More compact, lighter, but still ambitious, the DJI Mini 3 intends to prove that a smaller size doesn't mean compromise. Positioned between the very popular Mini 2 and the more expensive Mini 3 Pro, this small consumer drone takes the brand's fundamentals while promising a more accessible experience, without sacrificing image quality. New sensor, improved battery life, sharp design: on paper, it ticks a lot of boxes. It remains to be seen whether, faced with internal competition and the big names in the segment, the Mini 3 can truly establish itself as the best choice for budding videographers. We put it to the test, from the winds of the Ardennes to the cliffs of Brittany, to see if this mini drone has everything a big one has.
In France, the DJI Mini 3 is offered at around €395 for the basic version with the DJI RC remote control.
Table of Contents
DJI Mini 3 has a body-built design but not without its dark areas
Taking the DJI Mini 3 out of its box is already a bit of a shock. We were expecting a mini drone in the vein of the Mini 2, and yet, the beast has grown in size. The arms unfold more confidently, the hull seems stockier, and the whole thing is more reminiscent of a Mini 3 Pro than a beginner's toy. Once placed on the table, the machine imposes its new stature: eight centimeters wider when everything is deployed, and yet... the scale still shows 249 grams exactly. How did DJI manage to shave off every gram to stay under the famous regulatory bar?
In hand, the answer is almost disconcerting. The DJI Mini 3 is light, perhaps a little too much. Its hull feels more hollow, less dense than that of the Mini 2. This feeling is not just a figment of the imagination: several user testimonials and our own field tests suggest increased fragility . Propeller arms that bend too easily, sometimes even without crashing... Enough to put its robustness into perspective. Suffice to say that the €59 DJI Care insurance becomes more than just an accessory here, an essential safety net.
Design-wise, DJI has still refined the details. The new front feet ensure better stability during takeoff and a cleaner landing, even on uneven terrain. The gimbal protection system has been redesigned: no more need to fiddle with the Mini 3 Pro's small lugs, everything clips on and off in seconds. Finally, the LEDs have migrated to the front arms , a less flashy choice but devilishly more effective at keeping the drone in sight when the light fades.
The Mini 3 therefore seeks not to seduce through excess, but through the intelligence of its design. It remains to be seen whether this redesigned body holds up as well in the sky as it does on the table.
Larger propellers for a smoother, surprisingly quiet flight
From the first takeoffs, one thing is clear: the DJI Mini 3's wider chassis isn't just an aesthetic choice. By enlarging the propellers and widening the structure, DJI clearly sought to improve lift and stability. And the result is immediately felt as soon as the drone leaves the ground. The climb is smoother, the gust correction is more fluid, and the motors seem less forced than before. This aerodynamic optimization results in two spectacular improvements.
The first is silence . The Mini 2 was still noticeable from several hundred meters away with its high-pitched buzzing, typical of small drones. The DJI Mini 3, on the other hand, is a complete game changer. Its noise is deeper, more muffled, and blends very quickly into the soundscape. From about forty meters above sea level, it is barely distinguishable. For videographers who film in quiet areas, by the sea or in the countryside, it is a real relief: you can finally capture shots without attracting the attention of curious onlookers.
The second is autonomy , and here, DJI hits hard. The manufacturer announces up to 38 minutes of flight , and even 51 minutes with the high-capacity battery, at the cost of slightly exceeding the 250g threshold. In practice, our tests confirmed good endurance: around 33 to 35 real minutes depending on the wind and the type of flight. This is between 20% and 30% better than the Mini 2, and this difference is clearly felt in the field. We can take more shots without stress, we explore more, and above all, we can put the charger away a little later.
With a single battery, you can already enjoy long flight sessions. The Fly More Combo and its three batteries are almost excessive for amateur use: a second battery is more than enough, the third will only be useful for the most avid aerial photographers.
A sensor inherited from the DJI Mini 3 Pro that hides its game well
This is where the DJI Mini 3 reveals its most interesting technical asset. Under its small chassis, we find the same 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor as the Mini 3 Pro, much larger and more powerful than the one on the Mini 2. And from the first flights, the difference is obvious. The videos gain in richness, the colors are more nuanced, the contrasts better managed. We feel the sensor's ability to capture more light, offering a wider dynamic range and much cleaner images, even in shadowy areas.
