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DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S: Comparison With Price, Specs, and More

DJI Mavic 3

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S: Comparison With Price, Specs, and More

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S: 4 Must-Know Facts

  1. In most regions, the Mini 3 Pro weighs less than 250 grams and doesn’t need to be licensed or registered to fly.
  2. The Mavic Air 2S has a 1-inch sensor, and the Mini 3 Pro has a .8-inch sensor.
  3. The Mini 3 Pro features a wider aperture and ISO range than the Air 2S. You can also shoot in Portrait mode, thanks to the vertical gimbal position.
  4. The Air 2S has a longer zoom, going up to 4X. The Mini 3 Pro only offers a 2X Zoom.

Drones are more powerful and accessible than ever, thanks to DJI. Whether you are looking at a drone for video work or FPV racing, DJI has options. After the release of the Mini 3 Pro, DJI added another micro drone that is absolutely perfect for first-time flyers. Mavic Air 2 is a perfect middle ground for people who don’t want to use a full-size drone. DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S, which would you pick?

Both are excellent drones and choosing between them can be more challenging. So, using side-by-side comparison and critical differences, let’s explore Mini 3 Pro and Mavic Air 2 in detail to see which drone is right for you.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S: Side By Side Comparison

DroneDJI Air 2Mini 3 Pro
Price DJI Air 2S: $1,249.00
DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo: $1,699.00
DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo: $1,889.00
DJI Mini 3 Pro: $979.00
DJI Mini 3 Pro with DJI RC: $1,179.00
Dimensions (LxWxH)180x97x77 mm Folded183x253x77 mm UnfoldedFolded: 145×90×62 mm
Unfolded: 171×245×62 mm
Weight595 gLess than 249 g
Image Sensor size1-inchText1/1.3-inch sensor
Max Photo Resolution20 MP48 MP
Max Video Resolution5.4K/ 30 fp4K/60 fps
Video TransmissionOcuSync 3.0 – 12km 1080p@30fpsOcusync 3.0 + 12km 1080p@30fps
Vision SystemForward + Backward + Upward + Downward SensorsForward + backward + downward
Max Flight Speed68.4 kph (S-Mode)57.6 kph (S-mode)
Max Flight Time31 MinutesRegular battery: 34 MinutesPlus Battery: 47 Minutes
Max Wind Resistance38.5 km/h38.5 km/h
Internal Storage8 GBNone
infographic for DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Mavic Air 2S

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2: What’s The Difference?

DJI Mini 3 Pro, Lightweight Foldable Camera Drone with 4K/60fps Video, 48MP, 34 Mins Flight Time, Less than 249 g, Front, Rear and Downward Obstacle Avoidance, Return to Home, Drone for Beginners
$559.99
  • Care-free Creation - Weighing less than 249 g, Mini 3 Pro doesn't require registration in most countries and regions. The foldable and compact design also makes it easy to carry on any adventure.
  • FAA Remote ID Compliant - DJI Mini 3 Pro complies with the FAA Remote ID rule. Please check the compliance document below to see the user guide for Remote ID, and you can visit the FAA's website for...
  • Perfect Portraits in a Tap - The redesigned DJI Mini 3 Pro offers True Vertical Shooting for portrait shots, ideal for social media. The gimbal rotates 90, so you don't have to compromise image...
  • Sweet Air Time - Enjoy an extended flight time of up to 34 minutes and capture and explore more of your surroundings. Upgrade to the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (sold separately) and enjoy...
  • Fly with Confidence - DJI Mini 3 Pro features tri-directional obstacle sensing and APAS 4.0, bringing unrivaled safety to the Mini series.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 10:31 pm GMT

Design

The DJI Mini series is lightweight and portable. Like its predecessor, the DJI Mini 2 Pro, the 3 Pro is under 249 grams. Compare this to the Air 2, which weighs 595 grams. However, the Mini 3 Pro is heavier and complies with laws and regulations in most countries. So, no training or registration is needed. Mini series drones can cut the red tape if you are a frequent traveler.

The DJI Air 2S isn’t exactly a massive drone, but it weighs 595 grams, which means you need to register it. Even though it is still relatively small and easy to pack, it is slightly harder to travel with due to the registration requirement. The significant advantage of being heavier also means it will hold up better in the wind than the Mini 3 pro.

