DJI has done a great job the past year and a half releasing advanced-level Mini Drones to the masses, all dubbed as Pro.
Both the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro are worthy to be classified as advanced, sporting quite a few pro-level options that newbies, enthusiasts, and professionals alike will enjoy.
In this article, we will be looking at the similarities between the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro, and the upgrades present on the Mini 4 Pro. We’ll also be considering whether current Mini 3 Pro owners will want or need to upgrade to the Mini 4 Pro, as well as my choice of DJI Mini drone (the 4 Pro or 3 Pro).
To help, we’ve identified and reviewed the best drone courses for beginners and professionals.
Pricing & Combo Options
With the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro, DJI has continued to make it easy for those on either a particular budget or wanting particular items to decide what options they need or want in their Mini drone.
As with other DJI drones, there are quite a few packages and combos available for the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro.
Below are the various available packages and combo options for both Mini drones.
Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC-N2)
- 4K HDR Video Camera
- Under 0.549lbs/249g
- 34 Mins Flight Time
- 20 km Max Video Transmission Distance
- Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
Includes:
- DJI Mini 4 Pro
- DJI RC-N2 Remote Controller
- 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery (Standard)
- USB-C Cable
- Android and iOS Control Cables
- Front Sensor and Gimbal Guard
- Propeller Holder
- 2 Sets of Spare Props and 6 Screws
- Screw Driver
Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC 2)
- 4K HDR Video Camera
- Under 0.549lbs/249g
- 34 Mins Flight Time
- 20 km Max Video Transmission Distance
- Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
Includes:
- DJI Mini 4 Pro
- DJI RC 2 Remote Controller
- 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery (Standard)
- USB-C Cable
- Android and iOS Control Cables
- Front Sensor and Gimbal Guard
- Propeller Holder
- 2 Sets of Spare Props and 6 Screws
- Screw Driver
Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2/Standard Battery)
- 4K HDR Video Camera
- Under 0.549lbs/249g
- 2 Extra Batteries for 34-Min Flight Time
Includes:
- DJI Mini 4 Pro
- DJI RC 2 Remote Controller
- 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery (Standard)
- Battery Charging Hub
- Carrying Bag
- USB-C Cable
- USB-C to USB-C PD Cable
- Android and iOS Control Cables
- Front Sensor and Gimbal Guard
- Propeller Holder
- 6 Sets of Spare Props and 18 Screws
- Screw Driver
Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo Plus (DJI RC 2/Plus Battery)
- 4K HDR Video Camera
- 2 Extra Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus for 45-Min Flight Time
- Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance
Includes:
- DJI Mini 4 Pro
- DJI RC 2 Remote Controller
- 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery (Plus)
- Battery Charging Hub
- Carrying Bag
- USB-C Cable
- USB-C to USB-C PD Cable
- Android and iOS Control Cables
- Front Sensor and Gimbal Guard
- Propeller Holder
- 6 Sets of Spare Props and 18 Screws
- Screw Driver
Mini 3 Pro RC-N1 Combo
Includes DJI RC-N1 allowing you to pack light and enjoy the creative experience.
Includes:
- DJI Mini 3 Pro
- DJI RC-N1 Remote Controller
- 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- USB-C Cable
- 1 Screw Driver
- 6 Screws
- 4 Spare Props
- Gimbal Guard
- Connection Cables
Mini 3 Pro DJI Combo
Lightweight and Foldable Camera Drone
- 4K/60fps Video
- 48MP Photo
- 34-min Flight Time
- Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing, Integrated RC and screen
Includes:
- DJI Mini 3 Pro
- DJI RC Remote Controller
- 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- USB-C Cable
- 1 Screw Driver
- 6 Screws
- 4 Spare Props
- Gimbal Guard
- Connection Cables
Different from most other DJI drone combos, the DJI Mini 3 Pro sells with separate Fly More Combos (not including the drone), these being the standard battery version and the battery Plus version.
