Our DJI Mini 3 Pro v.s DJI Air 2S guide explains the main differences between them to help you choose the suitable one.
DJI Mini 3 Pro is the latest model that DJI released on May 10th, 2022. It is an upgrade to the DJI Mini 2 and belongs to the Mini lineup, while DJI Air 2S is the most powerful one in the Air series. The differences between them seem huge, but the actual performance may not be as different as you think. This is probably why many pilots got stuck when deciding which one to choose.
In this guide, we will compare the DJI Mini 3 Pro with DJI Air 2S in every aspect, and explain how each measures up in practice.
If you are in a hurry, here is a quick overview:
Get the DJI Mini 3 Pro if:
- You are new to drones and want an entry-level drone
- You are not into a photography drone
- Your budget is limited
Get the DJI Air 2S if:
- You need a better camera drone but don’t have the budget for the Mavic 3.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Camera
The DJI Mini 3 Pro features a 1/3-inch CMOS sensor with an f/1.7 fast aperture. It allows you to shoot 4K videos at up to 60fps in Standard and D-Cinelike, and 48Mp RAW or JPG photos. The camera can also rotate 90 degrees which allows you to capture images and videos vertically.
Drone |
DJI Air 2S |
DJI Mini 3 Pro |
Sensor | 1″ CMOS | 1/1.3″ CMOS |
Camera | 20 MP | 48 MP |
Video | 5.4K: 5472×3078 @ 24/25/30 fps
4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 2.7K: 2688×1512 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps FHD: 1920×1080 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60/120 fps |
4K: 3840×2160 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
2.7K: 2720×1530 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60fps FHD: 1920×1080 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60fps Slow Motion: 1920×1080 @ 120fps |
Video Format | MP4/MOV (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, H.265/HEVC) | MP4/MOV (H.264/H.265) |
Lens | f/2.8 | f/1.7 |
Zoom | Yes
4K/30fps: 4x; 2.7K/60fps: 4x; 2.7K/30fps: 6x; 1080p/60fps: 6x; 1080p/30fps: 8x Zoom recording is not available while recording 10-bit videos and 120fps videos. |
Yes
4K: 2x 2.7K: 3x FHD: 4x |
Max Bitrate | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
ISO | Video:
100-6400 (Auto) 100-12800 (Manual) 10-Bit Dlog-M Video: 100-1600 (Auto) 100-3200 (Manual) Photos: 100-6400 (Auto) 100-12800 (Manual) |
Video:
100-6400 (Auto) 100-6400 (Manual) Photos: 100-6400 (Auto) 100-6400 (Manual) |
Color Profiles | Normal
D-log |
Normal
D-Cinelike |
The Air 2S packs a 20Mp 1-inch CMOS sensor that is capable of 5.4K videos at 30fps, 4K footage at up to 60fps, and 1080p at up to 120fps.
Though the Air 2S is obviously the winner on paper, the actual performance may not be as huge as you may think. According to many users’ feedback, the difference between the photos and videos may not be that huge, in some circumstances, the DJI Mini 3 Pro does a great job of preserving details in the shadows/highlights due to its dual-native ISO and wider aperture.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Battery Life
DJI Mini 3 Pro: 34 – 47 mins (depending on which type of battery you use)
DJI Air 2S: 31 mins
The DJI Air 2S comes with a 3750 mAh / 3500 mAh battery which gives you a flight time of up to 31 minutes. Normally, the longest flight time you would get is around 26 minutes or less.
When it comes to battery, the Mini 3 Pro has 2 options, one is the regular intelligent battery that offers a max flight time of 34 minutes, and the other is the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus which provides max battery life of 47 minutes. The thing is if you want to keep your drone under the 250g threshold for registration, you will have to stick to the regular battery. If registration is no problem for you, you can choose the Plus battery to get more flying time.
Apparently, owing to the smaller size and advanced battery technology, the DJI Mini 3 Pro’s battery life is better than that of the DJI Air 2S.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Design, Size & Weight
Although the overall look of the DJI Mini 3 Pro looks like a Mavic that features a foldable design, it differs in many aspects.
Compared to the DJI Air 2S, the Mini 3 Pro is smaller and lighter with a folded size of only 145x90x62mm, the size that may fit in your pocket. The 249g weight also makes it a registration-free drone in most countries and regions. The Mini 3 Pro doesn’t come with quick-release propellers, and the gimbal is also designed for 90° rotation of the camera for vertical still and video.
