If you're in the market for a drone, you may be asking yourself if you should wait for the DJI Mini 3 Pro to be fully released, or if you should take the plunge now. After all, the DJI Mini 2 is a great entry-level drone. Is it worth waiting for the highly-anticipated successor?
As things stand, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has been released and is available to pre-order, meaning there is a few weeks' wait until you can actually get your hands on one.
We've assembled as much information as we can find on the new model, so you can make the most informed decision about which way to go. Enough of us droning on (you're welcome, dads everywhere). Here's everything you need to know about the DJI Mini 3 Pro, and whether it's worth the wait.
Should I Wait For The DJI Mini 3 Pro?
So first things first, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is heading our way, having been officially announced at a DJI event entitled 'A Twist In The Plot' on May 10th.
However, just because the drone has been announced, doesn't mean it's available fully yet. For instance, on Amazon USA, the drone isn't available until 1st August 2022, and if you're in the UK, the drone is actually fully available, having been released on 17th May 2022.
Purchase Here: DJI Mini 3 Pro
Price
When it comes to pricing, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has taken things a fair bit higher than last gen's DJI Mini 2.
For reference, the standard Mini 3 Pro bundle with the older-style controller will run you £709/$759, whilst if you want it with the new DJI RC Smart Controller, this is an extra £150/$150 on top, making it £859/$909.
Last gen's DJI Mini 2 retailed for £419/$449, which means that the price for the latest generation has nearly doubled and in essence, has also shattered DJI's pre-existing hierarchy of products.
The Mini SE is advertised at £269/$300, while the step up from the Mini 2, the Mavic Air 2, costs £769/$799, meaning you do have a bit of a conundrum when it comes to deciding which DJI drone to go for, especially considering where the Mini 3 Pro slots in to their product lineup at the moment.
Specs And Features
As for specs and features, the Mini 3 Pro does look to pack quite the punch, in pretty much every regard.
For its camera, you're getting a 1/1.3" CMOS sensor, which will allow you to take 48MP RAW stills, as well as 4K video at 60fps, alongside 2.7K and 1080p at 60fps too.
When it comes to flight time, the Mini 3 Pro is quoted to last for 34 minutes with its standard battery, or with the upgraded Plus battery, this increases all the way to 48 minutes, which helps to make it one of the best drones for battery life, with a rather long flight time.
There's also some clever obstacle avoidance tech with APAS 4.0, as well as tri-directional obstacle sensing for enhanced safety when in flight.
DJI Mini 2 Vs DJI Mini 3 Pro
Let's start by going through the basics of the Mini 2 to give you a reference point:
- 249g total weight
- OcuSync 2.0 transmission
- 1/2.3" CMOS image sensor
- 24mm equivalent lens (84º FOV)
- F2.8 aperture (fixed)
- 12MP photo resolution
- JPEG + RAW images
- 4K/30p and 1080/60p video (100 Mbps bit rate)
- Up to 4X (2X lossless) zoom
- 31-minute flight time
In cross-referencing this with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, there are some notable upgrades. For instance, the Mini 3 Pro features four times better resolution with 48MP sensor, alongside the ability to film at 4K 60fps, as opposed to 4K 30fps on the Mini 2. Its sensor is also larger, and there's also a wider aperture on the Mini 3 Pro with f1.7.
You'll also find a marginally better flight time by a handful of minutes, as well as a revamped remote control in the DJI RC, the powers of OS 3.0 transmission, all within a superlight 249g frame.
Read More: Best Drones 2022: Our Top Picks For Photos And Video
Should You Wait For The DJI Mini 3?
There are probably a couple of factors to keep in mind when making your decision. The first is how urgently do you need a drone? If you are heading off in the next week and want to be able to use a drone, then waiting for the Mini 3 Pro isn't going to be an option for you, at least if you're in the USA where you can't get the stone in hand from Amazon until the end of June 2022.
If however, you're planning ahead for your summer vacation, then holding off might be worthwhile. The Mini 3 Pro should almost certainly be fully out by then, which means you can properly compare the specs and prices and what you need, before coming to a decision. It may also lead to reduced prices on the Mini 2 as well.
On the other hand, drones have historically tended to hold their value reasonably well. So if you were to buy something now, if you then wanted the Mini 3 Pro at a later date, you could probably sell your existing drone fairly quickly, and for a respectable price.
Ultimately, it's down to your personal circumstances as to whether you want to wait or not. For our money, the Mini 3 Pro is worth the wait, if your budget will allow it, given the notable upgrades it offers.
If you can't wait, check out our guide to the pick of the best entry-level drones that are currently available.
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