DJI - Air 3

Check out the DJI Flip fly more combo. It was released January 2025 so its new. It shoots 4k/60fps, flies for 31 minutes, has active track, can go 36 mph(which is pretty fast for a boat), and video transmission is 13km. You can also fly it without a controller. You just press a button, point it at yourself so it picks you up as a target, and then it takes off and follows you. You can also check out the Mini 4 Pro or Air 3s(this one is top notch)

+1 Would consider the Evo Lite on par with the Air 3, trading the 2nd camera for an overall larger image sensor; however the Nano is a far cry from the Mini series. While they're not directly targeted by the CCP FCC ban like DJI, they are also headquartered in China and would be in the crosshairs of the upcoming DFFR Act vote

I own multiples of both the Air 3S and Mini 4 Pro, and two Air 3 units as well. What do you intend to shoot? How do you intend to shoot it? What lighting/time of day? What output do you expect to use? What wind conditions? What class/weight done can you fly regularly? The Air 3S has FAR better obstacle avoidance in low light on its normal obstacle avoidance sensors vs the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro, plus it also has front facing Lidar, which has also been impressively good. On top of that, the Air 3S has D-log-M at extended ISO ranges, which happen to be the same ISO range the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro only have shitty 8bit 'night mode' that SUCKS. I was NEVER impressed by the 'low light' capabilities of the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3, nor their Obatacle Avoidance tech even in what i would consider to be 'good lighting', sunset/dusk is too dark, Air 3S the sensors are fine even when its darker than im comfortable flying. The Air 3S exceeded my expectations in low light, both in terms of obstacle avoidance sensors (which are about 10x more light sensitive than the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro) as well as 10 bit D-log-M performance vs shitty 8-bit 'night mode' on the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro. Lidar works with zero light up front. The Mini 4 Pro is great if its calm weather and bright enough outside. Air 3 and Air 3S are FAR FAR FAR more stable in wind or gusty situations. The Mini 4 Pro is also quite small and handy if youre after something compact; its a killer piece of kit that punches WAY above its weight for what it is. We keep a Mini 4 Pro or an Air 3 in deployment as 'risky shot' drones for client work, the footage in proper lighting is GREAT! That said, i'd go Air 3S over a Mini 4 Pro, but we use both cams and low light/wind resistance matters for us.

Depends on your country. In the US? Good grief just get whatever drone you want and pay $5 to register it. That's it, you're done for three years when it'll have to be registered again for $5. You can fly it in all the same places you can fly a less than 250g drone. The Air 2, 2s, 3 or soon 3s is so much better than a mini. You don't need a part 107 certificate unless you are using the drone to make money. And if you are using it to make money, the weight of the mini drone is now irrelevant and you need the part 107 anyhow. Don't be stupid and fly it where you aren't supposed to and nobody will ever give you grief (except ugly women, they'll accuse you of spying on them any chance they get - my new response to them is to let them know they can complain to the FAA about a legal drone flight taking place in unrestricted air by a certified drone pilot (don't lie if you don't have a part 107 certificate though)). Not in the US? Get a mini. Those sub 250g laws are pretty restrictive from what I understand.

well no drone is silent and no 1500€ drone will have night vision but look at DJI mini 4 pro or DJI air 3, it does not get any better than that if you want cinema drone both have decent low light functions m4p can fly up to 500m (after recertification to C1) and air3 up to 1000m from take-off point be aware that only m4p is sub 250g and you might need licence to fly air 3 - check your local legislation first

its very hard to crash the new drones (e.g. mini4 pro or air 3)

I had this debate with myself, ended up with the air 3. Slightly better camera, slightly better obstacle sensors, slightly longer run time, slightly better stability in wind due to weight, slightly faster forward acceleration, so a lot of just slight pros that made it the right one for me. However, I wasn’t paying for it (Thanks Mom, it really is for the grandkids.) So the “slight” difference in cost didn’t matter to me. I’m filming my son on his dirt bike mostly and some open ocean on a boat stuff. My uncle has a mini se and I watched how the wind was pushing it around out on the boat. I’m also considering getting my part 107 so a better drone just made sense to me. All that said, think about what you want to shoot and the conditions it’ll be flying in. The mini 4 pro is plenty awesome for most things.

The Air 3 flymore comes with a tote that's perfect for it.

Yeh the minis aren’t good in wind. At least do an air 3 for better stability.

