DJI Mini 3 Professional vs. DJI Mavic 2 (Right here’s My Selection) – Droneblog

It’s a battle of the “traditional” drones! I say “traditional” in quotes as a result of neither of those drones are outdated, however you understand how time strikes with know-how. If a bit of tech is greater than six months outdated, it’s virtually historical. 

The birthdates of those drones belie how good they nonetheless are for industrial and leisure functions. Don’t consider me? Let me persuade you. 

Shopping for an older drone is a wonderful selection, as you get dependability, reliability, and assist (most often). You may as well make sure 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 be aware, 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 intensive private experimentation and testing with each drones. I’ve flown them for a whole bunch of hours, particularly the Mini 3 Professional, which is my ride-or-die till the top. 

You should really feel assured that you simply’re making the precise drone buy. That’s precisely what I wish to help you with as we speak, so let’s get proper into it. 

Transient 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 Could 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 totally different causes. I’ll offer you a very powerful ones.

• It’s tremendous travel-friendly with its weight of underneath 249 grams, small dimension, and folding design. After all, you’ll should register your drone when you’re utilizing it commercially, regardless 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 photographs (in RAW, no much less!) and 4K video (except you’re taking pictures 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 as we speak. 
• 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 3 times the Panorama modes and True Vertical Capturing, 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 have been launched, the Zoom and Professional editions. I’ll focus on the Professional model, because it’s the higher of the 2 (when you ask me) and extra corresponding 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 photographs and 4K video. This drone got here out after DJI’s partnership started with Hasselblad, so it’s a chic, spectacular Hasselblad digital camera (woohoo!).
• Wonderful omnidirectional impediment sensing and avoidance, with sensors on the precise, 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 folks on your subsequent industrial drone undertaking.
• The digital camera shoots in RAW, which suggests you get extra element and readability in your photographs 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 precise drone is hard stuff! 

You may belief the suggestions that come courtesy of Droneblog, as they’re backed by a whole bunch 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 unsuitable 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 very succesful. It boasts sterling picture and video high quality, good Clever Sensible Modes, glorious impediment sensing and avoidance, and an amazing dimension and weight.

It’s some of the dependable drones available on the market and simply such a great all-around selection for getting industrial tasks executed quick. 

That’s to not dump on the Mavic 2 Professional. It’s nonetheless a useful drone, even nowadays, however its restricted options do damage it in comparison with the extra fashionable Mini 3 Professional. 

» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Professional vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)

What are the primary variations?

A number of the drones I overview 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 totally different as could be.

Have a look, and also you’ll see what I imply. 

• Age: The Mavic 2, a minimum of 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 underneath 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 undertaking (bear in mind, it additionally shoots in RAW!). By comparability, the Mavic 2 Professional’s 20 MP picture high quality shouldn’t be as nice. 
• CMOS sensor dimension: The one-inch sensor dimension of the Mavic 2 Professional shouldn’t be as giant 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 accessible Clever Flight Modes. Resulting from its age, the Mavic 2 has fewer of the good modes you’re used to chopping your enamel on if you purchase a DJI drone. 
• Aperture changes: Right here’s one thing fascinating. You may set the aperture for the Mavic 2 Professional between f/2.8 and f/11. You may’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 recurrently throughout the Mini collection. 

Despite the fact that these drones are tailor-made towards newcomers on the lookout for a straightforward, easy first-flight expertise (and lots of after, hopefully), the shortage of security options has all the time been their most egregious lack. 

Till the Mini 3 Professional. 

You must take into consideration the inclusion of APAS 4.0 on the time. That was virtually revolutionary. And as we speak, though not the most recent know-how, APAS 4.0 nonetheless will get the job executed effectively.

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 in opposition to any DJI drone launched in 2023.

I’d go as far as to say it holds up in opposition to any new drone as we speak, 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 best way. The superior digital camera and CMOS sensor can take slow-motion movies, albeit on the expense of a top quality discount. 

Nevertheless, in on a regular basis taking pictures eventualities, the Mini 3 Professional is greater than well-equipped. Its D-Cinelike Colour digital camera inclusion masses this drone with oodles of colours.

