DJI MAVIC 3 VS DJI AIR 2S VS DJI MINI 3: WHICH MAVIC IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Now that DJI has released its latest micro drone, we figured it was time to do another comparison between the three main consumer drones in the Mavic lineup. The Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Mini 3 Pro each come with their own pros and cons that make them suitable for different needs. Experienced fliers will marvel at the powerful dual-camera system on the Mavic 3, while the Mini 3 Pro’s small price tag makes it an attractive offer for beginner fliers.

Here’s what you need to know about each of these three DJI consumer drones:

Design

All three models in the Mavic series come with a similar color design featuring a light-grey, matte color. Each model is also designed to be foldable to allow users to compress the drone into a compact and portable size when not in use. But aside from these similarities, the three drones are quite different in both size and weight to accommodate their various high-tech features and cameras.

Remote Controller

All three drones use the same remote controller, which is the DJI RC-N1. However, the Mini 3 Pro has an optional remote controller available called the DJI RC. This lightweight remote controller has a built-in screen that was designed specifically for the Mini 3 Pro.

The Air 2S and Mavic 3 both have another optional remote available called the DJI RC Pro. This remote control features a fully integrated design with an in-built high-performance tablet. The 1000-nit display provides superior visibility while the remote offers a range of up to 15kms thanks to OcuSync 3.0+. It even supports the DJI Cellular Transmission Dongle to offer 4G capabilities.

Camera

DJI Mini 3 Pro

The DJI Mini 3 Pro also has a heavily upgraded camera from its predecessor. The 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor features dual native ISO and supports the direct output of HDR footage. It has a high dynamic range that helps reveal incredible detail in highlights and shadows. The bigger 2.4μm pixels and an aperture ratio of f/1.7 will help your images appear true-to-life even in low-light scenes.

The Mini 3 Pro has an additional feature called True Vertical Shooting, which allows you to switch back and forth between landscape and portrait with a single tap. The camera gimbal will simply rotate 90 degrees, allowing you to capture social media-ready videos without compromising on image quality.

The Mini 3 Pro can shoot 4K HDR video and 48MP RAW photos in stunning quality. The 4x digital zoom can help you close in on distant objects while the 1080p/120fps slow-motion video can help you slow things down for better detail. D-Cinelike Color mode is the Mini 3 Pro’s way of providing you with rich color detail similar to the Air 2S and the Mavic 3. While its camera may not be as powerful as the larger models, it blows the cameras of other micro drones out of the water.

DJI Mavic 3

The DJI Mavic 3 has the most powerful camera of any drone in the Mavic series. Its dual-camera system consists of the Hasselblad and telephoto camera, each of which provide unparalleled video and photo quality. The camera features aperture adjustment that allows you to adjust based on lighting conditions, while the lightweight 24mm equivalent autofocus lens gives you an 84° field of view to capture crisp and clear details.

Hasselblad Camera

Hasselblad is an iconic Swedish camera brand that customized a new L2D-20c aerial camera for the Mavic 3. Its sleek and compact form houses a professional-grade 4/3-inch CMOS sensor that boosts the resolution and dynamic range of the Mavic 3 while also suppressing noise in low-light environments. The camera is built with hardware and software algorithms capable of shooting higher-quality images than most other cameras.

The Hasselblad camera can shoot 20-megapixel photos with a wider 12.8-stop dynamic range, giving you greater detail in highlights and shadows. This allows for natural transitions between highlights and shadows, adding depth to the images and retaining the rich visual information. The camera also comes with Vision Detection Auto Focus (VDAF) technology, which uses multiple vision sensors to factor in distance data and optimize focusing speed.

Hasselblad Natural Color Solution

The Hasselblad camera comes with the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), which ensures vividly accurate natural colors that don’t require presets or post-production editing. These colors are captured starting at the pixel level of the sensors, as the L2D-20c lens adheres to incredibly tight standards. Each pixel is calibrated with the HCNS embedded to ensure its superior color-capturing quality. When the camera is shooting, the sensor converts RGB color data through Hasselblad’s unique image processing algorithm and color processing mode. This provides high-quality natural colors regardless of location or lighting.

