DJI Mini 3 Pro has new compact size & 48MP camera

DJI's latest consumer drone, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, is ultra-lightweight and has a 48MP camera capable of rotating to capture portrait video and photos.

The new DJI Mini 3 Pro weighs just 249 grams, meaning it sits just under the 250-gram limit that requires FAA registration. Like DJI's previous mini drones, it neatly folds up small enough to sit in the palm of your hand.

Additionally, the new drone's arms and propellers have been redesigned to increase aerodynamics and further increase flight time.

DJI's most capable mini

Despite being so compact, DJI has baked in many of its high-end features from its larger drones. It has new sensors that enable Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing on a mini DJI drone for the first time.

"When we launched the Mini drone series in 2019, our goal was to give everyone the easiest way to see the world from above for the first time," said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. "Through their images and stories, we discovered how capable a small aerial camera could be. Today, we share the integration of excellent flight capability, intelligence, and imaging versatility into our ultra-lightweight aerial camera. DJI Mini 3 Pro raises the bar on what a portable, powerful camera drone can achieve."

The drone will watch forward, backward, and downward with the first two having a larger field of view. Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) 4.0 is enabled by these sensors which can automatically find a safe way around obstacles during flight.

FocusTrack features are also supported, and allow users to select a subject that the drone keeps in the frame during the entire flight. This is DJI's first mini drone with APAS and FocusTrack.

For the camera, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has a 48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with 2.4-micrometer pixels and an f/1.7 aperture. The larger pixel size provides improved low light and night performance and users can shoot video at up to 4K/60fps.

The camera's upgraded gimbal can rotate 90 degrees for capturing vertical, portrait orientation shots -- ideal for creating mobile-first content.

Flight time caps out at 34 minutes with the standard battery though an optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can up the time to 47 minutes. Using the O3 transmission system, 1080P video can stream from up to 12km away.

DJI will make the Mini 3 Pro available in multiple configurations, including sans-remote for those who already have a compatible model. They also are introducing the new DJI RC with a 5.5-inch built-in display that doesn't require pairing to your smartphone.

Available now

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is available today from DJI's website and third-party retailers, including B&H Photo Video and Adorama. The drone without the remote runs $669, the bundle with the RC-N1 is $759, and the bundle with the RD is $909.

Up for preorder starting today is DJI's Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit which is priced at $189 and includes two Intelligent Flight Batteries, a two-way charging hub, two sets of propellers, and a shoulder bag. The DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit Plus, also up for preorder at $249, includes all of that but includes the extended Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus instead.