Hello Friends! I’m excited to announce that I’ll buy myself an early Christmas present in the form of a DJI drone! I want a drone that flies for a long time and a long distance. Ideally, I want to visit my neighboring town, which is about 10 km away (no obstacles blocking the direct view). I don’t need perfect filming capabilities or anything special—just a ‘toy’ I can fly around with as a beginner. Based on my research, the DJI Mini 3 seems to have the longest flight time for the least amount of money. Can you recommend this drone, or am I overlooking something?
No chance this is remotely legal anywhere with a functional government.
Ignoring legality (which you shouldn’t), a 10 km transmission is unlikely, and 20 km round trip is impossible. At 10 m/s, 20 km would take 33+ minutes, far exceeding any drone’s flight time.
I understand… But is the Mini 4 Pro better in that regard? According to the website, the Mini 3 has 38 minutes of flight time, while the Mini 4 Pro only has 31 minutes.
Kirby said:
I understand… But is the Mini 4 Pro better in that regard? According to the website, the Mini 3 has 38 minutes of flight time, while the Mini 4 Pro only has 31 minutes.
“Better” in range, not in flight time.
The Mini 4 Pro will likely run out of battery before reaching its RC range limit. The Mini 3, however, will probably hit the RC range limit before running out of battery.
Either way, you’re not getting 10 km. Maybe 5-6 km under perfect conditions if you want your drone back.
@Flynt
Ok, that’s what I needed to hear! 5 km is still nice, and of course, I want my drone back! Since the Mini 4 Pro is almost double the price of the Mini 3, the Mini 3 should be the option for me.
Kirby said: @Flynt
Ok, that’s what I needed to hear! 5 km is still nice, and of course, I want my drone back! Since the Mini 4 Pro is almost double the price of the Mini 3, the Mini 3 should be the option for me.
5 km with the Mini 3 requires open conditions—preferably on a hilltop, no trees or buildings, and the drone flying near the 120 m height limit. If you’re in a wooded area or near obstacles, expect much less.
I have a Mini 3 and I’m in Canada. I’ve flown 850 km with it, had one accident, and used DJI repair (which went great). If you have questions, feel free to DM me
First off, flying 10 km away is illegal. You must be able to see your drone with the naked eye.
I’ve used drones with O2 and O4 transmission (Mini 3 and Air 3). With the Mini 3, flying beyond 1 km is doubtful. With the Air 3, I’ve flown up to 2.5 km without losing signal, but I wouldn’t risk going further.
Remember, even with line of sight, there’s electronic noise and interference in the air.
Flynt said:
You’re not getting a 10 km range with the European Mini 3, and likely not even with the US version. Flying out of visible range also breaks the law.
What range can I expect with a Mini 3? Do other small models have better range?
@Kirby
The Mini 4 Pro is rated for 10 km in the CE (European) version, but that requires perfect conditions: no obstacles, hilltop takeoff, no trees nearby, and the drone flying at 120 m. Even then, if you reach 10 km, the battery won’t have enough juice to bring it back.
