The DJI Mini 2 SE went on sale this week, providing an extremely low-cost, but decently-high high quality digital camera drone. However whereas the DJI Mini 2 SE is definitely one of many finest digital camera drones beneath $500 (particularly extra so now with the additional $30 low cost) — there’s a brand new DJI Mini 3 low cost that’s probably way more tantalizing:
Between now and Friday, April 7, 2023 the DJI Mini 3 is on sale for 15% off from most retailers, together with Amazon and DJI itself.
That brings the DJI Mini 3 drone with the usual, RC-N1 distant controller down from $559 to only $469. Should you go for the configuration with the improve DJI RC (that’s the distant controller with the built-in display screen), you’ll owe simply $609 versus $699.
And for those who don’t want a distant controller in any respect (say, you have already got a appropriate distant controller as a result of you could have a special DJI drone already), this DJI Mini 3 low cost deal means you’ll owe simply $379, versus the standard $469.
Yep, that’s solely $40 greater than the $339 DJI Mini 2 SE — assuming you may choose out of the distant controller (there isn’t a cheaper possibility to purchase the DJI Mini 2 SE sans distant controller). But even for those who want the distant controller, this DJI Mini 3 low cost sale means you’ll owe $130 extra versus the DJI Mini 2 SE, which is relatively not that rather more given how way more it gives.
Right here’s how the pricing shakes out:
The most cost effective drone is the DJI Mini 2 SE, which was introduced in February 2023 as a stripped-down model of its older (and fancier) sister drone, the DJI Mini 2. But tremendous astute readers may discover that $339 determine on the Mini 2 SE. When it was introduced final month — it was set to value $369, however right here’s wildly excellent news: DJI dropped the worth by $30 to only $339.
Should you’re on a super-tight funds, then the extra $40 – $130 for the Mini 3 could be make or break. However for most individuals, paying the additional cash to improve to the DJI Mini 3 vs the DJI Mini 2 SE is value it, and right here’s why:
The DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 2 SE
Type of like how the DJI Mini 2 SE is a less expensive model of the DJI Mini 2, the DJI Mini 3 launched in December 2022 as a stripped-down model of the DJI Mini 3 Professional drone.
And with the Mini 3, DJI created an ideal candy spot drone: it gives newer, spiffier options than the Mini 2 drone, however it’s not as fancy (nor as costly) because the DJI Mini 3 Professional. So with that, listed here are the highest two the reason why the DJI Mini 3 is much superior than the Mini 2 SE (significantly for only a $130 worth distinction):
Higher battery life: The DJI Mini 2 SE will get you 31 minutes of battery life which isn’t unhealthy. However the DJI Mini 3 gives 38 minutes. A 7-minute distinction won’t really feel like a ton, however it’s really 23% extra.
And the DJI Mini 3 really gives the potential for an unbelievable 51 minutes of battery life for those who go for the fancier Clever Flight Battery Plus.
Higher digital camera: The DJI Mini 3 gives an even bigger sensor at 1/1.3-inch CMOS, versus the 1/2.3-inch CMOS on the Mini 2 SE. An even bigger sensor means higher high quality pictures.
The Mini 2 SE delivers 2.7K video, which a fairly severe downgrade from 4K video on the Mini 3. Don’t sweat the lesser picture high quality in case your purpose is to shoot Instagram movies that you just share with your folks. However for those who’re occupied with utilizing your pictures for one thing extra, such as you need to make prints or launch a YouTube channel (or in any other case air your footage on an even bigger display screen) then the $130 additional for higher picture high quality is totally value it.
Fortunately, each drones weighs 249 grams (properly, assuming you could have the usual battery versus the Clever Flight Battery Plus. Drones beneath 250 grams are an enormous deal as a result of many federal drone laws (throughout many international locations, even) don’t apply to drones that measurement or smaller. Within the U.S., drones beneath 250 grams don’t have to be registered with the FAA for leisure operations, nor do they to be Distant ID compliant.
Right here’s a full comparability of the DJI Mini 2 SE vs DJI Mini 3:
| DJI Mini 2 SE | DJI Mini 3 | |
| Takeoff Weight | < 249 g | < 249 g |
| Dimensions | Folded (with out propellers): 138×81×58 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with out propellers): 159×203×56 mm (L×W×H) |
Folded (with out propellers): 148×90×62 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with propellers): 251×362×72 mm (L×W×H) |
| Max Flight Time | 31 minutes | 38 minutes (with Clever Flight Battery) 51 minutes (with Clever Flight Battery Plus *) |
| Max Horizontal Pace (at sea stage, no wind) | 16 m/s | 16 m/s |
| Max Ascent Pace | 5 m/s | 5 m/s |
| Max Descent Pace | 3.5 m/s | 3.5 m/s |
| Max Takeoff Altitude | 4000m | 4000m (or simply 3000m with Clever Flight Battery Plus) |
| Max Wind Pace Resistance | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) | 10.7 m/s (Degree 5) |
| Picture Sensor | 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS |
| Efficient Pixels | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Video | 2.7K HD | 4K HDR |
| Video Transmission System | DJI O2 | DJI O2 |
Why the DJI Mini 3 low cost is such an enormous deal
The DJI Mini 3 has by no means been this low cost. Particularly as inflation runs rampant all through the remainder of the financial system, it’s stunning to have DJI drop the DJI Mini 2 SE in worth earlier than it even went on sale. However it’s much more stunning to see one other, higher drone getting a worth low cost that places it in a much more reasonably priced realm.
The $500 barrier appears to be a psychologically vital barrier for many individuals because the cap on how a lot they’re keen to spend on a drone. Up till now, the DJI Mini 3 by no means made the minimize of drones beneath $500. However on condition that this 15% DJI Mini 3 low cost brings your value all the way down to $469, it lastly matches right into a wider attain of budgets. And if for some cause you don’t want a controller (say, as a result of you have already got one from a earlier drone), you then’ll solely owe $379.
When DJI introduced its DJI Mini 2 final month, I known as it the finest drone beneath $400. However with this sale, the precise (properly, briefly) finest drone beneath $400 (once more, assuming no controller) isn’t really the DJI Mini 2 SE — it’s the DJI Mini 3.
Buy the DJI Mini 3 now from:
