DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional (Which Drone Is Higher?) – Droneblog

Hello there, and welcome to this overview and comparability of the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional.

The Mini drones are a pilot favourite, as they need to be! They’re versatile, light-weight, transportable, and prepared for something.

DJI frequently equips them with state-of-the-art cameras and know-how to make them enjoyable and rewarding to make use of, but they’re beginner-friendly in flight and value (properly, more often than not).

Being caught between these drones is an unenviable place to be in, however don’t fear. I’m not going to depart you hanging. Fairly the opposite!

As a long-time Mini lover and flier, I’ve explored the Mini 3 to its fullest when it got here out, then did the identical when the Mini 3 Professional hit cabinets.

I’m right here to disclose the most effective (and worst) of those drones that will help you along with your decision-making.

This information will look at the 2 drones within the Mini 3 collection in areas like efficiency, flight instances, cameras, video and picture high quality, and Clever Flight Options primarily based on my expertise with each drones. You’ll quickly see why I declared the Mini 3 Professional the winner.

Let’s put you on the trail towards discovering the correct drone for you by uncovering each nook and cranny of those drones and studying what makes them tick.

You’ll really feel readier and extra assured along with your buying choice.

Temporary overview

DJI Mini 3

The Mini 3 was like an early Christmas current from DJI, releasing in early December 2022.

Its low price instantly drew me to it, as did my loyal love of the Mini drones that had come earlier than this one.

The Mini 3 checks so many packing containers for what a terrific drone ought to be, particularly with its well-established and beloved predecessors.

This drone comprises mind-bending options (particularly for its measurement!), equivalent to:

• Light-weight at 248 grams, permitting you to forego FAA drone registration if flying in the USA recreationally.
• The choice to increase the drone’s battery life to 44 minutes with the Clever Flight Battery Plus. Whereas this does make the drone heavier, it additionally will increase its effectivity, a should for social media stars obsessive about footage high quality and professional drone pilots making financial institution.
• Vertical Taking pictures, one other favourite of social media stars and influencers who solely take footage on this orientation. The Mini 3’s three-axis gimbal helps horizontal and vertical pictures.
• 4K HDR video and 48 MP picture high quality, because of the 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor. That high quality is loopy good for a drone of this value!
• 4x zoom, so that you’re at all times near the motion, even should you’re not bodily as close to as you appear.  

» MORE: DJI Mini / Mini 3 Professional – The way to Dwell Stream on YouTube (Video)

DJI Mini 3 Professional

The Mini 3 Professional got here out a number of months earlier than the Mini 3, in Might 2022, so it’s about six months older.

This drone could have the phrase Professional in its identify, nevertheless it’s not solely geared towards industrial pilots.

It’s beginner-friendly for a lot of causes, equivalent to its weight of below 249 grams, freedom to fold its wings, Vertical Taking pictures, and Clever Flight Modes.

Let’s overview what else acquired individuals speaking about this drone a lot:

• Its nice battery proper out of the gate is actually value mentioning. The Mini 3 Professional has a baseline flight time of 34 minutes, upgradable to 47 minutes should you purchase the Clever Flight Battery Plus.
• The 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor shoots photos in 48 MP and 4K HDR video for crystal-clear readability and high quality when planning leisure and particularly industrial videography and images initiatives.
• Included tri-directional impediment sensing (downward, backward, and ahead) with APAS 4.0, making for safer flights and a terrific set of options for newbies.
• A set of Clever Flight Modes, together with 4x Digital Zoom, Hyperlapse, FocusTrack, Panorama, and MasterShots. These modes facilitate extra easy {and professional} flights and pictures.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional: One-12 months Evaluate (Video)

Fast verdict

Choosing between the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional is like selecting a favourite youngster.

Okay, so it’s not fairly that severe, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly tough, contemplating these drones are the spitting photos of each other in myriad methods.

Video high quality? Test.

Picture high quality? Test.

Weight? Virtually equivalent.

The checklist goes on.

Nonetheless, you’re solely in search of the most effective, and that’s what we do right here at Droneblog – suggest the most effective. Though it wasn’t a straightforward selection, I’m assured with what I picked.  

Right here is your winner.

The DJI Mini 3 Professional edges out the Mini 3 due to its impediment avoidance system. Though it’s not probably the most superior impediment avoidance DJI provides in drones within the early 2020s, it’s higher than the Mini 3, which has no impediment avoidance in any way, solely imaginative and prescient programs.

