The DJI Mini 3 is a drone I nonetheless fly avidly to this present day regardless of that it was launched greater than a 12 months in the past and has the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 4 Professional in line after it. It’s one in every of DJI’s most traditional creations.
Then there’s the Air 3, totally different in some ways, resembling its distinctive second digicam and prolonged flight time with out the necessity for a battery improve. I fell in love with it the second I flew it and nonetheless relish each time I take it out.
These two drones are each glorious selections for industrial pilots, albeit destined for various audiences.
The Mini 3 is beginner-friendly and appeals to a social media crowd who need to make a huge impact with out being drone consultants. The Air 3 is for the seasoned pilot who desires to step it up.
So, which is healthier?
This text will assessment the variations between the DJI Mini 3 and Air 3, pertaining to areas like battery life, efficiency, impediment avoidance, digicam high quality, and all the opposite elements affecting your decision-making when shopping for a drone. I’ll share loads of my private ideas and expertise alongside the way in which that can assist you see why I chosen the Air 3 as my drone of selection between these two glorious DJI fashions.
I do know you’re able to purchase your drone now, so let’s not waste a second.
Transient overview
DJI Mini 3
As talked about, the Mini 3 is an “older” drone in some respects, launched in Could 2022. It was adopted inside that very same 12 months by the Mini 3 Professional, then the Mini 4 Professional in September 2023.
In contrast to these two Professional editions, the Mini 3 has accessibility and inclusivity going for it. That’s what drew me to it.
It seemed just like the sort of drone anybody may decide up and fly, and I in the end confirmed that to be true after I examined it out. It was really easy to study and grasp, which felt very rewarding.
Listed below are its standout options:
- An ultra-capable 1/1.3-inch CMOS digicam that shoots in 48 MP picture high quality and 4K HDR video. That’s a big step up from the Mini 2’s high quality, and the Mini 3’s high quality nonetheless holds up over a 12 months after its launch. That’s the sort of high quality that may spoil you if that is your first drone, particularly when you purchase a drone from a producer apart from DJI.
- An FAA-complementary weight of underneath 249 grams. For those who use this drone recreationally, you don’t need to hassle registering it. It’s all the time good to save lots of time and the $5, particularly for learners who don’t need to do the rest earlier than they’ll fly.
- The battery life is surprisingly first rate, with 38 marketed minutes with the usual Clever Flight Battery. For those who improve to the Clever Flight Battery Plus for an extra price, DJI says this drone can fly for over 50 minutes!
- A robust suite of Clever Flight Modes that learners will enjoyment of, together with extra QuickShots modes, Vertical and Horizontal capturing, and entry to DJI’s free, intuitive modifying app LightCut, which runs on Wi-Fi. You may shoot, polish, and submit your footage earlier than you even head dwelling for the day, sustaining a posting schedule that retains your identify high of thoughts.
- Surprisingly nice Degree 5 wind resistance for a drone so light-weight. DJI recommends flying this drone in winds of 24 miles per hour, however I’ve pushed it previous 25 mph a couple of times with adequate outcomes.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional (Which Drone Is Higher?)
DJI Air 3
Following a few 12 months after the discharge of the Mini 3 was the Air 3, an entry within the long-running Mavic collection.
This drone received popularity of its dual-camera system, which despatched shockwaves by means of the drone group.
I used to be so psyched for this drone to come back out, and I didn’t wait lengthy after its launch to personally fly it. Since that fateful day, I’ve flown this drone for lots of of hours total, familiarizing myself with its each function.
So, that are probably the most noteworthy? Right here’s a listing:
- The twin-camera system has a medium tele and wide-angle digicam. Each cameras obtain 12 to 48 MP picture decision relying on the capturing mode. The cameras have totally different format equivalents and apertures in keeping with your temper and setting. The medium tele digicam additionally options 3X optical zoom.
- Twin 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensors can produce 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second. This video high quality is superb, and with robust colour grading, the lifelike richness of your movies and pictures will provide help to construct a five-star undertaking portfolio.
- An marketed baseline battery size of 46 minutes, with out the necessity to improve to a different battery.
- Extra superior options make flying the Air 3 protected, resembling omnidirectional impediment sensing and Good RTH. You may fly this drone with fewer worries.
- Wonderful Clever Flight Modes, together with FocusTrack through the medium tele digicam, 2.7K Vertical Capturing, QuickShots, and MasterShots. LightCut can be appropriate with this drone for quicker modifying.
