Hey everyone! I’m Marc-André from Quebec, Canada. I’ve been wanting a drone for years, and I think it’s finally time to get one. But after looking around online, I’m honestly feeling lost.
This will be my first real drone. I’m 37 and have only flown those cheap $30 toy helicopters indoors. Yesterday, I picked up a $15 Temu drone on Marketplace, and… yeah, that was a mistake lol.
I do a mix of fishing (both from shore and a boat), RC boats, RC crawlers, and car-related stuff. Every drone video I see on YouTube looks amazing, and I’d love to start making my own.
Budget-wise, I’m looking at around $400-$700 CAD (so roughly $500 USD). Here’s what I’d like:
4K resolution
At least 30+ mins flight time per battery (more is always better)
Under 250g (for obvious reasons)
Not sure if I need a screen on the controller (I have an S23 Ultra)
Do I really need obstacle sensors, or are they just a gimmick?
From what I understand so far:
The Mini 4K is just a refreshed Mini 2 4K with small changes.
The Mini 3 has better battery life and a better camera than the Mini 4K.
The Flip has the Mini 4 Pro camera but with some basic obstacle avoidance.
They’re all rated for Level 5 wind, but the Flip struggles in gusts.
Am I getting all this right? And based on your experience, what really matters when choosing between them?
Hey, I’m from Ontario, and I got the DJI Mini 3 with the screen controller. It’s a fantastic drone—flight time is solid (usually 28-35 mins depending on conditions), and it holds up well in wind. The video quality is great, and the range is impressive.
If you want a deal, you can find a second-hand Mini 3 on Marketplace for $350-$500 CAD, which is a steal. If you don’t get the Fly More Combo, I’d at least recommend getting an extra battery.
I had the Mini 2 before this, and upgrading to the Mini 3 was totally worth it. The Mini 4 Pro is nice, but it’s not a huge jump—it’s basically the same design with a few extra features.
Tatum said: @Lee
If the Mini 4K and Mini 3 are about the same price, would you pick the Mini 3 over the 4K?
Definitely go for the Mini 3. The Mini 4K is just a slightly upgraded Mini 2 4K, but the Mini 3 gives you way more—longer battery life (up to 38-51 mins vs. 31 mins), a larger sensor, HDR video, and proper vertical shooting for social media. It also handles wind and low light better. Neither has obstacle sensors, but the Mini 3 is just a much better drone for the money.
@Lee
Thanks! That makes my decision way easier. All my friends fly custom FPV race drones, so they don’t really know much about the type of drone I’m looking for.
@Tatum
I was using a Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is about the same size as your S23 Ultra, and it worked fine with DJI Fly. The only issue was if someone called me mid-flight, it would sometimes close the app. A quick fix is turning on Do Not Disturb (DND) before flying.
The screen controller is really convenient because it keeps everything separate from your phone—no notifications, no overheating, and it’s much easier to see in bright sunlight. It also boots up faster, so you’re in the air quicker. That said, if you’re on a budget, the regular controller works just fine, and as long as you use DND, your phone will do the job without issues.
Hey Marc-André, have you considered the DJI Flip? I just picked one up but haven’t flown it yet. The YouTube reviews look great.
It’s got a similar camera to the Mini 4 Pro but costs about the same as the Mini 3. Plus, it can shoot in Log, which is great if you want to do color grading in post.
I’ll update once I get a chance to fly it—hopefully tomorrow!
I found a DJI Mini 2 on Facebook Marketplace for $250 CAD and talked the seller down to $225. The video quality is actually better than the Mini 4K and Mini 2 SE.
I’m Marc-André from Quebec, Canada. I’ve been wanting a drone for years, and I think it’s finally time to get one. But after looking around online, I’m honestly feeling lost.