DJI Avata vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro (Here’s My Choice)

If you were having a dilemma about which DJI drone to get after DJI released the DJI Mini 3 Pro, things are about to get trickier with the new DJI Avata release.

While both drones are designed for different experiences, they are similar in some aspects, and you may find yourself debating which one to get.

So, DJI Avata vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro, which one is better?

Both the DJI Avata and the DJI Mini 3 Pro have excellent cameras, excellent flight times for their use cases, advanced safety features, and flight experiences that are to die for.

If I were on a budget looking for a high-quality camera drone, I would go for the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

If I were looking for an FPV experience to allow me to go through the learning curve of FPV flying, I would go for the DJI Avata.

If I wanted to produce the best footage I could for social media or clients, either one would be a great choice.

I’d rather have the Mini 3 Pro alone, or own both the DJI Avata and the DJI Mini 3 Pro, since I wouldn’t have much use for the DJI Avata on its own.

Please keep reading to learn how these drones compare and who they are best for.

DJI Avata vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro – Overview #

The DJI Mini 3 Pro was released in May 2022 after months of hype. It came as an upgrade to the Mini and Mini 2 drones, and packs tons of features you find in advanced drones into a minimalistic design that weighs less than 250 grams.

Its main selling points are its camera, weight, design, and performance.

Before we were done getting acquainted with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI released the DJI Avata in August 2022, their second FPV drone after the DJI FPV. It has a very different design from the first FPV. It’s lighter, easier to fly, and a convenient beginner drone for entering the world of FPV.

You would debate whether to get the Avata or the Mini 3 Pro because the Avata is both an FPV drone and a Cinewhoop. Being a Cinewhoop means you can fly it normally and take great pictures, among other activities you would do with a non-FPV drone.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. DJI Avata (A Complete Comparison)

DJI Avata vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro – A Detailed Comparison #

So, how do these two drones compare? Let’s find out.

Design #

The design is one of the most significant differences between the DJI Avata and the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a Mavic series drone. It features a foldable, compact design that, as mentioned earlier, weighs 249 grams. When folded, it measures 145x90x62 mm, and you can easily fit this drone into your pocket.

The DJI Avata still comes in a compact design but weighs 410 grams. Also, instead of foldable arms, it features smaller propellers enclosed in inbuilt propeller guards.

The propeller guards are a nice touch since when this drone crashes, it bounces off of the object, while if the Mini 3 crashes, the arms and propellers are the first sections to get damaged.

Another design difference is the design of the gimbal.

The Mini 3 Pro has a 3-axis gimbal, giving it more room for movement than the single-axis gimbal in the DJI Avata. As a result, with the DJI Avata, you must always fly it facing forward like you would flying a plane.

» MORE: DJI Avata vs. DJI Air 2S (Here’s my Choice)

Lastly, the DJI Mini 3 Pro and DJI Avata have different batteries and other component designs.

For the DJI Avata, the battery is out in the open in a cage at the top, and the components come below it, while for the Mini 3 Pro, the battery goes into the drone.

Overall, the outer structure of the Avata makes it more durable than the Mini 3 Pro.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Skydio 2+: Which One is Right for You?

Camera #

The DJI Avata and the DJI Mini 3 Pro can both shoot in 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 120 fps for slow motion. However, they both have their strengths depending on what they were made for.

For instance, Mini 3 Pro has a slightly larger sensor (1/1.3) compared to Avata’s (1/1.7), allowing it to take better images even in low-light conditions.

On the other hand, the DJI Avata can shoot in slow motion at 2.7K at 60fps, while the DJI Mini 3 Pro can’t.

» MORE: DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3 (Here’s my Choice)

The DJI Avata also has a wider FOV (150 degrees) than the Mini 3 Pro (82 degrees), compensating for the single-axis gimbal.

It also features RockSteady and HorizonSteady image stabilization technologies that may work the same or slightly better than the DJI Mini 3 Pro’s stabilization at top speeds. However, you can always fly your Mini 3 Pro slowly to keep the footage smooth.

Another perk that the DJI Avata has over the Mini 3 Pro is the internal storage. With the Avata, you get 20GB of internal storage, which can store a considerable amount of footage, while the Mini 3 Pro only has 1.2 GB storage, and you have to rely on SD cards.

» MORE: Best DJI Mini 3 Pro SD Cards

While both drones can shoot in D-Cinelike, DJI Mini 3 Pro can shoot in 10-bit, while the Avata only manages 8-bit. This means that you get a more in-depth color profile with the DJI Mini Pro since, with 10-bit, you get 1.07 billion colors, but with 8-bit, you only get 16.7 million colors.

Intelligent Flight Modes #

This is one of the reasons I would buy the DJI Mini 3 Pro. While the DJI Avata only offers Normal, Sport, and Manual Mode, the difference is the speed and safety features available.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro features intelligent flight modes like FocusTrack, Mastershots, Hyperlapse, and Quickshots. These modes allow you to create and edit cinematic footage on the go. There’s so much you can do with the DJI Mini 3 Pro compared to the Avata.

Obstacle Avoidance #

Again, the main difference here is based on what the drones were made for. The DJI Mini 3 Pro features a more comprehensive system comprising tri-directional obstacle avoidance and vision sensors.

On the other hand, the DJI Avata features downward and TOF sensors.

As a result, you can rest assured that the DJI Mini 3 Pro will not crash easily into objects, but these sensors make it difficult to fly this drone indoors.

