LIVE report: Watch the DJI Mini 3 Pro camera drone launch here

It’s here, the DJI Min 3 Pro is finally here!

With less than 21 minutes to go, there is no denying that the YouTube chat hype train is real! Many cannot wait to place there order for this new drone, while others want to know a little more before placing their hard earned cash on the table.

Whichever one of those two camps you’re in, its very exciting to see big hype around this DJI launch.

So who’s excited, anyone else excited, I am very excited!

Just 34 minutes to go until DJI announce a new drone, will it be a new model to the mini series or something different

If you’ve just heard the news and want the best way to watch is by keeping track of the DJI YouTube channel, which already has people lined up and waiting for the news to hit as and when it happens, but better still we have included the livestream above and you can sit back and follow along with the announcement as soon as we hear about it LIVE on Digital Camera World.

The video drop is set to kick off at 9am ET / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST

The Mini 2 is a reimaging of the Mavic Mini; it takes a well-engineered ultra-light airframe (the weight is non-negotiable) and addresses the areas which drone geeks complained about. Well, the ones who usually flew much more expensive drones mentioned, anyway. Mainly these were: the radio range, the response to cross wind, and an assortment of camera features.

Now the Mini 2 has essentially the same fantastic new OcuSync 2.0 controller from the Mavic Air II, with automatic frequency hopping. Together with more powerful motors and improved software this drone can handle Force 5 (not too bad for such a light craft). Photographers have been rewarded with Raw, Exposure Bracketing (though only 3 stops), and DJI’s spectacular automated panorama features, while video enthusiasts finally have 4K under 250g (and a shiny logo near the lens to provide it), topped off with digital zoom ( useful to have, not essential to use).

This drone also sports some improvements to file transferring making it easier to go from drone to phone, and an extra hue-changing light for, er… well, it’s fun to change the color using the remote.

Perhaps the next update will bring a better reason? -will will know soon enough!

It’s no surprise DJI drones top our list of the best drones around. From a bit of high-flying fun, through to the ultimate selfie-drone; From a photographer’s favorite through to industrial and educational quadcopters, DJI have at least one offering in every area. There’s even a drone for crop spraying! The range was extended with three-and-a-half remarkable drones just in 2021, with the arrival of the racing DJI FPV, the foldable DJI Air 2S, the Mini SE (depending on where you live) and the Mavic 3.

It’s also important to be mindful of the latest drone rules on registration, which in many places means that there is more paperwork involved with drones weighing more than 250g.

But what would this new drone be replacing? how does the old stack up with the potential news specs? let’s take a look.

To quote a few in the very lively and highly excited Youtube Chat ahead of the official lunch, many are looking forward to a potential DJI Mini 3 Pro, some even saying:

“I’ll be ordering today, I just haven’t made up my mind whether or not I want that smart controller or save the money and go with a normal one” or “​I Hope the mini 3 will have good obstacle avoidance because the size is just soo beneficial for that Kind of purposes”

While others are suggesting that smaller drones used to be affordable for everyone but:

“All mini drones were drones that were good Quality and affordable, but now it’s not that affordable with added features that normal people don’t want or need”

“Does anyone know in advance if the RC PRO will be compatible with Mini3? I hope so… I have Mavic3Cine, I don’t want to spend more money for another screen…”

I am sure there are many readers sitting on both sides of the fence right now, but in just over an hour’s time will know for certain what we can expect from the suspected drone launch!

Perhaps the one downside to having the screen included in the controller is that the joysticks are now much further up which could be less comfortable to hold but until we get one in our hand we won’t know if that’s the case or not.

Until we hear more information directly from DJI we won’t be able to say for sure what the specs will be but, if any of what has been mentioned is true, it’s set to be a very exciting drone capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. As soon as we find out more information we will update you.

From a leaked photo we previously reported on, it looks like the remote control (at least in the Pro kit) will have a built-in screen rather than having to use your phone, which will make the controller smaller to handle. It should also make it easier to use as there have been times when I’ve been using my drone and accidentally clicked on a notification pop-up and it has taken me to Instagram or Messenger without meaning to.

The camera also appears to be more of a square design than the more traditional rectangle we have seen from the giant drone, which might be due to keeping the weight down to 249g.

However, don’t get confused, even though this drone weights less than your favorite pack of cookies you will still need to register this drone with your local authorities and keep within the drone laws of state or country.

The gimbal and camera unit also looks they have received an upgrade by way of a re-design, we are used to seeing the camera held by two arms of the gimbal, yet the new DJI Mini 3 take a more interesting approach, and actually looks like a mini version of the DJI OM 5 – which could be an interesting development.

It also looks like the gimbal itself has benefited from a well overdue redesign, with arms that rotate rather than flip out and a camera that is more square in shape, all these looks look like this could be one of the best camera drones out there, in 2 hours time we will know if all these rumors and leaks are true or just fantasy.

How to watch the DJI drone launch

For those just tuning in, the best way to watch is by keeping track of the DJI YouTube channel, which already has people lined up and waiting for the news to hit as and when it happens, better still we have included the premiere below and you can sit back and follow along with the announcement as soon as we hear about it LIVE on Digital Camera World.

The video is set to drop at 9am ET / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST

From the apparently leaked spec sheet, it looks as if the Mini Pro 3 will have a top speed of 57kmph, while the lens will have an 82.1-degree field of view, which is an equivalent format of 24mm lens, again take these with a pinch of salt as no official comment has been made by DJI.

It’s expected to include features that were missing before, such as obstacle avoidance sensors, it could have a larger battery with flight autonomy and perhaps even a 1-inch sensor with an f/1.7 lens – which would be a game changer regardless of whether you ‘re using it for photos or videos.

Although DJI hasn’t put out any official statements about its release dates or specs, the most recent and exciting leak is a DJI Mini Pro 3 spec sheet from Sony Alpha Rumors via Twitter account Jasper Ellens suggesting the model will have a new Sony 48MP sensor. If this is true, the Sony Quadpixel sensor design will be similar to the one used by the OM-1 digital camera.

DJI first started off its popular drone series with the DJI Mavic Mini in October 2019, which at the time of release was a pretty unique offering, packing a 2.7K camera into a body under 250g. That family now includes the more recent DJI Mini SE and the DJI Mini 2.

DJI Mini 3 drone: what we know so far

The new drones didn’t launch on the 28 April as some rumors predicted, and now that same rumor mill is suggesting that today, 10 May could be the official launch date. In a few we will now for certain!