» MORE: Finest Digital camera Settings for DJI Air 3 (Photograph & Video)
Fast verdict
Right here on Droneblog, we solely carry you the highest drone suggestions based mostly on lots of of hours of flight testing, private expertise, and analysis. So, between the Mini 3 and Air 3, which drone comes out on high?
I really feel assured in concluding that the DJI Air 3 is the higher drone between it and the Mini 3. It doesn’t solely come all the way down to its dual-camera system, though that was definitely a contributing issue. The Air 3 additionally has extra Clever Flight Modes, a sturdy impediment avoidance system, and a stronger battery life out of the gate.
In fact, I may heap praises on the Mini 3 all day. It’s that good of a drone.
It nonetheless stands up nicely in opposition to the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 4 Professional, though these drones might need some superior options the Mini 3 lacks.
The Mini 3 stays a cheap entry within the Mini line for learners who need top-notch picture and video high quality, starter Clever Flight Modes, and a battery that doesn’t give up. It’s simply not so good as the Air 3.
» MORE: The place Is the Serial Quantity on DJI Air 3 (Answered)
What are the principle variations?
Though each drones are manufactured by DJI, their variations will not be negligible. These two drones belong to totally different collection, making every a refreshingly distinctive flight expertise.
There’s lots to have interaction you irrespective of which of those two drones you choose.
Let’s delve into what makes them dissimilar.
- Variety of cameras: Like many DJI drones earlier than and after it, the Mini 3 is provided with a single digicam. The Air 3 provides two, offering extra versatility.
- Weight: As you’d possible determine, the Air 3 is a heavier drone as a result of it has two cameras. It’s additionally not designed to be as light-weight because the Mini 3, which weighs underneath 250 grams. The Air 3 is 720 grams by comparability, so it’s greater than twice the load of the Mini 3. They don’t name it a Mini drone for nothing!
- Impediment avoidance: The Air 3 has omnidirectional impediment sensing and APAS 5.0 to detect and dodge obstacles. It’s a wise system and top-of-the-line DJI provides at present (not less than as of this writing). By comparability, the Mini 3 has no impediment avoidance. That makes it significantly much less protected to fly, though it’s suited to learners extra so than the Air 3.
- Clever Flight Modes: Each drones have Clever Flight Modes; these are DJI drones, in spite of everything. Nevertheless, the Air 3 has extra, together with MasterShots and FocusTrack.
- Newbie-friendliness: The Air 3 is an superior drone, however let’s be actual, it’s sort of intimidating when you don’t have a variety of flight expertise. Regardless that it has impediment detection and avoidance, it’s not probably the most beginner-friendly drone from DJI. The Mini 3 is way simpler to choose up and fly by comparability. It has options like auto-launching that I believe are so useful!
DJI Mini 3
The Mini 3 continues an ultra-successful line of DJI drones designed to be flown recreationally with out FAA registration.
These travel-friendly drones underneath 250 grams have impressed many copycats, however there’s one thing in regards to the originals that simply can’t be beat.
The 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor is identical discovered within the Air 3. Its highest picture decision is a shocking 48 MP. That’s about pretty much as good because it will get in DJI’s consumer-level drones.
You’d need to improve to an enterprise resolution for higher, and which may not suit your wants even when working commercially.
The 4K HDR video high quality is about pretty much as good as DJI does it, too. Certain, a few of its cameras can obtain 5.1K video, however the distinction between the 2 isn’t giant sufficient that you simply’d have to think about one other collection apart from the Mini when you love every little thing else in regards to the Mini 3.
Apart from these glorious digicam qualities, the 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor has twin native ISO, four-in-one pixels, and f/1.7 aperture.
Though an adjustable aperture is all the time extra enjoyable, I discovered the default settings of the Mini 3’s digicam are well-suited for day and evening images and videography.
» MORE: DJI Mini 2 SE vs. DJI Mini 3 (Right here’s My Selection)
You need to count on unimaginable highlights, particulars, and shadows in your work, the sort of head-turning high quality that may put a smile on any consumer’s face. Oh, and did I point out this digicam has 4x zoom for getting in shut with out flying your drone too close to the scene?
The three-axis mechanical gimbal helps Vertical and Horizontal capturing alike for social media-friendly photographs.
The QuickShots options are among the most plentiful in any DJI drone, with 5 togglable modes for extra enjoyable: Dronie, Boomerang, Rocket, Circle, and Helix.
These options mechanically elevate the Mini 3 into the sky, capturing movies because it maneuvers. You may develop the Mini 3’s digicam capabilities with the Panorama function, capturing in Large Angle, Sphere, and 180-Levels.
