DJI Mini 3 & Mini 3 Pro – All Questions Answered
Everything you need to know will be answered in this section.
If you've been keeping up with the latest drone releases (or really just went online these last few weeks) you probably heard about DJI's newest addition to their Mini series - the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3.
Beautiful and compact drones that are perfect for beginners and casual users who want to dip their toes into the world of aerial photography and videography. I won’t go too much into the details since I already covered them in previous articles.
But if you're looking for a drone that packs a punch without breaking the bank, the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro are definitely worth considering.
This article is an encyclopedia of sorts for these two drones, I took the most common questions surrounding them and answered them in detail.
Questions like: what's the difference between the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro? How does the camera perform in different lighting conditions? What's the battery life like, and how far can it fly?
Whatever it is you want to know about these drones, I’ve got you covered. So without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Everything you need to know will be answered in this section.
Before we start, I just want to point out that when I’m talking about the DJI Mini 3 Pro, I usually mean both drones since they aren’t much different except for the camera and obstacle avoidance. It’s just the most common one which is why I’ll be bringing it up more. Assume that any answer regarding the Mini 3 Pro goes for the Mini 3 as well. Let’s get started.
Not that long actually, both drones are new models that haven’t even been distributed to all countries yet.
The DJI Mini 3 & Mini 3 Pro both came out in May 2022. It hasn’t been widely available in the market however until late 2022.
Yes… that’s actually a common problem. For good reason though since many people assumed the Mini 3 Pro will be much different from the Mini 2, but that’s not the case.
Since the design and build of the Mini 3 is similar to previous Mini drones, the flight and handling is pretty much the same.
It has the same three flight modes, Normal, Sport & Cine.
That’s a good question. We know that DJI Mini 3 Pro uses the transmission system of OC 3 (like the Mavic 3), so the flight range is a little bit wider than that of other Mini 3 drones.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro can fly for up to 12 kilometers away from the controller in perfect conditions. Realistically though assume around 7 kilometers, because the environment plays a huge role on transmission.
It’s a good feature to have, especially if you’re more into the hands free drone experience or you’re trekking and would much prefer to see where you’re putting your foot…
The DJI Mini 3 Pro comes with a Follow Me feature. Similar to the Mavic 3 and Air 2, the Mini 3 Pro's Focus Track intelligent flight modes can cleverly track a moving subject, and that even includes you!
So you can get some sweet footage while doing your favorite outdoor activities without worrying about piloting the drone yourself.
White the DJI Mini 3 Pro is a pretty advanced drone, it’s still a consumer drone with many limitations.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro isn't waterproof - just like every other DJI drone. So, it's not really a good idea to fly it in the rain, because water and electronics don't really mix.
In fact, DJI themselves recommend avoiding high humidity and foggy weather, because water can cause a short circuit which can make the drone stop working and even lead to a crash. If you want to keep your Mini 3 Pro safe and sound, it's best to wait for the weather to clear up before taking it for a spin.
Large cities at night make for some of the best drone footage out there. So can the DJI Mini 3 pro fly at night?
Teh Mini 3 Pro can fly at night. In fact, with its larger camera sensor that captures more light, it can allow you to capture stunning footage even in low light environments.
Whether you should or shouldn’t fly your drone at night though is a whole different matter altogether – there are rules regarding night flights that I go over in this article. Check it out before you find yourself mistakenly breaking the law.
You really seem to be wanting to test out the limits of your mini 3 pro huh? Well, bad news for you… snow is kind of wet, which as I wrote above is almost fatal to any DJI drone.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro isn't waterproof - just like every other DJI drone. So, it's not really a good idea to fly it in the rain, because water and electronics don't really mix.
Sadly, no. Just like any other DJI drone.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro doesn’t have a built-in mic, which makes it impossible to capture audio with it. Unless you use a wireless and third-party mic.
This is not something I’d recommend for a newbie pilot, but yes it can.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro can flip, although it’s not made for that and may crash in the hands of a non-experienced pilot.
If you want to flip your drone and do all sorts of cool moves with it, get yourself something like the DJI Avata.
This is a question I’ve seen asked on the DJI forum recently, and likely someone from DJI support gave a clear answer.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro does not support mapping or surveying technologies, sadly. You can still do something close to mapping with the use of expensive third party software, but it’s not built for it.
If that’s your main concern, you’re better off getting a drone that’s specific for those activities.
If you’ve read my drone laws article (which is probably one of my longest and most in-depth articles to date), then you’d know that luckily you don’t have to register your DJI Mini 3 Pro drone.