But DJI couldn't help but rein in its own horse. While the sensor can produce 48-megapixel , it's deliberately limited to 12 megapixels . A decision clearly dictated by marketing, to avoid cannibalizing the Mini 3 Pro. On paper, it's frustrating; in reality, the images remain sublime for a drone of this range. You lose a little in pure sharpness, but you gain enormously in overall rendering and exposure balance.
The real prowess of the DJI Mini 3 lies in its image processing . DJI introduces Dual ISO Native , a system capable of analyzing each pixel to determine the best light sensitivity. The result: dark areas are cleaner, skies remain detailed, and transitions between shadow and light are impressively fluid. Where the Mini 2 struggled to preserve highlights or manage noise in low light, the Mini 3 performs brilliantly, even in automatic mode .
During our test flights at dusk and in the Ardennes undergrowth, the drone was able to preserve details that the old model would have completely lost. No need for retouching, no need for filters: the images come out directly ready to be shared . A welcome development that finally corrects one of the biggest weak points of the Mini 2, and which makes the DJI Mini 3 a real little gem for demanding amateur videographers.
Video: a classic formula enhanced by image processing
On paper, the DJI Mini 3 isn't trying to impress with its numbers. It stays in the middle of the class with 4K capture at 30 frames per second 2.7K and Full HD modes . No 4K 60 fps, no cinematic slow motion, and no D-Log profile for budding colorists. Recording is in MP4 (H.264) , with a bitrate capped at 100 Mb/s , compared to 150 Mb/s for the Mini 3 Pro. In other words, the Mini 3 isn't aimed at professional videographers, but rather those who want a clean, usable result without spending hours in post-production.
Where DJI surprises is once again in the internal processing of the image automatic HDR mode makes all the difference here. It is not true 10-bit HDR, but an in-house software processing that subtly enhances contrasts and balances exposure in real time. During our filming in the mountains, between the snowy ridges and the bright sky, the Mini 3 was able to preserve the details in the bright areas without burning the image. The same is true at the seaside, where it managed to maintain vivid and natural colors without distorting the scene.
The DJI Mini 3's videos are immediately usable , with a punchy and balanced rendering that requires almost no editing. For use oriented towards social networks, travel vlogs or family capture , it is ideal: light, simple and effective. On the other hand, for those looking for a wider latitude of correction or true slow motion, the Mini 3 Pro remains the essential choice. The Mini 3, on the other hand, assumes its role as a small, versatile, plug-and-play drone, capable of producing very beautiful images effortlessly.
An ingenious nacelle that opens up new perspectives
From the very first flights, it's impossible not to notice one of the great strengths of the DJI Mini 3: its 90° swivel gimbal , directly inherited from the Mini 3 Pro. With a simple press of the C2 button on the remote control, the drone switches to portrait mode , ready to capture perfectly framed vertical videos for Instagram, TikTok or YouTube Shorts . This technical detail may seem like a gimmick, but in the field, it really changes the way you film. No need to crop or trim images in post-production: the content comes out immediately in the right format, smooth and stabilized, ready to be published.
This gimbal doesn't just pivot vertically. It boasts an impressive range of -135° to +80° , allowing you to film both down and up, or even under structures. In our tests, this flexibility proved invaluable for capturing creative angles and precise inspection shots in complex environments, such as bridges, cliffs, or tight urban areas.
In practice, this freedom of framing transforms the flight experience. The DJI Mini 3 becomes not only an easy-to-use capture tool, but also a true extension of the videographer's eye , capable of exploring new perspectives effortlessly. DJI proves here that a compact drone can offer framing options worthy of much higher-end models.
Flight performance: between agility and fragility
On paper, the DJI Mini 3 doesn't really change anything. DJI claims almost identical figures to those of the Mini 2, with a maximum speed of around 57 km/h , and similar climb and descent values. At first glance, this new chassis doesn't offer any power gains. But as is often the case, the truth is revealed once the drone is in the air.
From the very first flights, a nuance emerges. If the increased lift due to the larger propellers facilitates takeoff and stabilizes the flight in normal conditions, it paradoxically becomes a handicap as soon as the wind picks up. The Mini 3, wider but also lighter in its density, resists gusts less well . During our tests in the Ardennes forest, in strong winds, we sometimes failed to get it to come back into the wind without switching to Sport mode and descending in altitude to regain control. An unprecedented situation that the Mini 2, more compact and dense, had never caused.
