sensor: 48 MP, 1 / 1.3 inch CMOS
Video: 4K/60p, 2.7K/60p, 1080/120p
Connecting: OcuSync 2.0
flight time: 38 min
The Mini 3 is a combination of the more expensive DJI Mini 3 Pro and the older DJI Mini 2, and like those drones, its weight of less than 250 grams makes it exempt from drone regulations in many regions. However, the DJI Mini 3 is a huge step up from the Mini 2, thanks to its larger sensor, vertical video powers, longer flight time of 38 minutes, and compatibility with DJI’s new RC controller.
to
- Better in low light conditions
- longer flight time
- portrait mode
against
- OcuSync 2.0 connection
- It feels ignored by the DJI Mini 3 Pro
- There are no obstacle avoidance sensors
Sensor: 12.1 megapixels 1 / 2.3 in
Video: 4K/30p, 1080/60p
Connecting: OcuSync 2.0
flight time: 31 minutes
The older DJI Mini 2 remains our pick for drone beginners, due to its affordable price and useful autopilot modes. Despite its smaller sensor, it shoots high-quality 4K video in good lighting and has a flight time of 31 minutes. However, the lack of obstacle avoidance sensors makes it more prone to accidents.
to
- cheaper of the two
- Similar mechanism modes
- Same small size
against
- The smaller sensor of the two
- No “follow me” mode
- OcuSync 2.0 connection
The DJI Mini 3 is a drone designed to be easy to use, yet capable of capturing professional-looking results.
Developments on the DJI Mini 2 include a new camera sensor and lens and a longer flight time per charge. This also comes with a significant price hike, which means some beginners may want to look for a DJI Mini 2 deal while it’s available.
You’ll also feel that the two drones are somewhat similar in use, because unlike a high-end drone with an advanced sensor system, the DJI Mini 3 only has downward-facing sensors. This rules out the more advanced autopilot modes, because without the right sensors, the drone can’t tell if it’s about to turn into a tree.
For those, you’ll need the DJI Mini 3 Pro. However, as a cheaper alternative, the DJI Mini 3 looks like a balanced update to the Mini 2 for 2020.
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 2: Price
The DJI Mini 3 costs significantly more than the DJI Mini 2, but DJI has found a way to partially hide this fact for those looking to upgrade from the older model.
The drone sells without a remote control or charger for $469 / £439 / AU$699. That’s somewhat similar to the original $449 / £419 / AU$749 cost of the DJI Mini 2. However, this jumps to $699 / £669 / AU$1,019 when you add a remote control.
| Row 0 – cell 0 | DJI Mini 3 | DJI Mini 2 |
| With a standard console | $699 / £669 / AU$1,019 | $450 / £420 / AU$750 |
| With Fly More Combo | $559 / £678 / AU$829 | $599 / £549 / AU$949 |
The Fly More Combo, which includes a bag, charging hub and two extra batteries, costs $559 / £678 / AU$829, to $599 / £549 / AU$949 for the older model.
You may also be able to find Mini 2 bundles online for less, and now the successor is out.
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 2: Design and Controller
- Both weigh less than 250 grams
- Mini 3 is slightly larger than Mini 2
- The Mini 3 doesn’t get the most out of DJI RC
DJI didn’t simply take the Mini 2’s shell and upgraded some of the components. While there is a family resemblance, the Mini 3 is clearly a new design that has been reworked in several key areas.
This will probably be necessary anyway, in order to keep the weight under 250g while changing out a few key ingredients.
When you look at the bivalve, you may notice that the DJI Mini 2 now has what look like light sensors on the front legs. And the housing to the left and right of the camera is more spacious.
The DJI Mini 3 ends up being slightly larger in every dimension when folded, but that’s unlikely to matter unless you own a DJI Mini 2 and a pretty tight bag. The DJI Mini 3 measures 148 x 90 x 62mm folded, down to 138 x 81 x 58mm in the last generation.
Supported remote controls differ in a larger way. The DJI Mini 2 and 3 can both use the standard RC-N1 remote control, which doesn’t have a built-in screen or clip to hold your phone. Naturally, packages are available for both drones that include this remote control.
