The DJI Mini 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro, which one to choose? This is a tough question on most drone pilots’ minds. They’re both a pleasure to fly and have the latest drone technology.
I’ve been obsessed with drones ever since my first flight over six years ago. With a lot of experience flying both commercially and recreationally, here I am comparing two of the best consumer drones on the market in 2024.
I’ll provide an in-depth comparison of the DJI Mini 4 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro, highlighting their key features, performance, and camera capabilities. You really can’t go wrong with which one you choose but let’s get flight into it.
Overview of the DJI Mini 4 Pro
The Mini 4 Pro is one of the latest DJI drones to hit the market in 2023. It’s a tiny drone with huge capabilities. An impressive feature of the Mini 4 Pro is the long flight time of 45 minutes with the intelligent batteries(cost extra) compared to the original Mini drone which could only fly for 30 minutes, this is a huge upgrade.
The latest Mini drone is also the first of the 4 to have omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. The previous Mini 3 Pro has tri-directional obstacle sensing which doesn’t protect you when flying backwards.
Overall, the DJI Mini 4 Pro offers a balance of portability, flight time, and intelligent features, making it an ideal choice for beginners and travellers who want to capture high-quality aerial footage without needing a larger and more expensive drone.
Overview of the DJI Mavic 3 Pro
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro, a pinnacle of drone technology, boasts a 4/3 Hasselblad sensor capable of shooting in 5.1K 50fps and a long 43-minute flight time.
It also comes with advanced obstacle sensing and an omnidirectional obstacle sensing system, this drone sets a new standard for professional aerial photography.
Detailed Comparison DJI Mini 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro
DJI Mini 4 Pro
- Weight – 249 grams
- Image Sensor – 1/1.3 inch CMOS
- Photo Resolution – 48MP
- Video Resolution – 4K 100fps
- Battery Life – 34 Minutes/ 45 Intelligent Baterries
- Distance – 18-25KM
- Internal Storage – 2GB
- Max Speed – 16 m/s
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
- Weight – 958 grams
- Image Sensor – 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad
- Photo Resolution – 20MP Hasselblad/ 48MP Tele lens
- Video Resolution – 5.1K 50fps/ 4K 120fps
- Battery Life – 43 Minutes
- Distance – 28KM
- Internal Storage – 8GB
- Max Speed – 21 m/s
As you can see from the chart there isn’t a huge difference between the specs on paper. But what about in reality? The 4/3 CMOS sensor on the Mavic 3 allows a lot more light/data to enter into the lens, giving the photographer more picture information.
Flight time is an important consideration for any drone user. The Mini 4 offers a flight time of up to 34 minutes or 45 minutes with its intelligent flight battery(costing extra). This extended flight time allows for longer flights and more opportunities to capture footage.
The Mavic 3, on the other hand, provides a flight time of 43 minutes. A longer flight time allows you to fly further and capture a lot more footage. It’s crucial when flying a lot in one day.
Image and Video Quality Showdown
The Mavic 3 is capable of shooting in 5.1K which the Mini 4 cannot. Also, the Mavic 3 can shoot at 120fps and the Mini 4 goes up to 100fps which is still impressive for this compact drone.
The Mini 4 features a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, which is smaller compared to the Mavic 3 larger 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad sensor. This difference in sensor size directly impacts the image and video quality. The Mavic 3 Pro’s larger sensor allows for higher resolution and better overall image quality, with more detail and improved colour accuracy.
Both drones support HDR video, which enhances the dynamic range and creates more vibrant and true-to-life footage. This feature is particularly useful when capturing scenes with a wide range of light and dark areas. With HDR video, both the Mini 4 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro can produce stunning and visually appealing videos.
In terms of live feeds, the Mini 4 offers 1080p/60fps FHD live feeds, while the Mavic 3 also provides high-quality live feeds. The Mavic 3 Pro’s OcuSync 3+ video transmission system ensures smooth and uninterrupted live feeds, allowing users to monitor their footage in real-time.
Intelligent Flight Modes
When it comes to intelligent flight modes the DJI Mini 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro are similar.
The Mini 4 offers popular modes like QuickShot, Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket, which automate complex manoeuvres for impressive aerial shots. These modes are perfect for beginners and recreational flyers looking to easily capture cinematic footage.
The Mavic takes intelligent flight modes to a whole new level with features like ActiveTrack 5.0, Point of Interest 4.0, and Spotlight 2.0. These advanced modes utilize AI technology to track subjects accurately, create dynamic orbits around points of interest, and focus on specific subjects while in motion.
Flying Drones at Nighttime
When it comes to DJI Mini 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro at night. The Mavic 3 comes out on top as it has more control over the aperture and has a larger sensor. The Mini 4 still performs well at night and is capable of producing some great footage.