Camera and Image Quality

DJI is famous for its image quality standard, so it’s no surprise that the Mini 3 Pro and Mavic Air 2 produce excellent images. However, the sensor is among the key differences between the Air 2S, and the Mini 3 Pro is the sensor size. The Air 2S has a 1-inch sensor, and the Pro 3 has a slightly smaller 0.8-inch sensor.

After that, the differences are pretty minor. The Air 2S shoots in 4K and 5.4. On the other hand, the Mini 3 Pro is stuck with 4K. But we must say the 4K images you get out of this drone won’t disappoint you. Initially, the Mini 3 Pro could only shoot 8-bit color depth, but now after a firmware update, it can shoot 10-bit.

Air 2S and its sibling have unique flight modes such as Spotlight, MasterShots, Quickshots, ActiveTrack, and Hyperlapse. And they can both shoot 120fps at 1080p in all of their modes.

Battery and Flight Time

The DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Air 2S can fly with the Mini 3 Pro at 34 Minutes and the Air 2S at 31 Minutes. But that is what DJI estimates. After some real-world tests, we found that flight times are closer to 25 to 30 minutes, depending on how you fly, the environmental conditions, and the battery’s conditions.

You can get a larger battery for Mini 3 Pro, typically lasting over 40 minutes. Unfortunately, this battery is prohibited in some countries. Also, with the Air 2S being heavier, it does take more power to achieve these flight times.

Controllers

Superior Obstacle-Avoidance Technology
DJI Air 2S, Drone Quadcopter UAV
$894.99
  • Battery life provides 31 minutes of flight time
  • Forward, backward, upward, and downward vision sensors for obstacle avoidance
  • 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps video, 20MP photo
  • 12km 1080p video transmission
  • 42.5 mph maximum speed
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 09:42 pm GMT

Both drones have the RCN1 as the default controller, a comfortable, lightweight, and beginner-friendly controller. You can order the DJI RC controller with a 5-inch display for a couple of extra dollars. However, it is worth noting that the RC controller doesn’t work with Air 2S. For an upgraded controller for the Air 2S, you would need to get the DJI’s Smart Controller, which will cost you a bit more than the DJI RC.

The default RCN1 controller does have OcuSync 3.0 and has potential range of 12 KM, with live footage in 1080p. So, you won’t need to worry about running out of range of the monitor before running out of battery life.

DJI-Mini-3-Pro

The Mini 3 Pro features a wider aperture and ISO range than the Air 2S.

DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air 2S: Which One Is Better?

While both are top-notch drones, they’re geared toward different markets. The DJI Air 2S offers more features and slightly better specs for professional work if you are a videographer or photographer. For anyone more of a hobbyist, the Mini 3 Pro’s size and ease of travel make it easier to use and take everywhere with you.

We would describe the Mini 3 Pro as a perfect drone for somebody who is just getting into drones but wants fantastic quality. It is a pleasure to travel with, and the fact that you don’t need to be licensed or registered is hard to pass up. And the Air 2S is perfect for professionals, like real estate photographers or landscape photographers, that want to take their work to the next level. Again we would like to note that you have to get licensed and register it where you’re flying with an Air 2S.

So, while the Mavic Air 2S is a good drone with some excellent features, we have to give it to the DJI Mini 3 Pro for its range and photo performance.

Up Next…

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will the DJI Mavic Mini 3 cost?

The Mini 3 Pro costs around $979 for the base package.

Does DJI Mini 3 Pro have follow me?

Yes, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has a follow-me feature known as Active Track mode, which is a part of Focus Track. It allows the drone to follow the selected subject automatically.

How fast can the DJI Mini 3 Pro fly?

Top speeds for the three different Flight Modes for the Mini 3 Pro: Sport Mode: 16 m/s – 57.6 km/h (35.79 mph) Normal Mode: 10 m/s – 36 km/h (22.36 mph) Cinematic Mode: 6 m/s – 21.6 km/h (13.42 mph)

Can you fly Mini 3 Pro in rain?

No. DJI strongly suggests avoiding contact with water during use as it may damage the device. If it rains during the flight, please return and land as soon as possible, and wait until the aircraft is fully dry inside and out before using it again.

Does DJI Mini 3 Pro have GPS?

DJI loads a ton of safety features on its drones. The Mini 3 Pro, for instance, includes GPS/GLONASS positioning, automated return-to-home, and obstacle detection and avoidance.

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