Welcome and thanks for studying this text on which drone I select: the Evo Lite Plus or the DJI Mini 3 Professional.
Trying on the Evo Lite Plus and Mini 3 Professional, we have now two “greatest in school” drones for what they’re constructed to do, though markedly completely different in design aesthetics.
Each drones had been launched in 2022, with the Autel Evo Lite Plus being launched in January 2022 and the Mini 3 Professional, in Might 2022.
With solely a 5-month age distinction between the 2, Autel and DJI took completely different approaches to those well-loved drones.
I’ve used each the Evo Lite Plus and Mini 3 Professional extensively over the previous 12 months or so.
This utilization ranged from frequent journey round numerous elements of the USA to industrial work for my shoppers. In all instances, each drones did a superb job.
On this article, I’ll look at the variations between the Autel Evo Lite Plus and the DJI Mini 3 Professional, my total expertise with every, who would possibly profit from both, and why I personally selected the DJI Mini 3 Professional over the Autel Evo Lite Plus.
If you’re on the lookout for a manageable drone that can be utilized recreationally and for some skilled work, when you so select, this text ought to enable you to resolve.
Temporary Overview
Autel Evo Lite Plus
As talked about, the Evo Lite Plus was launched in January of 2022, making it slightly underneath two years previous, on the time of this writing.
Like DJI, Autel has discovered a foldable design that works for it and this design flows by way of all of their newer drones, together with the Nano collection.
The Evo Lite Plus takes design cues from the bigger, dearer Autel Evo II and Evo II Professional.
Just like the Evo II Professional line, it has a professional-level 20 MP adjustable aperture 1-inch CMOS sensor digicam. Attempt saying that 3 occasions quick.
The Evo Lite Plus, although shut to 2 years previous, affords:
- 40-minute flight occasions, which, up till the Evo line of drones, was unusual to see in shopper and prosumer drones
- Three-way impediment avoidance sensing, when used accurately aids in safer flight maneuvers
- 1-inch digicam sensor for 20 MP high-resolution skilled high quality pictures
- No geofencing, which means no flight restrictions, good for flying in areas the place correct airspace authorization has been obtained, however different drones may need problem unlocking
» MORE: Autel Evo Lite+ Overview
DJI Mini 3 Professional
Proper on the heels of the Evo Lite Plus, the Mini 3 Professional made its debut as the primary DJI Mini drone with impediment avoidance.
This was certainly one thing extraordinary on the time in 2022 and has solely been matched by the Mini 3 Professional’s successor, the Mini 4 Professional, since then.
What makes having impediment avoidance sensors within the Mini 3 Professional such a giant deal is that it’s nonetheless in a position to retain its sub-250 g weight.
Drone fans trying to preserve from registering their Mini 3 Professional, whereas nonetheless flying safer will respect this.
When it comes to visuals, the Mini line had appeared fairly the identical for a number of years, beginning with the unique Mavic Mini launched again in 2019.
The Mini 3 Professional broke the design mildew with the addition of impediment avoidance sensors and a singular digicam.
The Mini 3 Professional has a collection of wonderful, pro-like options, which embody:
- True verticle taking pictures which permits for immediate posting to social media within the appropriate picture ratio
- 10-bit, 4k 60 fps video for content material creators and professionals on the lookout for flexibility when shade grading
- Three-way impediment avoidance for added flight security
- Weighs lower than 250 g which is ideal for these not desirous to register their drone in the USA
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional: One-Yr Overview (Video)
Fast Verdict
Whenever you first take a look at the Evo Lite Plus and Mini 3 Professional aspect by aspect, though foldable drones, they’re clearly completely different.
The Evo Lite Plus is a bigger, extra stable drone than the Mini 3 Professional. On the flip aspect, the Mini 3 Professional’s sub-250 g weight and tiny footprint are what many search for these days.
Taking a look at each drones for a “does all of it” drone, the Mini 3 Professional is my alternative.
This alternative was not made calmly.
As an expert who does a variety of shopper work, and travels fairly a bit up and down the Florida East and Gulf Coasts recreationally, a drone that may do each skilled work and leisure flights is vital to me.
As a result of the Mini 3 Professional is so small, it already checks off the bins for a leisure journey drone.
Coupled with the truth that it shoots unimaginable video footage, footage shoppers are all the time pleased with, it really works for me on a Professional degree.
