DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S: which is better?
The DJI Mini 3 Pro launched this week to much fanfare. It offers not just the most-desired specs, including sub-250 gram takeoff weight, 4K/60fps video, tri-directional obstacle sensing and 34 minutes of flight time — but it offers all that for a reasonably low price point of just $759 (or $669 if you forego the controller, assuming you have one from a previous model you’ve upgraded from).
While the DJI Mini 3 Pro lives under the DJI Mini line of drones, it hardly resembles the Mini line. The DJI Mini and DJI Mini 2 drones have traditionally been entry-level drones, designed for newbie drone pilots given their stripped features at a low price point (the DJI Mini 2 usually goes for $449).
The only major spec that the DJI Mini 3 Pro has in common with its DJI Mini predecessors is the truly Mini size. Mini drones all weigh under 250 grams. And since many countries only regulate drones weighing 250 grams or higher, that makes these drones exempt from many types of regulations or restrictions. In the U.S., it makes them exempt from the registration requirement.
Related read: DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 2: is it worth the upgrade?
Instead, the new DJI Mini 3 Pro is actually far closer to the DJI Air 2 and DJI Air 2S almost every metric. The Mini 3 Pro is the only one in the Mini lineup thus far to include obstacle avoidance, which you’ll find in the Air 2 and Air 2S drones.
It also offers far higher video quality than the Mini drones, instead more aligning with the Air 2 and Air 2S. And yes, its price point also better aligns with the Air 2 and Air 2S drones.
Related read: DJI Mini 3 Pro is here: everything you need to know
Given how the DJI Mini 3 Pro most closely mirrors the DJI Air 2 and DJI Air 2S drones, which one is better for you? And if you already have an Air 2 or Air 2S, is it worth adding a DJI Mini 3 Pro to your collection as well?
Here’s what you need to know in terms of comparing the DJI Mini 3 Pro vs the DJI Air 2 and the DJI Air 2S:
| DJI Air 2 | DJI Air 2S | DJI Mini 3 Pro | |
| Starting Price | $799 | $999 | $759 |
| Takeoff Weight | 570 grams | 595 grams | Sub-249 grams |
| Max Photo Resolution | 48 MP 8000×6000 pixel | 20 MP; 2.4μm Pixel Size | 48 MP |
| Video Resolution | 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps | 5.4K: 5472×3078 @ 24/25/30 fps 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps | 4K HDR up to 30 ps |
| Sensor | 1/2″ CMOS | 1″ CMOS | 1/1.3″ CMOS |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.7 |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) 3.0 | Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS 4.0) | Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS 4.0) |
| Max Flight Time | 34 minutes | 31 minutes | 34 minutes |
| Transmission System | OcuSync 2.0 | O3 | O3 |
So with those specs in mind, which drone should you get? If you don’t have any drones right now, here’s my analysis of these three, and my guidance of which one to get:
Who the DJI Mavic Air 2 is best for
If I’m being honest, the answer is no one, probably. Most of its main specs mirror that of the Mini 2. Or, they’re similar, but the tradeoffs feel negligible (e.g. 1/2″ CMOS versus 1/1.3″ CMOS, and f/2.8 versus f/1.7).
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the DJI Mavic Air 2 when it launched back in 2020. It was a photographer’s dream, given its large 1/2″ camera sensor, pre-programmed flight modes, sensors to assist in obstacle avoidance and still relatively small size.
But the Mini 3 Pro is smaller and yes, the Air 2 is small, but even the slight difference when you’re packing for a trip can be significant. And while I don’t find registering your drone to be a big deal, there could be rules in other countries that make it burdensome to fly a drone weighing over 250 grams versus under. The Mini 3 Pro removes that burden so you can fly your drone internationally with less headache. And now, the Mini 3 Pro takes most of the great tech specs and puts them in a smaller (and cheaper) package.
And look, DJI knows the Mavic Air 2 is probably a thing of the past. While you can still purchase it from third-party retailers like Amazon, both the Air 2 and the Air 2 Combo are listed as out of stock on DJI’s own website — and it’s not clear it’ll ever be restocked.
Unless you can find the DJI Mavic Air 2 on a major sale from another retailer or used via a reseller for a deep discount, skip it.
Who the DJI Mavic Air 2S is best for
The Air 2S is best for someone who wants the highest quality camera including professional photographers like wedding photographers, but doesn’t have the budget for the DJI Mavic 3.
While some aspects of the Mini 3 Pro’s camera are better, such as a wider aperture, the DJI Mavic Air 2S generally still has a better camera than the DJI Mini 3 Pro. A larger sensor, for example, can be crucial for professional photographers, and the Air 2S entails a 1” sensor offering 20-megapixel photos and 5.4K video, with a larger pixel size of 2.4μm.
