It’s a battle of the “traditional” drones! I say “traditional” in quotes as a result of neither of those drones are previous, however you know the way time strikes with know-how. If a bit of tech is greater than six months previous, it’s virtually historic.
The birthdates of those drones belie how good they nonetheless are for business and leisure purposes. Don’t consider me? Let me persuade you.
Shopping for an older drone is a superb selection, as you get dependability, reliability, and assist (typically). You can even be certain all of the kinks have been labored out. But regardless of their age, these are DJI drones we’re speaking about, so you may’t anticipate them to be grime low-cost.
On that notice, you most likely solely want one over the opposite – both the Mini 3 Professional or the Mavic 2. How do you select? I’m right here to assist!
Be part of me on this information to the essential variations between the DJI Mini 3 Professional and Mavic 2, together with in-depth comparisons of their strengths and weaknesses based mostly on in depth private experimentation and testing with each drones. I’ve flown them for lots of of hours, particularly the Mini 3 Professional, which is my ride-or-die till the top.
You need to really feel assured that you simply’re making the fitting drone buy. That’s precisely what I need to help you with at this time, so let’s get proper into it.
Temporary overview
DJI Mini 3 Professional
Enable me to introduce you to what could also be my all-time favourite drone, the DJI Mini 3 Professional.
The Mini line has all the time been a dependable flight selection, however DJI solidified that with the discharge of the Mini 3 Professional in Might 2022. This drone has all of it, together with many options the OG Mini 3 lacked.
When the Mini 4 Professional got here out later, it unsurprisingly had many options from the Mini 3 Professional. It’s that a lot of a fan favourite.
Why is that? Just for about 1,000,000 completely different causes. I’ll provide you with an important ones.
- It’s tremendous travel-friendly with its weight of below 249 grams, small measurement, and folding design. After all, you’ll need to register your drone should you’re utilizing it commercially, irrespective of how a lot it weighs, however a lighter drone makes a distinction in all of your duties.
- The choice to increase the battery life to an marketed 47 minutes with the Clever Flight Battery Plus. It’s a bummer you need to purchase it individually, however it’s price it to get out of 30-minute flight territory.
- A doozy of a digital camera that takes 48 MP pictures (in RAW, no much less!) and 4K video (except you’re capturing in slow-mo, then it’s 1080p at 120 frames per second). I imply, that form of high quality in a drone digital camera remains to be very acceptable at this time.
- Three cheers for impediment detection and avoidance, each of which the Mini 3 Professional has. The tri-directional impediment sensing works robustly, and the Superior Pilot Help System, version 4.0, remains to be clever sufficient to be up-to-date.
- Solely the good Clever Flight Modes, together with thrice the Panorama modes and True Vertical Taking pictures, for all you social media aficionados on the market.
» MORE: Autel EVO Lite vs. DJI Mini 3 Professional (Which One Is Higher?)
DJI Mavic 2
That brings us to the DJI Mavic 2, an entry in a drone collection launched in 2018 that also stays DJI’s flagship.
Two variations had been launched, the Zoom and Professional editions. I’ll focus on the Professional model, because it’s the higher of the 2 (should you ask me) and extra similar to the Mini 3 Professional.
Right here’s what’s included:
- A high-end one-inch CMOS sensor with 20 million pixels that takes 20 MP pictures and 4K video. This drone got here out after DJI’s partnership started with Hasselblad, so it’s a sublime, spectacular Hasselblad digital camera (woohoo!).
- Glorious omnidirectional impediment sensing and avoidance, with sensors on the fitting, left, and beneath (plus an infrared sensor) of the digital camera that activate when utilizing ActiveTrack and Tripod modes.
- A still-very-usable ActiveTrack 2.0 introduces the ability of 3D mapping and is an ideal complement when monitoring topics like automobiles, animals, or individuals to your subsequent business drone venture.
- The digital camera shoots in RAW, which suggests you get extra element and readability in your pictures proper out of the gate (oh, and fewer noise too, which is all the time nice).
» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Professional vs. Mavic 2 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
Fast verdict
Deciding on the fitting drone is hard stuff!
You possibly can belief the suggestions that come courtesy of Droneblog, as they’re backed by lots of of flight hours of testing in all eventualities. I can say that as a result of I did it. It was enjoyable, however I did it to avoid wasting you the frustration of creating the fallacious selection.
