DJI Mini 3 Pro: our full review

The long awaited DJI Mini 3 Pro is finally out! After three commercially successful models, we can expect a big refresh from DJI with this new opus, and its “Pro” name leads us to believe that there will be great improvements. So what is it really like? What does he have that his predecessors do not? All the answers in this article!

DJI Mini 3 Pro: design and remote control

A new design

Weight	< 249 g
Dimensions (folded) (L x W x H)	145 x 90 x 62 mm
Dimensions (unfolded, without propellers) (L x W x H)	171 x 245 x 62 mm
Dimensions (unfolded, with propellers) (L x W x H)	251 x 362 x 70 mm

With its foldable design and light grey finish, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has the characteristic look of the Mavic drones designed by DJI. But while the Mini 1, 2 and SE are almost identical visually, the Mini 3 Pro arrives with a completely new design: its body is larger and wider, its propellers longer and its lines more rounded. The aim of the new design is to give the Mini 3 a longer flight time.

Despite being slightly larger than its predecessors and having a larger sensor, DJI has managed to keep the weight of its newborn under 250g, thanks to a lighter frame. Impressive.

Obstacle sensors have also appeared on the top, bottom and rear of the camera, with the DJI Mini 3 Pro now armed with a three-way obstacle detection system.

Radio controls

Compatible radio controls	DJI RC-N1 DJ RC
Video transmission system	DJI O3
Operating frequencies	2.4 GHz 5.8 GHz
Max. transmission distance	FCC: 12 km CE : 8 km

The standard package comes with the DJI RC-N1 remote control, which is the same as the one supplied with the Mini 2, Mavic 3, Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S. This controller does not have a built-in screen, but has a telescopic stand to hold your smartphone on which you can simply download the DJI Fly application.

DJI is also introducing a new optional remote control with its new baby: the DJI RC. To get it, however, you will have to buy the more expensive pack. This controller offers a large 5.5 inch touch screen and has the advantage of being ready for use more quickly, not requiring pairing with a smartphone. Just screw on the joysticks and you’re done.

The DJI RC’s display has a brightness of 700 nits, which is lower than the 1000 nits of the DJI RC Pro offered with the Mavic 3. However, the screen remains bright in most everyday usage situations.

The DJI RC is much lighter than the RC Pro (390g vs. 680g), which is equivalent to combining an RC-N1 remote control with a smartphone.

It is also very ergonomic and has a large number of controls: knobs on the top to adjust the gimbal and zoom, which is very useful for manoeuvring the camera, two programmable buttons on the back, and separate photo and video buttons for quick access. The photo button is a two-step button, as on conventional cameras: a light press focuses, a full press takes the desired picture.

The DJI RC is generally described as comfortable to handle, notably thanks to its rubberized areas that help prevent slipping. One point sometimes mentioned is the joystick resistance, considered slightly light by some users.

🚨 Update
DJI has updated its Mini 3 Pro to make it compatible with FPV flight. Now compatible with DJI Goggles 2 and Goggles Integra headsets, in which you can see the image captured by the drone directly in first person, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is also compatible with DJI RC Motion 2, the stick-like remote control used with the manufacturer’s FPV drones, the DJI FPV and Avata.

DJI Mini 3 Pro: features and flight performance

Steering

Maximum speed	16 m/s (S mode) 10 m/s (N mode) 6 m/s (mode C)
Max. ascent speed	5 m/s (S mode) 3 m/s (N mode) 2 m/s (mode C)
Max. descent speed	5 m/s (S mode) 3 m/s (N mode) 1.5 m/s (mode C)
Max. wind resistance	10.7 m/s (level 5)

As with most DJI consumer drones, the DJI Mini 3 Pro offers three flight modes: Normal, Sport and Cine. Cine mode limits the top speed to 21.6 km/h and makes the controls less sensitive for smoother video sequences. The Normal mode, certainly the most used, allows a speed of 36 km/h. The Sport mode, on the other hand, completely unleashes the drone by disabling its collision avoidance and allowing it to fly at up to 57.6 km/h.

Setup and GPS signal lock are quick: in less than a minute, the drone is ready to take off. In flight, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is generally considered convincing based on available feedback.

Firstly, it’s worth pointing out that as each generation of the DJI Mini passes, the experience improves. The original Mavic Mini was rather noisy for a mini drone. DJI has improved with the Mini 2, and is taking it to the next level with this new release. There are no shrill sounds on take-off, and the drone flies as smoothly and consistently as the Mavic 3 or Air 2S.

Its wind resistance on paper is 10.7m/s or 38.5 km/h (level 5). In windy conditions, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is generally described as stable and able to maintain good flight control.

Controls are described as responsive, and the connection between the drone and the remote controller is generally considered reliable based on reported usage.

Smart modes

The usual Quickshots modes, including Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Helix, Asteroid and Boomerang are, as expected, available on the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Hyperlapse and Panorama modes are also included and can be used in different sizes and orientations.

There is also the MasterShots mode, introduced with the Air 2S and also present in the Mavic 3. This feature performs a mix of automated Quickshots, stitches them together and adds music to create a clip that can be shared instantly on social networks.