Mini 3 Pro Standard Battery Fly More Combo
Includes Two Intelligent Flight Batteries, a Two-Way Charging Hub, Data Cable, Shoulder Bag, Spare propellers, and Screws
Includes:
- 2 x Standard Intelligent Battery
- 3-Battery Charging Hub
- USB-C Cable
- 12 screws
- 8 Spare props
- Shoulder Bag
Mini 3 Pro Plus Battery Fly More Combo
Includes Two Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus, a Two-Way Charging Hub, Data Cable, Shoulder Bag, Spare propellers, and Screws, Black
Includes:
- 2 x Plus Intelligent Battery
- 3-Battery Charging Hub
- USB-C Cable
- 12 screws
- 8 Spare props
- Shoulder Bag
Hardware Specs
Mini 4 Pro
| SPECS | DJI Mini 4 Pro |
|---|---|
| Weight: | < 249 g With the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, the aircraft will weigh more than 249 g. |
| Dimensions: | Folded (without propellers): 148×94×64 mm (L×W×H) Unfolded (with propellers): 298×373×101 mm (L×W×H) |
| Maximum Speed: | 35.7mph |
| Ascent/Descent Speed: | 11mph/6.7mph |
| Wind Resistance: | 23.9mph |
| Battery Capacity: | Intelligent Flight Battery: 2590 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery Plus: 3850 mAh |
| Maximum Flight Time: | 34 minutes (with Intelligent Flight Battery) 45 minutes (with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) |
| Sensing Type: | Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with a 3D infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft |
| Remote Controllers Compatibility: | DJI RC 2, RC-N2 |
| Transmission Distance: | 20 km/12.4 miles |
| Maximum Flight Distance: | 11.18 miles (with Intelligent Flight Battery) 15.53 miles (with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) |
Mini 3 Pro
| SPECS | DJI Mini 3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Weight: | < 249 g With the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, the aircraft will weigh more than 249 g. |
| Dimensions: | Folded: 145×90×62 mm Unfolded: 171×245×62 mm Unfolded (with propellers): 251×362×70 mm |
| Maximum Speed: | 35.7mph |
| Ascent/Descent Speed: | 11mph/6.7mph |
| Wind Resistance: | 23.9mph |
| Battery Capacity: | Intelligent Flight Battery: 2590 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery Plus: 3850 mAh |
| Maximum Flight Time: | 34 minutes (with Intelligent Flight Battery) 47 minutes (with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) |
| Sensing Type: | Forward, backward, downward |
| Remote Controllers Compatibility: | DJI RC Pro, DJI RC, RC-N1 |
| Transmission Distance: | 12 km/7.4 miles |
| Maximum Flight Distance: | 11.18 miles (with Intelligent Flight Battery) 15.53 miles (with Intelligent Flight Battery Plus) |
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Pro vs. Mini 3 Pro (Here’s My Choice)
Design
Considering the Mini 4 Pro is the next model in the Mini Pro line, its design mostly follows the aesthetics of the Mini 3 Pro.
Both the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro are quadcopter foldable designs made popular by the original 2016 Mavic Pro which has since been frequently replicated by the likes of Autel Robotics and Hubson.
Both drones are made from lightweight plastic and may initially feel cheap and toylike to those who have never flown a Mini DJI drone before.
Once taken to the air, though, the Mini 4 Pro and 3 Pro feel anything but cheap.
Because of the lightweight materials used, one of the main standout design features of the Mini 3 Pro and 4 Pro would have to be that they are fully capable pro-level drones under 250g.
This is important to many, as, in the United States, they do not need to be registered with the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) if flying strictly for recreational use .
Drone pilots in other countries likewise fare well from the Mini 3 Pro and 4 Pro being under 250g, due to those countries’ regulatory mandates.
» MORE: Can I Fly a Drone Under 250g Anywhere I Want?
Amazingly, both Minis have so much new tech packed into such a small and lightweight frame.
When speaking of new tech on the Minis, the Mini 3 Pro was the first Mini DJI drone to have obstacle avoidance onboard, while still retaining a very tiny footprint, compared to larger drones.
This is something that has likewise carried over to the Mini 4 Pro, though greatly expanded and improved, as we’ll touch on shortly.
With obstacle avoidance, both drones benefit by being able to perform many sought-after autonomous functions, more specifically Active Track.
Looking outside of the weight of these Mini drones is the aforementioned tiny form factor. Both the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro can easily fit in the palm of a hand.
This form factor is ideal as both drones are perfect for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to document their travels and adventures while packing as light as possible.
A design decision that I absolutely love with the Mini 3 Pro and 4 Pro, as seen in the Mavic 3 series and DJI Air 3, is the SD card slot being in the rear of the drone.
Previously, DJIs advanced-level and prosumer foldable drones had the SD card slot tucked along the side of the drone’s body, covered by the arms and legs of the drones.
While it only took a few additional seconds to unfold the drone’s arms and legs to remove the SD card, it was inconvenient having to do so repeatedly.
Now this is a thing of the past and highly appreciated.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Pro Review (I have NEVER flown a drone that I enjoyed so much)
Design Differences
While the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro both utilize much of the same design, there are a few notable physical differences.
Mini 4 Pro
Weight: Under 249 g
Dimensions:
Folded (without propellers): 148×94×64 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with propellers): 298×373×101 mm (L×W×H)
A notable design change on the Mini 4 Pro is the return to its foldable Mavic-like roots with the addition of the front arm landing gear.
As we’ll talk more about shortly, the landing gear has been readded to this iteration of the Mini line to accommodate the additional antennas needed for the new OcuSync 4 video transmission system.
I personally was a fan of the removal of the landing gear on the Mini 3 Pro, for reasons I’ll touch on in the Mini 3 Pro section below.
For many, though, the return of the landing gear is a positive addition, as many have mentioned the Mini 4 Pro is much more stable when landing.
As someone who hand-catches everything (even the larger Mavic 3 Pro and previously the Phantom 4 Pro), the landing gear is not a necessity for me.