Good RTH is a failsafe in case of low battery or lack of sign. It’s also possible to launch the Mini 3 mechanically by means of Auto Takeoff, a function DJI discovered so good, it returned within the later Mini 2 SE.
The infrared sensors, downward imaginative and prescient system, and GNSS hold this drone hovering stably to extend your self-assurance as you find out how this drone maneuvers.
DJI Mini 3 (DJI RC)
Light-weight and Foldable Mini Digital camera Drone with 4K HDR Video, 38-min Flight Time, True Vertical Capturing, and Clever Options.
We earn a fee when you make a purchase order, at no further value to you.
12/02/2023 07:11 am GMT
DJI Air 3
The Air 3 continues DJI’s esteemed line of drones on this collection, producing a double-camera system that’s one of many producer’s most crowning achievements thus far.
For those who personal the Mini 3 and also you’re searching for a drone to improve to after you study its options and acquire sufficient expertise, the Air 3 will really feel like a well-recognized companion.
In any case, it has the identical 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor you’re used to, producing glorious video and picture high quality.
The cameras can shoot in 12 MP in some modes, which isn’t that nice, however with a max high quality of 48 MP, I’m not sweating the 12 MP settings a lot, and also you shouldn’t both.
Let’s take a better have a look at the cameras.
One is a medium tele digicam with an f/2.8 aperture and a 70-millimeter format equal. That is the 3x zoom digicam. The wide-angle digicam consists of f/1.7 aperture and a 24-millimeter format equal.
The cameras seize the identical scenes fairly in a different way. Reasonably than carry a number of drones on a undertaking or journey, you need to use simply the Air 3 to take footage that matches the temper and setting.
» MORE: Does DJI RC Professional Work with Air 3 (Answered)
Plus, with 10-bit HLG and 10-bit D-Log M, the vary of colours in your movies and images will improve your footage so fantastically that you simply may solely must spend minutes in submit. The twin native ISO and crop-free movies additionally cut back your modifying time.
You may spend extra time flying and importing, good for content material creators who by no means take a break day.
The Air 3 has security options aplenty, way over you’ll discover within the Mini 3. It makes use of the Superior Pilot Help System or APAS 5.0 to keep away from obstacles and omnidirectional impediment sensing.
That’s a complete security system for learners and extra skilled pilots alike.
Just like the Mini 3, the Air 3 has Good RTH, Vertical Capturing (in 2.7K for each cameras), and QuickShots.
Moreover, it has FocusTrack through the medium tele digicam, with Level of Curiosity 3.0, Highlight 2.0, and ActiveTrack 5.0 for locating topics, locking on, and zooming in.
MasterShots is a social media star’s dream, because it has results and cuts for rapidly placing collectively your cinematic masterpiece. You may even add music.
Then, between SmartPhoto 3.0 (which selects the scene, hyperlight, and HDR in keeping with your setting, taking single-shot images), Evening Mode, Gradual Movement, and Hyperlapse, you’ve received all you want.
Head-to-head comparability
Digital camera system
Winner: DJI Air 3
The Mini 3 and Air 3 have the identical digicam sensor techniques and picture and video decision. Whereas it might have been a better battle if these have been single-camera drones, they aren’t.
The Air 3 has two cameras, so it has a bonus. The wide-angle digicam expands the world round you extra fantastically than you’ve maybe ever skilled with a drone earlier than, whereas the 3x medium tele digicam zooms and maintains glorious high quality, whether or not capturing pictures or movies.
Then, between the 10-bit D-Log M and 10-bit HLG, you get a stunning array of colours the Mini 3’s digicam can’t fairly stay as much as. It’s shut, don’t get me flawed, and I nonetheless love the colourful movies and pictures you possibly can take with the Mini 3, however they’re not fairly as vibrant.
The element, highlights, shadows, and dynamic vary you possibly can count on within the Air 3 are additionally superior, though I’ll give the zooming capabilities to the Mini 3.
Its digicam can zoom in 4x quite than the 3x the Air 3 achieves. It’s a small win, however a win, however.
» MORE: Digital camera Know-how in Drones (Defined)
Efficiency
Winner: DJI Air 3
The Mini 3 is a tremendous drone throughout the board, and it excels in efficiency. Nevertheless, it doesn’t excel to fairly the identical diploma because the Air 3, not less than not in most classes.
By way of launching and retaining your drone airborne, sure, the Mini 3 wins. It does all this virtually mechanically to facilitate confidence in new pilots.
