3-Way Strong Wind Test: How does DJI Mini 3 compare to Mini 3 Pro & DJI Air 2S?

[@ebsbx]

If anyone is interested, I have been running a few tests with the Mini 3 Pro in windy conditions and analysing the data to see how much battery it uses flying over set distances in different modes - useful to know if you are 300m out to sea and want to fly back in as efficient way as possible because you have "inadvisably" been flying with an offshore wind and your battery is at 20% ! Tests completed over 2-300m and back a few times for averages . The table shows the max speed (either limited by software or wind - sticks were full); power; and in () is the energy used to fly a particular distance. The lower the better. Sport mode will get you back quicker but will the battery last longer if you go slower? > Light wind < Normal mode: Into the wind 10m/s 47W (4.7 J/m) With the wind 10m/s 38W (3.8 J/m) Sport mode: Into the wind 15m/s 86W (5.6 J/m) With the wind 15m/s 81W (5.3 J/m) > Windy Day < Normal mode: Into the wind: 7m/s 64W (9.3 J/m) With the wind: 11m/s 34W (3.2 J/m) Sport mode: Into the wind: 9m/s 87W (9.9 J/m) With the wind: 16m/w 35W (2.1 J/m) Conclusion (from these non-exhaustive, need to be repeated tests): In calm or light wind conditions, Normal mode is more efficient: You can fly 20% further using the same battery charge. With high wind, you are using around 5x more energy to go out a distance into the wind than coming back with it. In battery % terms this pretty much means once you get to 83% remaining, you only have just enough to get back! Do it sensibly (like Ian said) and always fly out into the wind and back with the wind. If it is very windy and you are flying back with the wind, use Sport mode to save even more energy.

[@IaninLondon]

Brilliant stuff there. Thanks for the info. Unsurprising, but great to know. Pinned 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ebsbx]

I just realised that last paragraph starts off a bit confusing. What I meant was, if you fly out with the wind (bad practice), you go so far and fast using so little energy, you may not realise that you need 5x as much to get back against the wind so anything lower than 83% battery left and you're going to be in trouble. If you go into the wind to start with (very good practice) you're doing the heavy work first and you're only going to need a fraction of the battery energy to get back.

[@IaninLondon]

@@ebsbx aka "Always fly out into the wind and fly home with the wind 👍🏻"

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Great video showing what I've been asking on some channels. Sportsmode being that effective in the wind was a surprise.

[@andrewjohnson6503]

Such good help and advice for us new Drone pilots

[@petermainwaringsx]

My first proper drone was a DJI Flamewheel 450 Quadcopter seven years ago. It did a pretty good job with no fpv, just an action camera on a gimbal under it. Although I still have it and a 550 hexacopter, and they are quite capable drones, they are not user friendly and I only fly them a couple of times a year. The Mini 2 a superior bit of kit which does it all easier and better. The ability to fly in windy conditions and still produce superior results is well demonstrated in your video Ian. Thanks for an informative and entertaining video. And your sound advice of "always fly into the wind".

[@grumpyclark]

Thanks Ian - love the dramatic music too! :)

[@karenmouselady]

Its good to know just how good the mini 3 pro is in the strong wind, gives me more confidence to fly in windy conditions, thanks Ian for the test and the video 👍👍

[@IaninLondon]

Thanks Karen. Yep, you'll be good to fly unless it's a gale 🤠

[@metaldog7128]

Another good test 👍 and for tiny drones in that wind they handle it pretty well and the stability of their cameras held up very good, no bouncing around very stable shots 👍

[@georgekelly1948]

Thanks for the test, Ian. Both the M3 and M3P produced fine videos while being blown around. A confidence builder for me. Cheers from Wisconsin, USA.

[@IaninLondon]

Thanks George! All the best 👍🏻

[@JBFlytography]

I’ve got both the Mini 3 Pro and the Air 2s and was quite surprised by the Mini 3 in windy conditions. It was never going to beat the Air2S but is extremely surprising how well it does for being so light.

[@geraintpusspuss]

Out of the 2, what is your go to? I’ve recently sold my m2p and my mini 2 isn’t cutting it in terms of photography so looking to upgrade

[@JBFlytography]

@@geraintpusspuss To be honest, I find myself flying the Air 2S more. There both really good drones and I’ve got a few great shots with both. The camera and shots are far superior on the Air2S. It depends what you want it for and where your going to fly it. Obviously, the Pro 3 is less than 249g so doesn’t need registered.