The Mini 3 Professional permits anybody to have the ability to carry only one drone with them, for a wide range of functions. Much like a Swiss Military Knife, it’s an all-in-one answer.
» MORE:
What are the Major Variations?
The Evo Lite Plus is orange and the Mini 3 Professional is gentle grey. No, that’s not all that differentiates the 2!
Whereas each drones are about the identical age, born in the identical 12 months, there are fairly a couple of technological variations that separate the 2, and we’ll take a look at them now.
First, we’ll give attention to the Evo Lite Plus.
- Dimension and Weight: The Evo Lite Plus weighs in at over 3 times the load of the Mini 3 Professional, at 835 g. This added weight is definitely a bonus for the Evo Lite Plus, because it aids in it being extra steady within the wind, although rated at across the similar wind resistance because the Mini 3 Professional.
- Digicam: That is the place professionals and recreation photographers will need to take discover. The Autel Evo Lite Plus has a 1-inch Sony CMOS sensor. Along with a big sensor dimension that permits for extra gentle to enter, the digicam additionally has a completely adjustable aperture, from f/2.8 – f/11. Other than taking glorious 20 MP pictures, the Evo Lite Plus can even shoot full 6k video, edging out many of the direct competitors, even now.
- Shade Decisions: Because the early years of the “flying pumpkin”, the Autel X-Star Premium, Autel has supplied its drones in orange. The Evo Lite Plus doesn’t stray from this, additionally coming in orange. Nonetheless, it additionally is available in grey and white. For individuals who would really like slightly selection and higher visibility, the three shade decisions ought to do the trick.
- Lack of Geofencing: For a lot of, this can be a make-or-break choice. The shortage of geofencing implies that the Evo Lite Plus can fly wherever you’d prefer it to. It won’t be grounded by invisible fences or zones, like DJI and different drone producers will.
The Mini 3 Professional has an ideal set of stand-out choices as nicely. Together with, however not restricted to:
- Dimension and Weight: Whereas the bigger dimension of the Evo Lite Plus was a, nicely, plus, the dimensions of the Mini 3 Professional is one thing to be admired. The Mini 3 Professional is sufficiently small to place in a small bag or sling. I oftentimes put mine within the pocket of my cargo shorts. With the Mini 3 Professional weighing lower than 250 g, that implies that, in the USA, it doesn’t need to be registered. Extra on this later.
- Vertical Capturing: As a nod to the unique Mavic Professional of 2016, the digicam on the Mini 3 Professional bodily and absolutely rotates 90 levels. This permits the Mini 3 Professional to shoot portrait-mode pictures and movies and submit them to social media with out the necessity for post-process cropping.
- Battery Choices: The Mini 3 Professional was the primary to use two different-sized battery choices, Commonplace and Plus. The Commonplace battery choice yields flight occasions of 34 minutes whereas preserving the Mini 3 Professional underneath the 250 g threshold. The heavier Plus choice takes the load of the Mini 3 Professional over 250 g however yields 47 minutes of flight time.
- 10-bit shade: Within the skilled video area, 10-bit shade is a should. The Mini 3 Professional produces over a billion shade variations, versus 8-bit methods which solely seize 16 million colours. This permits for lots extra flexibility and creativity when color-grading footage in video modifying software program.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional vs. Holy Stone HS720E (Right here’s My Selection)
Autel Evo Lite Plus
The Evo Lite Plus is modeled loosely after the bigger Evo II and Evo II Plus launched prior.
Whereas being a smaller, scaled-back model of these drones, the Evo Lite Plus has lots of the advantages of the Evo II Plus, in a smaller, easier-to-manage bundle.
Autel has been recognized for pioneering longer battery life in shopper and prosumer drones, as seen with the discharge of the Evo II and II Professional.
The Evo II line boasted unheard-of 40-minute flight occasions means again in 2020.
That longer battery life subsequently made its method to the smaller Evo Lite Plus. This was spectacular again when evaluating it towards its then rival the Air 2S, adopted by its smaller and newer rival, the Mini 3 Professional.
Not like the Mini 3 Professional, the Evo Lite Plus has a formidable 20 MP adjustable aperture one-inch SONY digicam sensor.
That is one thing many professionals, and, even, leisure photographers insist on, as a consequence of publicity flexibility and picture high quality.
» MORE: Autel EVO Lite Plus vs DJI Avata (Which One Is Higher?)
This was really an enchancment over the bigger, non-professional degree Evo II 8k, as that digicam solely had a a lot smaller 1/2-inch sensor.
