Great content. Enjoyed your video. Just bought mini 3 after owning mini 2. Find built in screen such a bonus. So much better. Mini 3 quieter than the mini 2. Look forward to your future videos
I just picked this up at Costco with the regular remote for $299. Helluva deal. I just flew it tonight for the first time, first drone flight ever, it’s rad. Love it.
Just wanna say thank you for this review/comparison. I’ve watched quite a few videos covering the Mini 3, and yours is the first one where I don’t feel like anything has been left out. Really like your style
i bought the mini 3 from costco for 429 dollars which included the RC N1 controller with the ND filterS and an micro sd card ....till now im loving it .....
I brought a Mini 3 .. 2 weeks back and super rapped with the drone a hell of a lot of fun and superb videos / pics etc, I feel with none of the sensors from the Mini Pro on the Mini 3 you don't become complacent and think nothing is going to happen with your drone....makes you more alert and aware of the surroundings when flying.....my opinion only but love this Mini 3
I just bought the Dji mini 3. I must say I am very satisfied. Awesome drone. And I am beginner. But I am planning to get a professional drone later. This is fun. Thx for a great review!
I 100% agree on the best value combo being the Mini3 with RC controller and an extra battery plus. I don't care about obstacle avoidance or follow me modes, so I pretty stoked to see the Mini3!
@@AD-hs4cw At least the mini 3 does not overheat like the mini 3 and 4 pro does when that happens the drone will just land and having obstacle avoidance is not 100 percent crashing into wires night flights or sport mode and they sell new mini 3 drones on ebay for $299.00 for just the drone
@@brucedon1951I’ve found that If you put on the little motor covers, they tend to heat up pretty good. I thought they would be good protection for any debris, but maybe not the best idea!
I normally don’t comment on videos, but this one was well done. Thanks for the content. I especially liked the real quick unbox at the end. I just purchased a Mini 3 with the RC remote so I’ll be checking out the rest of your channel.
Russ your videos are always most informative and easy to understand. Thank you! FYI, I have a Magic 2 Pro. Recently the remote controller quit accepting a charge. I sent it to DJI who received it on a Thursday, repaired it (new board) on Friday and I had it back on Sunday. I’m impressed,
Finally someone not hating on the mini 3, I had the mini 2 for 2 years and wanted to upgrade without spending a fortune so this was the perfect drone for me I don't need obstacle avoidance as I'm quite an experienced pilot and the slow motion doesn't bother me also you can use quickshots to track yourself even being a hack it works well, I also kept my basic controller as I get on perfectly fine with it, then saving more money. So all I needed was the drone and I also bought the fly more combo which cost me £500 all together. I might upgrade the controller in the future. So from selling my mini 2 for £250 it only cost me £250 for the new drone. Happy ending.
Its Dec 2024 and i looked at the options and today i still bought the DJI Mini 3 with a RC control! Its still a classic. I just have to buy a few extra batteries.
i have the mini 2 and im happy with it, its my first drone and i really like it, sadly the weather hasnt been great this month, i only got to fly it a few times
Nice video Russ. Very informative. I like how you did the silent unboxing at the end. I'm still sticking with my Mini 2 for now. I couldn't justify the cost for a new drone.
I just got the Mini 3 Combo, love x3 having the extra batteries! Liked so much that when I the basic kit at Costco for just under $400, I got it too so now I have a second! Not sure why you’d want a gauge of 10K, that’s not line of sight that’s required…I don’t get needing that part. I’d be scared to death to go just by the camera! Thanks for the great post….(oh did I mention I later also found a Mini 4 for a great deal, though it’s still in the box!) Oh, I get about 40 minutes in 70 degree weather.
For some people the extra sensors for obstacle avoidance makes them to decide to choose for the Mini 3 Pro but remember that: - obstacle avoidance is automatically disabled when using 'S'port mode - there are no sensors at each side of the drone, so be very careful when tracking parallel!
I currently Fly Both Air 2, and Mini 2. I have been planning on upgrading to a Mini 3 Pro after the first of the year, Active tracking is a must for me so I can track my boat while out fishing and camping. The Only thing That keeps me from Buying the Mini 3 Pro at this point is Not knowing if sometime next year will DJI roll out a New Air unit. If a New Air 3 comes out I will go with the Air unit. But for my needs I am still planning on the Mini 3 Pro.
The Air 3 just doesn’t make sense to me with the Mini 3 pro and the Mavic classic being available, where would it fit price point wise and what would be the benefit of it over the two mentioned? That’s just my opinion I’d love to hear what you and others also think of that.
Great video !! But where are the other Mini 3 vids you said were in the pipeline? So much YT content is out there on the Mini 3 pro but much less on the Mini 3
Great informative analysis. Really appreciate this video. As someone who has flown a few times with friends drones and is super ready to make a purchase, this has made the selection process a lot easier. Thanks!
The ocusync 2.0 system used by the mini 3 means that it is possible that the dji RC can also be used by the mini 2 right? because I fly this mini 2, i really hope that our mini 2 users can use the dji RC
Thanks for this timely comparison. I'm considering getting my first drone in the spring. As of now, I think I'll go with the Mini 3 Pro. The obstacle avoidance is attractive, especially since my child is going to be learning to fly it too!
Same here Adam. It will be my 3rd drone, but feel just go for the pro if it's in your budget. Also waiting for the spring to buy as I don't fly much in the winter here on Long Island NY. Why waste a few months of the care refresh not flying it.
I live in Ky and I just got the mini 3 Pro 3 weeks ago. I still feel it’s worth the difference for what you get. However if I was starting out and didn’t have a drone I would go for the 3 over the 2 if that was my price range.
I want to feel the same way, but the price difference is making me lean towards the M3 over the M3P. I don't plan on flying in a lot of tight areas. The D cinelike and hyperlapse are what's really pulling me towards the M3P.