On the other hand, in calm weather , the DJI Mini 3 performs exemplary. It remains stable, precise and fluid, especially in Cinema mode , which smooths out movements to offer shots of great elegance. The transitions are natural, the control precise, and the piloting sensation very intuitive.
In summary, the DJI Mini 3 offers undeniable flying pleasure , provided you choose your weather conditions carefully. In strong winds, it shows its limitations; but in clear, calm skies, it reveals all the finesse of DJI's engineering work.
Lack of obstacle detection: controlled freedom
This is one of the most striking and controversial choices of this Mini 3. Where the Mini 3 Pro is equipped with detection cameras on the front, rear, and under the chassis, the DJI Mini 3, on the other hand, ignores these sensors completely APAS system to anticipate collisions, no active subject tracking , none of that. In practice, this means that if you trigger a QuickShot to circle around a monument or a person, everything goes well as long as the subject remains still. But the slightest movement, the drone loses tracking and reverts to a more basic behavior.
The lack of detection also prevents advanced autonomous flight features , such as intelligent tracking that can avoid moving obstacles. Yet this simplification is not necessarily a disadvantage. In flight, obstacle detection is not infallible: it often fails to detect thin branches, electrical wires, or objects on the side. Worse still, it can sometimes give a false sense of security , causing some pilots to lower their vigilance.
With the DJI Mini 3, DJI seems to have made a deliberate bet : favoring lightness, autonomy and ease of use, to the detriment of these electronic aids. And in use, this choice is understandable. As long as you remain attentive and pilot by sight, the control remains precise, intuitive and pleasant. We even find a certain freedom of flight , without the interruptions or untimely alerts of more assisted drones.
Still, for complete beginners automated tracking modes , this absence could weigh heavily. The DJI Mini 3 is aimed more at those who want to learn to fly "for real" than at those who prefer to let the electronics decide for them.
Radio controls and transmission: comfort and small limits
The DJI Mini 3 offers two remote control options right from the start. The first, the RC-N1, remains classic with a smartphone or tablet holder. The second, the DJI RC , integrates a 5.5-inch screen capable of displaying up to 700 nits, offering real reading comfort outdoors. As icing on the cake, it is now possible to directly connect a DJI Mic to the back to record audio on the video stream, stored in 720p on the microSD card, which greatly simplifies the capture of content with sound.
On the transmission side, DJI uses the OcuSync 2 , with a theoretical range of 6 km in European CE standard, compared to 10 km for the Mini 3 Pro equipped with OcuSync 3. In the majority of situations, this range proves to be largely sufficient. During our tests, we did not encounter any problems… until a flight near the Cerbère lighthouse , on the Spanish border. Despite perfect visibility of the drone and ideal weather conditions, the signal experienced jerks and notable latency . Probably interference linked to the neighboring relay antenna, which reminds us that the O2, reliable most of the time, can show its limits in specific situations.
Another point to watch out for is the GPS signal . Each time it moves to a new location, the DJI Mini 3 sometimes takes several seconds, or even minutes, to connect to the satellites. This is a frustrating delay if you want to quickly start a flight. DJI had a similar problem with the Mavic 3 , which was resolved by an update, and it is likely that a similar solution will correct this minor inconvenience for the Mini 3.
Overall, the drone is easy to fly and the remote controls, especially the DJI RC, provide real comfort, although a few software tweaks could make the experience even smoother.
QuickShots and Creative Modes: The Fun of Flying Made Easy
The DJI Mini 3 comes with a wide range of QuickShots , automatic flight programs that turn complex tricks into simple manipulations. Whether it's Circle, Rocket, Boomerang, Dronie, or Spiral , simply choose a subject, set the distance and direction, and the drone executes the movement after a three-second countdown. Best of all, these tricks also work in vertical format , perfect for varying content for social media.
On the photo side, DJI hasn't skimped on options. There's HDR mode that automatically combines three shots at different exposures, panorama with its 180°, wide-angle or 360° sphere variations, as well as interval mode 4000 x 3000 pixel resolution , offering sharp and detailed images.
However, some features of the Mini 3 Pro Asteroid mode , no Hyperlapse , no MasterShot , and especially no photo burst . These shortcomings may be felt by the most ambitious creators, but for classic use or for those who like quick content to share, the Mini 3 already offers all the essential basics , accessible and easy to use.