Drone |
DJI Air 2S |
DJI Mini 3 Pro |
Dimensions (Folded) | Folded: 180 × 97 × 77 mm (L×W×H) | Folded: 145×90×62 mm (L×W×H) |
Weight | 1.31 lbs/ 595 grams | < 0.54 lbs/ 249 grams |
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Remote Controller & Range
DJI Mini 3 Pro: 7.5 miles (12 km)
DJI Air 2S: 11.5 miles (18.5 km)
Both DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Air 2S have 2 options when it comes to the controller. The regular remote is the same, they all come with the DJI RC-N1 Remote Controller, and it’s compatible with both drones. That is to say, if you already have a DJI Air 2S and want to get a new Mini 3 Pro, you can just buy the aircraft without a controller in the package. It saves you quite a few bucks.
DJI Mini 3 Pro has a newly designed controller called DJI RC, it has a built-in screen so you don’t need to mount your phone or tablet when flying. It’s more like a basic version of the DJI RC Pro because of the interior display and the lack of some features.
DJI Air 2S supports the DJI Smart Controller which is mainly designed for outdoor photography. It has an ultra-bright display that would stay visible even in direct sunlight.
DJI Mini 3 Pro has a max transmission range of 7.5 miles (12 km) while the Air 2S’s range can reach up to 11.5 miles (18.5 km).
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Obstacle Avoidance
In terms of obstacle avoidance, DJI Mini 3 Pro is equipped with forward, backward, and downward dual-vision sensors, together with the new aircraft design, it can provide a wider sensing range.
Drone |
DJI Air 2S |
DJI Mini 3 Pro |
Obstacle Avoidance | Forward, Upward, Backward, Downward | Forward, Backward, Downward |
DJI Air 2S packs forward, upward, backward, and downward sensors and has the ability to detect obstacles in four directions.
As for software, they both support APAS 4.0 and are capable of detecting objects in the drone’s flight path in real-time.
I would say these two drones can do a great job most of the time, it keeps you from flying into any trees or buildings, but there are indeed blind spots at the sides so you should be really careful when flying left or right.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Intelligent Flight Modes
As to intelligent flight, what DJI Mini 3 Pro has is pretty much the same as that of the DJI Air 2S, including MaterShots, FocusTrack, Hyperlapse, and QuickShots. They are a bunch of easy flight modes that can help you create stunning aerial videos automatically. You don’t need to be a photographer or an experienced pilot. The main difference between these two models is that the DJI Mini 3 Pro supports vertical shooting. Photos and videos shot in this mode are more popular on social media.
FocusTrack includes ActiceTrack 4.0, Point of Interest 3.0, and Spotlight 2.0.
To learn more about how these flight modes work and what the videos look like shot by these tricks, you can find a lot of YouTube videos for a more detailed and vivid explanation.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Flight Performance
When we talk about flight performance, it’s mainly about speed, wind resistance, etc. As the Air 2S is larger, heavier, faster, and has better wind resistance ability, it sure has better performance when flying in extreme conditions.
Drone |
DJI Air 2S |
DJI Mini 3 Pro |
Wind Resistance | 30-38 mph (Level 8) | 23.9 mph (Level 5) |
Max Speed (Sport Mode) | 42 mph (68.4 km/h ) | 35.8 mph (57.6 km/h ) |
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Price
Another reason why users couldn’t decide which one to buy is because of the price difference. The starting price of the DJI Mini 3 Pro is $759, which is $240 cheaper than the DJI Air 2S.
For most people, if you don’t need to get serious about aerial photography, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is more than enough for you. It has everything you need from a drone, and you will have all the advanced features that are only available on high-end drones.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 2S: Storage
The DJI Mini 3 Pro only comes with 1.2 GB onboard storage while DJI Air 2S has 8 GB. No matter which drone you would buy, don’t forget to buy a compatible microSD card to store your videos and photos.
DJI Air 2S supports UHS-I Speed Grade 3 micro SD cards with a capacity of up to 256 GB, here is a guide on how to choose the compatible microSD card for DJI Air 2S.
DJI Mini 3 Pro supports UHS-I Speed Class 3 or above microSD cards.
Conclusion
For most people, we think the DJI Mini 3 Pro is the perfect fit given its ultra-small size, lightweight, portability, and feature-rich. It has everything you need for a drone, long battery life, intelligent flight modes like ActiveTrack, vertical shooting, and a not-bad camera.
If you really need a drone for photography but don’t have the budget for the Mavic 3, then the DJI Air 2S might be a better option.
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Great comparison, thanks to the author and site.
I’m going for a Mini 3 Pro – primarily for the weight/registration requirement (or lack thereof). It will be my first drone.
Thanks!