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

Whether you’re into photography or videography, a drone can help you capture stunning bird’s eye photographs and aerial videos of landscapes, cityscapes, events, or real estate. The most challenging task, though, is finding the right drone for the job.

While the market spoils us with a bountiful range of options, two of the most popular models today are the DJI Mini 3 and the Mavic Air 2. This in-depth comparison between the two might help you find the right model for you.

Let’s dive right in!

DJI Mini 3 vs. Mavic Air 2: Side-by-Side Comparison

Best Vertical Shooting

DJI Mini 3

$469.00

• Lightweight and compact
• Up to 38 minutes of battery life
• Film in 4K HDR Video
• Comes with True Vertical Shooting

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11/27/2023 06:02 am GMT

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

Short for Da-Jiang Innovations, DJI is a leader in the aerial photography and videography world. The company was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang, a science and technology graduate committed to creating reliable and accessible drone technology.

From its start, the brand focused on making drones suitable for use in photography, videography, surveying, and inspection. Two of the most popular models, majorly used for aerial videography, are the Mini 3 and the Mavic Air 2.

Here’s everything you need to know about these models so that you can find the best drone for you.

Image Quality

The DJI Mini 3 and Mavic Air 2 are two camera drones primarily used for aerial videography and photography, so it’s unsurprising that image quality is the main feature potential users consider. While neither drone disappoints, the Mavic Air 2 has the upper hand in this category.

This model’s main advantage is the superior camera compared to the Mini 3. The Mavic Air 2 can shoot photos up to 48MP and record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. The Mini 3 can record videos in 4K resolution, too, but only at 30 frames per second. In terms of photo capabilities, the Mini 3 comes with a 12MP camera. Special software could enhance the image quality to 48MP, but the hardware is less impressive than Mavic’s.

The Mavic Air 2 also impresses with another highlight — its capability to record 8K hyper-lapse as well as time-lapse videos. The Mini 3 doesn’t have a hyper-lapse function, but it allows for vertical shooting. That’s a great feature if you want to capture tall landmarks, such as mountains or skyscrapers.

Data Storage

A crucial difference between the DJI Mini 3 and the Mavic Air 2 is data storage — and the Mavic wins this round, too. DJI doesn’t equip its Mavic Air 2 with lots of internal storage, but you do get 8GB (of which 7.2GB are actually available for usage).

This space is enough for storing about 10 minutes of 4K video or 50 48MB photos, and you can expand it up to 256GB with a microSD card. The Mini 3 works with SD cards of up to 256GB, but this drone has no internal storage.

Flight

Both the DJI Mini 3 and the Mavic Air 2 are quadcopter-style drones, but their flight capabilities are slightly different. Unsurprisingly, the Mavic Air 2 wins with a maximum flight speed of 68 km/h (around 42 miles per hour), whereas the Mini 3 only reaches a maximum speed of 57.6 km/h (around 36 miles per hour).

The tables turn in Mini 3’s favor when it comes to the flight distance. This drone has a range of up to 25 kilometers (around 15.5 miles). The Mavic Air 2 has a shorter range of only 18.5 km (11.5 miles), but it has better (tri-directional) obstacle sensing. The Mini 3 can only sense obstacles in one direction, which is downward.

Both models resist level five winds of up to 38 km/h (10mph), but they are a lot easier to control in no wind conditions. Gimbals on both models stabilize the camera and help you capture great images and videos regardless of how windy it is, though.

Battery and Charging Time

Two important factors to consider when buying a drone are the flight and charging time, especially if you want to use it for recording aerial videos of events, such as weddings. Equipped with standard 2,453mAh batteries, the two models have a similar flight time — albeit the Mini 3 wins with 38 minutes versus Mavic’s 34 minutes.

The true difference, however, is Mini 3’s compatibility with DJI’s Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. This 3,850mAh battery increases the flight time to a maximum of 51 minutes. The Mini 3 also charges faster, in under an hour and 40 minutes. The Mavic Air 2 is not compatible with higher-capacity batteries, and it can require up to two hours and 20 minutes of charge time.

Price

Finding the perfect drone is sometimes a matter of price, and if you need an affordable option, the Mini 3 might be the best one. The drone alone won’t set you back more than $370 to $390. Together with the remote controller, you can expect to spend around $470.

The Mavic Air 2 costs around $670 for the drone only and about $100 more with the remote controller. DJI offers Fly More combo packs for both drones, consisting of two or three batteries and dual or triple chargers, low-noise propellers, and other accessories. Combo pack prices can go as high as $800 for the Mini 3 and around $900 for the Mavic Air 2.

Impressive Battery Life

DJI Mavic Air 2

$879.95

• Battery life provides up to 34 minutes of flight time
• 4K/60fps Video and 48MP Images
• FHD 1080p resolution livestream
• The DJI Fly app requires iOS 10.0 and later or Android 6.0 and later
• Forward, backward, and downward vision sensors for obstacle avoidance
• Maximum speed of 42.3 mph in Sport mode

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11/27/2023 06:06 am GMT

DJI Mini 3 vs. Mavic Air 2: 5 Must-Know Facts

• The DJI Mini 3 and Mavic Air 2 are two of the most popular drone models from DJI. Both are suitable for aerial photography and videography.
• DJI has discontinued the Mavic Ai 2 model, but the drone is still available from various retailers and marketplaces.
• The DJI Mini 3 is the best option if you want to shoot vertical images. This drone can record 4K videos and shoot 48MP photos.
• The Mavic Air 2 is an excellent option for videography, especially for 8K hyper-lapse and time-lapse videos.
• Both drones have a level 5 wind resistance. The Mavic Air 2 is faster, but the Mini 3 can provide up to 51 minutes of flight time.

DJI Mini 3 vs. Mavic Air 2: Which One is Better?

From an objective standpoint, the Mavic Air 2 is better than the Mini 3 as far as the image quality is concerned. This drone has a 48MP camera and can record 8K hyper-lapse videos. It also produces stunning 4K and time-lapse videos and is ideal for most artists and creators.

The DJI Mini 3 provides quality images but is not quite as good as the Mavic Air 2. However, this drone has true vertical shooting capabilities, which is a plus. Another advantage of the Mini 3 is its compatibility with the brand’s high-capacity batteries.

This drone can fly for around 50 minutes per charge, and the battery charges in just over an hour. These factors can make it a better option for wedding videographers and anyone else in need of a longer flight time.