The DJI Mini 3 pro doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA. That changes if you’re using the intelligent battery plus as it gets the take off weight over 250 grams.
So make sure you register it if you’ll be primarily using the Plus battery.
Let’s say you already own a DJI Mini 2 and would rather have those old extra batteries as spare ones – will they fit in your new DJI Mini 3 Pro?
DJI Mini 2 batteries can’t be used for DJI Mini 3 Pro. While the batteries may look similar, the power output is really different which can ruin your DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Be careful not to use it on the Mini 3 Pro as it may cause more harm than just ruining your drone (a small explosion of the battery isn’t a far fetched scenario).
Not necessarily, unless you’re planning to fly it for commercial use, in which case you need to pass the part 107 test that I spoke about here.
The DJI Mini 3 pro doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA and you don’t need a license if you’re flying recreationally. Commercial pilots do need a license though.
If flying commercially is what you have in mind, be sure to pass the part 107 test beforehand, or you may get into trouble with the FAA or local authorities.
In the Mini 3 Pro, there are three Follow Me (tracking) modes, they are:
For a $700 drone, you’d think so wouldn’t you? Yet the DJI Mini 3 Pro doesn’t.
As is standard for DJI drones, the DJI Mini 3 Pro doesn’t come with an SD card. You can get it however from the DJI website as you’re purchasing the drone.
Firmware updates are very important for any type of drone. Not only for security reasons, but also for squeezing out new functionalities out of your drone without changing any of the hardware.
Keeping your DJI Mini 3 Pro up-to-date is easy, and there are a few ways you can do it. You can either update it via the DJI Fly App or the DJI Assistant App.
As of now, the latest firmware version is v.01.01.0200, and it mostly includes fixes for any pesky bugs that might have been causing issues. So, don't forget to update your firmware and keep your Mini 3 Pro running smoothly!
If I had to describe the DJI Mini 3 Pro, I’d say it is a modernized entry-level drone.
The Mini 3 is suited for people who want a contemporary sub-250g drone that can capture decent photos and video clips. While it’s an entry level drone, it packs more than enough tech for even pros to find it useful to their day-to-day flights.
Probably one of the most important aspects of a drone after all…
The new 2,453mAh Intelligent Flight Battery weighs just 80.5g, and is claimed to provide a flight time of up to 38 minutes.
Just keep in mind, when you factor in the charge needed for Return to Home, varying temperatures of the environment you’re in, your flights are more realistically in the 20-25 minute region. Which is still great.
You can actually allow your DJI Mini 3 Pro to fly for up to 51 minutes which is staggering for such a small drone! The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, featuring a 3,850mAh capacity, is also available for the Mini 3 Pro.
The Mini 3 Pro is a truly unique addition to the DJI family. The folding design and light-gray finish give it the signature Mavic look, but with some extra curves.
Plus, the propellers are larger than those on its predecessor the Mini 2, so you can enjoy longer flight times (which we’ll get into later).
All in all, it’s pretty clear that the Mini 3 Pro has been carefully designed for maximum durability and convenience. Its lightweight, folding design makes it easy to store and transport, while its strong and sturdy build ensures reliable performance.
Let’s be honest, even the most stunning and beautiful raw footage will need to be touched up here and there with a video editor. So what’s the best editor to use for the DJI Mini 3 Pro?
I can go on a long discussion regarding that, but I’ve actually already written a detailed article about the best editing tools for DJI drones, ones that you can use either from your laptop or better yet right from your phone.
So be sure to check that out!
Yes it does.. And in all three directions!
The DJI Mini 3 Pro does come with obstacle avoidance technology, in all three directions. With an average 0.39-25 m sensing range forward, 0.36-23.4 m backwards and 0.3 to 9m downwards.
It's definitely a handy feature to have, especially for those of us who are still getting the hang of piloting a drone.
So as we’re near the end of this article, there is one question that I see asked a lot on online forums: is this new DJI Mini 3 Pro drone worth it, or is it just a cash grab?
The DJI Mini 3 is definitely worth it, especially since its price is similar to that of the DJI Mini 2, so it makes more sense to buy the upgrade if you haven’t bought a drone yet.
Also, knowing DJI, the Mini 2 will probably soon be pulled out of the market and you’ll only be able to get it second hand. So if you were on the fence and wondering whether you should pull the trigger and get yourself a new Mini 3 Pro, this is your sign, do it! *queue shia labeouf JUST DO IT*
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