[@IaninLondon]

That completely depends on your likely flying locations. The pixel size is the same on both models, but the Air 2 S is 20Mp compared with the 12 Mp Mini 3s. But if course you'll have way more freedom of flying near people with the Mini 3 Pro

[@geraintpusspuss]

@@JBFlytography thanks for that info

[@JBFlytography]

@@geraintpusspuss no worries.

[@darylyoder1249]

Great test. I'm amazed by how resilient these drones from DJI are. Next versions should have anit-bird features!

[@geezerpleasers_OG]

I second the anti-bird features! I don't know if it's just my imagination, but ever since I put the orange Stealth propellers from Master Airscrew on my drone, the birds really seem to dislike it.

[@waddac2]

Another cracking test Ian mate 👍👍

[@IaninLondon]

Thanks Rich 👍

[@waddac2]

Your welcome mate. So are the smart controllers a lot better than normal where you have to mess with your phone? After selling my Mavic Air 2 with loads of extras, I want the Mini 3 Pro and will just keep that as my main drone and keep mini 2 as a back up.

[@the_thomss]

Amazing scenery and great footage! I subscribed to see more Videos made by you. Dji Mini 32 is an awesome little drone. I own one myself too and create cinematic Videos. Keep it up bro! 👌🏽

[@IaninLondon]

Cheers 🤠👍🏻

[@TonesDroneVisuals]

I have all the confidence with my Mini 3 Pro in high winds. I've flown it in conditions where others wouldn't dare

[@jesusgjchuza6491]

The mini3 pro, is amazing 🤝😎

[@Rogar0]

Cheers Ian, that’s fantasztikus matey! 👍😎

[@IaninLondon]

Egészségére 🤠

[@tinyinsectstv1573]

I've seen tests where winds are way wose, but yeah I completely agree these drones were build right!

[@ukdashcamz3580]

I took my mini pro 3 out first time flying a drone yesterday abd was quite windy, at one point the drone was hardly moving on the way back to me and the RTH was disabled but still manages easily enough without it . Luckily the extended battery helped!

[@izoyt]

nice, no bs test as always. just for fun, it would be fun to see how old dogs like m2 etc with some fresh battery would do. i think it can outrun air2s and perfectly pair with m3 (except in vertical speed), to be honest.

[@dhoser9296]

Great test Ian. Bet the Nano+ would have blown away...LOL

[@bobwhite3707]

Very nice test Ian. Thanks for sharing.

[@mobilehomer7582]

Nice test. One request, please show the radar/atitude indicator when using a screen recording. That will show how the drone adjusts to wind in a visual manner.

[@IaninLondon]

Noted 👍🏻👍🏻

[@2Bluzin]

AIR 2S is still the better drone all around unless you are stuck with a drone that must weigh below 249g. I know that sucks for the UK but there are many countries where that weight limit is not a big thing like in the US. The only difference for us is we have to register it online and pay a 5 dollar fee. And really the Mini 3pro is not that much smaller with it's larger blades.

[@IaninLondon]

Fully agree 👍🏻👍🏻

[@IaninLondon]

What's your thoughts on the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro's performance? Better or worse than expected?

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

More practising taking off and landing in the hand is needed here. It looks like the Mini 3 PRO hesitates to and in the hand so I grab it firmly. It's like the drone hesitates to land. Then it tries to escape.... Keeping the controls set for landing finally stopped the props. Taking off was no problem, using the automated take off. In a wind of some 8 meter per second, gusts at some, 12 or more, the warning came that RTH would not work. Strange as the wind was pretty much coming from behind. Manual flight home using the radar screen was no problem..

[@SimplyScotlandPhotography]

Hmm, Am unsure what we are trying to prove her bud, every wind condition is different per second,never mind per test. Air2S has never failed me in most very high winds,. But then again after recently purchased the mini 2 I took that out in the same storm and was amazed how much it stood up to the ever changing directions. Just my opinion but even though the 3 has more bells and whistles, I still think the 2 for the money, ie £250 full monty is a no brainer and still gives out better pictures.🤷

[@IaninLondon]

Well, all we're trying to prove is that the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro can fly and give you stable video in very strong wind. That's about it.... Mini 2 is also awesome in the strong wind too; and you're right, for the money, the Mini 2 is defo the best value all round given how it performs.

[@boatingsibbingandwandering3262]

That little orange one you have would be going backwards. The mini 3 pro did incredibly well

[@IaninLondon]

If I still had the orange one........ ;)

[@smbishop63]

I am guessing the mini 2 would have been similar to the mini 3 and mini 3 Pro? Fun to watch, thanks!