The obstacle avoidance on the Mini 3 Pro is more intended for ActiveTrack autopiloting. Most drone collisions occur from the sides, and this area is unprotected on the m3P. The m3P only has front, bottom, and rear. The front you'll obviously almost never find useful when piloting manually, the bottom is pretty much standard on all DJI drones, at it's just the sensor that assists you with landing. The rear sensors are helpful, but it's not 100% reliable, perhaps because it's positioned with them all the way at the front of the drone, directly reverse the front sensors. That leaves the top unguarded (not super high risk, unless you're flying low to the ground), the sides unguarded (your biggest danger, as probably 2/3 of collisions happen from the sides) and your rear, while protected, is not 100% reliable due to the poor vantage point and distance from the actual rear end of the aircraft. If you want omnidirectional collision-sensor coverage, if that is important to you, go for the DJI Air 2S - it's only slightly more expensive than the Mini 3 Pro. The camera is slightly better than the m3P, and can even shoot 5.7k at 30fps. It's only slightly larger, and does much better in stronger winds, however it's over 250g which is not great if you travel internationally. It lacks vertical shooting, however it is compatible with third party apps (the mini 3 is not) which give you all kinds of extra features, like waypoint flights, and the ability to have the drone track your controller signal, instead of using a visual lock, which means the drone won't lose you if the lighting changes or you walk under some branches or even through an underpass. Given that your child will be learning to fly, you need to go with either full sensor coverage, or a cheap but stable drone like the Mini SE that won't put such a dent in the wallet if they slam into the side of a tree while orbiting an object.
Thanks Russ. Nice initial take on this offering. I think pricing should always be mentioned with the date in the same sentence (or paragraph at least). It's useful data that is time-specific. While no obstacle avoidance and no 4k/60 are main differences, O2 vs O3 is probably worth mentioning.
The date of the release of the video is in the description. That is obviously the same date, give or take 4 weeks, of the price given in the video. Do you also want a clean glass to drink from? Because my guests get the hose or the dog bowl.
I think for people who have an older drone or just need a sub 250g drone it’s great. But staying 1 year behind a hype can save you half the cost of what it would be brand new. It’s so hard not to buy the newest thing though 😂
Then there’s my 4 years behind. I just got the mini last week and love it, I saw it was on sale at Costco for 300 so I’m upgrading already. 😭😭😭 I feel like it can’t get any better can’t wait to see the difference.
I love my dji mini 3 (wish it had avoidance). My first flight at altitude and the video I took was an amazing experience. But early on, I wasn't used to the idea of flying it without seeing it, but I've adjusted :)
I’m new to drones and picked up the mini 3 fly more combo. For me the obstacle avoidance wasn’t an issue as I understand that it’s less than perfect avoiding branches or wires. Even as a new pilot, I’m more concerned about avoiding what I can’t see than what I can see and avoid myself. I was bit disappointed to find the mini 3 can’t follow moving objects and that they made the RC remote non-compatible with other DJI drones that I might want as well, such as the Neo. Overall I’m happy with the mini 3 so far. I’m impressed with how it can hold position even in stiff breezes.
I'm so desperately in love and heartbroken at the same time over this new version of the mini. I own the first mini that was released and had it for nearly 2 years before a power line took out the gimble on it; I've been droneless ever since!!!! I want more than anything to get back up in the sky and shooting video again, but I unfortunately haven't been able to afford a new DJI (the only way to fly). Maybe in a few years, when this tech is rendered obsolete by its predecessor, I'll be able to afford a mini 3 😢
I learned that remote ID is for all drones. Not just over 250g. That includes the mini drones also. Maybe you should check into that more. I wish I would have saved that video where I got that information.
Being a first time flyer, I need to protect my investment. The front and rear sensors on the Mini 3 Pro and the $79 DJI Repair and Fly Away Insurance makes me feel confident. For reference check out Russ' hoodie @ 10:51. "Lost One More Drone"
Mini 2 owner here. While I love the idea of a M3 or M3P, I will wait until the SDK is published so Litchi and Maven can fully function on a more expensive drone. Good for DJI in continually improving their product line - pretty cool stuff. There is some scuttlebutt that suggests DJI will not be releasing a SDK for the M3P. Hope that is not the case.
Just got mine a week ago with the DJI RC. Realized I can't live stream to Facebook which I used to love to do with my old school Mavic Pro so I just ordered an RC N-1 controller to allow me to do that.
If you can hold off and wait for some of the Amazon days, I got my Mini RC Fly more Bundle on Black Friday for $559. I have since added 2 memory cards (not included with the drone) and a hard case. I also managed to break a front axis that turned out to be a quick DIY $13 repair.
Nice review. My first DJI drone was the Phantom 2 Vision+. Ordered it on the release date in 2013. The Vision+ with an extra battery was $1259. It could fly for 20 minutes, had a 1080 camera with serious fisheye, & the range spec was 800 meters. For $858 the Mini 3 FlyMore with DJI RC is an incredible deal at an amazing price.
Flight time, 249g and video quality are my 3 priorities. Range is tied to flight time so going way far out is great but will the battery get you home, aha! A nice video on the subject , what is your regular day job ?
Thanks Russ ,just bought dji3 as my first drone as a absolute beginner,but love it. Just one thing I can't sort out is the RC screen seems dark when I am flying.is there anyway to brighten screen when flying.cheers
I'm picking up the dji rc for my Air 2 s I'm keeping my mini 2 hopefully they make it compatible for the mini 2 with the air2s there is no need for me to even consider any mini 3 News flash the mini 2 is still an awesome drone all most people will ever need
Another home run for DJI. Just hope that the rush to market will not bring with it any quality issues. Mentioning prices in this kind of video is helpful to the viewers. Just include the date of pricing. Great video as always Russ👍🏼😃
Great video! Just bought the Mini 3 and I was wondering if it is RID capability. DJI told me it was. But I can not find it scrolling through the menu. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
I just received my Mini 3 pro yesterday and took it out for a quick spin today. It's a pretty nice drone. I am going to do a hyper lapse tomorrow. I haven't received the strobe yet so it will be a day time hyperlapse.
Russ, I heard today from Jason Shappert (Remote Pilot 101) that Remote ID is still required on sub 250g drones. It says nothing about weight in the remote ID requirements. Please double/trip[le check on this for clarification. The only way to get around Remote ID will be to fly in a FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). A lot of people think because registrations is not required that Remote ID isn't either. From what I have read and what I have heard that is not the case.
As I understand, it needs to be on every drone in case that drone is used for commercial purposes. In that case, the drone would need to be registered and thus required to have remote ID activated. I am wondering if you have a drone that is not registered if you will be able to bypass the remote ID. I will need to do more research on that.
