These drones do different things. The DJI Avata 2 is an FPV drone: you fly through DJI Goggles 3 with a hand-motion controller, diving, flipping and threading gaps, and the kit costs $934 with goggles. The DJI Mini 3 is a traditional camera drone: you fly from a screen, its 3-axis gimbal gives steady landscape footage and photos, it flies up to 38 minutes, weighs 248 g and costs $461. If you want sweeping travel shots, get the Mini 3. If you want the feeling of flying, get the Avata 2.
Specs side by side
| Avata 2 | Mini 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| How you fly | Goggles 3 + RC Motion 3 | Phone or DJI RC screen |
| Takeoff weight | About 377 g | 248 g |
| Sensor | 1/1.3-inch, 12 MP | 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP |
| Lens | 155° ultra-wide | 24 mm equivalent, f/1.7 |
| Video | 4K/60fps, 4K/100fps | 4K/30fps HDR |
| Stabilization | Single-axis gimbal + electronic | 3-axis gimbal |
| Max flight time | About 23 min | 38 min |
| Video link (FCC) | 13 km | 10 km |
| Obstacle sensing | Downward and backward | Downward |
| Price (ours) | From $934 with goggles | From $461 |
Specs from DJI's spec pages.
Flying experience
Avata 2. You see from the drone's point of view. With the RC Motion 3, you point your hand where you want to go and press the throttle. It's easy to start, and you can do one-push flips and rolls. Its ducted propeller guards make it tolerant of light bumps. The goggles take some getting used to, and in the US you need a visual observer beside you whenever you fly with them.
Mini 3. It hovers in place when you let go of the sticks, and you frame shots on a screen like a camera. It's the easier drone for slow reveals, orbits and photos.
Footage
The Avata 2's ultra-wide view and low, fast flying produce energetic, immersive video: through trees, around buildings, chasing cars or bikes. It's not built for still photography.
The Mini 3 makes the classic aerial look: level horizons, slow moves, 48 MP photos and panoramas. It also rotates the camera for true vertical social clips.
Registration and rules
- Mini 3: under 250 g, so recreational pilots don't register it. With the Battery Plus it weighs about 290 g and must be registered.
- Avata 2: over 250 g, so register it ($5 for 3 years). It broadcasts Remote ID.
- Both: the free TRUST test for hobby flying. See are FPV drones legal.
Cost of ownership
The Avata 2 price includes goggles and a controller, which you'd otherwise buy separately. FPV flying tends to involve more bumps, so budget for spare propellers and consider accident coverage such as DJI Care Refresh for the Avata 2. See DJI Care Refresh.
Which should you buy first?
- Mini 3: travel, family video, landscapes, first drone on a budget.
- Avata 2: you've watched FPV videos and want to fly like that.
Compare the FPV side further in best FPV drone for beginners, or see Avata 2 vs Mini 4 Pro.
Related guides
- DJI Avata 2 vs Mini 4 Pro: FPV fun or all-round camera drone?
- DJI Avata 2 vs Air 3S: FPV or camera drone?
- Antigravity A1 vs DJI Avata 2, Mini 5 Pro and Mavic 4 Pro
- DJI Avata 2 vs Avata 360: which FPV drone?
- DJI Avata 2 vs DJI FPV: cinewhoop or speed machine?
- DJI Avata 2 vs Mini 5 Pro: which should you buy?
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