DJI Mini 3 only supports DJI RC with a 5.5-inch HD screen and up to 700 nits brightness. Depending on what model of phone you have, this may be brighter. However, it does mean that you do not need to hold your mobile phone down every time you use a drone.
The Mini 3 can’t take full advantage of the capabilities of the DJI RC, though its transmission standard can only manage 720p preview and 30fps where the remote itself supports up to 1080p, 60fps.
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 2: Specifications and Features
- DJI Mini 3 has even longer flight time – dramatically more with Battery Plus
- Mini 2 is just as fast as Mini 3
- Both use the same O2 wireless transmission
Battery life is one of the main advantages of the DJI Mini 3 over the Mini 2. It can fly for up to 38 minutes, compared to 31 minutes in the older drone, using the standard battery. That number increases to 51 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus cell.
This Plus battery is only available in a limited number of regions, but thanks to the rating system countries use – it’ll push your drone well over 250g, which makes it pretty big.
DJI increased flight time by 22%, but the battery capacity is only 9% higher – from 2453mAh to 2250mAh – which indicates that it has also managed to make significant efficiency improvements elsewhere.
But that doesn’t translate to faster speeds. Both aircraft are rated at a horizontal speed of 16 m/s, 5 m/s for climb, and 3.5 m/s for descent.
They also share the same O2 radio transmission system, which can communicate with the controller at distances of up to 10km. It depends on where you use the drone, but it’s up to 10km in the US.
There is also no support for sensory system intelligence. The DJI Mini 2 and Mini 3 only have downward facing sensors, not the front and rear sensors used on the Mini 3 Pro. This limits the type of automation possible. Both basic Mini models lack the Pro’s MasterShots modes, which are professional-looking automated programs.
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 2: Photo and Video Quality
- The larger sensor and wider aperture give better light sensitivity
- True vertical shooting and HDR video in the Mini 3
- The Mini 3 features a more versatile gimbal system
DJI has made significant changes to both the camera and gimbal system in the Mini 3.
DJI Mini 2 has a 12MP camera sensor, and the Mini 3 is much larger and 48MP. It’s a 1/1.3-inch sensor, to the Mini 2’s 1/2.3-inch pattern, and its aperture expands from f/2.8 to f/1.7.
The native’s higher light sensitivity across the sensor and lens means the Mini 3 will hold up better than the Mini 2 at dusk and at night. Video is likely to retain color better, have super-integrated detail, and generally look less juicy.
We can say this with a degree of confidence because the DJI Mini 3 Pro has the same specifications. DJI hasn’t told us the exact sensor used here in the Mini 3, but we’ll be willing to bet it’s exactly the same as the Pro.
The DJI Mini 3 gains another important feature we saw on the Pro; Real headshot. This means that the camera can shoot in the same aspect ratio that you are likely to use for some social media posts.
To get this vertical look in DJI Mini 2, you have to crop the image significantly in editing.
The DJI Mini 3’s gimbal system is more versatile via another axis, too. It tilts between -90° and +60°, compared to -90 to +20° on the Mini 2.
You can also shoot HDR video with the Mini 3. This is only available at frame rates up to 30fps, because it’s sensor-level HDR, just like the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Two exposures are captured per sensor reading, which helps avoid ghosting and means this is much more than just a software-based tone profile.
We’re looking forward to a fairly big upgrade in the DJI Mini 3, but some important parts remain unchanged. Both generations of drones benefit from 4K/30 video capture. You need to drop the resolution down to 2.7K to hit 60fps.
The Mini 3 Pro can hit 4K resolution at 60fps, which indicates that DJI has deliberately limited the shooting modes to maintain distance between its models. However, this may also be a processor-related discrepancy.
Rule
DJI Mini 3 is pretty much what it should be. It improves on the DJI Mini 2 with some of the hardware advancements in the Mini 3 Pro, without taking away from the more professional Mini 3 Pro’s lunch.
Is it worth upgrading? It’s very likely, especially if you’re craving slightly better low-light image quality or the ability to shoot portrait video for social media posting.
However, you shouldn’t ignore the DJI Mini 3 Pro if you want to take your B-roll quality to the next level. A more advanced sensor system opens up the kind of look you can achieve, without much effort, dramatically.