I've got the Mini 3 Pro and it's a fantastic little drone. Matter of fact, the last dozen or so videos that I put on my channel, all came from that drone. The night time / low light vision of the camera is fantastic. I would presume the Mini 3 drone has the same capabilities.
Thanks for the as always thorough review and comparisons. At this point, I wish I had known the M3 Classic was coming as I might have waited; however, I am very happy I got the Mini 3 Pro as I like the additional benefits. I do wish they had added 360 obstacle avoidance as they probably could have made it like the M3 with the same weight.
Russ, great video as usual. I just purchased (not yet delivered) the Mini 3 FMC and will also get the reasonably priced care option -- based in part to your video. For me, the pricing info was very useful and appreciated. DJI's prices don't change that often, so your videos remain relevant.
@@kakiitek2321 recently lost my job due to the company going bankrupt so I got the 2 se and love it! When I start working again I might upgrade and give the 2 to my wife
I just bought a mini 3 for $419 and I love it. The RC controller seems silly to me as it is smaller and less bright than the ancient android phone I pulled out of a drawer to fly with. Low end android phones are so much bigger and brighter than the RC screen I really don’t see the appeal.
My mini 3 is arriving today. Im late to the meeting, but im still super excited about my very first drone. I'm already building a list of places I want to go fly it.
Great video. I'm still going to purchase the Mini 3 Pro. The dollars vs features just don't change my mind. For me being a first time drone purchaser the obstacle avoidance is something that is a big priority.
If you're a beginner and have never flown any drone before, this would be a really dumb decision.. Practice on a toy grade drone and get good at flying/maneuvering before attempting it on a $1000 one...
We've had two big releases from DJI in the last month or so, the Mini 3 and the Mavic 3 Classic. Sounds like a good time to do a DJI drone comparison outlining the best value drones, who should pay for which drones and which drones in the line up no longer make sense.
The existence of the mini 3, mini 3 pro, and mavic classic, make the Air series obsolete and has no offering of why you’d get it over any of the others;
@@andyklapper8484 I don’t disagree with that, because then again money is money and if they think people will buy it, it won’t matter how similar it is.
Hi, Russ. Good video with lots of info. I have a question regarding photos with the Mini 3. I had a Mini 2 and could zoom in for a closer look, I gave that drone to my son and bought an Air 2S, but was greatly disappointed that the zoom feature for photos was not available. Can you zoom with the Mini 3or Pro for photos?
You can zoom when it’s the 12mp photos but you can’t zoom when it’s 48mp. however, I would state that if you take the 48mp photo the detail is so great you could zoom in post and get something pretty good out of it if not better than digital zoom during the shot.
Hey. I had been flying the original Mavic Mini. I didn’t know but my mom got me the Mini 3 for Christmas. It was well worth he price. I have been out flying for the past week. If it wasn’t raining out today (01-03-2023), I’d be out there now. Enjoyed the video. Thanks for the content and hard work.
You didn't mention the lack of the simulated 48mp mode that the m3P has. My understanding is that the camera still captures unique information from each quadrant of the pixels, but it just lacks the onboard software to break the pixels up into 4 defined sub-pixels, yet even without the software to divide the 12mp into a quasi-48mp, it is still picking up that more detailed information from each pixel which somehow helps it construct a better image in low light than the same camera would without that four-quadrant pixel tech. I don't know if I'm making much sense, haha. But Matthews Brennan basically stated that while the mini 3 can only capture 12mp stills, the same sensor tech which enables the m3P to take "48"mp stills by dividing the information in each pixel into 4 seperate sub-pixels, that enables the mini 3 to capture better results in low-light images, even if it doesn't have the software to actually seperately process and store the information in 4 seperate sub-pixels. But I've also heard that fn same accord, the quasi-48mp photos taken by the m3P don't offer much of an improvement over the m3P's standard 12mp photos. But I'm curious to see if there actually any difference been the 12mp photos taken by the mini 3 and the 12mp photos taken by the m3P. So maybe you could do a follow-up video you could do a side by side of of the same scene in low light with the Mini 3 Pro in both 48mp and 12mp, and the Mini 3 in 12mp, just to see if the sub-pixel sensor technology in the camera hardware can actually improve the image without having the corresponding on-board software to fully interpret and process the data. Basically does the 12mp mode of the Mini 3 live up to the 12mp mode of the m3P without the same advanced on-board sub-pixel processing software that enables the m3P to pull 4 pixels out of one? Mattheww Brennan thinks so. But he's Irish, so we can't trust his level of sobriety.
Great information! I know that the Mini 3 will not "track" however, I've seen other videos where you can get the Mini 3 to sort of track you as you're walking, on one side of you, not in front or back. Can you please mention how to do this? I have my Mini 3 coming tomorrow! Thank you.
Imo if you have a mini 2 dong upgrade to this, if you want to upgrade now then get the mini 3 pro it’s will be a much better upgrade. However if your looking for your first drone then you should definitely get this
Nice review - New facelift for the 249g DJI line up - So Mini2 & SE will disappear. My Mini2 still going strong 5 batteries it'll remain in my flight line up for a while too come!
Great video 😍 Love the pricing. Question.... Because of the Mini 3 having O2 can we use it with the Org Smart Controller?? I currently fly my Air2 & S & Mini2 with the smart controller. I think this could be a game changer for the people that have it. Thank you
They would have to have an update for that controller the same way the RC had an update to allow it to pair. I think maybe, if they still in fact release updates for that unit you have a chance.
I like the basic price info. Thanks. I’m interested in getting into drones my concern is flight times and return if it goes to far away from me and the signal
Thanks for the review, how important do you think obstacle avoidance is? would it be used much? the Mini 3 does not have this but the price is outstanding. I always have always wondered how often it would be used
I have just purchased the Mini 3 standard pack. Base remote and single battery as it's my first dabble into drones. The extra features of the pro didn't affect my choice, as budget was my main restriction. I got a good deal on it, but will definitely be purchasing more batteries in the future. Hyperlapse and D-Cinelink would not really be features I would use, so not a deal breaker for me.
@@kaustubhchaudhari2179 I paid £429 for the base drone, controller and single battery and then £150 for the fly more pack. This was a year ago, so there are probably better deals around now.
