Air 3 or Mini Pro 4

[iupui1299]

Hey everyone. I ordered the Mini Pro 4 to replace my Mini Pro 3 that was recently damaged. It should be here any day now but the day after I ordered Best Buy dropped the Air 3 Fly More combo down to $1249. I only got the Mini 4 and the RC controller which I think was like $989. Skipped the fly more since I had batteries from the Mini Pro 3. Is the AIR 3 worth grabbing at that price and just exchanging the Mini 4 since I’ve yet to open? I only use the drone for some YouTube filming and a few other basic filming events around town. I never leave the states so weight isn’t really an issue. I’ve had several drones. A Mini2, Mini 3 Pro and a Mavic Air. Just looking for some thoughts before I open up the Mini 4. Thanks in advance!

 

[Sjkieffer]

Aint nobody want a tiny drone.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

If you fly in any inclimate weather conditions , you want to grab the Air 3 is a fantastic design of a drone , far surpassing that of the mini series 3/4 . Its also very fragile compared to the Air 3 .

We have flown in some incredible weather with the Air 3 so were bias.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Air 3 in the Rain.
Land on the Water.

 

[Starz]

Answer may depend on how much wind you contend with.
Try a larger aircraft would be my thought.

 

[WobblingWillie]

I have both a Mini 3 Pro and an Air 3 and the extra wind resistance plus the second camera on the Air 3 are game changers for me.

 

[iupui1299]

Thanks for the feedback. Tough choice. I keep going back and forth.

 

[Starz]

Post #5 is the answer.

 

[old man mavic]

@iupui1299 if cost is not an issue then just go for the Air3s

 

[Droning on and on...]

Since you already have the Mini3P, you've got sub 250g covered and all that gets you.

IMO that tips it decisively in favor of getting the A3 and returning the M4P. The A3 will get you everything the M4P will and more.

 

[iupui1299]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Batiz]

Hey everyone. I ordered the Mini Pro 4 to replace my Mini Pro 3 that was recently damaged. It should be here any day now but the day after I ordered Best Buy dropped the Air 3 Fly More combo down to $1249. I only got the Mini 4 and the RC controller which I think was like $989. Skipped the fly more since I had batteries from the Mini Pro 3. Is the AIR 3 worth grabbing at that price and just exchanging the Mini 4 since I’ve yet to open? I only use the drone for some YouTube filming and a few other basic filming events around town. I never leave the states so weight isn’t really an issue. I’ve had several drones. A Mini2, Mini 3 Pro and a Mavic Air. Just looking for some thoughts before I open up the Mini 4. Thanks in advance!

Hello, just saw your post. I am thinking of getting the mini 4 pro but with the N-2 controller. I have had too much bad luck and problems with the Rc controllers. Post a few words on how you like the RC 2 screen controller, . I found them useless in normal sunlight to see.

 

[iupui1299]

Hello, just saw your post. I am thinking of getting the mini 4 pro but with the N-2 controller. I have had too much bad luck and problems with the Rc controllers. Post a few words on how you like the RC 2 screen controller, . I found them useless in normal sunlight to see.

I had the regular RC on my Mini Pro 3. I honestly loved it and didn't have any issues. I just assumed the RC2 would be more of the same.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I had the regular RC on my Mini Pro 3. I honestly loved it and didn't have any issues. I just assumed the RC2 would be more of the same.

Just be aware that your existing Mini 3 regular batteries will kick the Mini 4 Pro over the 250g limit by 4 grams and force RID broadcasting, and require registration with the FAA. You'll need to buy new Mini 4 Pro regular batteries, or just use the regular one that comes with the Mini 4 Pro to remain sub 250g and RID free.

 

[GFields]

Since you already have the Mini3P, you've got sub 250g covered and all that gets you.

IMO that tips it decisively in favor of getting the A3 and returning the M4P. The A3 will get you everything the M4P will and more.

OP said, " Mini Pro 3 that was recently damaged."

 

[GFields]

If you need a <250g drone then the Mini 4Pro, if not, I would get the Air 3 or the 3s. So, as you've read, it depends.

 

[iupui1299]

Just be aware that your existing Mini 3 regular batteries will kick the Mini 4 Pro over the 250g limit by 4 grams and force RID broadcasting, and require registration with the FAA. You'll need to buy new Mini 4 Pro regular batteries, or just use the regular one that comes with the Mini 4 Pro to remain sub 250g and RID free.

Good to know. I’m leaning towards going with the AIR 3. Just stuck on if it’s worth the extra $300 to jump to the AIR 3 Fly More.

 

[ShannonRawls]

Save the $300 bucks and keep the M4P.
For the things you’re shooting, you’ll appreciate the smaller drone.

High wind.
Extra camera. (that most people never use)

Unless you live in Chicago, you’ll better serve that $300 bucks elsewhere.

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

Since you are flying beyond purely recreational, weight doesn't matter. I'm in the same boat. Right now I have the Air3 and Mini4Pro as my two primary aircraft. I love the speed of the Air3. I can very rapidly climb to altitude and get to my targets stupidly fast. I use Sport mode 95% of the time. I also use the 70mm camera often. Flattening images is a wonderful effect, plus it's a nice way to get that high-speed background on orbiting video shots. And of course it has better wind resistance. The things I prefer about the Mini4Pro are the light weight and small size for taking in a backpack (I do a lot of mountain hiking), how unobtrusive it is when observed by civilians, and my favorite feature: true vertical shooting. I used this all the time on my Mavic Pro and I was thrilled when it returned to the Mini3Pro. One last advantage of the Mini4Pro: I fly under a OOP/OOMV waiver with it which I can't do with the Air3.

 

[GFields]

Leave Politics OUT of the equation! I just removed posts and now warnings are going to be given.
Thanks for your cooperation

 

[Droning on and on...]

Hello, just saw your post. I am thinking of getting the mini 4 pro but with the N-2 controller. I have had too much bad luck and problems with the Rc controllers. Post a few words on how you like the RC 2 screen controller, . I found them useless in normal sunlight to see.

I got the RC (1) with the Mini3P, and generally liked it as a screened RC for everything but the guts – underpowered CPU, insufficient resources (ram, storage), and buggy. It crashed or had responsiveness pauses that obviously were an issue while flying.

Bundled it with my Air 2S and sold the combination. Got an RC2 with a Mini 4 Pro, and love it. Only single complaint is they closed a loophole that allowed copying log files and other things in the filesystem to an inserted SD card... can't do that any more. Only way to get to that stuff mow is tethered to a PC, which is very inconvenient.

I fly the Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, and Neo all with the same RC2... very happy with it.