So, bearing all that in thoughts, which is the higher drone between the DJI Mavic 2 and Mini 3 Professional?
The DJI Mini 3 Professional is the clear winner between this and the Mavic 2 Professional or Zoom editions. It has a more recent digital camera that, regardless of not being a Hasselblad, is awfully succesful. It boasts sterling picture and video high quality, good Clever Sensible Modes, wonderful impediment sensing and avoidance, and an amazing measurement and weight.
It’s probably the most dependable drones available on the market and simply such a great all-around selection for getting business initiatives achieved quick.
That’s to not dump on the Mavic 2 Professional. It’s nonetheless a helpful drone, even at the moment, however its restricted options do harm it in comparison with the extra trendy Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Professional vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
What are the principle variations?
A number of the drones I assessment on this weblog are confusingly comparable, making your selection that a lot tougher. However don’t fear, that’s not the case with the Mavic 2 and Mini 3 Professional. These drones are as completely different as could be.
Have a look, and also you’ll see what I imply.
- Age: The Mavic 2, at the very least the unique iteration, is from 2018. By comparability, the Mini 3 Professional is from 2022, making it lightyears forward by way of options, tech, and developments.
- Weight: The Mavic 2 Professional weighs 907 grams. That weight isn’t dangerous in its personal proper however it makes the drone really feel like a rock in comparison with holding the ultra-light Mini 3 Professional, which weighs below 250 grams.
- Dimension: I’ll admit, the Mavic 2 Professional is smaller than you’d suppose, particularly when folded. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless not as small because the Mini 3 Professional, folded or unfolded.
- Picture high quality: The Mini 3 Professional has superior 48 MP picture high quality, sharp sufficient to seize the wealthy particulars of the world round you for any drone venture (keep in mind, it additionally shoots in RAW!). By comparability, the Mavic 2 Professional’s 20 MP picture high quality just isn’t as nice.
- CMOS sensor measurement: The one-inch sensor measurement of the Mavic 2 Professional just isn’t as massive because the 1 1/3-inch CMOS sensor the Mini 3 Professional has. Nevertheless, as you’ll see, one drone allows you to alter the aperture, and the opposite doesn’t.
- Clever Flight Modes: These two drones diverge within the obtainable Clever Flight Modes. Resulting from its age, the Mavic 2 has fewer of the sensible modes you’re used to reducing your tooth on whenever you purchase a DJI drone.
- Aperture changes: Right here’s one thing fascinating. You possibly can set the aperture for the Mavic 2 Professional between f/2.8 and f/11. You possibly can’t set the aperture of the Mini 3 Professional. It’s caught at f/1.7, a lightweight setting unachievable by the Mavic 2 Professional.
» MORE: When Ought to You Improve Your Drone? (Learn This First)
DJI Mini 3 Professional
The DJI Mini 3 Professional made a splash upon its debut for its superior security options. Earlier than then, DJI hadn’t applied them frequently throughout the Mini collection.
Despite the fact that these drones are tailor-made towards newbies in search of a straightforward, easy first-flight expertise (and plenty of after, hopefully), the dearth of security options has all the time been their most egregious lack.
Till the Mini 3 Professional.
You need to take into consideration the inclusion of APAS 4.0 on the time. That was virtually revolutionary. And at this time, though not the latest know-how, APAS 4.0 nonetheless will get the job achieved properly.
It helps that it’s bolstered by the triple-directional impediment sensing system. The twin-vision methods can learn what’s under, behind, and in entrance of the drone, after which depend on APAS to navigate deftly and safely.
This drone’s impeccably good digital camera system nonetheless holds up towards any DJI drone launched in 2023.
I’d go as far as to say it holds up towards any new drone at this time, what with the 48 MP picture high quality and 4K HDR video.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs Mini 3 Professional (Which Drone Is Higher?)
That’s simply scratching the floor, by the way in which. The superior digital camera and CMOS sensor can take slow-motion movies, albeit on the expense of a high quality discount.
Nevertheless, in on a regular basis capturing eventualities, the Mini 3 Professional is greater than well-equipped. Its D-Cinelike Coloration digital camera inclusion hundreds this drone with oodles of colours.
The f/1.7 aperture allows extra gentle, and whereas it’d be cool should you might alter it, I like how a lot brightness the digital camera permits in.