Ok so I have a Mini 3 ordered and should be arriving soon. It’s the fly more combo and appears to have three of the standard batteries which keeps it under 250 grams. So here’s my hypothetical question. Suppose I decide to order the higher capacity battery, and just decide to fly it without registration. It’s not that I have a problem with registration, but I am concerned with remote ID when it rolls out. I’m sure this is probably addressed in lots of other videos but what’s the short answer? If I just decide to go ahead with the higher capacity battery does the Mini 3 just all of a sudden start transmitting remote ID when that becomes official? I assume it would give some sort of message on the screen, similar to flying in a warning area, when you have to click the “I acknowledge, accept all liability, etc” box before you can take off. In other words, what happens if someone decides to fly over the weight limit, without registering? Asking for a friend. Lol! 😜
Hi Russ, Thanks for another quality video! You mentioned going with the standard FMC to avoid registration and remote ID. Can remote ID be avoided? My understanding is that it cannot be turned off. "Less than ideal conditions" and then you show that it's 11 degrees F! I would call that less than miserable conditions! I'll bet you get even better percentages of advertised flight times when you try it in conditions suitable for actual human (and drone) habitation! What a great extreme weather test, though!
Yeah. Im new with drone. And also i dont know about how to edit the video 😂. And the price between mm3 fmc & dji rc with mm3pro is about 1100 Ringgit Malaysia (around 250usd)
I’ve been flying as a hobby for 4 years and have never used D-link. I just do a few quick quality of life edits on Lightroom and that’s all. Currently the mini 3 pro is $450 AUD more in Australia.
Do you think the Mini 2 will be added to the DJI-RC controller as the Air 2S was? I have the Mini 2 with fly more combo that is less than 9 months old & have a hard time buying the Mini 3 as all of my flying is just for recreation purposes, but it would be nice to only have one controller to carry as I use the DJI-RC with my Air 2S.
Great video Russ! I’ve now had the Mini SE, Mini 2, and got the Mini 3 Pro about 3 weeks ago. While I am excited to see this I don’t feel burned or let down by the product I bought; I mostly film in 24fps and want the highest image quality possible; I’m also trying to be the professional part in pro- lol as I have my part 107 so of course I’m looking for something different than the hobbiest ; I also like that the pro model has the focus track and spotlight along with auto tracking feature while I don’t use it all the time, I do use it and like the option. All of that said I was using my mini 2 for more daring things and it had a place in my drone line up. Now I’m thinking of selling it to my brother and getting the mini 3 for those jobs and saving some money by going the no controller route. Thanks again Russ, sorry this is so long, I’m just passionate about drones 😅
How well do all the components of the FMC fit in the included bag? Other UA-camrs noticed that when purchasing the MIni 3 Pro and its FMC separately, the FMC components would not fit in the bag.
I'm curious to see the difference in photos. Mini 3 says just 12MP but mini 3 pro says 48MP. If you can compare that I'd appreciate it. Great vid as always.
I honestly was not aware that there was a Mini 3. I will keep my Mini 2 for now. If I replace it with a Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, my concern is that DJI will release a sub 250g Mini 4 or Mini 5 with a better camera, obstacle avoidance, D-Cinelike, and other cool features the Mini 2 does not have. I will wait to see what comes in 2023, if anything. Thank you for the review of the Mini 3.
Same here. Sticking with my mini 2 which seems obvious and even just staying one year behind the hype can save you half the price for example: I bought my mini 2 last year for C$800 plus tax and now I’m seeing them on Kijiji/craigslist for C$400 or less barely used
my biggest issue/downside is that the mini 3 cannot take photos with 48MPx. this is just a software limitation as it is the same sensor/camera in the M3P
Just bought the mini 3 because of your video it was $609.00 new and with screen controller and for a spare their selling new mini 3 drones for $299.00 just the drone i will buy an extra batt and charger to I thought about obstacle avoidance but they do not work in night flights telephone wires or sport mode
Great content. Enjoyed your video. Just bought mini 3 after owning mini 2. Find built in screen such a bonus. So much better. Mini 3 quieter than the mini 2. Look forward to your future videos
I just picked this up at Costco with the regular remote for $299. Helluva deal. I just flew it tonight for the first time, first drone flight ever, it’s rad. Love it.
I just got the mini 3 for 329. I was going to buy the mini 4k but for a few more dollars why not 🤷🏽♂️
Same here @@tonythehitman1
Just wanna say thank you for this review/comparison. I’ve watched quite a few videos covering the Mini 3, and yours is the first one where I don’t feel like anything has been left out. Really like your style
i bought the mini 3 from costco for 429 dollars which included the RC N1 controller with the ND filterS and an micro sd card ....till now im loving it .....
I brought a Mini 3 .. 2 weeks back and super rapped with the drone a hell of a lot of fun and superb videos / pics etc, I feel with none of the sensors from the Mini Pro on the Mini 3 you don't become complacent and think nothing is going to happen with your drone....makes you more alert and aware of the surroundings when flying.....my opinion only but love this Mini 3
I just bought the Dji mini 3. I must say I am very satisfied. Awesome drone. And I am beginner. But I am planning to get a professional drone later. This is fun. Thx for a great review!
Been waiting for this drone ever since the Mini 3 Pro came out! There would be a lot of drone pilots who would enjoy the simplicity of the Mini 3!
I 100% agree on the best value combo being the Mini3 with RC controller and an extra battery plus. I don't care about obstacle avoidance or follow me modes, so I pretty stoked to see the Mini3!
lmao you will when you crash your drone and have to buy another one lol
@@AD-hs4cw At least the mini 3 does not overheat like the mini 3 and 4 pro does when that happens the drone will just land and having obstacle avoidance is not 100 percent crashing into wires night flights or sport mode and they sell new mini 3 drones on ebay for $299.00 for just the drone
First I am hearing of overheating issues...post a link to this if you have it@@brucedon1951
@@brucedon1951I’ve found that If you put on the little motor covers, they tend to heat up pretty good. I thought they would be good protection for any debris, but maybe not the best idea!
I normally don’t comment on videos, but this one was well done. Thanks for the content. I especially liked the real quick unbox at the end. I just purchased a Mini 3 with the RC remote so I’ll be checking out the rest of your channel.
