After launching a ton of products in 2022, do you think DJI will end the year like this? Then I must say you are wrong. Targeting the consumer market, DJI has just announced the Mini 3 drone. It is a simplified version of the Mini 3 Pro; There is no front or rear obstacle detection, no ActiveTrack, and video recording limited to 4K 30p. These concessions are reflected in the price, meaning you’ll only pay $469 for the drone compared to $669 for the Mini 3 Pro.
The company believes the Mini 3 Pro is ideal for first-time users in scenarios such as “commuter trips, vacation travel, and city shooting/exploration with family and friends.” In this sense, the Mini 3 is more of a successor to the DJI Mini 2 than the Pro-lite. However, its design is nearly identical to the Mini 3 Pro except that the front sensors have been removed and replaced with smooth plastic where the grilles and rear sensors will be placed in the Pro.
The Mini 3 weighs less than 249 grams, so it does not require a special permit to fly in many countries. It has the same Type 1/1.3 (9.6 x 7.2mm) f/1.7 sensor as the Mini 3 Pro, so you can shoot in 4K HDR and take 12-megapixel photos. However, video is limited to 4K 30p instead of 4K 60p on the more expensive model. It also offers “true vertical” video and still photography with the camera rotated 90 degrees to allow for high quality social media content.
DJI offers a maximum of 2.7K and full HD footage at 60fps, so there’s no 120fps slow motion mode found on the Mini 3 Pro. You can shoot HDR at up to 30fps, and it has dual native ISO for good low-light performance on a relatively small sensor.
Intelligent Flight Batteries provide extended flight times of up to 38 minutes with standard batteries and up to 51 minutes with extended batteries (the latter available in North America but not in Europe and other regions). Under ideal conditions at that time; You are more likely to see around 30-32 minutes. Still, this is perfect for this category and ideal for beginners who might just let the drone fly a little too far. DJI says it has “solid power” despite its small size, which helps it cope with pretty high winds.
As with the Mini 3 Pro, you can get the Mini 3 with DJI’s RC controller for $230. This option is worth it because it’s much more convenient than using a smartphone with the regular RC-N1 controller. It has a similar layout to DJI’s other controllers, with the addition of photo and video triggers that automatically switch between respective modes. The RC controller joysticks can be placed under the controller case for travel, and while the screen struggles a bit in bright sunlight, other than that it’s sharp and clear.
For social media users, the Mini 3 has an important feature from DJI called QuickShots. This lets you shoot short and cute videos without the need for a pilot, as the drone does all the work. Some of these include “Dronie” (starting firmly on the subject and flying up and away to reveal the background) and “Circle” where the camera moves around the subject.
However, it lacks many of the AI features found in the Mini 3 Pro, such as ActiveTrack (tracking a subject), Timelapse, and Mastershots. Being able to track a subject with QuickShots indicates it has ActiveTrack capability, but the functionality can be simply disabled.
It has other smart functions to help beginners. These include Auto Takeoff, Return-to-Home (RTH) including Intelligent RTH, Low Battery RTH, and FailSafe RTH, which instruct the aircraft to return to the starting point if the battery is low or the signal drops.
Which brings us to a big problem with this drone. It has a downward vision system and infrared sensing for stable navigation, which is a big help for novice users. However, it lacks front and rear obstacle detection sensors. This means a user can more easily fly it directly into a tree or building, and because it doesn’t have DJI Avata-like propeller protection, you may end up with a broken drone. Even if you are careful, using the RTH function can be risky as the drone may automatically fly towards an object when trying to get home. You’ll also want to make sure the area is clear when maneuvering a Dronie or other Quickshots.
I got the Mini 3 from DJI, but it’s a little late to shoot video. But my drone pilot friend and I spent a day testing it out and found it just as stable and easy to fly as the Mini 3 Pro. The footage looks sharp and clear with accurate colors, and I didn’t really miss 4K 60p as I don’t use this mode often anyway.
We were certainly aware of the lack of obstacle sensors, though. We didn’t dare go too far from the base, especially in Europe, where laws significantly restrict transmission distance compared to the US, as a loss of signal could be disastrous. The lack of sensors also limits what you can shoot at, as getting too close to obstacles or flying in tight spaces would be insane.
Finally, I’m curious about the price of the Mini 3. If you don’t already own a DJI drone, you’ll have to pay $559 for the RC-N1 controller, compared to $759 for the Mini 3 Pro. The Fly More Combo (two extra batteries, RC-N1 controller, three-battery charger) costs $718, while the Mini 3 Pro costs $948. The Fly More Combo with RC controller is $858, and the same kit for the Pro model is $1,098.
If you’re just having fun or just getting started and only need a battery, drone and controller, $559 might be a bit too much for many people. For example, for a small drop in capacity, the Mini 2 is just $449 in the same configuration. And if you want a more serious kit with more batteries and possibly an RC controller, paying $240 more to get the Pro makes sense.
However, the Mini 3 Pro is consistently out of stock, so despite my concerns this will likely sell like a cookie. So far, it looks like an easy-to-fly drone that shoots better video than anything in this price range – just keep it clear of obstacles and be careful when using it.