Another notable design difference is the look of the front and rear visual sensors.
While not a drastic design change they do look more sleek and streamlined, giving the Mini 4 Pro a slight Air 3 appearance.
» MORE: DJI Mini 4 Pro – Initial Setup (Unboxing to First Flight with Video)
Mini 3 Pro
Weight: Under 249 g
Dimensions:
Folded (without propellers): 145×90×62 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (without propellers): 171×245×62 mm (L×W×H)
Unfolded (with propellers): 251×362×70 mm (L×W×H)
The Mini 3 Pro broke away from the standard Mavic series look when the front landing gear was removed. This drastically changed the look of the Mini 3 Pro only, as the Mini 3 added the landing gear.
The removal of the landing gear had two immediate benefits.
The first is there is no longer a specific folding and unfolding sequence that needs to be followed. The arms and legs of Mini 3 Pro can be folded/unfolded in any order, making for quicker launches.
Secondly, removing the landing gear has also removed an added point for objects like wires, lines, and branches to get caught up on if the Mini 3 Pro, unfortunately, passes by or even through these objects.
Granted, the Mini 3 Pro would probably crash if the props hit these, however, many have reported that sans the landing gear, their 3 Pros have averted getting caught up.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro – How to Activate and Set Up (Explained for Beginners)
Flight Performance
As both the Mini 4 Pro and 3 Pro are almost identical in design, except for a few minor exterior changes/additions, they both fly almost identically, which is a great thing.
What makes both Mini drones so popular in the drone community is that they are very simple to pick up and fly for drone newcomers, and are fun to fly and capable for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
As has been the case for all of DJI’s newer drones, the EXP settings within the DJI Fly app can be changed if the flight controls aren’t to your expectation or liking, which enables you to easily tailor the controls to the way you fly, whether this be smoothly and controlled or fast and aggressively.
Although the Mini Pros have relatively small motors and propellers, compared to the larger Air 3 and Mavic 3 series, they can travel at speeds up to 35/36 mph when in sport mode.
These speeds are appreciated, especially when traveling from one shooting location to the next before the batteries die.
Something I continue to be impressed with is how well both Minis can handle wind, considering their lightweight construction.
When taking side-by-side comparison shots for this article, it was pretty windy by the lake I shot at (gusts around 15mph).
Despite this fact, I was able to put both the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 3 Pro up in relatively close proximity to each other, and they stayed in their relative hover spots during shooting, only moving a couple of inches in any direction during the gusts.
This is because both Minis are rated for 23 mph winds (Level 5) and when in high wind gusts do a good (though not an overly exceptional) job at staying in place when filming.
Regardless, it has to be remembered that the drones are under 250 g, so they will be affected by the wind.
In higher gusts, it is advisable to avoid flying out too far, especially over water, as with the lower power of the motors, there could be difficulty returning home before the batteries run out.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro and Weather
Battery Related
Battery life is one of those areas where, for a long time, we were used to just dealing with miserable flight times.
The larger Mavic series broke that barrier for DJI drones a while back with the release of the 46-minute flight-timed Mavic 3, bringing us out of 30-minute flight times.
With the release of the Mini 3 Pro, DJI Mini drones were pulled out of the battery dark ages, where barely 30 minutes of flight time was the norm, and pushed into the high 30s and even up to the mid to high 40s, with the Mini 3 clocking in at a maximum 51 minutes of flight time.
These flight times are all possible due to the Mini 3 Pro and 4 Pro both utilizing exactly the same Standard and Plus battery options.
That’s right. If you have a Mini 3 Pro with either battery option, these will work in the Mini 4 Pro and visa versa.
If using the Standard battery version, both Mini Pros will remain under the 250 g threshold.
However, If opting to go with the higher capacity, longer life Plus battery options, the weight of both drones will be pushed past the 250 g mark, thus requiring both to be registered with the FAA if within the United States.
Below are the flight times of the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro, utilizing both battery options.
| Battery Option | Mini 3 Pro | Mini 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 34 minutes | 34 minutes |
| Plus | 47 minutes | 45 minutes |
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro Battery – All You Need to Know
Obstacle Avoidance
A very hot topic of late is a drone’s ability to scan the environment and use obstacle avoidance sensors to bypass these.
Before the Mini 3 Pro, these types of systems were only seen and implemented in much more expensive prosumer and enterprise-level drones.
DJI has, with the release of the Mini 3 Pro back in May 2022, brought these capabilities into the hands of everyday hobbyists and even beginners, using sub 250 g drones, like the Mini 3 Pro.
Obstacle avoidance hasn’t just proven to add a level of safety when flying for various individuals but also allows for the use of more autonomous flight modes, such as tracking subjects and filming various points of interest without operator stick input.
Mini 4 Pro
Like the innovative Mini 3 Pro bringing obstacle avoidance to DJI mini drones, the Mini 4 Pro likewise has proven to innovate in bringing full 360-degree obstacle avoidance sensors to a mini drone.
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