There are a lot of different drone manufacturers but DJI is the clear leader. They offer a handful of different options that are incredibly similar. We are going to break the differences down as well as look at what separates the drones apart. We are building a three-part video series to help you understand the difference among all of the DJI drones and hopefully help you decide which one is best for you. The first video below will look at the image quality of the four major drone series from DJI in the standard video profile. This was done without tweaking the settings so consumers can see what they are getting right out of the box.
Our second video will focus more on professional applications and using different color profiles to get even better footage out of your drones. Our final video will look at flying these drones at night and the different challenges that particular application poses and how to choose the best option.
Based on your budget there are really four options we’d recommend. The Mini 2 SE, the Mini 4 Pro, the Air 3, and the Mavic 3 Pro. They are the best values at their respectable price points and offer more features than similar models. Take a look at the chart below or click here to see some more specs broken down.
Why do you want the DJI Mini SE?
This is arguably the best value drone you can buy. For around $330 you get exceptional picture and video quality. The range is impressive and it still has a handful of intelligent flight modes. It does lack obstacle avoidance, and log profiles and is limited to 2.7K video. However, for most people, this little drone is more than good enough and it weighs less than 250 grams so you won’t have to register it with the FAA.
Why do you want the DJI Mini 4 Pro?
The Mini 4 Pro is the most capable drone you can buy that weighs less than 250 grams. The camera is a big upgrade over the Mini 2 series. The Mini 4 Pro has omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and adds log profiles. This is the first drone we would recommend to a professional. While it could certainly do the job as a main drone, its small size makes it an ideal backup drone for professional users.
Why do you want a DJI Air 3?
The Air 3 is a bigger and more capable drone than the Mini 4 Pro. It has two impressive cameras, both sharing a 1/1.3″ sensor. You’ll get a wide angle and a telephoto lens allowing for a lot more creativity. Adding full obstacle avoidance and a handful of intelligent flight modes this drone is ideal for real estate photographers looking for an easy solution to capturing professional footage.
Why do you want the DJI Mavic 3 Pro?
The Mavic 3 Pro has the best camera you can get on any drone for less than $5000. At just over $2100 the Mavic 3 Pro actually houses three different cameras, including a 4/3″ main lens, a 1/1.3″ telephoto, and 1/2″ telephoto lens. It is absolutely the best option for professionals and can capture excellent footage both day and night. It also has an incredible 47-minute flight time and a range of over 10 miles.
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