Develop the parameters of your images and videography, because the Mini 3 Professional has a nighttime capturing mode that slashes noise to immerse your viewers into your world whenever you shoot after darkish (provided that you’re legally allowed, in fact).
The adjustable gimbal strikes an superior 90 levels for True Vertical Taking pictures, however that’s solely the beginning relating to Clever Flight Modes. Toggle between Vertical, Huge-Angle, Sphere, and 180-degree Panoramas.
Get nearer to your topics with out transferring your ft with 4x digital zoom.
FocusTrack – which incorporates Highlight 2.0 and ActiveTrack 4.0 – makes it simpler to search out your targets and hone in on them.
MasterShots is for creating your individual cinematic marvels that would be the speak of social media.
DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)
Light-weight and Foldable Digital camera Drone
- 4K/60fps Video
- 48MP Picture
- 34-min Flight Time
- Tri-Directional Impediment Sensing, Built-in RC and display screen
We earn a fee should you make a purchase order, at no further value to you.
12/30/2023 02:51 am GMT
DJI Mavic 2
Older and a lot wiser, the Mavic 2 (Professional and Zoom editions) is one other stellar drone to contemplate including to your business fleet.
You’d suppose, contemplating its age, that it could be missing in lots of areas, however I discover it extremely competent to at the present time.
It has impediment avoidance sensors, identical to the Mini 3 Professional, though its impediment detection and avoidance system isn’t practically as superior.
The omnidirectional detection system that comes with this drone was thought-about cutting-edge when it first appeared.
It has 4K video high quality, sufficient to place it on even footing with the Mini 3 Professional in that respect, and 20 MP picture high quality. I’ll be the primary to inform you, that high quality isn’t miraculously nice, however it’s nonetheless greater than satisfactory.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 2 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
When you’re starting your drone profession, the Mavic 2 can carry you thru some essential and instrumental early initiatives.
You may determine after some time that you simply want higher picture high quality to go to the following degree. In that case, you might improve to the Mini 3 Professional.
Expertise the Hasselblad distinction with its digital camera, which makes any picture and video look crisp and interesting due to its one-inch CMOS sensor and 28-millimeter lens.
The ActiveTrack version included with the Mavic 2 just isn’t as new as what you get within the Mini 3 Professional, however it’s nonetheless wonderful at discovering your topics.
Level of Curiosity allows you to mark occasions and landmarks, sending the Mavic 2 on a predetermined flight route. Hyperlapse, though a normal in DJI drones now, was new on the time of this drone’s launch.
DJI Mavic 2 Professional
Drone with Sensible Controller, Hasselblad Digital camera, 3-Axis Gimbal, HDR 4K Video Adjustable Aperture, 20MP 1″ CMOS Sensor, as much as 48mph, Grey.
We earn a fee should you make a purchase order, at no further value to you.
12/30/2023 07:06 am GMT
Head-to-head comparability
Digital camera system
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
Are you prepared for my favourite half, the vicious battle for DJI drone supremacy? I hope so, as a result of right here we go.
It’s uncommon that Hasselblad know-how loses out, however to declare the Mavic 2 the winner simply wouldn’t be proper. Its digital camera system is superb, don’t get me fallacious, however it’s inferior to what the Mini 3 Professional affords.
This drone has probably the most exceptional digital camera methods round, with high-end picture and video resolutions, noise discount, RAW picture information, pure colours, and night time mode.
Every images and videography mode applied into the Mini 3 Professional reduces the time you spend modifying.
The Mavic 2 has a few of these options, however to not the identical diploma because the Mini 3 Professional. Its newer know-how is superior.
» MORE: Digital camera Know-how in Drones (Defined)
Efficiency
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
That’s proper, I’m additionally choosing the Mini 3 Professional right here.
Many components roll into what makes a drone carry out properly, resembling measurement and weight, of which the Mini 3 Professional has in spades over the heavier Mavic 2.
Impediment detection and avoidance additionally play a job. Each these drones have impediment avoidance methods, and since they use DJI know-how, they’re higher than the norm.
Nevertheless, that is one other simple age hole. The Mini 3 Professional has a stronger, extra strong impediment avoidance system with newer APAS know-how. It will not be the latest APAS version anymore, however its impediment detection remains to be much more up-to-date than the Mavic 2 affords.
Positive, the Mini 3 Professional may not be as wind-resistant as a result of it’s smaller, however its superior know-how makes it simpler to fly.