The f/1.7 aperture permits extra mild, and whereas it’d be cool when you may alter it, I like how a lot brightness the digital camera permits in.

Develop the parameters of your pictures and videography, because the Mini 3 Professional has a nighttime taking pictures mode that slashes noise to immerse your viewers into your world if you shoot after darkish (provided that you’re legally allowed, after all). 

The adjustable gimbal strikes an superior 90 levels for True Vertical Capturing, however that’s solely the beginning concerning Clever Flight Modes. Toggle between Vertical, Vast-Angle, Sphere, and 180-degree Panoramas. 

Get nearer to your topics with out transferring your toes with 4x digital zoom.

FocusTrack – which incorporates Highlight 2.0 and ActiveTrack 4.0 – makes it simpler to seek 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 Mavic 2 

Older and a lot wiser, the Mavic 2 (Professional and Zoom editions) is one other stellar drone to contemplate including to your industrial fleet. 

You’d suppose, contemplating its age, that it could be missing in lots of areas, however I discover it extremely competent to this present day. 

It has impediment avoidance sensors, similar to the Mini 3 Professional, though its impediment detection and avoidance system isn’t almost 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)

For those who’re starting your drone profession, the Mavic 2 can carry you thru some essential and instrumental early tasks.

You would possibly determine after some time that you simply want higher picture high quality to go to the subsequent degree. In that case, you possibly can 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 shouldn’t be as new as what you get within the Mini 3 Professional, however it’s nonetheless glorious 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 regular 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.

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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 great, don’t get me unsuitable, however it’s inferior to what the Mini 3 Professional affords. 

This drone has some of the exceptional digital camera methods round, with high-end photograph and video resolutions, noise discount, RAW photograph recordsdata, pure colours, and night time mode.

Every pictures 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 deciding on the Mini 3 Professional right here. 

Many elements roll into what makes a drone carry out effectively, similar to dimension and weight, of which the Mini 3 Professional has in spades over the heavier Mavic 2. 

Impediment detection and avoidance additionally play a task. 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 plain age hole. The Mini 3 Professional has a stronger, extra strong impediment avoidance system with newer APAS know-how. It might not be the most recent APAS version anymore, however its impediment detection remains to be much more up-to-date than the Mavic 2 affords. 

Certain, 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 be touted as being beginner-friendly.

Perhaps 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 dimension, automated options, and straightforward dealing with of the Mini 3 Professional are nonetheless undeniably traits of a newbie drone.

Oh, and let’s speak about 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 Properly It Handles Winds

Portability

Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional

This one was a no-contest, and I imply that within the nicest manner potential. It’s simply that the Mini 3 Professional is about 600 grams lighter than the Mavic 2 Professional.

I may perceive if we have been speaking a couple of distinction of 90 grams, and even 200 grams perhaps, however it is a huge sufficient distinction in weight that it would as effectively be a chasm between these two drones. 

Okay, perhaps not that dramatic, however you get the purpose.

It’s not just like the Mavic 2 goes to interrupt your again when you journey with it, however it’s nowhere close to as travel-friendly because the Mini 3 Professional. This DJI drone is mild 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, when 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 try 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 among the finest DJI controllers for on a regular basis flights, the DJI RC. 

This enticing, mild, easy-to-handle distant options an HD display at an inexpensive 5.5 inches. I do know what you’re going to say, it’s not fairly as giant as as we speak’s smartphone screens, however are you aware what?

This distant controller doesn’t make you utilize your cellphone, 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! For those who already personal the OG Mini 3, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Professional, Mavic Air 2, or Air 2S, you should utilize the DJI RC. 

You may as well 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 and requires using a sensible machine as a display. 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 Have to 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 might get greater than 25 minutes.

The default battery lifetime of the Mini 3 Professional isn’t significantly 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 underneath 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 further 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 might have all of the details you might want to proceed together with your buy.

Whereas the Mavic 2 nonetheless holds up remarkably effectively for its age, the Mini 3 Professional – though not the most recent 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 motive this drone is the traditional, the usual, the blueprint in opposition to which most individuals examine DJI drones. The Mini 3 Professional is simply a type of good drones, and it’s really robust to beat. 

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