With the Evo Lite Plus’ bigger digicam sensor comes the flexibility to shoot glorious low-light footage. The Evo Lite Plus has numerous night time modes, for pictures and movies, that look nice, even by 2023 requirements.
As has been customary with all Autel drones, because the days of the X-Star, the Autel Evo Lite Plus is not Geofenced.
Whereas we’ll contact on this extra, having no geofencing means no limitations placed on the place and when you may fly your drone.
Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ Premium Bundle
1” CMOS Sensor with 6K HDR Digicam, No Geo-Fencing, 3-Axis Gimbal, 3-Manner Impediment Avoidance, 40Min Flight Time, 7.4 Miles Transmission, Lite Plus Extra Combo.
We earn a fee when you make a purchase order, at no extra price to you.
11/11/2023 02:41 am GMT
DJI Mini 3 Professional
When the Mini 3 Professional was launched, it was to a variety of fanfare. The Mini 3 Professional was and nonetheless is a much-loved drone amongst all kinds of drone pilots.
It’s straightforward for learners to select up and fly whereas remaining enjoyable to fly for knowledgeable drone fans.
One of many greatest attracts of the Mini 3 Professional, like its predecessors, is its tiny dimension and sub-250 g weight.
The Mini 3 Professional is the perfect journey drone.
Not like every other shopper or prosumer DJI drone earlier than it, the Mini 3 Professional managed to retain a really small footprint, weighing underneath 250 g, all whereas having impediment avoidance sensors on board.
This implies the Mini 3 Professional advantages from the myriad of clever flight modes DJI has to supply in its bigger line of drones. A few of these modes aren’t attainable with out impediment avoidance.
The Mini 3 Professional shouldn’t be solely small and has visible sensors, nevertheless it additionally has a couple of pro-level additions as nicely. These make it very best for content material creators and videographers.
These embody 4k 60 fps taking pictures in addition to the flatter 10-bit D-Cinelike profile.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional vs. Air 2S (All You Have to Know)
Along with being an ideal journey drone, the Mini 3 Professional packs sufficient punch for use for some skilled purposes, corresponding to the actual property business.
It makes a viable backup drone for skilled drone pilots. I personally preserve a Mini 3 Professional in my tools bag when doing bigger tasks.
I achieve this particularly when at actual property jobs, simply in case my principal drone fails. Likewise, I exploit it typically in tight areas to get that completely framed shot.
DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)
Light-weight and Foldable Digicam Drone
- 4K/60fps Video
- 48MP Photograph
- 34-min Flight Time
- Tri-Directional Impediment Sensing, Built-in RC and display
We earn a fee when you make a purchase order, at no extra price to you.
11/10/2023 04:56 am GMT
Head-to-Head Comparability
Digicam
Winner: Autel Evo Lite Plus
The Evo Lite Plus is the clear winner on the subject of the cameras on this comparability.
Whereas the Mini 3 Professional arguably has an ideal digicam, the Evo Lite Plus with its 1-inch digicam sensor appeals extra to the skilled and novice images crowd alike.
The digicam on the Evo Lite Plus has a SONY 20 MP adjustable aperture 1-inch CMOS sensor. The aperture ranges from f/2.8 – f/11.
Which means the digicam has few limitations when taking each pictures and movies in numerous lighting situations.
If you’re one to take night time footage, the Evo Lite Plus has a full suite of night time modes utilizing its extremely efficient Moonlight algorithm.
Nighttime video taken with the Evo Lite Plus is detailed, and sharp, with minimal noise
The 20 MP pictures that come out of the Evo Lite Plus are nothing wanting improbable.
I’ve used the Evo Lite Plus on a couple of actual property jobs and the images had been the identical top quality as others I’ve taken with numerous prosumer DJI drones.
When it comes to video, the Evo is marketed to shoot as much as 6k. That is extra realistically 5.4k, which remains to be nice, as it’s a increased decision than the Mini 3 Professional can shoot movies at.
Having the ability to shoot in 5k is particularly good for individuals who do a good bit of video modifying and prefer to zoom in throughout video post-production, with out shedding an excessive amount of decision.
One thing notable in regards to the Evo Lite Plus is when taking pictures video in Auto, it really works fairly nicely. This may need one thing to perform a little with the mix of the moonlight algorithm and the adjustable aperture.