Russ your videos are always most informative and easy to understand. Thank you! FYI, I have a Magic 2 Pro. Recently the remote controller quit accepting a charge. I sent it to DJI who received it on a Thursday, repaired it (new board) on Friday and I had it back on Sunday. I’m impressed,
They have gotten to be very fast!
Finally someone not hating on the mini 3, I had the mini 2 for 2 years and wanted to upgrade without spending a fortune so this was the perfect drone for me I don't need obstacle avoidance as I'm quite an experienced pilot and the slow motion doesn't bother me also you can use quickshots to track yourself even being a hack it works well, I also kept my basic controller as I get on perfectly fine with it, then saving more money. So all I needed was the drone and I also bought the fly more combo which cost me £500 all together. I might upgrade the controller in the future. So from selling my mini 2 for £250 it only cost me £250 for the new drone. Happy ending.
Its Dec 2024 and i looked at the options and today i still bought the DJI Mini 3 with a RC control!
Its still a classic. I just have to buy a few extra batteries.
Fantastic video! I’ve just bought the Mini 3 in the UK and love it. Thanks for your efforts, really helpful. 🙏🏻
i have the mini 2 and im happy with it, its my first drone and i really like it, sadly the weather hasnt been great this month, i only got to fly it a few times
Nice video Russ. Very informative. I like how you did the silent unboxing at the end. I'm still sticking with my Mini 2 for now. I couldn't justify the cost for a new drone.
Funny how mini 2 has always taken good video, now it takes underexposed video compared to the mini 3.
I just got the Mini 3 Combo, love x3 having the extra batteries! Liked so much that when I the basic kit at Costco for just under $400, I got it too so now I have a second! Not sure why you’d want a gauge of 10K, that’s not line of sight that’s required…I don’t get needing that part. I’d be scared to death to go just by the camera! Thanks for the great post….(oh did I mention I later also found a Mini 4 for a great deal, though it’s still in the box!) Oh, I get about 40 minutes in 70 degree weather.
For some people the extra sensors for obstacle avoidance makes them to decide to choose for the Mini 3 Pro but remember that:
- obstacle avoidance is automatically disabled when using 'S'port mode
- there are no sensors at each side of the drone, so be very careful when tracking parallel!
sport mode is a battery killer...no real reason to use it
I currently Fly Both Air 2, and Mini 2. I have been planning on upgrading to a Mini 3 Pro after the first of the year, Active tracking is a must for me so I can track my boat while out fishing and camping. The Only thing That keeps me from Buying the Mini 3 Pro at this point is Not knowing if sometime next year will DJI roll out a New Air unit. If a New Air 3 comes out I will go with the Air unit. But for my needs I am still planning on the Mini 3 Pro.
The Air 3 just doesn’t make sense to me with the Mini 3 pro and the Mavic classic being available, where would it fit price point wise and what would be the benefit of it over the two mentioned? That’s just my opinion I’d love to hear what you and others also think of that.
For active track full feature nothing beats the M3 classic
As someone who is looking to decide which first drone to buy this was really helpful. Thank you 👍🏻
Great video !! But where are the other Mini 3 vids you said were in the pipeline? So much YT content is out there on the Mini 3 pro but much less on the Mini 3
Great informative analysis. Really appreciate this video. As someone who has flown a few times with friends drones and is super ready to make a purchase, this has made the selection process a lot easier. Thanks!
The ocusync 2.0 system used by the mini 3 means that it is possible that the dji RC can also be used by the mini 2 right? because I fly this mini 2, i really hope that our mini 2 users can use the dji RC
Thanks for this timely comparison. I'm considering getting my first drone in the spring. As of now, I think I'll go with the Mini 3 Pro. The obstacle avoidance is attractive, especially since my child is going to be learning to fly it too!
obstacle avoidance is worth it imo ... just be aware of sideways as there are no sensors there. but up down fwd aft all go. gl
Same here Adam. It will be my 3rd drone, but feel just go for the pro if it's in your budget. Also waiting for the spring to buy as I don't fly much in the winter here on Long Island NY. Why waste a few months of the care refresh not flying it.
I live in Ky and I just got the mini 3 Pro 3 weeks ago. I still feel it’s worth the difference for what you get. However if I was starting out and didn’t have a drone I would go for the 3 over the 2 if that was my price range.
I want to feel the same way, but the price difference is making me lean towards the M3 over the M3P. I don't plan on flying in a lot of tight areas. The D cinelike and hyperlapse are what's really pulling me towards the M3P.
The obstacle avoidance on the Mini 3 Pro is more intended for ActiveTrack autopiloting. Most drone collisions occur from the sides, and this area is unprotected on the m3P. The m3P only has front, bottom, and rear. The front you'll obviously almost never find useful when piloting manually, the bottom is pretty much standard on all DJI drones, at it's just the sensor that assists you with landing. The rear sensors are helpful, but it's not 100% reliable, perhaps because it's positioned with them all the way at the front of the drone, directly reverse the front sensors.
That leaves the top unguarded (not super high risk, unless you're flying low to the ground), the sides unguarded (your biggest danger, as probably 2/3 of collisions happen from the sides) and your rear, while protected, is not 100% reliable due to the poor vantage point and distance from the actual rear end of the aircraft.
If you want omnidirectional collision-sensor coverage, if that is important to you, go for the DJI Air 2S - it's only slightly more expensive than the Mini 3 Pro. The camera is slightly better than the m3P, and can even shoot 5.7k at 30fps. It's only slightly larger, and does much better in stronger winds, however it's over 250g which is not great if you travel internationally. It lacks vertical shooting, however it is compatible with third party apps (the mini 3 is not) which give you all kinds of extra features, like waypoint flights, and the ability to have the drone track your controller signal, instead of using a visual lock, which means the drone won't lose you if the lighting changes or you walk under some branches or even through an underpass.
Given that your child will be learning to fly, you need to go with either full sensor coverage, or a cheap but stable drone like the Mini SE that won't put such a dent in the wallet if they slam into the side of a tree while orbiting an object.
Thanks Russ. Nice initial take on this offering. I think pricing should always be mentioned with the date in the same sentence (or paragraph at least). It's useful data that is time-specific. While no obstacle avoidance and no 4k/60 are main differences, O2 vs O3 is probably worth mentioning.
The date of the release of the video is in the description. That is obviously the same date, give or take 4 weeks, of the price given in the video.
Do you also want a clean glass to drink from? Because my guests get the hose or the dog bowl.
I think for people who have an older drone or just need a sub 250g drone it’s great. But staying 1 year behind a hype can save you half the cost of what it would be brand new. It’s so hard not to buy the newest thing though 😂
Then there’s my 4 years behind. I just got the mini last week and love it, I saw it was on sale at Costco for 300 so I’m upgrading already. 😭😭😭 I feel like it can’t get any better can’t wait to see the difference.
I love my dji mini 3 (wish it had avoidance). My first flight at altitude and the video I took was an amazing experience. But early on, I wasn't used to the idea of flying it without seeing it, but I've adjusted :)
I’m new to drones and picked up the mini 3 fly more combo. For me the obstacle avoidance wasn’t an issue as I understand that it’s less than perfect avoiding branches or wires. Even as a new pilot, I’m more concerned about avoiding what I can’t see than what I can see and avoid myself. I was bit disappointed to find the mini 3 can’t follow moving objects and that they made the RC remote non-compatible with other DJI drones that I might want as well, such as the Neo. Overall I’m happy with the mini 3 so far. I’m impressed with how it can hold position even in stiff breezes.
Great review, Russ - I had crap weather too for like 2 weeks
What an interesting sub--250g drone! I think the Mini 3 will be a great all-rounder drone
I'm so desperately in love and heartbroken at the same time over this new version of the mini. I own the first mini that was released and had it for nearly 2 years before a power line took out the gimble on it; I've been droneless ever since!!!! I want more than anything to get back up in the sky and shooting video again, but I unfortunately haven't been able to afford a new DJI (the only way to fly). Maybe in a few years, when this tech is rendered obsolete by its predecessor, I'll be able to afford a mini 3 😢
Good job, Ross! Thanks for a great tutorial and informative video! Respect!
We like price difference explanations! Please keep it up!
FYI on 9/12/23 I paid $429 for the Mini 3 with RCN1 at Costco in Houston TX. It also included a 64gb Micro SD card and ND filters.
I learned that remote ID is for all drones. Not just over 250g. That includes the mini drones also. Maybe you should check into that more. I wish I would have saved that video where I got that information.
This was a thorough video. Nice Russ
Being a first time flyer, I need to protect my investment. The front and rear sensors on the Mini 3 Pro and the $79 DJI Repair and Fly Away Insurance makes me feel confident. For reference check out Russ' hoodie @ 10:51. "Lost One More Drone"
Thank you! Please always talk about the pricing even if it changes we can still know what range it’s in
I purchased the mini 3 flymore combo. Sweet deal for the package, just over $600. I'm ready to learn
ordered it and will get it next week cant wait! i had the mavic pro 1 but wanted something a bit smaller but still having good features
Mini 2 owner here. While I love the idea of a M3 or M3P, I will wait until the SDK is published so Litchi and Maven can fully function on a more expensive drone.
Good for DJI in continually improving their product line - pretty cool stuff. There is some scuttlebutt that suggests DJI will not be releasing a SDK for the M3P. Hope that is not the case.
I hope they do. I like the GPS based follow mode on Litchi for Mini2 which helps track from above tree line.
As a beginner and reasonable well off, the mini 3 pro is very well worth the extra money. I just love it.
Totally agree!
Thank you for this update. You do a great job on these. Kiwi
Just got mine a week ago with the DJI RC. Realized I can't live stream to Facebook which I used to love to do with my old school Mavic Pro so I just ordered an RC N-1 controller to allow me to do that.
If you can hold off and wait for some of the Amazon days, I got my Mini RC Fly more Bundle on Black Friday for $559.
I have since added 2 memory cards (not included with the drone) and a hard case.
I also managed to break a front axis that turned out to be a quick DIY $13 repair.
Nice review. My first DJI drone was the Phantom 2 Vision+. Ordered it on the release date in 2013. The Vision+ with an extra battery was $1259. It could fly for 20 minutes, had a 1080 camera with serious fisheye, & the range spec was 800 meters. For $858 the Mini 3 FlyMore with DJI RC is an incredible deal at an amazing price.
I own the Mavic Air 2 and Mini 3 Pro and love them both. Hoping DJI makes a Mavic Air 3
Thanks Russ and Happy Flying!
Flight time, 249g and video quality are my 3 priorities. Range is tied to flight time so going way far out is great but will the battery get you home, aha! A nice video on the subject , what is your regular day job ?
Always fly against the wind when you go away. Then you will have power enough to go back, unless the wind change of course..
Thanks Russ ,just bought dji3 as my first drone as a absolute beginner,but love it.
Just one thing I can't sort out is the RC screen seems dark when I am flying.is there anyway to brighten screen when flying.cheers
I'm picking up the dji rc for my Air 2 s I'm keeping my mini 2 hopefully they make it compatible for the mini 2 with the air2s there is no need for me to even consider any mini 3
News flash the mini 2 is still an awesome drone all most people will ever need
Another home run for DJI. Just hope that the rush to market will not bring with it any quality issues.
Mentioning prices in this kind of video is helpful to the viewers. Just include the date of pricing.
Great video as always Russ👍🏼😃
On my second mini3...like this drone very much. Obstacle avoidance is a sometime tool. Hardly missed
Great video! Just bought the Mini 3 and I was wondering if it is RID capability. DJI told me it was.
But I can not find it scrolling through the menu. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
I just received my Mini 3 pro yesterday and took it out for a quick spin today. It's a pretty nice drone. I am going to do a hyper lapse tomorrow. I haven't received the strobe yet so it will be a day time hyperlapse.
Russ, I heard today from Jason Shappert (Remote Pilot 101) that Remote ID is still required on sub 250g drones. It says nothing about weight in the remote ID requirements. Please double/trip[le check on this for clarification. The only way to get around Remote ID will be to fly in a FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). A lot of people think because registrations is not required that Remote ID isn't either. From what I have read and what I have heard that is not the case.
As I understand, it needs to be on every drone in case that drone is used for commercial purposes. In that case, the drone would need to be registered and thus required to have remote ID activated. I am wondering if you have a drone that is not registered if you will be able to bypass the remote ID. I will need to do more research on that.