This drone can also be touted as being beginner-friendly.
Possibly it’s not fairly to the diploma of the Mini 2 SE, which helps you to launch and land your drone with the push of a button, however the measurement, automated options, and simple dealing with of the Mini 3 Professional are nonetheless undeniably traits of a newbie drone.
Oh, and let’s discuss Clever Flight Modes. Each drones have ‘em, however the Mini 3 Professional has extra, and extra up to date variations. That’s another excuse I awarded this class to the Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional and How Nicely It Handles Winds
Portability
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
This one was a no-contest, and I imply that within the nicest manner attainable. It’s simply that the Mini 3 Professional is about 600 grams lighter than the Mavic 2 Professional.
I might perceive if we had been speaking a couple of distinction of 90 grams, and even 200 grams possibly, however this can be a huge sufficient distinction in weight that it’d as properly be a chasm between these two drones.
Okay, possibly not that dramatic, however you get the purpose.
It’s not just like the Mavic 2 goes to interrupt your again should you journey with it, however it’s nowhere close to as travel-friendly because the Mini 3 Professional. This DJI drone is gentle sufficient that carrying it feels easy, which is why it’s my go-to journey selection.
I additionally just like the Mini 3 and Mini 4 Professional to journey with, however the Mini 3 Professional is the most effective of the three, should you ask me.
It’s airport-friendly, and you’ll match it in any baggage and carry-on bag your airline permits. Please all the time do this to keep away from getting your drone smashed throughout dealing with!
» MORE: The Final Information to Touring with a Drone
RC compatibility and vary
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
As if I didn’t love the Mini 3 Professional sufficient, it additionally has probably the greatest DJI controllers for on a regular basis flights, the DJI RC.
This enticing, gentle, easy-to-handle distant options an HD display screen at an affordable 5.5 inches. I do know what you’re going to say, it’s not fairly as massive as at this time’s smartphone screens, however are you aware what?
This distant controller doesn’t make you employ your telephone, which suggests you may spare your battery. The DJI RC has a four-hour battery and makes use of DJI’s O3+ transmission system to switch video footage in 1080p high quality at 60 fps.
And, better of all, the Mini 3 Professional’s distant works with many different drones! When you already personal the OG Mini 3, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Professional, Mavic Air 2, or Air 2S, you need to use the DJI RC.
You can even go for the DJI Mini 3 Professional in a bundle with the DJI RC-N1, which is in all methods much like the DJI RC besides that it doesn’t include a display screen and requires the usage of a sensible machine as a display screen. That is much less handy however makes the drone that rather more reasonably priced.
The Mavic 2’s older distant lags behind in most of the above areas, with a transmission vary of solely 10 kilometers versus 12 kilometers for the Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI RC vs DJI RC-N1 (All You Must Know)
Battery life
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
Sure, it’s been a clear sweep, with the Mini 3 Professional profitable in each class, together with this one.
The Mavic 2’s base Clever Flight Battery solely flies for 31 minutes, and that’s the marketed time. I by no means hit the 30-minute mark in my many flights with this drone, however I’d get greater than 25 minutes.
The default battery lifetime of the Mini 3 Professional isn’t a lot better, because it’s marketed as 34 minutes. Nevertheless, you may improve the battery to fly for 47 marketed minutes.
As soon as once more, it’s not fairly that lengthy, with the battery logging below 45 minutes each time I’ve had the pleasure of flying the Mini 3 Professional.
I do know a few of you studying this really feel prefer it could be unfair to provide this class to the Mini 3 Professional as a result of its additional battery doesn’t include this drone by default.
I can see that logic, however even when we examine base batteries, the Mini 3 Professional nonetheless wins.
» MORE: Flight Time of All DJI Drones (Defined)
Conclusion
And now you’re prepared to decide on between these two succesful DJI drones, as you may have all of the info you should proceed along with your buy.
Whereas the Mavic 2 nonetheless holds up remarkably properly for its age, the Mini 3 Professional – though not the latest drone on the market anymore – flies head and shoulders above this Mavic mannequin.
It has a lighter body, a greater flight time, and extra Clever Flight Modes.
There’s a purpose this drone is the traditional, the usual, the blueprint towards which most individuals examine DJI drones. The Mini 3 Professional is simply a type of good drones, and it’s really robust to beat.