Your iPhone won't overheat. If you're using the variant without the screen, the remote is doing all the heavy lifting and not stressing your antenna chips on the phone. Personally, I would recommend going with current gen drones, Mini 4, Air 3, Air 3S, Neo, Avata 2. If you go down a generation, the only drone I would recommend is the Air 2S, or Mini 4K. But their remotes are NOT compatible with any forward generation of drones. Tariffs, and price gouging is affecting drones across the board with imports being blocked, and you'll unfortunately have to suffice with third party if you live in the US as you will very unlikely clear customs with overseas import buying new. You'd have to Ebay, or use like Adorama. Air 3S is being scalped for 2K+ (supply & demand really), and Air 3 non S variants are still within reasonable prices including screened remote 1100-1400. Mini 4's is increasing in price significantly these last few weeks, floating around 1K+ $300 over MSRP. You won't be able to find a Mavic 3 Pro or Mavic 3 anywhere either, unless you just buy the drone itself.

Your iPhone won't overheat. If you're using the variant without the screen, the remote is doing all the heavy lifting and not stressing your antenna chips on the phone. Personally, I would recommend going with current gen drones, Mini 4, Air 3, Air 3S, Neo, Avata 2. If you go down a generation, the only drone I would recommend is the Air 2S, or Mini 4K. But their remotes are NOT compatible with any forward generation of drones. Tariffs, and price gouging is affecting drones across the board with imports being blocked, and you'll unfortunately have to suffice with third party if you live in the US as you will very unlikely clear customs with overseas import buying new. You'd have to Ebay, or use like Adorama. Air 3S is being scalped for 2K+ (supply & demand really), and Air 3 non S variants are still within reasonable prices including screened remote 1100-1400. Mini 4's is increasing in price significantly these last few weeks, floating around 1K+ $300 over MSRP. You won't be able to find a Mavic 3 Pro or Mavic 3 anywhere either, unless you just buy the drone itself.

Mini 3 and 4 are brilliant little devices, and are under 249g - if that's a legal requirement for you - Air 3 is heavier and has more restrictions on them (Im in Scotland - i use mini 3 in city's - carefully) get some great shots with it, if your out in the country side alot not near uninvolved participants the Air3 would be the best choice

Go for the mini 4 pro. The sharpness can be reduced in the settings page and you can also use ND filters to decrease shutter speed to help make it look more natural. The convenience of having a drone weight <250g esp. when travelling overseas is unmatched. If the weight and needing a higher certification is not an issue, then go with the air 3/3s or Mavic 3 for better cameras.

why can't you buy a used air 2 on ebay? Or get the air 3 because mini 4 pro isn't as good in the wind.

I think k the best overall option is the air 3.

For weight reduction any mini lineup yes the 4 is hands down the best at the moment since it has so much software to it and Omni. Yes, it's 1100 for the fly more but worth it for the screen controller. Weight is not an issue you can get the Air 3 with fly more and screen for the same price on DJI specials day or refurbished from DJI.

Depends on your budget. If you’re using it for social media, marketing purposes, capturing quality content, then the Mini 4 or the DJI Air 3 or 3s will do that for you. The Mini 4 is cheaper & smaller, but doesn’t offer the 3x zoom, camera, and wind resistance capabilities that the Air 3 series offers. I love my DJI Air 3 so I’m biased towards it, but it strictly depends on your budget and how much you’re gonna be using it. Either will get the job done.

I went with the Air 3. I am not sure which mavic you are referring to, because the Mavic 3 is a big jump from the other two. But i love my Air 3, amazing drone

... you mean the Mavic 3 pro? Or the Air 3? they are two different drones. The Mavic 3 is considerably higher price. Well ya if you are traveling then the mini is probably better.

Also the Air 3 doesn't have a mechanical shutter so most towerco's won't accept the data for any type of real analytics.