I've got the Mini 3 Pro and it's a fantastic little drone. Matter of fact, the last dozen or so videos that I put on my channel, all came from that drone. The night time / low light vision of the camera is fantastic. I would presume the Mini 3 drone has the same capabilities.
Thanks Russ! I am especially pleased to view this video!
Peter! You won the Mini 3! Check your comment on that video!
I did so Russ?@@51Drones
@@51Drones How can I get in touch with you?
Thanks for the as always thorough review and comparisons. At this point, I wish I had known the M3 Classic was coming as I might have waited; however, I am very happy I got the Mini 3 Pro as I like the additional benefits. I do wish they had added 360 obstacle avoidance as they probably could have made it like the M3 with the same weight.
Awesome video thank you for sharing it with us🎉 watching you from Brazil 🇧🇷 I'm flying here on a mountain region
Russ, great video as usual. I just purchased (not yet delivered) the Mini 3 FMC and will also get the reasonably priced care option -- based in part to your video. For me, the pricing info was very useful and appreciated. DJI's prices don't change that often, so your videos remain relevant.
Will appreciate if you do a comparison with the Mini 2 SE. Having a hard time deciding on either one due to limited resources..lol
What did you decide on.. I'm in the same boat lol
@@SaiyanEuc Dji 3. No regrets
@@kakiitek2321 recently lost my job due to the company going bankrupt so I got the 2 se and love it! When I start working again I might upgrade and give the 2 to my wife
I just bought a mini 3 for $419 and I love it. The RC controller seems silly to me as it is smaller and less bright than the ancient android phone I pulled out of a drawer to fly with.
Low end android phones are so much bigger and brighter than the RC screen I really don’t see the appeal.
My mini 3 is arriving today. Im late to the meeting, but im still super excited about my very first drone. I'm already building a list of places I want to go fly it.
Great video. I'm still going to purchase the Mini 3 Pro. The dollars vs features just don't change my mind. For me being a first time drone purchaser the obstacle avoidance is something that is a big priority.
Yet it's only Partial.
If you're a beginner and have never flown any drone before, this would be a really dumb decision.. Practice on a toy grade drone and get good at flying/maneuvering before attempting it on a $1000 one...
First time drone buyer and you’re going to spend that kind of money?
@@thraxberserker9960 Yes I did and I am very happy with my purchase. It's a great little done.
I bought the mini 3 and I love it!
We've had two big releases from DJI in the last month or so, the Mini 3 and the Mavic 3 Classic. Sounds like a good time to do a DJI drone comparison outlining the best value drones, who should pay for which drones and which drones in the line up no longer make sense.
The existence of the mini 3, mini 3 pro, and mavic classic, make the Air series obsolete and has no offering of why you’d get it over any of the others;
I say that as I don’t expect them to make an Air 3 not that the Air 2/2S is bad.
I'll second that!
@@Andyrewk I would agree with that assessment, and yet we are hearing rumors of an Air 3 release sometime this year.
@@andyklapper8484 I don’t disagree with that, because then again money is money and if they think people will buy it, it won’t matter how similar it is.
I’ve had a mini and a air2.
For me, It would be the mini 2 or the mini 3 pro.
Great Video as always.🎉
Hi, Russ. Good video with lots of info. I have a question regarding photos with the Mini 3. I had a Mini 2 and could zoom in for a closer look, I gave that drone to my son and bought an Air 2S, but was greatly disappointed that the zoom feature for photos was not available. Can you zoom with the Mini 3or Pro for photos?
You can zoom when it’s the 12mp photos but you can’t zoom when it’s 48mp. however, I would state that if you take the 48mp photo the detail is so great you could zoom in post and get something pretty good out of it if not better than digital zoom during the shot.
Hey. I had been flying the original Mavic Mini. I didn’t know but my mom got me the Mini 3 for Christmas. It was well worth he price. I have been out flying for the past week. If it wasn’t raining out today (01-03-2023), I’d be out there now. Enjoyed the video. Thanks for the content and hard work.
You didn't mention the lack of the simulated 48mp mode that the m3P has. My understanding is that the camera still captures unique information from each quadrant of the pixels, but it just lacks the onboard software to break the pixels up into 4 defined sub-pixels, yet even without the software to divide the 12mp into a quasi-48mp, it is still picking up that more detailed information from each pixel which somehow helps it construct a better image in low light than the same camera would without that four-quadrant pixel tech. I don't know if I'm making much sense, haha. But Matthews Brennan basically stated that while the mini 3 can only capture 12mp stills, the same sensor tech which enables the m3P to take "48"mp stills by dividing the information in each pixel into 4 seperate sub-pixels, that enables the mini 3 to capture better results in low-light images, even if it doesn't have the software to actually seperately process and store the information in 4 seperate sub-pixels.
But I've also heard that fn same accord, the quasi-48mp photos taken by the m3P don't offer much of an improvement over the m3P's standard 12mp photos. But I'm curious to see if there actually any difference been the
12mp photos taken by the mini 3 and the 12mp photos taken by the m3P.
So maybe you could do a follow-up video you could do a side by side of of the same scene in low light with the Mini 3 Pro in both 48mp and 12mp, and the Mini 3 in 12mp, just to see if the sub-pixel sensor technology in the camera hardware can actually improve the image without having the corresponding on-board software to fully interpret and process the data. Basically does the 12mp mode of the Mini 3 live up to the 12mp mode of the m3P without the same advanced on-board sub-pixel processing software that enables the m3P to pull 4 pixels out of one? Mattheww Brennan thinks so. But he's Irish, so we can't trust his level of sobriety.
Great information! I know that the Mini 3 will not "track" however, I've seen other videos where you can get the Mini 3 to sort of track you as you're walking, on one side of you, not in front or back. Can you please mention how to do this? I have my Mini 3 coming tomorrow! Thank you.
Good info as always. Thank you!
Great video!! Looking to get this mini 3 but I live near a airport. Can I still fly it seeing it has no fly restrictions. ?? Thanks in advance.
Imo if you have a mini 2 dong upgrade to this, if you want to upgrade now then get the mini 3 pro it’s will be a much better upgrade. However if your looking for your first drone then you should definitely get this
Nice review - New facelift for the 249g DJI line up - So Mini2 & SE will disappear.