Regulations: the small weight that makes the difference
At exactly 249 grams , the DJI Mini 3 falls just short of the bar that triggers the most stringent requirements. In France and Europe, this means that it is not necessary to pass the remote pilot exam reserved for drones weighing more than 250 grams. Simply register for free on the AlphaTango and affix the operator number to the device to fly legally.
The European C0 certification , currently underway, will confirm this advantage. It will allow you to fly over isolated individuals but not crowds and will increase safety while keeping the Mini 3 accessible to amateur videographers. This light weight also facilitates international use: in the United States, China or in many tourist countries, the drone can be used without additional constraints , a real plus for travelers.
The fact remains that flying a drone weighing less than 250 grams does not mean carte blanche. You must always respect flight zones , avoid built-up areas without authorization, keep the drone in direct line of sight , and fly only during the day. The Mini 3 plays on its light weight, but it still requires caution and responsibility to take full advantage of its capabilities.
The fatal position: stuck between two chairs
The DJI Mini 3 offers some real technical advantages over the Mini 2: a more powerful sensor, improved battery life, a swiveling gimbal, more advanced image processing, and a more discreet flight. But these improvements come at a cost: the drone is more fragile , slightly more sensitive to wind, lacks obstacle detection , and its sensor remains limited to 12 megapixels .
The real sticking point is the price . Launched at €395 with the RC-N1 remote control, the Mini 3 finds itself in a delicate zone. On the one hand, the Mini 2 at €441, or even less in refurbished form, offers excellent value for money , proven solidity and reassuring reliability. On the other hand, the Mini 3 Pro , at €829 or around €670 in refurbished form, offers a much more complete package: obstacle detection, subject tracking, 48 MP sensor, 4K 60 fps, slow motion 120 fps, D-Log and robust construction.
For a price difference sometimes less than €250 , the Mini 3 Pro clearly outperforms the Mini 3 on advanced features. And for a saving of €120 compared to the Mini 2, the Mini 3 makes concessions in robustness and wind resistance. This positioning places the Mini 3 in a sort of strategic gray area : it is not the most economical choice, nor the most complete. For the consumer, it becomes above all a loss leader, intended to push towards the purchase of the Mini 2 or the Mini 3 Pro rather than being an obvious choice in itself.
✔ Remarkable autonomy (30-35 minutes in real conditions).
✔ Highly efficient automatic HDR processing
✔ Swivel cradle for vertical format.
✔ sound discretion .
✔ Gimbal tilt range (-135° to +80°).
✔ Weight under 250 g (regulatory benefits).
✖ Increased fragility compared to the Mini 2.
✖ Sensor limited to 12 MP (vs 48 MP of the Mini 3 Pro).
✖ Lack of obstacle detection and active tracking.
✖ Unconvincing price positioning
✖ Wind sensitivity slightly higher than Mini 2.
✖ GPS acquisition sometimes very slow.
✖ No 4K 60 fps or advanced slow motion.
Verdict: Who is this Mini 3 for?
The DJI Mini 3 succeeds where many consumer drones fail: it combines impressive battery life , improved image processing, quiet sound and creative flexibility , particularly thanks to the vertical mode . In the field, it proves to be practical and pleasant to fly, perfect for travel or outings where you want to capture images without complicating your life too much. For a beginner looking for a lightweight, autonomous and easy-to-use , the Mini 3 can fully meet expectations.
However, its positioning in the DJI ecosystem remains delicate. Its fragility , the sensor's software limitations, and its price put it in an uncomfortable zone. For those who simply want a solid and affordable drone, the Mini 2 remains a safe bet. For demanding creators or those who want all the advanced features, the Mini 3 Pro more than justifies its additional €250 , with obstacle detection, active tracking, a 48 MP sensor, and 4K 60 fps.
The Mini 3 is therefore aimed at a specific audience: those who prioritize autonomy , a good sensor, a compact and vertical format for social networks , and who do not need active tracking or electronic protections against collisions. For others, it is better to look below or above in the DJI range.
When it comes to budget, our advice is simple: wait for sales to get the Mini 3 with remote control, or invest directly in the Mini 3 Pro if your budget allows it. And whatever your choice, DJI Care is highly recommended to protect this device, which, despite its qualities, remains sensitive to clumsiness or the vagaries of flight.
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