DJI Mini 3 Review 2025: Your First Beer (a.k.a. The Gateway Drug)
Let’s get one thing out of the way: the DJI Mini 3 is not the best drone in the world. It’s not even the best Mini anymore. But you know what it is? The drone that gets you hooked.
This is the gateway drug of drones — the “first beer” that leads to many late nights, questionable decisions, and eventually explaining to your spouse why you now own three drones and a bag full of ND filters.
At under 249g, it’s regulation-friendly, portable, and sneaky enough to carry anywhere. It’s also just good enough to convince you that drones are the most fun hobby/business expense you’ve ever stumbled into.
Size + Price = No Excuses
The best part of the Mini 3 is its price tag and weight class. It’s cheap (by drone standards), tiny, and doesn’t require you to memorize Transport Canada regulations before you take it out of the box.
On Vancouver Island, that means you can toss it in your bag, fly it on a hike, and pretend you’re shooting a Tourism BC ad — all without a license, an insurance policy, or a second mortgage.
Punchline payoff: It’s the drone equivalent of “sure, I’ll just have one drink.”
Camera: Better Than Expected, Worse Than You’ll Want
The Mini 3’s 1/1.3-inch sensor can actually pump out surprisingly nice 4K HDR video. Your sunsets will look decent, your landscapes will pop, and your ego will inflate just enough to start pricing out the Mini 4 Pro.
The catch? Once you see what bigger drones can do, you’ll realize the Mini 3 footage is good… not great. It’s like drinking a Bud Light — refreshing, fine, but nobody’s confusing it for craft beer.
Punchline payoff: It’ll impress your Instagram followers, but Netflix is not calling you.
Flight Time: Long Enough to Crash It
DJI claims 38 minutes of flight time. In reality? Closer to 30 if you’re actually flying instead of hovering nervously.
But here’s the truth: it’s long enough for beginners to get cocky, push it too far, and then sprint across a field in sandals trying to rescue it from a tree. (Ask me how I know.)
Punchline payoff: Plenty of time to learn. Not enough time to become an expert before you run out of battery.
Obstacle Avoidance: Or Lack Thereof
The Mini 3 doesn’t have full obstacle sensing. Which means… it trusts you. Big mistake.
Fly it into a branch? Your fault. Slam it into a wall? Your fault. Land it in a puddle? 100% your fault. This drone is basically saying, “Training wheels? Grow up.”
For beginners, that’s actually a blessing in disguise. You’ll learn the hard way — and fast. And that’s how you become a better pilot (or at least a more careful one).
Punchline payoff: It’s like learning to drive in a beater — you’re supposed to crash it.
Who Should Buy the Mini 3?
Absolute beginners → This is your entry ticket. Cheap, light, fun, and won’t destroy your soul if you crash it.
Budget flyers → If you just want decent footage for hiking, camping, or family trips, it’s perfect.
“One and done” buyers → If you think you’ll stop at this drone, you’re lying to yourself. (See you at the checkout page for your Air 3S upgrade in six months.)
The Island Drones Verdict
The DJI Mini 3 is not the best drone on the market. But it might be the most important. Because it’s the one that gets you addicted.
It’s cheap enough to justify, good enough to impress, and limited enough to guarantee you’ll want more. Around here, we call it the gateway drone.
👉 Want to see where it fits in our fleet? Check out our full gear page.
👉 Want to see how it actually flies on Vancouver Island? Subscribe to our YouTube and watch us abuse it in the wild.
Punchline payoff: It’s your first beer. And just like beer, you’re not stopping at one.