My Mini2 still going strong 5 batteries it'll remain in my flight line up for a while too come!
Great video! question, does is hat POI functionality like pro version? are their other differences on functionalities?
Thank you in advance!
Great video 😍 Love the pricing.
Question....
Because of the Mini 3 having O2 can we use it with the Org Smart Controller?? I currently fly my Air2 & S & Mini2 with the smart controller. I think this could be a game changer for the people that have it. Thank you
They would have to have an update for that controller the same way the RC had an update to allow it to pair. I think maybe, if they still in fact release updates for that unit you have a chance.
I like the basic price info. Thanks.
I’m interested in getting into drones my concern is flight times and return if it goes to far away from me and the signal
Could you please discuss about autel drones or any other brands other than DJI
It's a good back-up for those who fly the big ones!
Thanks for the review, how important do you think obstacle avoidance is? would it be used much? the Mini 3 does not have this but the price is outstanding. I always have always wondered how often it would be used
I have just purchased the Mini 3 standard pack. Base remote and single battery as it's my first dabble into drones. The extra features of the pro didn't affect my choice, as budget was my main restriction. I got a good deal on it, but will definitely be purchasing more batteries in the future.
Hyperlapse and D-Cinelink would not really be features I would use, so not a deal breaker for me.
Price you paid and how’s it
@@kaustubhchaudhari2179 I paid £429 for the base drone, controller and single battery and then £150 for the fly more pack. This was a year ago, so there are probably better deals around now.
Ok so I have a Mini 3 ordered and should be arriving soon. It’s the fly more combo and appears to have three of the standard batteries which keeps it under 250 grams. So here’s my hypothetical question. Suppose I decide to order the higher capacity battery, and just decide to fly it without registration. It’s not that I have a problem with registration, but I am concerned with remote ID when it rolls out. I’m sure this is probably addressed in lots of other videos but what’s the short answer? If I just decide to go ahead with the higher capacity battery does the Mini 3 just all of a sudden start transmitting remote ID when that becomes official? I assume it would give some sort of message on the screen, similar to flying in a warning area, when you have to click the “I acknowledge, accept all liability, etc” box before you can take off. In other words, what happens if someone decides to fly over the weight limit, without registering? Asking for a friend. Lol! 😜
Hi Russ,
Thanks for another quality video! You mentioned going with the standard FMC to avoid registration and remote ID. Can remote ID be avoided? My understanding is that it cannot be turned off.
"Less than ideal conditions" and then you show that it's 11 degrees F! I would call that less than miserable conditions! I'll bet you get even better percentages of advertised flight times when you try it in conditions suitable for actual human (and drone) habitation! What a great extreme weather test, though!
Fantastic video, review and comparison. Thanks.
The only deal breaker I see with this drone is it not having D-cinelike. If you are a beginner trust me, you wont need it for a while, if ever.
Yeah. Im new with drone. And also i dont know about how to edit the video 😂. And the price between mm3 fmc & dji rc with mm3pro is about 1100 Ringgit Malaysia (around 250usd)
I’ve been flying as a hobby for 4 years and have never used D-link. I just do a few quick quality of life edits on Lightroom and that’s all. Currently the mini 3 pro is $450 AUD more in Australia.
Do you think the Mini 2 will be added to the DJI-RC controller as the Air 2S was? I have the Mini 2 with fly more combo that is less than 9 months old & have a hard time buying the Mini 3 as all of my flying is just for recreation purposes, but it would be nice to only have one controller to carry as I use the DJI-RC with my Air 2S.
I bought a mini 3 fly more and the fancy remote, for 600$ last fall, ive got like 2 hrs of fly time i really like it, still getting used to it tho.
Awesome review
$349 mini 3 bundle (drone, controller, nd filters set, 64gb mem) in costco. Bought two weeks ago. Some stores are running out of inventory.
Great video Russ! I’ve now had the Mini SE, Mini 2, and got the Mini 3 Pro about 3 weeks ago. While I am excited to see this I don’t feel burned or let down by the product I bought; I mostly film in 24fps and want the highest image quality possible; I’m also trying to be the professional part in pro- lol as I have my part 107 so of course I’m looking for something different than the hobbiest ; I also like that the pro model has the focus track and spotlight along with auto tracking feature while I don’t use it all the time, I do use it and like the option. All of that said I was using my mini 2 for more daring things and it had a place in my drone line up. Now I’m thinking of selling it to my brother and getting the mini 3 for those jobs and saving some money by going the no controller route. Thanks again Russ, sorry this is so long, I’m just passionate about drones 😅
Great review. Is the battery common between Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro? Thank you.
Yes
How well do all the components of the FMC fit in the included bag? Other UA-camrs noticed that when purchasing the MIni 3 Pro and its FMC separately, the FMC components would not fit in the bag.
Nice to know the price comparisons.
does flying the heavy plus battery improve wind stability?
I'm curious to see the difference in photos. Mini 3 says just 12MP but mini 3 pro says 48MP. If you can compare that I'd appreciate it. Great vid as always.
I honestly was not aware that there was a Mini 3.
I will keep my Mini 2 for now. If I replace it with a Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, my concern is that DJI will release a sub 250g Mini 4 or Mini 5 with a better camera, obstacle avoidance, D-Cinelike, and other cool features the Mini 2 does not have. I will wait to see what comes in 2023, if anything.
Thank you for the review of the Mini 3.
Your Right On The Money !
Same here. Sticking with my mini 2 which seems obvious and even just staying one year behind the hype can save you half the price for example: I bought my mini 2 last year for C$800 plus tax and now I’m seeing them on Kijiji/craigslist for C$400 or less barely used
This is a really really good video. Thank you. Do you know can you set an altitude on this drone, so it flies at a fixed altitude?
my biggest issue/downside is that the mini 3 cannot take photos with 48MPx. this is just a software limitation as it is the same sensor/camera in the M3P
I heard there was an update and it can now
Just bought the mini 3 because of your video it was $609.00 new and with screen controller and for a spare their selling new mini 3 drones for $299.00 just the drone i will buy an extra batt and charger to I thought about obstacle avoidance but they do not work in night flights telephone wires or sport mode