If you’re really serious about photography, you’re ultimately best off with the Mavic 3, which has a dual-camera system featuring Hasselblad. But that drone will cost you $2,199, which can be prohibitively expensive for many. The Air 2S offers a nice sweet spot of larger sensor and generally excellent camera similar to the Mavic 3, at a price point under $1,000 similar to the Mini 3 Pro.
Who the DJI Mini 3 Pro is best for
Most people! It’s definitely the best drone for me — and it might be the best drone for you, too!
I consider the Mini 3 Pro to be a culmination of all the best features that DJI has developed. Given its ultra-small size and light weight, it builds on the portability that wowed me in the Mini and Mini 2 drones. But those drones, while small, weren’t exactly mighty. The Mini 3 Pro is small and mighty, bringing in many of the most powerful specs found in the DJI Air and DJI Mavic series of drones including an excellent camera, sense and avoid tech and intelligent flight modes.
Read my full review of the DJI Mini 3 Pro here.
Is the DJI Mini 3 Pro worth upgrading your DJI Air/Air 2/Air 2S?
Other than small size (which might be important, especially if you’re in a country that regulates drones 250 grams or more), the DJI Mini 3 Pro realistically isn’t worth upgrading your Air 2S for. If you have an endless budget, then I say go for it, but you might be better off saving your money.
But it does feel superior to the earlier versions of the DJI Air and Air 2, given its improved camera and obstacle avoidance tech. It’s also far and away superior to earlier Mini drones, the DJI Mini and Mini 2. If you’re used to any of those drones, you’ll notice a dramatic difference when you touch the Mini 3 in terms of ease of flight, camera quality and safety. If you have the means, upgrading is justified.
And DJI has another offer to make upgrading even more enticing. DJI is offering the DJI Mini 3 to you at just $669 vs $759, assuming you’re willing to recycle your controller.
If you currently have a DJI Mavic Air 2, Air 2S or Mavic Mini 2, you likely already have a DJI RC-N1 controller. And with the Mini 3 Pro launch, DJI is offering a bundle that offers the drone without the remote controller. The DJI Mini 3 Pro kit sans remote controller costs just $669. That might make upgrading a bit more palatable — especially since you can give your controller a second life.
The bottom line
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is not necessarily the absolute best in every category, given how other more powerful drones like the Mavic 3 and Matrice line win on certain individual specs). But it is the best overall drone for most people, especially considering its relatively low price.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to travel and get incredible quality footage of your explorations to share on social media, there’s no better drone out there than the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Purchase the DJI Mini 3 Pro starting at just $669 (no controller) or $759 with controller now from:
in my country drone prices are very high and for casual drone lover like mine who fly drone just for fun and maybe 2 times in the month my Mavic air 2 is enough for me. the most important thing you not mention is drones camera qualities are important but this is not everything. with the editing software you can edit mini 2 footage and export that with a air 2s quality or even higher. so for camera quality alone is not worth upgrading for me. if someday I want to upgrade I go for Mavic 3 . drone hubby is a very expensive hubby and maybe you don’t know but 80% person of people who buy the drone they go for the cheapest one like mini 2 or even very cheap drones In the market. the things you said just cover the minority of people who have money for those kind of drones. drone communities are not the small 20% bubble that you think about.
Great article over comparing which drone is right for who. I fly the Mavic pro line unable to purchase mvp3. I am wondering about the mini pro 3 definitely for its weight and some of the specs got me excited to see what kind of punch this drone can throw in its series.
I do a lot of hiking/driving eventually plan to look for something hassle free to take a long my adventures especially the flight kind of travels. The drone tech just keeps getting more and more awesome.
Actually looking at buying my first (not toy) drone and the one thing that makes me lean towards the Air 2S is the all around obstacle sensing vs the front detection only on the mini3pro. what is your opinion, for a real total beginner, which one would you recommend ? (in terms of price, where I live a mini 3pro DJI RC is 900usd, Air 2S single is 990usd)
It really comes down to how you fly. If you’re generally flying in open fields, then the Mini 3 Pro is sufficient. If flying in busier areas, then yes, the Air 2S would be more worthwhile. If flying in really busy areas (say, a forest between trees), you might even consider Skydio 2 for even better obstacle sensing.
Great review thanks Sally, very helpful for a drone newbie.
thanks for your review
Hi Sally, great review about the Drones, how is the Mini 3 Pro vs Mavic 2 in wind gust and which one can handle the wind, which one is the more the most silent one of the 2. Greeting Chris