[@IaninLondon]

The Mini 2 is good in wind but I think the Mini 3 Pro is better.... Check out the 4way test I link to early on in the video... Mini 2 flies alongside the Air 2 S 👍🏻

[@smbishop63]

@@IaninLondon I thought the Mini 2 was in Normal mode in that video? Anyway, I appreciate all you do to support our drone experience!

[@IaninLondon]

Yes, that's true. However the Mini 2 introduced the (obviously good) idea of still fully utilising all available power when struggling in strong wind, so when pushed to the limit, it made no difference whether it was in Sport or Normal mode. All that said, my experience is that whilst good, the Mini 3 Pro is even better in very strong wind 👍🏻👍🏻. Cheers for the good words 🤠

[@pixusphotographic]

Can you do a wind test with the Mavic 3? I did one on my channel in 33mph gusts at 159ft and it did really well with only one strong wind warning.

[@IaninLondon]

I did this video..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppqpqId3bdGgpdk

[@pixusphotographic]

@@IaninLondon Thanks Ian, very reassuring.

[@01bigtrev]

Would’ve been cool to see the compass altimeter watching the real time wind 😊

[@MavericksDrone]

Good testing conditions...How's the dogs nose🤔?

[@IaninLondon]

He caught me out and got a little close but all fine!

[@gimpman1357]

I'd like to see what happens with a cross wind. Maybe fly in a square 200m each way so we can see how it reacts with wind coming from all 4 directions. Even better do a CIRCLE ME.

[@HouseGuide]

I am curious about stability of the mini3 pro in high winds. I am guessing sport mode is your best bet. If you need to fly somewhere with accuracy so that the wind doesn't bash your drone into a house or another person, will it hold stable in the wind in sport mode. I am assuming that the rotor blades spin faster in sport mode giving it more stability rather then just spin faster when you increase speed. I don't know how that works exactly.

[@jaco_oosthuizen]

I love my Air 2S, and I won't swop it for two Mini 3 Pros...

[@pt1bluey]

Good Morning mate from Sydney Australia Mate I've got a DJI Pro 3 can you please show me how to check my batterys

[@kamikazekaos]

Ian blank out the distance readings, I know the vlos is a stupid rule

[@IaninLondon]

Yep; agree .

[@TomUlcak]

What about testing with the larger battery in the mini 3 pro?

[@IaninLondon]

I did straight after! Will get that video out in next day or so 👍🏻

[@TomUlcak]

@@IaninLondon You're awesome! Love your channel.

[@IaninLondon]

@@TomUlcak Cheers! And the Plus battery test vid is now up :)

[@TomUlcak]

@@IaninLondon I can’t wait to watch!

[@rickymorevlu]

Nothing can beat DJI when it comes to secure flights. Another great feature is the geo-fencing. Not a popular opinion I know but it's a pretty good protection for pilots to be honest. DJI gets a lot of hate from that but in reality it prevents you from fines or worse, going to jail.

[@fernandoiiimaguila966]

Can I know what is the best drone, air2s or mini 3??

[@IaninLondon]

Both are excellent. Air 2S is better, but more restricted where you can fly. Mini 3 Pro is brilliant and can be flown in most places ..

[@fernandoiiimaguila966]

@@IaninLondon thank you I'll buy a mini 3 soon, thanks for your video that can help me too choose better ♥️

[@rldeppe1]

Does anyone else get the battery over load prompt when flying in sport mode into the wind with the Mini 3 or mini 3 pro

[@rldeppe1]

By the way great video. Gives me more confidence in my mini 3 pro

[@Radiusxe]

We want to see speed with 10% battery.

[@thecameraguys5381]

Sorry but the mini 3 pro is absolutely sh*t in windy conditions. It's impressive for it's weight, but compared to my older Air 2 - it's incredibly unstable and wobbly. The footage requires warp stabilisation - the Air 2 never needed stabilisation for wind and I only ever stabilised to correct user error (jerky movements). I've used the Mini 3 Pro for 3 shoots so far and I am really underwhelmed, my Air 2 is on eBay at the moment but I'm considering cancelling it and sell the Mini 3 as the stabilisation is more important to me than 10-bit colour

[@IaninLondon]

You may need to check your Mini 3 then, as it's absolutely amazing in very strong winds for me. Flown around Beachy Head and down in Cape Cornwall in crazy strong winds and the footage was as if there was no wind at all....