Nevertheless, when you’re within the sky, the Air 3 offers a greater expertise.
It has extra Clever Flight Modes than the Mini 3. I like the Mini 3’s good options, however sure, after some time, you need extra. The Air 3 delivers.
The Air 3 can be a safer drone to fly, because it has impediment detection and avoidance. The Mini 3 has a downward sensing system, however that’s not fairly impediment detection, and it definitely can’t keep away from obstacles. That’s all on you.
It’s a curious omission on this beginner-friendly drone made curiouser by the truth that some Mini drones don’t have any impediment avoidance in anyway, and others do. Go determine.
» MORE: Drone Security Options (All You Have to Know)
Portability
Winner: DJI Mini 3
The Mini 3 is the clear winner on this class. This drone is designed to journey right here, there, and all over the place. It’s light-weight, small, foldable, and the final word in portability.
You may carry it in a small bag, a bigger one, a backpack, or absolutely anything, and it received’t weigh you down.
The Air 3 additionally folds, but it surely’s bigger than the Mini 3 and in addition weighs extra. It’s the sort of drone you are taking in your travels with a knot in your abdomen, hoping it reaches its vacation spot in a single piece.
Touring with it received’t be a back-breaking expertise or something of that kind, however this drone isn’t precisely that gentle, and also you may really feel it after some time.
» MORE: The Final Information to Touring with a Drone
RC compatibility and transmission vary
Winner: DJI Air 3
The Mini 3 makes use of the DJI RC, a glossy, good controller with a big, 5.5-inch display for accessing the DJI Fly app, LightCut, flight diagnostics, and extra.
This light-weight, easy-to-use controller is appropriate with the Mini 3 Professional, Air 2S, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Professional, Mavic 3 Cine, Mavic 3 Basic, and Mavic 3 Professional Cine.
The touchscreen is tremendous responsive, and you may customise the management buttons to fly the Mini 3 (and different appropriate drones) how you want. What’s to not love?
The Air 3 consists of the DJI RC 2, which DJI calls a “next-generation” distant.
This controller has a display measurement the identical because the DJI RC, but it surely’s received an FHD show. The processor can be new and improved, as is the transmission system and antenna system, the latter of which boasts 4 receivers and two transmitters.
It’s a nicer-looking controller that handles nicely, after which there’s that superb display. It’s the final word technique to see how your drone is dealing with all of the flight controls.
This controller debuted with the Air 3 and is to date solely additionally appropriate with the Mini 4 Professional, so the Mini 3 wins within the controller compatibility division.
Nevertheless, the DJI RC can solely transmit video information 10 kilometers away, whereas the O4 video transmission system included within the RC-N2 doubles that, making it the higher distant.
» MORE: DJI Transmission System (Every little thing You Have to Know)
Battery life
Winner: DJI Mini 3
The Mini 3 has a normal flight time of 38 minutes with the bottom Clever Flight Battery. Effectively, that’s the time DJI advertises. I received round 35 minutes, which is okay however not so long as a few of DJI’s rivals nowadays.
The bottom battery lifetime of the Mini 3 doesn’t need to be excessively lengthy, contemplating you possibly can improve to the Clever Flight Battery Plus to get an marketed 51 minutes of flight time.
Now, it’s a bummer this battery doesn’t include the bottom Mini 3, but it surely’s price upgrading. I received round 47 minutes of time within the sky with this battery, which is nicely over 10 minutes greater than what the bottom battery will get you.
The Air 3 doesn’t have an upgradable battery. Its battery life is an marketed 46 minutes, so round 42 minutes. It’s a significantly better battery life for a 2023 drone.
I’d have picked the Air 3 if not for the Mini 3’s ultra-tempting 51-minute flight time, even when you don’t get it with the bottom drone.
» MORE: Drone Batteries (In-Depth Data)
Conclusion
Choosing between the DJI Mini 3 and Air 3 doesn’t produce a loser both method. Your selection ought to come all the way down to what you’re searching for in a drone.
For those who search an ultra-lightweight mannequin, the Mini 3 received’t disappoint. Its high-quality digicam, base Clever Flight Options, and on-the-go modifying make it a powerhouse. That mentioned, it’s lacking impediment detection and avoidance.
The Air 3 is for the professional drone photographer and videographer who needs to simplify their fleet.
This drone has two cameras in a single to go well with extra moods and images and videography eventualities, to not point out nice Clever Flight Modes and top-line impediment avoidance.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. DJI Air 2S (Which One is Proper for You?)