For more details on each of these automated modes, you can find a description of each function in our Mavic Air 2S test.

The Mini 3 Pro is also equipped with the FocusTrack suite for automated flight with subject tracking. There are three ways to use this function: Point of Interest, Spotlight and ActiveTrack.

• In Point of Interestmode, you draw a circle around the subject and your drone will fly around it at a predefined radius and speed
• In Spotlight mode, you fly the drone manually and it keeps the subject in the centre of the frame
• In ActiveTrack mode, the Mini 3 Pro tracks the subject in two possible ways: either by keeping it at a constant distance (Track mode) or by flying alongside it at a constant angle and distance (Parallel mode)

Overall, these modes work well. One notable point concerns camera orientation: DJI equipped the Mini 3 Pro with a 90-degree rotating camera capable of capturing images in both landscape and portrait formats to better suit social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram Stories. However, QuickShots, MasterShots, and Hyperlapse modes are currently only available in landscape orientation, which may seem surprising given this design choice.

Security

Obstacle sensors

Optical system forwards, backwards and downwards

Security is certainly the point where the most important improvement has been made on the DJI Mini 3 Pro, compared to its predecessors. Indeed, the latest addition to the Mini series is equipped with a three-way obstacle avoidance system , thanks to wide-angle sensors facing forwards, backwards and downwards.

This feature, together with the Advanced Pilot Assistance System 4.0 ( APAS 4.0 ), allows the drone to avoid obstacles and can be set to have the drone automatically stop or steer around detected obstacles.

Unfortunately, there is no upward obstacle sensor, so be careful if you take off under trees! But it is undoubtedly a big step forward for the Mini series, which is getting closer and closer to the most advanced models produced by DJI.

Battery and flight time

Batteries	2453 mAh
Battery weight	Approx. 80.5 g
Max. flight time	34 minutes
Max. hovering time	30 minutes
Recharge time	30W charger: 64 minutes 30W charger + charging station: 56 minutes

It seems that DJI is making real efforts to improve the autonomy of each of its series of drones, and the Mini 3 Pro is no exception. The manufacturer advertises a flight time of 34 minutes for its new 2453mAh smart battery.

Of course, the reality is often a tad less optimistic and if we take into account the minimum load necessary for the automatic return to the starting point, the variations in temperature and the wind, this data will necessarily be lower. During our tests, we obtained flights of between 20 and 25 minutes , which is still a nice improvement if we remember the first Mavic Mini.

DJI Mini 3 Pro: the camera

Sensor	1/1.3-inch 48 MP CMOS
Lens	24 mm equivalent, f/1.7 aperture, FOV 82.1°.
Maximum image size	8064 × 6048
Photo resolution	12 and 48 MP
Video resolution	4K up to 60 fps 2.7K up to 60 fps FHD up to 60 fps
ISO range	100 à 6400
Photo format	JPEG DNG (RAW)
Video format	MP4/MOV (H.264/H.265)
Max. bit rate	150 Mb/s
Color profile	Normal D-Cinelike
Digital Zoom	4K: 2x 2.7K: 3x FHD : 4x

The DJI Mini 3 Pro’s camera gets a massive upgrade. It features a large 1/1.3 inch CMOS sensor with a 24mm equivalent F1.7 fixed aperture lens that provides an 82.1° field of view.

The Mini 3 Pro is also the first drone to feature native dual ISO technology (two conversion gain modes) which extends the camera’s dynamic range, reduces noise and produces sharper images in low light environments. .

Everything is based on a 3-axis mechanical gimbal which is very different from those of other DJI Mini drones since it has the particularity of being able to swivel in portrait orientation. Already seen on the Mavic Pro, this feature allows users to take social media-friendly vertical photos without sacrificing quality when cropping an image in landscape orientation. DJI’s goal is clearly to satisfy users of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Photo

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is capable of capturing 12 and 48 MP images in JPEG and RAW formats. 48MP images contain more data and are of higher quality, unfortunately they are only available in single shot mode. Burst, AEB and self-timer modes will automatically give you 12MP images.

Overall, image quality is impressive, with good dynamic range and noise management. Colors also look great right out of the camera, whether in RAW or JPEG. As is often the case with consumer drones, there is a small loss of sharpness around the edges of the frame but this isn’t a major issue.

The Mini 3 Pro’s ISO sensitivity management is excellent. There is virtually no additional noise visible in raw files at all settings above ISO 100, up to the maximum of ISO 6400. Natural color reproduction is also preserved, so you can shoot with confidence at any ISO setting. ISO management combined with the fast f/1.7 aperture makes the Mini 3 Pro a real powerhouse in low light.

The lens also handles backlit scenes very well and maintains contrast well beyond our expectations, even in particularly difficult situations.

Video

The DJI Mini 3 Pro can capture video in three resolutions: 4K (up to 60p), 2.7K (up to 60p), and FHD up to 120p . The latter makes it possible to produce slow motion videos when they are filmed at 120 frames per second. The maximum video bitrate is 150 Mbps , and there are two color profiles to choose from, D-Cinelike or Normal. Basically, the Mini 3 Pro is suitable for both amateur and professional video.

