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The Ultimate Lightweight Drones Battle - DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Autel Evo Nano+

Updated: Mar 21, 2023


Two small drones, the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+, are positioned side by side. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is white with black propellers and the Autel Evo Nano+ is black with orange propellers. Both drones have their camera and sensors facing forward. They are placed on a flat surface with a blurry background.
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Autel Evo Nano+

Ready to fly small but mighty? Look no further than the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+. Both compact drones pack a punch with features like sharp image quality, obstacle sensing, and extended flight ranges. But which one comes out on top? The DJI Mini 3 Pro boasts superior camera features, subject tracking, and obstacle avoidance, while the Autel Evo Nano+ offers impressive flight performance and range. It's a close race, but keep reading to find out which mini drone takes the crown.

  1. Design

  2. The Camera

  3. Flight modes

  4. Flight range

  5. Flight time and batteries

  6. Obstacle avoidance

  7. Object tracking/following

  8. The Controllers

  9. Mobile App

  10. Price

Design

Both the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+ are lightweight, weighing in at less than 250 grams. This makes them ideal for those who live in areas where registration is not required for drones under 250 grams.

When it comes to the build quality, both drones deliver as expected. Although they may not be as rugged as other drones, they are durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions, yet compact enough to fit in your pocket.


An Autel Evo Nano+ drone is captured in mid-flight against a blue sky background. The drone has a black body with orange accents and four black propellers. The drone's camera and sensors are visible on the front of the drone. The drone appears to be hovering in place and is at a moderate altitude.
Autel Evo Nano+, Great camera quality

The Camera

The camera quality of a drone is one of the most important factors for anyone who wants to use it to capture amazing photos or videos. The DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Nano+ are both great options in this aspect, but there are a few key differences to consider.

In terms of sensor size, both drones have similar 1/1.3 and 1/1.28 sensors respectively, which may result in similar image quality. However, when it comes to video, the Mini 3 Pro takes the lead by shooting 4K at 60fps, while the Nano+ only goes up to 30fps.

Additionally, the Mini 3 Pro also boasts a higher bitrate of 150MB/s compared to the Nano+'s 100 MB/s. As a result, the Mini 3 Pro is capable of producing smoother and higher-quality slow-motion clips with the ability to shoot 1920p at 120fps, while the Nano+ can only achieve 1080p at 60fps.


Both the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+ have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to camera and image quality. The Mini 3 Pro has the edge for video quality and slow-motion footage, while the Nano+ has a higher image resolution. However, the final output depends largely on the skill of the user and editing software. Personal preferences also play a role in choosing the right drone for your needs. Ultimately, if you value shooting high-quality videos and social media-friendly content, the DJI Mini 3 Pro might be the better choice for you.


Flight Modes

Both the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+ offer three flight modes: Normal, Manual, and Sport/Ludicrous.

When it comes to speed, the DJI Mini 3 Pro can reach up to 35 MPH in Sport mode, while the Autel Evo Nano+ can hit 33 MPH in Ludicrous mode. These speeds are impressive for mini drones.

Additionally, the Mini 3 Pro has better flight performance in windy conditions (Level 5 winds) due to its improved aerodynamics.


An Autel Evo Nano+ drone is captured in mid-flight against a blue sky background. The drone has a black body with orange accents and four black propellers. The drone's camera and sensors are visible on the front of the drone. The drone appears to be hovering in place and is at a moderate altitude.
Autel Evo Nano+, Smaller battery capacity

Flight Range

In terms of range, the Autel Evo Nano+ takes the cake with a maximum control range of 10 km compared to the DJI Mini 3 Pro's 6 km. However, the actual range you get will depend on a variety of factors like the environment, weather, and your location.

It's important to note that the regulations in many countries also limit the maximum range you can fly a drone, so it's always advisable to check with local regulations before flying.

Despite having a longer range, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has better stability and a more advanced obstacle avoidance system.

So, while the Nano+ may have a longer range, the Mini 3 Pro may be a better choice if you're looking for a more stable and safer flying experience.


A man's hand is visible holding a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone while another hand is pulling out the battery from the bottom of the drone. The drone is white with black propellers and appears to be turned off. The man's hand is wearing a black sleeve and a watch. The background is blurred, and there is no visible context around the drone or the man.
DJI Mini 3 Pro, Better battery life

Flight Time and Batteries

When it comes to flight time, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has a significant advantage over the Autel Evo Nano+. With a 34-minute advertised flight time, it easily beats the Nano+'s 28-minute advertised flight time.

