In our DJI Mini 3 Pro review, we take the compact drone into the skies and discover a pricey but surprisingly powerful compact flier.
The tiny and lightweight DJI Mini 3 Pro takes DJI’s popular Mini drone series to new heights. The original DJI Mavic Mini arrived in 2019, and was followed in 2020 by the Mini 2, which upped the video resolution from 2.7K to 4K alongside other improvements; but it’s the Mini Pro 3 that really brings the ‘wow’ factor to the sub-250g Mini series. What’s most impressive about the Mini 3 Pro is that DJI has managed to include a tri-directional obstacle avoidance system inside such a small drone – but that’s far from the only improvement over its predecessor. The new drone’s sensor is bigger – it’s now a 1/1.3-inch CMOS chip; its lens’s maximum aperture has been increased to a bright f/1.7; its video capabilities have been vastly improved; and the camera can be rotated 90 degrees, enabling you to capture stills and video in both landscape and portrait format. The list of improvements goes on, justifying that coveted ‘Pro’ moniker. In a nutshell, what you get with the Mini 3 Pro is many of the features and capabilities of higher-spec drones like the DJI Mavic Air 2, in a machine that crucially remains within the sub-250g weight category, which means it doesn’t need to be registered in many regions. This is an impressive feat that has so far only been accomplished by the Autel Evo Nano, which we’re in the process of reviewing. These welcome new features, along with the new DJI RC Smart Controller that’s available in the priciest of this drone’s three kits, make the Mini 3 Pro a tempting proposition for aerial content creators. One fairly sizable downside, though, is the large leap in price from the DJI Mini 2. This is to be expected when you consider all of the new features, but a drone that was once affordable enough to appeal to beginners is now priced closer to the DJI Air 2S, a drone that has a 1-inch sensor and is currently top of our list of the best drones you can buy. It’s a tough choice between the two, but the DJI Mini 3 Pro is an excellent option for anyone whose priority is portability, and/or a compact drone that slots into their wider camera kit. You can buy the DJI Mini 3 Pro now in three configurations from the DJI Store and authorized retailers. The most basic option is the Mini Pro 3 with no controller, which costs $669 / £639 / AU$989. Naturally, this option is aimed at users who already own a compatible controller. The second, and what will likely be the most popular bundle, is the standard kit ($759 / £709 / AU$1,119), which includes a DJI RC-N1 controller. If you want the new DJI RC Smart Controller, though, you’ll need to go for the third and most expensive bundle, which costs $909 / £859 / €829. All three DJI Mini 3 Pro bundles are significantly more expensive than the DJI Mini 2, which launched for $449 / £419 / AU$749 in November 2020. All of the kits include an Intelligent Flight Battery, two sets of propellers, a screwdriver, a gimbal guard, and a USB-C cable for charging and data transfer. The standard kit also comes with cables to connect the controller to your smartphone, though these naturally aren’t included in the other two bundles. As always, a Fly More Kit is available, and offers excellent value for money when compared to the individual prices of the included accessories. This includes two Intelligent Flight Batteries, a three-battery Charging Hub, two sets of propellers, and a Shoulder Bag. The Fly More Kit costs $189 / £159 / AU$259, and additional accessories are available separately. In the US and Australia, you can also buy a DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit Plus for $249 / AU$359, which includes the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus for a longer,47-minute flight time.
