Thinking about my next DJI… which one should I pick?

Product Support Forum
1

Hey, I’ve got a DJI Mini 2 SE right now and I’m looking to upgrade. I’ve been checking out the Mini 4 Pro and the Air 3S, but I’m stuck and could use some help picking. For some background, I’m an architect and I learned you can do photogrammetry with drones, so I’m interested in that. I also want to use the drone to make videos for social media, mainly around architecture stuff. Do you think it’s better to get both drones? Or should I just stick to one of them?

Edit: One more thing… which remote would be better for this? RC-2 or RC-N2 for doing photogrammetry work?

2

I think the Air 3S fits your needs better. It’s got more features that line up with what you want to do.

3

If money isn’t a big problem, the Air 3S beats the Mini 4 Pro in almost every area. But since the Air 3S weighs more than 250g, you’ll have to check the rules in your country about flying it.

Still, don’t think the Mini 4 Pro is bad — it’s more than good enough for stuff like videos and photos for social media.

Now, if you don’t care about longer flight range, better zoom, or super high frame rate, then the Mini 4 Pro with RC 2 is a solid pick. It’s also cheaper in the long run when it comes to batteries and filters. But if I had the cash, I’d go straight for the Air 3S.

4

I upgraded from the Mini 3 Pro to the Air 3S not long ago. The difference is huge. It feels like a big step up… though yeah, it’s definitely larger.

5

Just get the Air 3S and keep your Mini 2 SE.

That’s what I did — I use the Air 3S when I want the best shots, and I keep a smaller drone like the Mini 4K for casual stuff and easy travel.

If you’re upgrading, the Air 3S is a big move and I think you’ll love it.

6

Where do you live? Depending on the laws there, flying a Mini 4 Pro might be easier.

If you’re really serious about photogrammetry, you might want to look into a drone like the Matrice 4E, or if you’re in Europe, something like the Mavic 3E with a C1 rating since it can fly in A1 class zones.

7

I’ve got both! The Mini 4 Pro is great for fun and travel, super light and handy. The Air 3S is more of a real tool. It’s powerful and totally worth spending a bit more.

Definitely go with the RC-2 remote. You’ll thank yourself later. For what you’re doing, I’d go for the Air 3S. Just remember — one drone needs registration and tracking, the other doesn’t since it’s under 249g. Hope that helps!

8

Hey, how’s it going? I’m in the same boat and been really into this topic. Let me break it down quick:

The Air 3S costs more and gives a bit more too. But for the price, I’m leaning toward the Mini 4 Pro.

Now, about the remote… RC-N2 is the better pick if you want to use third-party apps, since the screen version doesn’t support them. The only problem is that the full combo (3 batteries, charger, bag, propellers, screws, etc.) only comes with the screen version. So I’d suggest buying that version for the extra gear and later picking up the RC-N2 separately. I did the math — it’s cheaper that way than buying all the extras one by one.

One thing that put me off a bit is this: you can’t get very accurate photogrammetry just with the drone. The error can be around 5 to 10 meters. To fix that, you’ll need something called control points — you collect those in the field using a GPS tool (RTK/GNSS). A good one goes for around 7k BRL.

So yeah, if you’re serious about it, you’re looking at around 20k BRL total (combo drone kit, extra remote, GPS). And don’t forget about software — about 600 BRL for the license — plus maybe a 400 BRL course to learn it all.

For now, I’m starting just with the drone to learn the basics, then later I’ll probably invest in the GPS gear.

There are some good YouTube channels about this, worth checking out.