When looking at this small drone and its compact camera, it is hard to imagine such a level of video quality. Yet, the videos produced by the DJI Mini 3 Pro stand out for their smoothness and level of detail. Even in windy conditions, the results remain convincing, with stable and well-controlled footage.

Note also that the D-Cinelike color profile is included for the first time on the Mini series. Thanks to this profile, you will be able to recover more shadows and highlights in post-processing.

In summary, with this new and larger sensor, the quality of the images captured by the DJI Mini 3 Pro is clearly superior to those that can be obtained from a Mavic Air 2 or a Mini 2. The color profile is comparable to the Air 2S. Rather impressive.

Digital Zoom

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is also equipped with a digital zoom offering the possibility of zooming up to 2x in 4K resolution, 3x in 2.7K resolution and 4x in 1080p.

As is often the case with consumer drones, this option should be used with caution due to the loss of quality it causes. It is generally observed that using digital zoom leads to a more noticeable loss of image quality at higher resolutions. So capturing videos in 4K with the x2 zoom should rather be avoided, and you will lose less quality if you zoom in when filming in 1080p.

DJI Mini 3 Pro: the price

DJI Mini 3 Pro only (without radio control)	589€	See on Amazon
DJI Mini 3 Pro + DJI RC-N1 remote control	659€	See on Amazon
DJI Mini 3 Pro + DJI RC remote control	799€	See on Amazon
Fly More accessory pack	189€
DJI Mini 3 Pro FPV Pack	529€

On its release, the DJI Mini 3 Pro represented a significant price increase over its predecessor, the Mini 2. While the Mini series was originally intended to be a more affordable range of drones, this new opus reaches prices equivalent to those of the DJI Air range.

The price of the Mini 3 Pro has since been lowered several times, and at the time of writing DJI is offering it in three versions:

• a version without radio control at €589
• a version with the standard RC-N1 remote control at €659
• a version with the DJ RC remote control and integrated display at €799

As the DJI Mini 3 Pro is compatible with the RC-N1 controller already supplied with the Mini 2, Mavic 3, Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S drones, DJI is offering a first “economy” pack that will enable you to use your remote control if you already own one of these drones.

All packs include a smart battery, a pair of spare propellers, one or more cables for charging and data transmission (depending on the remote control provided), a protective cover for the gimbal, a screwdriver and screws. The only difference between each pack is therefore the model of the remote control it contains or not.

DJI also offers a Fly More package with a host of additional accessories. For 189 euros, you’ll get two additional batteries and a pair of propellers, a charging station and an attractive shoulder bag.

Last but not least: since the update making the drone compatible with the RC Motion 2 joystick-style radio control system and the Goggles 2 and Goggles Integra goggles, the Mini 3 Pro can be flown in FPV mode, with image feedback directly in front of the eyes. DJI has therefore added a “DJI Goggles Integra Motion Bundle” pack to its store, comprising the Goggles Integra headset and the RC Motion 2 remote control, which you can purchase for €529.

If you are looking for accessories for your DJI Mini Pro 3 , do not hesitate to visit our store! 😁

Conclusion: Should you get the DJI Mini 3 Pro?

With the DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI takes the popular Mini drone series to new heights. Every new Mini has come with its upgrades, but this new model is a huge leap forward for a sub-250g drone.

Offering a three-way obstacle avoidance system, a new 1/1.3-inch sensor with an f/1.7 aperture greatly improving video capabilities, a new remote control (for those who will invest in the most expensive), increased range and more stable flight performance, the DJI Mini 3 deserves its “Pro” designation.

The main downside is the big jump in price over the DJI Mini 2. That’s to be expected given all of its new features, but a drone that was once affordable enough to appeal to beginners is now closer to the DJI Air 2S, a drone that has a 1-inch sensor and is clearly one of the best drones on the market. The choice will therefore be difficult between the two, and the DJI Mini 3 Pro may be the best option for those whose priority is portability.

Buy it if…

… it’s your first drone, or you’re a professional videographer or video enthusiast looking for a compact drone to take anywhere easily. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is an excellent option for beginners, as well as for those who are demanding in terms of image quality and need to add an ultra-portable drone to their arsenal. Its image quality is impressive even in low light conditions. And if you already have the Mini 2 or Mini SE, the Mini 3 is a major upgrade that’s totally worth considering.

Don’t buy it if…

…you need the best image quality possible. If size and budget are not an issue for you, then the Mavic 3 is the better option, its image quality is significantly better. Likewise, if you already have the DJI Air 2S or even the Air 2, investing in the Mini 3 Pro surely won’t be worth it. Despite some shortcomings, the Air 2 remains a very powerful drone with qualities very close to the Mini 3 Pro.

💡 Also read
👉 Learn all the rules for a 250 grams drone to fly in full compliance.
👉 The Mini range has evolved significantly since the Mini 3 Pro. Check out our comparison Mini 4 Pro vs Mini 5 Pro: what are the differences?