Apple ProRes

Apple ProRes is exclusive to the Mavic 3 Cine, and its 422 HQ encoding has a maximum data rate of 3,772 Mbps. The Cine also comes with a 1TB SSD and a 10Gbps lightspeed data cable that allow you to easily film and edit professional photos and videos.

Telephoto Camera

The Mavic 3’s telephoto camera records aerial videos at high resolutions and frame rates. The 10-bit D-log color profile captures up to a billion colors, giving you natural color gradations and making post-production a breeze. The camera records 5.1K video and DCI 4K/120fps.

The DJI Mavic 3 comes with another ½” CMOS-powered 12-megapixel telephoto zoom camera. The 162mm f/4.4 lens can film aerial imagery like no other. This camera also provides up to 28x Hybrid Zoom, allowing you to close in on distant scenes or subjects from afar. This is perfect for filming in places where it isn’t safe for the drone to get too close.

Flight Performance

DJI Mavic 3

The Mavic 3 has the longest flight time at 46 minutes. Its range is also longer thanks to the OcuSync 3.0+ transmission system that provides a maximum range of 15 km. This allows the drone to fly farther and transmit signals with greater stability and less video lag.

DJI Air 2S

The Air 2S has a flight time of 31 minutes, which is shorter than both the Mavic 3 and the Mini 3 Pro’s enhanced flight time. It has the same range as the Mini 3 Pro, however, with up to 12 km of video transmission at 1080p. Using the OcuSync 3.0 transmission system, it features Dual Frequency 2.4/5.8 GHz auto-switching with 4 antennae to deliver smooth and reliable video feed in any weather.

DJI Mini 3 Pro

The Mini 3 Pro has a max flight time of 34 minutes, which should be more than enough to get the job done. However, you can upgrade to the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus to enjoy up to 47 minutes of flight time. It also uses OcuSync 3.0 to offer a 1080p/30fps live feed at distances of up to 12 km. While the Mini 2 had a shorter flight time and range than the Air 2S, the Mini 3 Pro’s upgrades have pushed it higher to rival the Air 2S’s capabilities.

Obstacle Avoidance

Intelligent Flight Modes

DJI Mini 3 Pro

The Mini 3 Pro includes many intelligent flight modes lacking in its predecessors. It includes MasterShots, ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0, all features included on the Air 2S. It also features Hyperlapse, which allows you to capture a stunning hyperlapse or timelapse video without the need for post-processing.

DJI Mavic 3

The Mavic 3 comes with MasterShots, a series of preset movements that allow you to perform cinematic aerial maneuvers with the touch of a button. All you have to do is mark the subject of your shot on the screen and select from one of 10 MasterShots from either the Portrait, Proximity, or Landscape mode. Then watch as the drone flies around and captures a professional and cinematic masterpiece.

In addition to APAS 5.0, the Mavic 3 comes with advanced Return to Home (RTH) to automatically determine the best route back to the home point and safely fly the drone home. It also has an upgraded ActiveTrack 5.0 that allows you to easily track subjects in flight.

Quick Transfer

All three drones feature the QuickTransfer mode, which speeds up the time it takes to share your creations. This mode supports high-speed Wi-Fi downloads at up to 30 Mbps, transferring data much faster than ever before.

Which Drone Is Best For You?

When comparing the three drones, budget is usually the number one factor. The Mini 3 Pro is the cheapest at $979, which is a bit more expensive than the Mini 2 but comes with enough advanced features to make it worth the higher price tag. The Air 2S has a higher price of $1,249, giving you extra features and a more powerful camera for your money. The Mavic 3 is the most expensive at $2,669, but it’s definitely the best that money has to offer for a consumer drone.

If you’re a professional aerial photographer looking for the most powerful drone money can buy, the Mavic 3 is well worth it. If you’re new to drone flying and looking to dip your toes in before making a bigger commitment, then the Mini 3 Pro is a powerful starter. The Air 2S is best suited for people who want a better camera than the Mini 3 Pro but don’t need quite all the bells and whistles that the Mavic 3 has to offer.