some sterling options.
That’s to not say the Mini 3 Professional is a slouch. It has a surprising coloration show similar to the RYYB coloration filter array within the type of its D-Cinelike Colour.
Its 48 MP picture high quality in RAW information preserves all of the element you may need, whether or not you’re having enjoyable capturing lovely cliffsides or on the job photographing a property on the market.
Its 4K HDR at 60 frames per second provides you a similar stage of video element as seen within the EVO Lite. I choose the Mini 3 Professional’s video, because it feels extra high-fidelity to me.
In fact, if you happen to’re working at 120 fps, the video high quality drops to 1080p, which isn’t so nice.
» MORE: Digicam Expertise in Drones (Defined)
Efficiency
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
The light-weight, agile flyer DJI designed within the Mini 3 Professional is so enjoyable to choose up and fly. It’s extra aerodynamic than ever, and it’s beginner-friendly but by no means boring for intermediates and consultants.
As a pro-level drone, it has the digital camera capabilities and Clever Flight Modes to accompany you on the job, augmenting your tasks.
These automated modes take the Mini 3 Professional additional, whether or not it’s twisting and looping via the air on an automatic route or capturing slow-mo movies or hyperlapse images.
The flexibility is nothing wanting glorious, which I’ve come to count on from DJI.
And certain, possibly this drone doesn’t have Superior RTH or Waypoints, however it’s a Mini drone. It’s uncomplicated but reliable and has simply the precise Clever Flight Modes.
The EVO Lite has its personal sensible modes, however to not the identical diploma because the Mini 3 Professional.
Plus, I’ve at all times discovered that no different drone model fairly matches DJI by way of sensible options, though Autel is getting darn shut.
I admire how the Mini 3 Professional has impediment avoidance.
It’s not DJI’s most refined system, however APAS 4.0 continues to be higher than nothing, and mixed with the obstacle-sensing system, it is best to really feel safer within the skies than you maybe ever have when flying a Mini drone.
The EVO Lite has a distinct sort of impediment avoidance than a few of its different drones, such because the EVO II Professional.
The Lite’s front-facing digital camera sensors can detect obstacles in entrance of it.
It’s glorious, and possibly slightly higher than DJI’s impediment avoidance for the Mini drones, however the Mini 3 Professional wins this class as an entire.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional (Which Drone Is Higher?)
Portability
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
Right here’s one other class the place the Mini 3 Professional wins, and it wasn’t even tough to choose a winner right here.
The Mini 3 Professional, as you’ll recall, weighs 4 instances lower than the EVO Lite.
You’ll have extra choices for packing it in baggage, similar to a checked bag or carry-on, or in a drone backpack on your on a regular basis adventures.
You possibly can deliver the EVO Lite on simply as lots of these adventures; the bundle packs even embody a tough carrying case.
The difficulty is, the EVO Lite is heavier, though no less than it’s foldable.
» MORE: Greatest Newbie Drones Underneath $500
RC compatibility and flight vary
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
The Autel Lite and Nano collection share a controller that’s appropriately named the EVO Nano & Lite Distant Controller. I prefer it as a result of it form of jogs my memory of an Xbox 360 controller however with much less bulk and extra ergonomics.
It’s a smooth black, with few buttons, transmission via the SkyApp, and a removable holster on your smartphone.
The Mini 3 Professional works with two DJI remotes, the DJI RC or the DJI RC-N1. The RC-N1 is appropriate with the Mini 2, Air 2, Air 2S, and Mavic 3.
It has no display screen, just like the EVO Lite’s controller, however incorporates a boxier distant with a smartphone holster.
The RC-N1 is enough, but when attainable, I like to recommend the DJI RC extra.
This newer, smarter, extra fashionable controller with DJI O3+ video transmission energy has a display screen, a wonderful display screen to spare your smartphone.
The EVO Lite has a 7.4-mile transmission vary, which is nothing to sneeze at. The Mini 3 Professional’s transmission vary is 7.45 miles, so it’s only a smidge over.
Battery life
Winner: Autel EVO Lite
The battle of battery life commences. It’s the EVO Lite right here, which guarantees 40 minutes of flight time in keeping with Autel. In my expertise, it’s over 35 minutes however not fairly 40 minutes.
Each drone model overpromises on flight instances, in order that didn’t shock me.
As for the Mini 3 Professional, it’s alleged to fly for 34 minutes with the Clever Flight Battery. DJI calls that “prolonged.” I acquired round half-hour of flight time, simply over.
Extra flight time is at all times higher, and Autel is main the way in which for a way lengthy a drone ought to be capable to fly. The Mini 3 Professional might afford to catch up.
» MORE: Drone Batteries (In-Depth Info)
Conclusion
It was a neck-and-neck race between the Autel EVO Lite and DJI Mini 3 Professional.
Finally, the Mini 3 Professional got here out on high for qualities like a light-weight, forward-thinking design, purposeful digital camera system, higher impediment avoidance than Minis previous, and Clever Flight Modes, one in all its strongest options.
The EVO Lite is without doubt one of the greatest Autel drones so far in a group of fashions that I discover it exhausting to decide on between.
Nonetheless, it’s marketed as a light-weight drone and is something however. It additionally barely excels over DJI in areas like picture high quality and impediment avoidance.