Skip to main content

Mini 3 vs. Mini 2: How does the new DJI drone compare?

If you’re just starting your drone journey or are shopping on a budget, you may be tempted to pick up a DJI Mini 2, or its latest iteration Mini 2 SE. But if you’re in the market for a compact drone with a great camera that would help you showcase your adventures on social media and beyond, you should arm yourself with a Mini 3, which is currently available at a deal price of $469 (savings of $90).

Compared with DJI Mini 2, the new Mini 3 features a comprehensively improved imaging system, battery life, and other aspects. With a lightweight and compact body under 249 g, DJI Mini 3 comes with a 1/1.3-inch image sensor that supports dual native ISO and chip-level HDR technology and supports shooting 4K HDR video.

Also see: DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) falls to $729 for Prime Day 2023

The drone can be used with either its regular battery with a flight time of 38 minutes or the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus which extends the flight time to up to 51 minutes. Moreover, its new gimbal design allows for True Vertical Shooting and large-angle tilt.

More specifically, there are four major advantages that the DJI Mini 3 offers over the Mini 2.

Bigger imaging sensor: The Mini 2 comes with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and f/2.8 aperture. On the other hand, the Mini 3 is equipped with a 1/1.3-inch camera sensor. A bigger sensor captures more details and, hence, delivers better shots. Further, Mini 3’s camera has an f/1.7 aperture and larger 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels for clear details and excellent imagery even in low light conditions.

Read: The video editing app officially recommended by DJI

HDR video: While both the Mini 2 and Mini 3 can capture 4K/30fps video, DJI’s latest travel-friendly drone promises greater contrast in shots with chip-level HDR technology. So, whether it’s highlights or shadows, you get nuanced results with greater depth using the Mini 3.

Vertical shooting mode: If you plan to use your new drone to share content on TikTok and Instagram, you should know that the Mini 3 comes with a native vertical shooting mode that allows users to get portrait shots without needing to crop footage digitally. This capability is not present in the DJI Mini 2. Moreover, Mini 3 boasts a larger gimbal range, which means you get more shooting angles and added creative freedom.

Longer battery life: DJI Mini 3’s design not only allows the drone to carry larger propellers, but it also improves the propulsion efficiency of the aircraft, essentially giving you longer flight time. Compared to Mini 2’s max flight time of 31 minutes, Mini 3 can fly for up to 38 minutes with a standard Intelligent Flight Battery. You can also upgrade to 51-minute Intelligent Flight Battery Plus with the Mini 3, which is the longest battery life for any DJI camera drone. But note that doing so would tip the drone weight to around 290 grams, thus, requiring registration and/or additional licenses in some countries and regions.

Read: Father’s Day gift guide: Best drones and flying cameras for dads

DJI RC compatibility with Mini 3

An additional point of distinction between the Mini 2 and the Mini 3 is that the latter is compatible with the DJI RC remote controller. This lightweight RC features a 5.5-inch full-HD screen with a continuous high brightness of up to 700 nits, and comes with the DJI Fly flight app pre-installed. Upgrading to the $798 Mini 3 Fly More Combo with DJI RC will mean that you get the best possible outdoor flying experience with smoother control sticks and customizable buttons and dials.

But if you are stretching your budget, and are looking to upgrade from the Mini 2, it would make more sense for you to get the Mini 3 Pro version with DJI RC instead. There are a ton of additional capabilities that come with the Pro version, including tri-directional obstacle avoidance, which is super helpful from a point of view of safety.

Read: More cinematic footage for DJI Mini 3 Pro drone with this firmware update

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading DroneDJ — experts who break news about DJI and the wider drone ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow DroneDJ on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Ishveena Singh Ishveena Singh

Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021 by Geospatial World magazine.