But the Avata gives you more control over the drone, making it easier to fly it indoors, and when you add the excellent camera and propeller guards, you can easily give someone a house tour.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Mavic Air (All You Need to Know)

Flight Time #

If you are looking for a drone with a longer flight time, then you will be better off with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which has a 31-minute flight time. Besides, you can also get a 40-minute battery (which will make the DJI Mini 3 Pro heavier than 250 grams, so now you will need to register it).

The DJI Avata promises an 18-minute flight time, but once you fly it, it will be around 15 minutes. For a camera drone, that’s a short flight time, but for an FPV or Cinewhoop drone, that’s a good flight time.

Luckily, both drones have intelligent batteries designed to discharge themselves and stop charging when they are full, minimizing issues associated with LiPo batteries.

» MORE: LiPo Batteries for Drones

Controllers and Flight Experience #

The DJI Avata and the Mini 3 Pro are pretty different in terms of the way you control them and the experience you can get from them.

Being a camera drone, the DJI Mini 3 Pro comes with an RC-N1 controller with the basic joysticks and gimbal dials to control the drone’s camera as you fly.

With the RC-N1, you must connect your smartphone to the controller to see the live footage. However, you can also get the DJI RC smart controller with its screen, and you will not have to add your smartphone.

While you can record in up to 4K, the Livestream will always be 1080p or lower, depending on the connection strength. This setup is all you will need to come up with cinematic footage.

On the other hand, the DJI Avata, an FPV drone, comes with a Motion Controller, and you can only view the footage through the DJI Goggles 2. This is a fun experience since you can view the footage like you are in the drone’s “cockpit.”

» MORE: DJI Avata Issues: 10 Things You Should Know

These goggles achieve a 1080p resolution, have diopter adjustment dials, and support Wi-Fi transmission. And that’s not all. While using the Motion Controller, Head Tracking Mode is active, where you can control the drone’s movements through your head movements.

The DJI Avata also has a standard controller, which you can get at an extra cost, allowing you to fly this drone in Manual mode (also known as Acro mode in FPV).

However, Head Tracking does not work when using the controller, so you will have to control the camera with the dials on the controller.

While there are DJI Mini 3 Pro goggles, such as Drone Mask (link), they don’t come close to what the DJI Avata offers. They are more of a casing where you can place your smartphone, and if you want to adjust the settings, you have to remove the smartphone, adjust them manually, and place the smartphone back.

Range #

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has a slightly longer range (7.4 Miles) than the DJI Avata (6.5 Miles). While they both use the OcuSync system, the Mini 3 Pro comes with the OcuSync 3.0, while the Avata comes with a more advanced version called the OcuSync 3.0 Plus.

As a result, it has more transmission power and supports Wi-Fi connectivity, which the Mini 3 Pro doesn’t. But considering most regions require you to fly within the line of sight, both drones have enough transmission power for VLOS operations.

» MORE: DJI Avata vs. DJI FPV (Here’s My Choice)

Noise Levels #

If you are worried about attracting attention with your drone, or are flying in urban areas where people might complain about the noise, then you would have to avoid the DJI Avata. It has noise levels going up to 846dB indoors and 76dB outdoors, while the Mini 3 Pro is quitter with noise levels of less than 70dB.

Price #

If you’re on a budget and are looking for the cheapest option between the two, you will get the best value with the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

The drone and the RC-N1 controller (without an in-built screen) go for $759, while the lowest you can buy the DJI Avata is $630, but that is if you have either the controller that comes with the DJI FPV or the DJI Goggles V2 that also come with the DJI FPV.

As a first-time buyer who didn’t have the DJI FPV, the lowest price to get the DJI Avata package is $1168, where you get the drone, the DJI Goggles V2, and the Motion Controller. For $1388, you can get the drone, the motion controller, and the new DJI Goggles 2.

Who should get the DJI Mini 3 Pro? #

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is an ideal beginner drone, but it also doubles as a creator’s drone. I love its camera features since they are good enough to create content for social media, real estate, or even filming events like weddings.

And as I mentioned earlier, the intelligent flight modes give it an edge over the Avata.

The Mini 3 Pro is also great for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of having to register the drone. But if you are using it for commercial purposes, you will need to register and get a license.

If I had a limited budget and were looking for my first drone, I would go for the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

Some users who would find more use cases with the DJI Mini 3 Pro include:

• Social media content creators
• Travelers
• Beginner drone photographers

Who should get the DJI Avata? #

The DJI Avata comes at a higher price tag, but the immersive experience you get from it is worth it.

If you want to enter the world of FPV with a drone with a better camera, the DJI Avata will be ideal for you.

Features like head tracking, 1080p live-stream resolution, 6.5 miles range, Motion Controller, and the ability to fly it normally and as an FPV make it a better option than some FPV drones already on the market.

However, remember that FPV flying is more regulated than standard flying. In some regions, you will need to register your drone, get a license, a spotter, or a BVLOS license, most of which you won’t need when flying the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

DJI Avata vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro – Which one should I get? #

While it might seem like comparing these two drones is like comparing apples and oranges, they both could fit in similar use cases, making the choice quite difficult.

I am more of a photographer than an FPV enthusiast, so I would be more inclined to go with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, considering it’s also cheaper.

But after seeing the kind of footage you can get with the Avata, thanks to the improved camera, I believe I could develop better footage if I combined the footage from the DJI Mini 3 Pro and the DJI Avata.

So, I’d rather have the Mini 3 Pro alone, or own both the DJI Avata and the DJI Mini 3 Pro, since I wouldn’t have much use for the DJI Avata on its own.