So really any DJI will work. You can start cheep with a Mini 4k for around $300, though I'd recommend the Fly More Combo (extra batteries and propellers) which goes up to $450. The Mini 4 Pro is a step up and adds obstacle avoidance, which is helpful but not a must have, and an improved camera, but the price goes to $760 to start and $1,099 for the fly more (which also includes the touchscreen controller). Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro are also options, with the Mini 3 being a little better than the Mini 4k and the Mini 3 Pro being not quite as good as the Mini 4 Pro (the Mini 3 Pro only has front, rear, and below obstacle avoidance while Mini 4 Pro is all around). The Mini series has one big problem when it comes to Part 107 operations. When flying recreationally (not Part 107), drones taking off under 250g (which all DJI Mini drones are without accessories) do not require Remote ID. However, when Part 107, Remote ID is required regardless of weight. The Minis can support Remote ID, but due to the way DJI programmed it, it only turns on Remote ID when using an extended battery (sold separately). They do that because then it is 250g and above so requires Remote ID. So when using it for Part 107, you need to either use the extended battery or attach a Remote ID module (which is around $40). An alternative would be the DJI Air 3 (and soon to be released Air 3S). The Air is a bigger drone (about 2x-3x the size of the Mini series), so it is a little harder to carry (can't throw it in a bag as easily). However, it is more powerful and adds a 3x telephoto camera along with the standard camera (and like the Mini 4 Pro, has full obstacle avoidance). Because of its weight, it always has Remote ID enabled. It is a little higher in price than your budget though, coming in at $1,099 or a fly more combo (without the touchscreen controller) for $1,349. With the Air 3S on the horizon, I would recommend not buying one of these unless they are sale (we have been seeing sales lately as they try to get rid of inventory) or otherwise wait until the 3S comes out.

No one can tell you which is best suited imo. I have a mini 4 pro that I use for travel but is mostly useless at home. Today, the wind gusts are 29mph. An air 3s would be better for my home use but not for travelling. I wanted it for travelling, so I went with the mini 4 pro with the option to get a drone only air later from Ebay if I want. Take some time and think about what you plan on doing most and make a decision for yourself. Have fun with your new toy.

Yo vivo en España, y en la zona donde vivo hace bastante viento. He probado el Mini 4 pro y me daba pena verlo peleando con el viento de esa manera. Aqui para la calce C1 hace falta un examen online para esa clase de drones, una vez aprobado he comprado el Air 3S y estoy encantado con la resistencia, la batería y las camaras, es una opción a estudiar.

If you like zoom lenses Air 3. Its such a sick drone. I have the fly more. My buddy just bought the same one. If the zoom lens didnt exist Id probably have done the mini 4 pro. The Air 3 has great range and does incredible in high winds, way more quiet than I was expecting as well. Highly recommend getting the controller with the built in screen. Its a game changer Previously Ive had the Air, and Air 2

Gotta spend money to make money. I’d feel kinda silly pulling out a Mini 4 Pro in front of clients. Yea, we know it’s packed with features and isn’t a cheap drone but, the size makes it look like a toy from Target. Plus in the wind or anything it’s going to get blown around. I’d invest in an Air 3S at least. When you set that big boy up your clients are going to get excited just seeing it. Add the better night or low light photos you’ll be able to provide, it’d be well worth it. You can do what I did and get the minimalist package with the RC-N3 and then get the RC2 and extra batteries down the road. You’ll end up paying more for the full Fly More that way but you don’t have to come up with almost $2k (with Refresh) right out of the gate either.

Maybe. I have a Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S and imo the A3s is a much more impressive looking machine and from what I’ve seen so far, the quality of video and photos output is fairly noticeable. Everything is opinion based, but if I was going to charge people money for content, I would feel better about providing content from an A3S.

without question I would get something that had a telephoto lens like an Air 3 or Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Pro. With a wide angle lens like an avata you'll never get closeup that would be the kind of thing you'll want. The 3x tele on the Mavic 3 Pro would be the best lens although the 7x might be excellent if you have room to frame it. Keep in mind you can't fly over people with out special permissions. You'll want to look into those rule and of course you have to have a Part 107 certificate to do this. Don't shoot into the sun or with the sun toward the front and you will be fine with regard to lens flare. If you don't have that Part 107 you'll really need to take some time and get it.

You do not want an air 3. You want the M3E. I did towers for years. The industry has really gone to shit over the last couple years. Tripled the work for the same pay.

I love the neo, lower cost than the flip just make sure you grab a controller. Now I’m on the Air 3S!…. I started with a spark.

For something relatively small like this, there is nothing really complicated. Using the Air 3 or any other drone using the DJI Fly app isn't really a learning curve - there's not much easier. Launch drone, fly in a grid safely above any obstacles and manually take photos with lots of overlap. Upload the photos to [MapsMadeEasy.com](http://MapsMadeEasy.com), when the map is finished processing, you will be able to get very accurate measurements including area.