Keep in mind that these are just advertised flight times and actual flight times can vary depending on environmental conditions, weather, and atmospheric pressure.

Under ideal conditions, you can expect the Mini 3 Pro to have a flight time of around 30 minutes, while the Nano+ will have a flight time closer to 25 minutes.

The Mini 3 Pro's longer flight time is due to its higher battery capacity (2453mAh) and superior aerodynamics. The Nano+ has a smaller battery capacity of 2250mAh.


An Autel Evo Nano+ drone is shown from the front with all safety sensors turned on. The drone is black with orange accents and has four black propellers. Visible on the front of the drone are the obstacle avoidance sensors, including the two front and two bottom sensors. The drone appears to be stationary in the image, with a plain background. The safety sensors on the drone help prevent collisions and improve overall safety during flight.
Autel Evo Nano+, Self awareness

Obstacle Avoidance

The Autel Evo Nano+ was one of the first sub-250 gram drones to feature obstacle sensing when it was released in 2021. However, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has now caught up by incorporating tri-directional obstacle sensing, making it a strong contender in this category. Unlike the Nano+, where obstacle avoidance can only be set to "on" or "off", the DJI Mini 3 Pro has three options: Bypass (swerves to avoid obstacle), Brake (stops), and Off (turns off the sensors).


DJI Mini 3 Pro, Active track 5.0


Object Tracking/Following

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has an advanced ActiveTrack feature, making it ideal for individuals who want to capture their activities like hiking, running, and more. However, the Autel Evo Nano+ currently doesn't have an ActiveTrack feature, but Autel has announced plans to introduce it in a future software update.



Autel Evo Nano+, Feel like XBox remote controller


The Controllers

The Mini 3 Pro and Nano+ drones both have cutting-edge transmission technology allowing them to fly up to 12 km (Mini 3 Pro) and 10 km (Nano+) away from the controller. Although flying a mini drone such distances is not recommended, due to line-of-sight regulations, the transmission's strength still ensures stable short-range flying. The Nano+ has the advantage in terms of transmission quality, offering 2.7K live footage, compared to the Mini 3 Pro's 1080p resolution. To compensate for this, DJI provides two different controllers for the Mini 3 Pro - the RC-N1, which is heavier but more comfortable and has more controls, and the DJI RC controller with a built-in screen for added convenience at an extra cost.



DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI Fly App


Mobile App

Both the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Autel Evo Nano+ come with user-friendly mobile apps, the DJI Fly App and Autel Sky App respectively, for controlling the drone, adjusting settings, and viewing live footage.

However, the Autel Sky App has faced connectivity issues and abrupt stops, according to user reports. Additionally, sometimes the recorded footage may not match the settings, such as recording in 720p or 1080p instead of the intended 4K, causing frustration for users who had to travel far to capture a certain shot.

The Autel Sky App also has the problem of not saving certain settings from one flight to the next, such as having to manually turn on the Histogram every time the drone is restarted.

In comparison, the DJI Fly App provides a more seamless experience.


Price

The cost of the two drones is similar when all the necessary accessories are included.

The Nano+ costs $899 for the basic bundle, which includes the drone, one battery, and some essentials.

For $1099, you can get the Premium bundle, which includes the drone, three batteries, a shoulder bag, cables, extra propellers, a screwdriver, and more.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is available at $669 without a controller, $759 with the RC-N1 controller, and $909 with the DJI-RC controller.

Adding the Fly More Kit, which includes two extra batteries, a charging hub, more propellers, and a bag, raises the total cost to roughly $1149.

In terms of value, the DJI Mini 3 Pro offers more options for saving money.

For example, if you already own an RC-N1 controller from a Mini 2, Air 2S, or another drone, it can be used with the Mini 3 Pro.

Additionally, if you're willing to spend more than $1000, the DJI-RC controller with an inbuilt screen is a superior option to the Nano+ controller.


Conclusion

Both drones are great options. They offer similar features and similar prices.

However, We would recommend the DJI Mini 3 Pro for several reasons:

First, it has a better camera and video quality. The Nano+ has sharp images and higher resolution stills, but the Mini 3 Pro offers more options.

Second, it has a longer flight time.

Third, it has better subject tracking and obstacle avoidance.

Lastly, it is more cost-effective if you don't select the DJI RC controller.

The Nano+ is not far behind and with Autel's ongoing advancements in drone technology, we can expect even better drones from them in the future.



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