However to suggest the Mini 3 Professional can be to suggest the Mini 3 in a approach since these drones share a lot in widespread.

And if it weren’t for the shortage of impediment detection, I really feel just like the Mini 3 may have gained this.

It’s nonetheless a effective drone should you’re not as new to flying and may confidently maneuver your approach round a drone.

Nonetheless, much more skilled pilots profit from impediment avoidance.

You possibly can’t at all times see every part round you, and realizing your drone can try this for you prevents you from needlessly spending $400+ on a substitute.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. DJI Air 2S (Which One is Proper for You?)

What are the principle variations?

I really like an excellent comparability, however the variations between the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional are laborious to come back by, as I’m certain you may in all probability guess.

Nonetheless, in my many hours of flight time having fun with these two drones to the fullest, I found sufficient variations to show how distinct every entry of the DJI Mini line is.

• Gimbal: DJI remade its gimbal between the discharge of the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 3. The newly improved gimbal provides low-angle videography and images a wider vary of rotation. It additionally helps True Vertical Taking pictures, however each drones have that.
• Impediment avoidance: The Mini 3 may need a downward imaginative and prescient system, however there’s a distinction between detecting obstacles and avoiding them. The Mini 3 can’t do the latter. The Mini 3 Professional has tri-directional impediment sensing by comparability. This isn’t DJI’s most subtle impediment avoidance system, nevertheless it’ll do for newbies. The drone additionally has APAS 4.0 – once more, not the latest, however greater than adequate.  
• No MasterShots: MasterShots are one in all DJI’s main Clever Flight Options. It’s an automatic taking pictures function that may function in Portrait, Panorama, and Proximity modes, taking nice automated movies after you select a topic. It’s a wonderful function, however one the Mini 3 is unfortunately lacking. It comes normal within the Mini 3 Professional. 
• No FocusTrack: The Mini 3 Professional additionally has FocusTrack, a function that’s conspicuous in its absence within the Mini 3. The FocusTrack suite included with the Mini 3 Professional is Level of Curiosity 3.0, Highlight 2.0, and ActiveTrack 4.0 for precisely locking onto topics.
• Richer colours: The Mini 3 Professional boasts D-Cinelike Coloration to crank up the rainbow of magnificence that exists in on a regular basis life with out making your photographs oversaturated. This function applies to your photographs and movies and provides them that particular one thing. Your competitor’s pictures will look uninteresting and lifeless by comparability. Sadly, the Mini 3 doesn’t have such coloration richness.
• Sluggish movement: You can also’t obtain your slo-mo aspirations when flying the Mini 3. This can be a function reserved for the Professional. You’ll really feel like a grasp cinematographer choosing when to decelerate the drone versus flying it at regular pace. 

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Basic vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)

DJI Mini 3

The Mini 3 is a number one drone from DJI and one in all its greatest sellers.

Following within the proverbial footprints of the Mini 2 (you realize, as a result of drones don’t have footsteps or toes to observe in), the Mini 3 raised the bar in some ways, particularly picture high quality (12 MP within the Mini 2 versus 48 MP within the Mini 3).

That main picture high quality is one function of many who caught my eye and impressed me to purchase the Mini 3.

Its 1.1/3-inch CMOS sensor additionally amazed me, particularly in relation to images.

That sensor is phenomenal at daylight and nighttime images alike. You possibly can’t at all times legally take nighttime photographs, however should you can, that is the drone digital camera to have by your aspect.

The diploma of element you’ll obtain by day is one thing else, and it’s all as a result of digital camera’s HDR and twin native ISO.

Its four-in-one pixels don’t harm, nor does the f/1.7 aperture.

You possibly can’t alter the aperture to the identical diploma you may different DJI drones, nevertheless it’s in a ok spot as it’s.

The 4x zoom is a superb function, particularly should you’re into wildlife, actual property, or land surveying drone images.

Drones are already such a security profit in these conditions because you needn’t get too shut, however with 4x zoom, you may stand even additional away and nonetheless seize immersive pictures.

The Mini 3’s subtle gimbal swaps between vertical and horizontal taking pictures modes. In the event you’re within the influencer and social media crowd, you’ll love how one can shoot vertically.

The extra old-school of us will admire horizontal taking pictures. I simply love how you are able to do each!