The Evo Lite Plus does an ideal job of exposing every little thing nicely, from the shadows to the highlights. Evening-time video taking pictures is equally as spectacular as daytime taking pictures.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional for Actual Property Images (All You Have to Know)
Flight Efficiency
Winner: Autel Evo Lite Plus
If you’re not an all-out velocity freak, then this could be a little bit of a toss-up. A tie.
In the case of flying horizontally in sport mode, the Evo Lite Plus is slightly underneath 5 mph quicker than the Mini 3 Professional. To some, that distinction in velocity means fairly a bit.
Nonetheless, once you take a look at the whole velocity common throughout the board, the drones are just about neck and neck.
| Velocity in MPH | Autel Evo Lite Plus | Mini 3 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Ascent | 11.18 mph | 11.18 mph |
| Descent | 8.94 mph | 11.18 mph |
| Horizontal | 40 mph | 35.79 mph |
The added weight of the Evo Lite Plus (all additional 585 g of it), equates to a barely extra steady flight when in windier situations.
Whereas the Mini 3 Professional is rated as a degree 5 wind-resistant drone, the gimbal has to work more durable to stabilize video footage.
The Evo Lite Plus has rather less gimbal work to do in windy situations, because it strikes lower than the Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional and Climate
No Geofencing
Winner: Autel Evo Lite Plus
I’ve been in conditions, previously, the place I’d be out and about flying recreationally, see an ideal place to fly, and never have the ability to fly there as a result of the drone sees an authorization zone and grounded me.
This can be one thing many have shared when flying occasionally.
With all Autel drones, together with the Evo Lite Plus, there isn’t a such geofencing.
Though the newer DJI drones operating DJI Fly App are actually so much simpler to unlock than a couple of years in the past, with the Evo Lite Plus there aren’t any unlocks wanted.
As an alternative choice to pulling out the Aloft or UAV Forecast apps, the Autel Sky app will warn you to zones close by.
Should you occur to be in an authorization zone, you may then purchase LAANC authorization onsite by way of Aloft and proceed to go and fly.
After getting skilled an absence of geofencing in numerous zones, you almost certainly won’t need to return to unlocking these zones in-app.
» MORE: Do Autel Drones Have Geofencing (And Unlock)
Portability & Comfort
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
The Mini 3 Professional wins this class arms down.
Whenever you evaluate what the Mini 3 Professional can do technically alongside the Evo Lite Plus, the Plus can’t evaluate to the Mini 3 Professional’s portability and comfort.
The Mini 3 Professional is ideal for vacationers and outdoor sorts who prefer to movie themselves. With it weighing in at underneath 250 g, it’s barely noticeable when in a images bag, sling, or purse.
Alongside the traces of weight, the Mini 3 Professional doesn’t need to be registered in the USA.
Nonetheless, if the Mini 3 Professional might be used for paid industrial work, or the furtherance of enterprise, it’ll should be registered.
Along with the load of the Mini 3 Professional, with its small footprint (you may actually maintain it within the palm of your hand when folded), it’s simply tucked away in virtually all kinds of carrying options.
Including to the comfort issue is the truth that the Mini 3 Professional has the choice to return bundled with the all-in-one DJI RC sensible controller.
Just like the Mini 3 Professional, the DJI RC is ultra-lightweight and might be slipped into any sort of bag with out taking over an excessive amount of area.
If you’re a traveler or solo creator, not having to make use of a smartphone along with the distant controller allows you to stand up within the air quicker.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional with DJI RC (Defined for Freshmen)
Distant Controller Compatability
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
The Mini 3 Professional is the clear winner on the subject of the distant controller choices obtainable for it.
Whereas the Evo Lite Plus solely makes use of a single distant controller, the Mini 3 Professional might be operated utilizing the next DJI distant controllers:
If utilizing the Mini 3 Professional strictly from an expert standpoint, the DJI RC Professional is the most effective (and most costly) answer for controlling the Mini 3 Professional, because it has a 5.5-inch display with 1000 nits of brightness.
Moreover, third occasion apps might be put in on the DJI RC Professional, enabling it to be a real all-in-one controller answer, needing no extra sensible units.
If flying the Mini 3 Professional recreationally, then the extra reasonably priced, bundled DJI RC, is a superb controller.
At 700 nits of brightness, the DJI RC can nonetheless be seen in very brilliant situations. That is good for touring.
