DJI Mini 3 drone targeted for social media platforms and casual flyers was in the works (with certain leaks in the cloud) ever since the launch of Mini 3 Pro, and now the affordable package has finally landed. As speculated this trimmed-down version of the big brother Mini 3 Pro will lose out on certain premium features with a cheaper price tag being the pitch.
The lightweight DJI drone tips the scale at 248 grams which makes it eligible for flying without any registration (fulfills FCC requirements for the US) in most parts of the globe. This quadcopter is the direct predecessor of the DJI Mini 2 drone with incremental features just enough to entice buyers who want to elevate their content-creating game without burning a hole in their pocket.
Designer: DJI
DJI Mini 3 comes with a capable 12MP (1/1.3-type) CMOS image sensor combined with a 24mm (f1.7) aperture lens. The videos can be shot in portrait mode with the True Vertical Shooting mode, and clicking photos simultaneously is also possible courtesy of the 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with the 48MP sensor. The former brings better low-light photography, sharp depth of field and very low image noise to the fore as well.
The onboard camera shoots images in RAW/JPEG mode and videos in 4K HDR at 30 fps. The premium Mini 3 Pro shoots 4K videos at 60 fps just for comparison. In live feed, a video of 720p can be relayed from a distance of upto 10 kms away. It is capable of shooting stable images even in winds of 10.7 meters per second.
The featherweight drone has an estimated flight time of 38 minutes on a single charge of the standard onboard battery. If you opt for the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus accessory (not available in all regions) the total flying time can be stretched to 51 minutes. The quadcopter can be programmed to take cinematic helicopter-like shots or do fancy maneuvers like circle, boomerang or helix. Other standard DJI features like the Return To Home (RTH) modes in event of a signal drop are there.
DJI Mini 3 will be available in five different configurations – each one having a different combination of accessories. The drone-only version costs $409, while the one with the RC-N1 remote will set you back $499. The penultimate comes with a shoulder bag, a charging hub, and two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries for $659. The top-end version dubbed the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo priced at $798 has all these accessories plus the DJI RC controller.
