I switched to the Mini 3 Pro from my Air 2S after seeing all the hype and hearing from those that own it how it was easily on a par with the Air 2S in every respect. It really isn’t. In anything more than a light breeze it struggles to hold it’s position - it doesn’t fly much better than the original Mini, the tracking abilities aren’t as competent as an Air 2S and the gimbal isn’t as steady.
The video is decent and for the size I think it’s great but it’s still not a patch on the bigger drones like a lot seem to claim.
This will be quite a conversation thread I will bet. As an owner or the Air2 all I hear are the benefits of sub 250g drones, yes you can fly in more places (legally) but does that out weigh everything else you have noted?
I’ve been on the fence about getting a Mini 3 pro and keep drifting towards getting one, this thread has now put my money squarely back in my pocket for the short term at least.
Hopefully next week at the NW Meet-up someone will have one and i can see one in the flesh.
The ability to legally fly it in more spaces is the only advantage. It is quite a big advantage though I suppose and it is the main reason I got one but I just feel a bit let down by it considering how much everyone bigs it up.
looking at a comparison, there is only £10 in the cost, so why would one change from one to the other?? other than the weight, the flight times look similar, the 2S looks to have better flexibility on the camera settings, etc etc… seems a bit daft to be slagging off one over the other when they both cost about the same and the s2 is slightly more expensive and double the weight… like arguing over ford / vauxhall (chevy) of if blue is better than red or green… does it really matter?
The Mini 3 Pro and the Air 2S might have the same wind resistance, but when the wind is gusting, the Air 2S will stay where it is, whereas the M3P will move around quite a bit.
I have only been drone flying since August last year, when I got my MINI3 Pro, have to say I have been amazed at the quality of footage, the ease of flying and the way it handles the winds - have been flying in 20 to 30 mph at times and it works really well.
I do want a second larger drone, for flying in more exposed locations and where the ability to overfly folks is not required, but not had the pennies for a second drone yet, hopefully later this year…
Totally get where you are coming from with the comparison, I flew my MINI3 Pro in 25mph at Broch of Gurness on Orkney last week, bouncing around at TO, but the footage was generally really good. However as I landed a German gent sent up his Air 2 and was not at all bouncing in the same wind, even though technically they can handle the same windspeeds…
Having said that, I have been getting what I consider great footage from the MINI3 Pro, perhaps I have just been lucky, or perhaps I don’t know any diferent as to what a higher resolution and quality heavier drone will give me, but would be happy to fly mine alongside a larger drone for comparison sake…
I’m not slagging the drone off as such but the hype that surrounds it. I changed from the Air 2S because of the size and because a lot of recommendations compare the 2 and say they are virtually on par, as do the stats, but from my experience they aren’t with the M3P lagging a bit behind in reality. They definitely don’t have the same wind resistance capabilities, my Air 2S could stay rock steady in 30-40mph+ gusts this struggles at 10-15mph, often if I send it higher up it invariably flashes up a high wind warning even when there’s very little wind around. It doesn’t seem to have the same processing power, the tracking is often iffy and it occasionally freezes. The gimbal also can’t cope when you change speeds quickly.
Like I stated I’m not knocking it for what it is, a cool toy drone with a nice camera, but decent footage is harder to obtain (fair enough I might be a crap pilot) and I’m not surprised loads of people end up losing them. They just aren’t that capable when compared to the Air 2S.
I do like the USB charging. In terms of convenience it is the better drone but in all other respects, nope.
I’m not particularly impressed though, that’s the issue and there are an awful lot of comparisons of the 2 online and they usually wax lyrical about how great the M3P is. I’m mostly disappointed with the gimbal TBH, it seems to struggle with rapid speed changes. You’re right though of course, if instead I compare it to other sub 250 drones then it’s gonna be the best I’ll shut up now.
I’m guessing that there are A LOT more M2, M3P’s etc than 2S’ about so the bias will always be towards what everyone has or is flying.
Given the costs are relatively similar, I would have though that the functionality would have been similar, although maybe they are cashing in on the M3P’s high sale volume at inflating the cost relative to the 2S?
I’ve only owned an M2, M3P and avata, and I like the M3P most (flying time) the resolution is better comparing image quality M2 + M3P side by side (mainly comparing roof / building defects / construction site images).
the avata concerned me with the weight category (as the A2S would too) as I would expect that anything above 250g is probably going to be clamped down a lot more on in the future with RID (different thread , not to poison this one) …
Sorry, but I disagree, as I’ve flown the Mini 3 Pro in 40+ mph winds.
I 100% agree, but …
Yes. The Mini 2 handles better than the Mini 3 Pro in wind. Even with all the Mini 3 Pro’s onboard magic disabled.
To me … DJI “wind resistance” means how much the wind affects the speed of the drone … and is not referring to stability. But I could be wrong. That said, the Mini 3 Pro is under 250 grams and the Air 2S is nearly 600 grams. So of course the Air 2S will be more stable. Likewise, a Mavic 3 will be loads more stable that the Air 2S.
I have the M3P and Air 2s. Took both last weekend to Hurst Castle to try to get some shots of the Round the Island Race. Used the M3P by the castle as there were a lot of people there. It was force 5/6 a lot of the time. M3P handled it quite well. Was able to put the Air 2s up a bit later from the spit and that handled it really well. However, I am glad I took the M3P as it was capable and it’s a great drone.
My Mini 3 Pro visually bounces a lot in winds but the gimbal does a good job of providing very stable footage and images so unless you’re looking at it you have no idea most of the time.
Its more stable with the Plus battery yes.
My Mavic 2 Pro is significantly more stable in much stronger winds, has a significantly better camera system but there are many places its simply illegal to fly it so its a choice of the Mini or no flight.
And most of the time the Mini does a perfectly decent job.
I returned my mini 3 pro after a month. I said they shouldn’t just launch unexpectedly and I would never have bought it if I knew the air3 was about to be launched.
Air 3 is way better!
and there are an awful lot of comparisons of the 2 online and they usually wax lyrical about how great the M3P is. I’m mostly disappointed with the gimbal TBH, it seems to struggle with rapid speed changes. You’re right though of course, if instead I compare it to other sub 250 drones then it’s gonna be the best I’ll shut up now.