» MORE: The way to Join DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Professional to Wi-Fi (Step by Step Information)

I do know the Mini 3 lacks the identical Clever Flight Modes the Mini 3 Professional has, which is certainly a bummer.

Nonetheless, it’s unfair to gloss over these it does have.

It could possibly use all the essential QuickShots options you want, together with Rocket, Dronie, Circle, and Helix.

Every sends the Mini 3 by itself distinctive (however predictable) flight path, whether or not it ascends quickly, then descends almost as quick, or strikes circularly.

Freshmen profit most from QuickShots and different automated options, as they take the problem of studying to maneuver a drone out of your palms.

You possibly can work your approach as much as that time by flying, however till you’re feeling like a professional, you may look like a professional, and aren’t appears to be like every part nowadays?

QuickTransfer is DJI’s helpful mode for getting your footage able to share. All of us reside on the web nowadays, and with the Mini 3, you may sustain with the competitors.

DJI Mini 3 Professional

Though the Mini 3 Professional is the older of the 2, it’s the higher all-around drone.

With a reputation like Professional, it’s designed for a barely completely different viewers. Informal pilots and newbies can simply decide this one up, however extra skilled pilots additionally profit from this selection.

The Mini 3 Professional is barely about $200 dearer than the Mini 3, but it crams in so many extra options that you simply gained’t consider it doesn’t price thrice or 4 instances extra.

Sharing the identical light-weight profile because the Mini 3 (below 249 grams) and taking photos and movies in equivalent high quality, the Mini 3 Professional is something however a duplicate.

DJI renovated greater than its gimbal however modified the blueprint for what Mini drones would change into going ahead.

For instance, DJI lower the majority from the Mini 3 Professional. That’s to not say the Mini 3 is heavy, however the Professional is even much less so. It’s additionally designed for higher flight security and aerodynamics.

Oh, and DJI boosted up the dimensions of the props to reinforce efficiency, as a result of why not?

Regardless of this, the Mini 3 Professional can nonetheless fold and stow in your pocket!

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Just like the Mini 3 after it, the Professional has the aptitude to shoot seamlessly by day or evening.

It guarantees to seize extra of the immersive, wealthy particulars of the world round you whereas chopping down on the noise that so typically plagues photographs and movies after the solar goes down.

You gained’t consider what you spent on the Mini 3 Professional, contemplating there are some cameras on the market throughout the similar value vary that don’t excel as a lot at noise discount.

There’s far more in retailer with the Mini 3 for photographers. Its HDR and twin native ISO set the stage for the options the Mini 3 would supply.

This drone has slow-mo video, which is so cool! It experiences a video high quality discount when in that mode, swapping to 1080p at 120 frames per second, however that’s okay.

You gained’t use slow-mo your complete time you’re taking pictures, solely to emphasise particular moments and make your footage extra memorable.

Sluggish-mo is an epic function for differentiating your footage from others, whether or not you’re rising your drone enterprise or YouTube channel.

APAS 4.0 and tri-directional impediment sensing provides you peace of thoughts, particularly as a more recent pilot afraid of hitting the management stick the unsuitable approach and borking your drone.

Freshmen additionally gained’t thoughts that this isn’t probably the most up-to-date APAS and impediment avoidance DJI has ever launched.

Extra skilled pilots may take umbrage with that, however hey, that’s what the Mini 4 Professional is for. It has omnidirectional impediment sensing.

You can even take your pictures additional with 4x digital zoom (sure, it beats the Mini 3’s zoom, though not by a lot), Hyperlapse for ultra-fast images and videography, three Panorama modes, and DJI’s esteemed QuickTransfer. 

DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)

Light-weight and Foldable Digital camera Drone

• 4K/60fps Video
• 48MP Picture
• 34-min Flight Time
• Tri-Directional Impediment Sensing, Built-in RC and display screen

Purchase from Amazon

We earn a fee should you make a purchase order, at no extra price to you.

11/11/2023 01:36 pm GMT

Head-to-head comparability

Digital camera system

Winner: Tie

Normally, there are sufficient disparate components between two drones to assign a winner, however not a lot on this battle of the Mini 3 versus the Mini 3 Professional.

They’ve the identical high-quality picture decision at 48 MP and promise 4K HDR video.

That picture decision is among the many greatest DJI provides for its client drones and greater than means that you can seize each unimaginable element for all of your drone initiatives.