Tips for Flying Drones at Night
My favourite is the long exposure shots(see above) produced at nighttime. They are best in a city with buildings and cars going down the freeway. Here are 7 tips to create a great night shot and how to do the long exposure aka light trail shot:
Flying Drones at Night
1. Always shoot in RAW. This allows for more post-editing but does take up more storage.
2. Switch off the front LED to reduce the possibility of the light interrupting the photo.
3. Switch from auto to manual in the DJI Fly App.
4. Keep ISO between 100-300.
5. Lower shutter speed to allow more light into the image.
6. To create the effect of light trails change the shutter speed to 4 seconds and keep the drone still.
7. Beware your obstacle avoidance sensors don’t work at night so it’s easy to crash into objects.
8. Take off your ND Filter.
Usability and Pilot Experience
The Mini 4 is a beginner-friendly drone, with its lightweight 249 grams and portable design making it easy to carry and manoeuvre. It performs better than the previous Mini-series drones in the wind.
The Mavic 3 offers a more advanced and professional pilot experience. It’s still an easy-to-use drone with auto camera settings so you can take amazing quality footage without having to know the right aperture, ISO or shutter speed.
The DJI O3+ controller comes with a screen that performs well in sunlight compared to the iPhone which dims in bright conditions. The controller has a more stable 15 km transmission compared to the standard remote the Mini 4 comes with and the normal Mavic 3 drone.
Pricing and Value for Money
The Mini 4 is priced at $759 USD ($1049 AUD), the Mavic 3 is priced at $2199 USD ($3009 AUD). This is priced without the fly more kit.
Despite its lower price tag, the Mini 4 Pro offers impressive performance and features, including a 45-minute flight time, intelligent flight modes, and obstacle avoidance. It provides excellent value for money for beginners and travellers who want a compact and feature-packed drone.
I advise buying the Fly More Kit which comes with a carry case, extra batteries, ND filters and a charging hub.
Key Highlights
1. The DJI Mini 4 offers portability and a lightweight design, making it perfect for beginners and travellers.
2. Both drones have around 45 minutes of flight time.
3. The 4/3 Hasselblad camera provides exceptional image quality for the Mavic
4. The Mavic 3 has a wider range of camera options and variable aperture settings for more creative control
5. The Mini 4 can turn the gimbal to shoot in portrait mode
Conclusion
The ability to rotate the gimbal to vertical shooting which means you don’t have to crop the footage if uploading to social media like Instagram and TikTok and lose quality is a big selling point for the Mini 4 Pro. Meanwhile the 5.1K video and larger 4/3 image sensor for the Mavic 3 Pro is a big selling point.
If you want to travel light then the Mini 4 with its compact 249-gram weight is better as it can easily fit in your bag.
The Mavic 3 Pro is a more professional drone which wins overall with better image and video quality but does come with a higher price. Both drones are highly capable in 2024 of shooting fantastic footage to impress your mum with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Drone is Best for Beginners?
One of the best drones for beginners is the DJI Mini 4 Pro is the ideal choice. It offers a user-friendly flying experience, a lightweight and portable design, 360 obstacle avoidance, and intelligent flight modes. Its affordable price point and impressive performance make it the perfect drone for beginners.
Which is the Best Drone Editing Software?
LightCut is the official mobile video editing software recommended by DJI and it’s free. It’s quick and easy to do.
Adobe Lightroom is the drone editing software for pictures. Adobe Premiere Pro is great professional video editing software.
Which Drones are Best for Professional Photography?
The Mavic 3 series of drones, with their larger sensor and advanced camera capabilities, offers superior image quality and is better suited for professional photographers. The impressive zoom is also a big selling point for the Mavic 3 drones.
How do Drones Perform in Windy Conditions?
I have flown the Mavic 3 in very strong winds which would scare most pilots and it performed exceptionally well. Even when the drone is shaking in the air, the gimbal remains stable producing smooth footage.
The Mini 4 Pro is wind resistance up to speeds of 38.5km/h whilst the Mavic 3 is resistant up to 43km/h.
What are the Warranty Options for Drones?
DJI offers a warranty for both the Mini 4 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro. The specific warranty details may vary, but DJI is known for its excellent customer service and support. I’d go with the 2 year warranty which usually includes an extra year if you haven’t used it in that time.
Warranty allows for a cheap replacement or repair of your drone although usually not free.
Which Drone Accessories do I Need?
One of the best accessories to get for your DJI drone is the fly more kit which comes with extra propellers, 2 extra batteries, a carry case, a charging hub and ND filters.
Also, the 65W DJI car charger is essential to charge your batteries whilst on the move.
Is the DJI Mini 4 Pro Worth the Upgrade from the DJI Mini 3 Pro?
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a huge upgrade from the DJI Mini 3 Pro with its night mode and long exposure as well the important safety feature omnidirectional obstacle avoidance preventing it from crashing into objects.
It comes with 2GB of internal storage which is great if you forget your SD card. You can shoot in 4K up to 100 fps
I'm Matt, a writer and drone photographer with over 6 years in the field. I specialize in all things drones – from buying guides and editing tips to monetization strategies. My goal is to help enthusiasts and professionals alike navigate the exciting world of aerial photography and videography, sharing insights that turn drone passion into expertise and opportunity.
