DJI’s latest drone offering that flies below the magical 250g (ok pun intended) means that consumers don’t have to worry about having to register their aircrafts before taking flight in most countries in the world. Being that small is also definitely a plus especially when travelling, with the world opening up more!
I’m essentially a fresh pilot all over again, given that my last flight was with DJI’s Phantom 4. First flight anxiety is undeniably real, but guides provided in-app on the DJI RC were really helpful in easing me into the otherwise stressful situation.
SPECS
WEIGHT: 249g
CAMERA: 4K/60fps video, 48MP photo, HDR up to 4K/30fps
VIDEO TRANSMISSION SYSTEM: OcuSync 3.0 12km, 1080p
FLIGHT TIME: 34mins/47 mins
FEATURES: APAS 4.0, Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing, 90° gimbal rotation for vertical imaging
PRICE: S$1099 (with DJI RC-1), S$1349 (with DJI RC) being reviewed
Controller with the updated labels that says C N and S, (Cinematic, Normal, Sport) from the previous version which showed T, P and S. DJI Mini 3 Pro comes in three configurations, Mini 3 standalone with no RC, Mini 3 Pro with RC-NC1, or the Mini 3 Pro with DJI RC which is a controller with a built-in 5.5” screen, which is what we have for this review.
A controller with its own screen and not being tethered to your personal device is definitely a welcomed change. Imagine not being able to IGS your flight outing because of that. Tragic.
Control sticks on the controller are a tad smaller than full-sized FPV sticks, so seasoned pilots will still be familiar working this controller. Both the drone and the controller now charge via USB-C, so staying juiced up while on-the-go is convenient.
The 1/1.3” CMOS camera sensor is capable of shooting 4K/60fps videos, 48MP for aerial photographers and also true vertical videos for all your social platforms. I see you, TikTok. Aperture goes all the way down to f1.7 for great low light capability. The camera is also capable of HDR video at 30fps.
The palm-sized drone gets an average flight time of 34 minutes, or users can choose to use the additional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus for a maximum flight time of 47 minutes at the cost of being more than 249g.
Flight Experience
Crashing a $1000+ toy is heartbreaking and not something anyone would want to go through, (personal first-hand experience *sad emoji*) but with its tri-directional obstacle sensing, this can be prevented.
The Mini 3 Pro comes with a bunch of intelligent features but my favourite is the MasterShots mode that keeps the subject in the centre of the frame while generating a short cinematic video. You can definitely put something together on your own if you prefer a different look and feel.
For
Super lightweight and convenient
Beginner friendly
Anti-collision works very well
Intelligent modes are intuitive
Against
Price is still steep for beginner
Accidentally clicking touchscreen with palm (might just be me)
With all the updated safety features that can be activated, I feel a lot more confident flying this smol flier. Now I feel like I really need the DJI’s accessory kits that include the Intelligent Flight Batteries and Two-Way Charging Hub for added flight time.
DJI has managed to turn a stressful experience into a super enjoyable one. Only thing left to do is keep hoping we’d have more drone-friendly zones. Fingers crossed.
RATINGS:
Features: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Battery Life: 9/10
OVERALL: 8.5/10