The 4K HDR video is excessive for DJI drones and in addition guarantees unyielding element and high quality for increasing your portfolio.

These drones have the identical sensor measurement, horizontal and vertical taking pictures modes as a result of mechanical three-axis gimbal, aperture measurement, and pixel help.

I’m considering this class is a toss-up.

» MORE: Images with Mini 3 Professional (For Freshmen)

Efficiency

Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional

This class, however, was not.

The Mini 3 Professional excels in a single main performance-driven space the Mini 3 doesn’t: impediment avoidance.

The Mini 3’s lack of an impediment avoidance system isn’t that shocking, contemplating DJI has carried out this function inconsistently throughout the Mini line.

Nonetheless, it feels particularly egregious for a drone touted as being so beginner-friendly. New pilots profit most from impediment avoidance, in spite of everything!

The Mini 3 Professional, however, has a stable impediment avoidance system. It’s not the latest or greatest from DJI, nevertheless it will get the job completed, particularly for newbies.

These drones each have Stage 5 wind resistance, and since they weigh about the identical, I discovered that in winds of round 25 miles per hour, they nonetheless carried out unobstructed.

Nonetheless, in heavier winds, these Mini drones change into extra unstable.

The Mini 3 Professional has the sting in Clever Flight Modes, providing an expansive library of choices, from Digital Zoom to MasterShots, Hyperlapse, FocusTrack, and Panorama.

The Mini 3 has fewer.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional and How Effectively It Handles Winds

Portability

Winner: Tie

These two ultra-foldable, light-weight drones each dodge leisure registration necessities with the FAA, though you need to register them for industrial operation.

With barely a gram’s distinction in weight between them, I couldn’t assign a winner on this class both.

Nonetheless, that’s not essentially a nasty factor. Whether or not you personal the Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional, you may relaxation assured you’re touring with probably the greatest DJI drones for all of your private {and professional} adventures.

You’ll have a dependable drone digital camera for capturing once-in-a-lifetime reminiscences, streaming reside to your social media viewers, and modifying on the go. What might be higher?

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RC compatibility and flight vary

Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional

Each drones can use the DJI RC controller or, within the case of the Mini 3 Professional, additionally the DJI RC-N1.

The DJI RC makes use of O3+ transmission for probably the greatest transmission programs DJI has accessible as of this writing.

The controller weighs 390 grams, making it good to hold with the Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional for light-weight adventuring and backpacking.

It includes a 5.5-inch FHD display screen (non-touch) with as much as 700 nits of brightness and may function for 4 hours at a clip.

So, allowing for that these two drones use the identical distant, why did I give this class to the Mini 3 Professional?

Effectively, for one, it has extra distant controller compatibility than the OG Mini 3. It additionally has a higher transmission distance, 12 kilometers versus the Mini 3’s 10 kilometers.

Is it a groundbreaking distinction?

No, and I can’t see a state of affairs wherein a social media influencer or skilled pilot would clamber for two further kilometers particularly.

That stated, the Mini 3 Professional is simply that a lot better.

Battery life

Winner: DJI Mini 3

Flight time is a significant figuring out issue when looking for any drone.

These two Mini drones are comparatively evenly matched in battery life, at the very least if we examine the essential batteries the drones are outfitted with.

The Mini 3 Professional flies for 34 minutes initially, and the Mini 3 for 38 minutes.

Nonetheless, should you improve to every drone’s respective Clever Flight Battery Plus, the Mini 3 features about 13 minutes of flight time for an general time within the sky of 51 minutes.

The Mini 3 Professional goes from 34 to 47 minutes, a 13-minute improve.

I’ve used each these drones with their normal and upgraded batteries, they usually didn’t fly precisely so long as marketed.

These numbers aren’t set in stone, and also you’ll at all times get a number of minutes much less in real-life purposes.  

That stated, even flying near 50 minutes with a client DJI drone is unimaginable! You should have greater than sufficient time to deal with your workload with confidence.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Professional Battery (All You Must Know)

Conclusion

With so many similarities between the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional, it was laborious to slender it all the way down to a definitive winner.

The inimitable Mini 3 Professional may need come first, nevertheless it perfects what a Mini drone of at present ought to be, with superior battery life, high-res imagery and videography, Clever Flight Modes, a terrific transmission vary, and impediment avoidance.

It’s not solely the best of the 2 however one in all DJI’s general greatest!

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