When doing sure shopper work alongside waterfronts, I’ve opted to go along with the RC-N1 controller. It does take slightly longer to get arrange and deploy, however you need to use any sensible system with it.
I exploit a Tripletek 1500 nit excessive brightness pill connected to the RC-N1 for such jobs.
Should you’d like a distinct perspective when flying, and a distinct method to fly, there’s additionally the choice to fly the Mini 3 Professional with the newer DJI Movement 2 Controller w/ DJI Goggles 2.
» MORE: DJI RC vs DJI RC-N1 (All You Have to Know)
Battery Choices
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
Whereas Autel pioneered the longer-lasting, 40-minute battery in leisure drones, DJI has taken this a step additional.
The Mini 3 Professional has two battery choices obtainable to it. The Commonplace model and the Plus model.
If opting to go along with the usual model, there’s an marketed flight time of 34 minutes. The Plus model has an marketed flight time of 47 minutes.
I say “marketed” as a result of the flight occasions talked about by producers are when the drone is flying of their optimum take a look at environments.
Actual-world person flight occasions will fluctuate by a couple of minutes.
When transferring as much as the higher-capacity Plus batteries, the flight time will increase to about 42 minutes or so. Once more, that is based mostly on real-world utilization.
Regardless, having 40+ minute flight occasions in a Mini drone is an accomplishment in itself.
One thing to notice, the Commonplace clever batteries are tremendous light-weight and preserve the Mini 3 Professional at underneath 250 g.
When transferring as much as the beefier Plus choice batteries, the load of the battery strikes the Mini 3 Professional out of the sub-250 g zone.
Which means the Mini 3 Professional will then should be registered, whether or not you’re flying it professionally or not.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Professional Battery (All You Have to Know)
Clever Flight Modes
Winner: DJI Mini 3 Professional
Each the Evo Lite Plus and Mini 3 Professional have clever flight modes aboard.
| Evo Lite Plus’ clever flight and shot modes | Mini 3 Execs clever flight and shot modes |
|---|---|
| Rocket Fade Away Orbit Flick Sky Portrait Dynamic Observe 2(+) |
Dronie Helix Rocket Circle Boomerang Asteroid MasterShots Focus Observe |
The realm most drone fans and solo shooters are going to be involved about is Focus Observe.
The Autel Evo Lite Plus has an analogous operate referred to as Dynamic Observe, nevertheless it’s not practically as refined and helpful as Focus Observe on the Mini 3 Professional.
Observe Me Mode aka Focus Observe is a giant deal at present on the earth of drones, and Focus Observe on the Mini 3 Professional is prime notch.
By merely drawing a sq. round your topic, the Mini 3 Professional will exactly observe stated topic.
I’ve used Focus Observe many occasions on the Mini 3 Professional on the seashore following boats and jet skis and it carried out marvelously.
When out on the water, the Mini 3 professional by no means misplaced its topic. When monitoring vehicles, likewise it stored up with them, spot on.
Monitoring individuals who stroll behind obstacles is troublesome oftentimes for the Mini 3 Professional.
It’s because it solely has three-way impediment avoidance and never omnidirectional sensing just like the newer Mini 4 Professional.
It can’t fly safely to the edges or underneath objects to precisely monitor topics that stroll or duck behind such obstacles.
Focus Observe on the Mini 3 Professional does have some limitations however nonetheless far exceeds the Evo Lite Plus with its Dynamic Observe.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional – Use Lively Observe (Step-by-Step Information)
Conclusion
After having owned and used each the Autel Evo Lite Plus and DJI Mini 3 Professional for greater than a 12 months, I’ve to say they’re each improbable drones.
Autel and DJI took completely different approaches to every of those drones, and I really feel that the Mini 3 Professional edges out the Evo Lite Plus within the areas that matter most to me.
The Evo Lite Plus will probably attraction to these needing a cheaper industrial workhorse than the Autel Evo II Professional.
It has a good weight to combat off the wind whereas taking glorious high quality 20 MP photos and 5.4k movies.
The Mini 3 Professional, however, is probably the most rounded and balanced drone for these wanting each a journey drone and one thing that may additionally deal with some skilled workload.
With its light-weight physique and small footprint, coupled with vertical taking pictures, pro-like 10-bit shade, and 4k 60 fps video capabilities, the Mini 3 Professional is ideal for many newbie flyers, fans, and even professionals alike.
» MORE: Autel EVO Lite+ vs. DJI Mini 2 SE (Right here’s My Favourite)
