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 actually one of many greatest 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 doubtlessly 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), you’ll owe simply $609 versus $699.
And in the event you don’t want a distant controller in any respect (say, you have already got a appropriate distant controller as a result of you will have a special DJI drone already), this DJI Mini 3 low cost deal means you’ll owe simply $379, versus the same old $469.
Yep, that’s solely $40 greater than the $339 DJI Mini 2 SE — assuming you’ll be able to choose out of the distant controller (there isn’t any cheaper possibility to purchase the DJI Mini 2 SE sans distant controller). But even in the event you 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 rather more it presents.
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 value by $30 to only $339.
Should you’re on a super-tight finances, then the extra $40 – $130 for the Mini 3 is likely to 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 price 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 presents newer, spiffier options than the Mini 2 drone, but it surely’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 way superior than the Mini 2 SE (significantly for only a $130 value distinction):
Higher battery life: The DJI Mini 2 SE will get you 31 minutes of battery life which isn’t dangerous. However the DJI Mini 3 presents 38 minutes. A 7-minute distinction may not really feel like a ton, but it surely’s truly 23% extra.
And the DJI Mini 3 truly presents the potential for an unimaginable 51 minutes of battery life in the event you go for the fancier Clever Flight Battery Plus.
Higher digital camera: The DJI Mini 3 presents 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 photos.
The Mini 2 SE delivers 2.7K video, which a reasonably critical downgrade from 4K video on the Mini 3. Don’t sweat the lesser picture high quality in case your aim is to shoot Instagram movies that you just share with your pals. However in the event you’re occupied with utilizing your photos 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) then the $130 additional for higher picture high quality is totally price it.
Fortunately, each drones weighs 249 grams (nicely, assuming you will 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 rules (throughout many nations, even) don’t apply to drones that measurement or smaller. Within the U.S., drones beneath 250 grams don’t must 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 (Stage 5) | 10.7 m/s (Stage 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 economic system, it’s stunning to have DJI drop the DJI Mini 2 SE in value earlier than it even went on sale. Nevertheless it’s much more stunning to see one other, higher drone getting a value low cost that places it in a much more inexpensive realm.
The $500 barrier appears to be a psychologically important barrier for many individuals because the cap on how a lot they’re prepared to spend on a drone. Up till now, the DJI Mini 3 by no means made the minimize of drones beneath $500. However provided that this 15% DJI Mini 3 low cost brings your value right down to $469, it lastly suits right into a wider attain of budgets. And if for some motive you don’t want a controller (say, as a result of you have already got one from a earlier drone), then you definately’ll solely owe $379.
When DJI introduced its DJI Mini 2 final month, I referred to as it the greatest drone beneath $400. However with this sale, the precise (nicely, quickly) greatest drone beneath $400 (once more, assuming no controller) isn’t truly the DJI Mini 2 SE — it’s the DJI Mini 3.
Buy the DJI Mini 3 now from:
