DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Air 2S: Which drone is best?

The new Mini 3 Pro packs features and specs never before seen in DJI’s “Mini” series of drones — putting it into direct competition with the slightly older Air 2S.

Despite its smaller sensor size (1/1.3″ vs 1″ sensor), the addition of new features like an extended battery, the ability to vertically rotate the gimbal, and the new DJI-RC screen controller has many new drone users and existing Air 2S owners wondering if they should opt for the Mini 3 Pro over the Air 2S.

With that in mind, let’s look at how Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S stack up in specs, features, and camera quality.

Mini 3 Pro vs. Air 2S: Specs

The two most notable differences here are the price ($240) and weight (346g), but also take a look at the max speed of the Air 2S vs the Mini 3 Pro; when it’s converted from m/s to mph the difference looks a lot larger.

There are obviously a lot more specs that I could list for the Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S, but I tried to trim down the massive list to highlight notable differences.

* Basically what this means is that when within 12m of the ground (the range of the downward vision sensors), the Air 2S will hold its horizontal position more accurately. Above that, when the drone can only rely on its Global Positioning System, the Mini 3 Pro (which has GPS, Galileo, & BeiDou vs GPS, Galileo, & GLONASS) will have far less drift left/right and forward/back.

Mini 3 Pro vs. Air 2S: Features

When it comes to features, DJI has made some very deliberate choices in order to still differentiate its “Mini” drones from the slightly more expensive “Air” drones.

Mini 3 Pro vs. Air 2S: Camera System

When it comes to the camera systems of these two drones, the Air 2S (using Sony’s IMX383 1″ sensor) indisputably has superior hardware.

However, the Mini 3 Pro (using Omnivision’s OV48C sensor, most often used in midrange Vivo and Redmi phones) is able to make up some significant disadvantages with a year in image processing advances and its quad bayer filter system.

Besides sensor size, the most notable difference between these two drones is the ability to record in the more professional 10-Bit & Rec.2020 HDR color gamuts whereas the Air 2S is limited to the consumer-friendly Rec.709.

Conclusion: Mini 3 Pro or Air 2S?

For those new to DJI and their product cycles, the Mini 3 Pro is a classic DJI-style release.

Like the Mavic 2 Pro did to the Phantom 4 Pro and the Air 2S did to the Mavic 2 Pro before it, it leapfrogs the Air 2S in many aspects while still not outright replacing it.

The Air 2S will still be the go-to for many pilots looking to turn their hobby into a business, but the Mini 3 Pro certainly blurs the line between the Mini and Air series of drones.

And for all those who have an Air 2S and are simply reading this post trying to dispel the FOMO that DJI has caused with this latest release, take a look at my Air 2S video below and feel reassured knowing that you still own the better drone — for now.

That’s all for today until I get my hands on the Mini 3 Pro and can do a proper comparison between the two drones.

If you have any questions or corrections about the specs/features, feel free to tweet at me on Twitter or DM me on Instagram.

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