First images of the DJI Mini 3 have leaked… and it looks awesome

DJI Mini 3 Pro flying in a forest with bluebells

(Image credit: Angela Nicholson)

published 3 December 2022

Tweets from a source that has proved reliable in the past, @DealsDrone, have this week leaked visuals of the DJI Mini 3, a new compact drone with a gimbal-stabilized camera that we’re now expecting to see hover over the horizon imminently.

The new release from the Chinese drone specialists, manufacturers of the best drones on the market today, would come fresh on the heels of the DJI Mavic 3 Classic, which was launched last month, and it’s expected to essentially replace the DJI Mini 2, now more than two years old.

However, as is also logical, the new drone appears to share more DNA with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which arrived in May 2022. Indeed, if the leaked graphics are legit (as they appear to be) the DJI Mini 3 seems to have the exact same chassis as the DJI Mini 3 Pro (pictured above and below).

So, what are the key differences? The quick answer to that question is, weight and price point - both of which are expected to be significantly lower.

Just like the Pro, the DJI Mini 3 looks lean and mean and will almost certainly weigh less than 250g, making it a great beginner drone for pilots still earning their wings with a camera drone.

However, there is a clear difference in the profile of the the DJI Mini 3 around the excellent camera gimbal, which indicates that it will not have the front-facing obstacle sensors that feature on its Pro bro.

Presumably this will keep both the weight and the cost down, although it will still likely be a premium product and we don’t expect it to fly straight into the budget drone zone.

The actual price point will depend largely on the quality of the camera, and if - as suggested by the images leaked this week are to be believed - it shares the same camera as the DJI Mini 3 Pro, then it will be big upgrade on its predecessor the DJI Mini 2.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro boasts a 1/1.3-inch sensor (up from the 1/2.3-inch type sensor on the DJI Mini 2) for far better image quality. The Mini 3 Pro offers 48Mp images in raw or JPEG format as well as 12MP images, and can shoot 4K (3840×2160), 2.7K (2720×1530) or Full-HD (1920x1080) video at up to 60p or 1920x1080 video in Slow Motion mode at up to 120p.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro, has an RRP (with no remote controller) of £639 GBP / $669 USD / $989 AUD.

Watch this space for a review of the highly expected DJI Mini 3 from our expert testers very soon.

Author of Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering…, a recently released book about all kinds of outdoor adventures around Britain, Pat Kinsella has been writing about outdoor pursuits and adventure sports for two decades. In pursuit of stories he’s canoed Canada’s Yukon River, climbed Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, skied and mountain biked across the Norwegian Alps, run ultras across the roof of Mauritius and through the hills of the Himalayas, and set short-lived speed records for trail-running Australia’s highest peaks and New Zealand’s nine Great Walks. A former editor of several Australian magazines he’s a longtime contributor to publications including Sidetracked, Outdoor, National Geographic Traveller, Trail Running, The Great Outdoors, Outdoor Fitness and Adventure Travel, and a regular writer for Lonely Planet (for whom he compiled, edited and co-wrote the Atlas of Adventure, a guide to outdoor pursuits around the globe). He’s authored guides to exploring the coastline and countryside of Devon and Dorset, and recently wrote a book about pub walks. Follow Pat's adventures on Strava and instagram.

Upgrade to smarter living