Introduction

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is DJI’s latest pocket-sized drone, offering impressive features in a compact package. As someone who is eager to capture stunning aerial footage of the places I visit, I was excited to test out this drone to see if it would be the perfect travel companion. I asked my partner Brett to give his full review, experiences and opinions on the Mini 3 Pro to give you the low down on what it’s actually like to fly as a drone beginner.

Technical Aspects of the DJI Mini 3 Pro

The Mini 3 Pro has a foldable design that fits in the palm of your hand, yet provides a solid 15 minutes of flight time on a single charge. It’s made of lightweight carbon fiber and the propellers can fold inwards for protection. Weighing only 249 grams, it’s TSA approved for air travel so you can easily pack it in your carry-on luggage.

This drone is equipped with a 1/1. -inch CMOS sensor that can shoot 4K video up to 60fps and 20MP photos. It has a 3-axis gimbal to provide ultra-smooth footage and the ability to track subjects automatically. Low-light performance is also impressive for its size. You’ll be able to capture stunning aerial footage even at dawn and dusk.
If you’re new to drone flying, the Mini 3 Pro has you covered. It features several intelligent flight modes like Point of Interest, Trace, and ActiveTrack 3. which allow you to quickly start recording footage or following a subject with just a tap. DJI also included their RockSteady electronic image stabilization to keep your shots steady even in turbulent conditions.

Should You Buy a Drone?

Things to Consider Before You Buy a Drone

Will you use it enough?

It is an expensive piece of equipment to use and potentially lose.

Where can you fly it?

Every country and city has different restrictions on drone flying.

To fly most drones you need to apply to the aviation authority of the country and get permission from them. However, most people don’t do this and it is not really policed. Obviously, be sensible about where you fly and research the area before you go.

For example, in the Cameron highlands in Malaysia, it is known for unauthorized drone usage so they have been known to shoot them down.

In most cities, you cannot and should not fly a drone, especially within a certain proximity to airports and around residential areas and high rises.

Considerations When Flying the Drone

• Brett loves the drone but he doesn’t like to fly it if there are many people around because it can be intrusive and loud.

• Drones have been and are still gaining popularity. Sometimes we visit places and there will be a few people flying their drones at the same time, be wary of collisions because they move very fast and will leave your line of sight rapidly.

• Make sure to download the map of the area you are flying the drone in. Even when it is out of your sight you can see which direction you are facing and can return home easily.

• Make sure you get used to the drone’s functions before your first flight and before more complex flights. Brett recommends watching a variety of different Youtube videos to become familiar with all of the different functions. You can change the settings depending on your preferences.

• Get used to the sensitivity of your controls, practice flying in wide open spaces to start with.

• Make the most of the built-in flight options to try and get a smooth shot.

• Be sure to check the wind speeds before you fly and cross-check that with the wind resistance of your drone. Wind will affect the drone shots you get.

• Most importantly – Have fun with it and get some insanely good content!

Personal Opinions

Transporting Your Drone

The Mini 3 Pro is an expensive piece of equipment and Brett (and Tiani) get nervous about damaging it during flight and transport. We bought a protective case to keep it safe while we travel, which is effective but it takes up quite a bit of room in our hand luggage. Luckily, you can transport the drone in your hand luggage when you fly.

Battery Life

Be wary of the battery life, you usually get 30 minutes of battery life on a full charge. There are lots of safety measures and it will give you lots of warnings, it won’t just drop out of the sky as Tiani assumed haha.

It has a ‘return to home’ function which you have the option of activating when the battery is low. Be cautious of using the automatic return to home function because when we used it the drone shot up to maximum altitude and it wasn’t convenient for our location as we were under a tall tree. Brett prefers to manually fly the drone to home.

You have the option of buying a spare battery which would be a good investment but is also expensive and takes up more space.

There are different controllers to choose from. We have the one with the built-in screen, which takes up more space when travelling but is convenient when actually using the drone.

Conclusion

Overall, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is an excellent choice if you want to capture memorable aerial footage of your travels without the hassle of a larger drone. Its compact size, long flight time, and ease of use make it ideal for vloggers, travellers, and drone newcomers alike. While the Mini 3 Pro may be on the pricier end of pocket drones, it’s video quality and features justify the cost for many. If stunning aerial footage is what you’re after, the Mini 3 Pro delivers in spades.

If you have any questions, please contact me via email: tianitravels@gmail.com or via social media.