Made a similar choice recently for the Air 3. Yes also mostly for travel. I figured I didn’t care as much for the total extra weight in my trek pack, and the weight of drone + rc is only 470g extra for my day pack and total of +680g for one extra battery. Okay maybe a little more since the case is bigger thus heavier, but note that it’s only the drone & batteries that are heavier. The RC, charger, propellers, filters, etc are mostly the same and weight difference isn’t 3x in that case If that allows a second camera, way better wind performance thus chances to fly is way better (especially on the mountaintops I hike to), Air 3.

Mini 4 pro, air 3 s if you can splurge. Mini 4 is good but doesn’t go too fast. Both have obstacle avoidance so you can do cool flybys. Neo is a toy, FPV is good if you have a pilot with you. If you have money get air but be aware of flight restrictions, if you are quick and stealthily you will be fine. Get mini 4 for allrounder

1. Wiki: Y 2. Country: USA 3. Budget: $200-$300 4. Purpose: FPV or Fun Looking to get a secondary drone any alternatives to Dji Neo I have the Air 3 that I love to film with I want to get a secondary drone something small and compact the Neo would be nice since it also really cheap what are other brands that I can consider the only brand I know is Dji 😂

I bought an Avata and then picked up an Air 3.

I would go with the air 3 or 3S. The mini 4 pro’s wind resistance is pretty atrocious if you compare them.

I have an Air 3 and I absolutely love it. Pretty pricey though.

are you a good pilot? even rly good cinewoops require decent skills for stabilization (without software editing) and hover stable shots if you are than pavo's (20s or 35s depending what you need it for) have good reputation if you are not - dji have best hover and stabilization - avata2 for indoor shots air 3 or even older models are fine for outdoor shots

IMHO - for $80 difference I chose the Air 3 - this does not include the $5 for registering the drone with the FAA. Every drone pilot must pass the TRUST exam and have it with them when flying in the US while making recreational flights.

Yes. With the plus batteries, yes Currently flying an air 3 that I got a great deal on, but if I hadn’t, mini 3 is what I’d choose.

Best value is the dji mini 3 with the plus batteries and the dji rc remote Best less budget awesome drone is the air 3 Mini 4 pro is a nice drone but it’s expensive enough and not a ton better than the mini 3/mini 3 pro that I wouldn’t recommend it for most people unless you need the obstacle avoidance/the best sub 250g camera you can get

For wildlife I would skip the mini. You will want one of the drones with the telephoto camera so you can keep the drone further away from wildlife. I know it wasn't on your list, but the Air 3 would be a good choice.

Air 3 - noiseless, plenty of flight time, zoom camera - unbeatable for action shots.

Ah okay, so that part of the experience is not usually included with the DJI drones. They seem to have exceptionally good GPS lock and reasonable smarts about returning. If you're not actively trying to crash them, they behave. If you take the Avata2, RC3 and really try to push it outside its comfort zone, it gets squirrely and unpredictable, especially in fast yaw. I don't think you can do anything untoward with the motion controller.. it's pretty timid. Maybe it's your jam. But if you want stable "300 foot tripod" video, Mini or Air3 is the way to go.

I totally agree that a basic Mini 3 is pretty much all you need if your just starting out with drone photography. It’s got a 4K camera, a good 38-minute battery, and falls under the FAA’s 250-gram limit, so it’s really convenient. If you do want more down the road, the Air 3 comes with two cameras and a longer battery. The Mavic 3 Pro ups it even more but costs alot. And the Avata 2 is great for speed and a more immersive feel, but for most beginners, the Mini 3 hits the sweet spot. And also check this thread. https://www.reddit.com/r/ConsumerAdvice/comments/1fum9ab/drone_options/

I started with a potensic atom before upgrading to just purchasing an Air 3s. Glad I did since I was a great way to see if I liked it for $200. I wouldn’t go any cheaper.

The Mini4 Pro would be fine, it's the deliverables that count. You can also explain to people how the size of the drone is a safety feature that makes it so you can fly around people much easier. If you want something with a bit more 'oomph' and visual appeal, the Air 3/3S would be a perfect fit for your needs. I'd even say that the Mavic series would be overkill, really.

Go with DJI's Avata 2, Air 3/3s, you can connect their FPV goggles to the drone. All 3 DJI drones use the O4 system. If you go the BYO FPV system I'd recommend a SpeedyBee Bee25 or a QAV-Pro Nano Whoop 2" frame and build it/tune it how you want. Both of those frames can hold a GoPro Bones or a naked GoPro and has a flight time of 8-12 mins of flight time, obviously depending on configuration.