DJI Mini 3 Review 2025: Your First Beer

Like your first beer

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.

DJI Air 3S Review (2025): The Sweet Spot Between Beginner and Pro

If the Mini 3 is your first beer, and the Mavic 4 Pro is a 25-year single malt, then the Air 3S is a double gin and tonic on a Tuesday: affordable enough to justify, strong enough to make you feel like a pro, and smooth enough to get you into trouble.

This is the drone DJI built for everyone who says: “I want professional-looking footage, but I also want my spine intact after carrying it around.”

The Camera: The Goldilocks Zone

The Air 3S rocks a 1-inch CMOS sensor that delivers 5.4K video at 60fps. Translation: footage that looks professional without requiring Hollywood-level editing.

• Sharpness & detail: Legitimately impressive — it makes the Mini look like a flip phone.

• Low light: Solid, but not quite Hasselblad-god-tier.

• Dynamic range: Enough to film both the sun and the shadows without crying in post.

On Vancouver Island, this means your sunsets over Parksville actually look like sunsets, not orange smears. It’s a camera you can trust for real estate, resorts, and construction — without paying Mavic money.

Punchline payoff: It’s not Hasselblad, but it’s not potato-cam either. It’s the middle child that finally makes you proud.

Flight Time: Long Enough to Regret Your Choices

The Air 3S offers 40+ minutes of flight time, which is just enough to:

• Film an entire real estate tour,

• Try that “just one more shot” seven times in a row,

• Forget where you parked your car,

• Still make it home before the battery hits panic mode.

It’s the sweet spot between Mini-short and Mavic-marathon. Long enough to feel comfortable, short enough to make you pack a second battery.

Punchline payoff: It’s like your gas tank hitting “empty” — you’ve got time, but you’re sweating anyway.

Obstacle Avoidance: Middle Child, Maximum Confidence

Unlike the Mini 3’s “good luck, champ” approach, the Air 3S gives you omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

• Fly near trees? It’ll dodge.

• Near cranes on a construction site? It’ll dodge.

• Near your ego? …still working on that.

It’s advanced enough to save beginners from heartbreak but not so hand-holdy that pros feel smothered.

Punchline payoff: It’s like flying with a sarcastic co-pilot who says, “Really? That’s your plan?” and then fixes it anyway.

Portability vs. Performance

The Air 3S is the perfect middle ground.

• Heavier than the Mini, lighter than the Mavic.

• Stable in wind, but still tossable in a backpack.

• Big enough to look impressive, small enough not to raise eyebrows at the marina.

On Vancouver Island, this matters. It’s the drone you can haul to a hiking trail and show up with at a luxury real estate shoot without feeling underdressed.

Punchline payoff: It’s the “SUV of drones” — roomy enough for a road trip, small enough to still parallel park.

Should You Buy the Air 3S?

• Beginners → If you’re serious about learning, skip the Mini and start here. You’ll thank yourself in six months.

• Upgraders → If you’re coming from a Mini, this will blow your mind without blowing your budget.

• Pros → If you need a reliable workhorse for real estate, resorts, or construction, this is the one that pays the bills.

Real Island Test: Construction Site Chaos

We flew the Air 3S on a half-built oceanfront mansion (yes, the one we “borrowed” for B-roll). Between scaffolding, gusty winds, and curious workers pointing up like they’d never seen a drone before, the Air 3S handled it all like a champ. Smooth footage, zero crashes, and enough stability to make me look more professional than I probably am.

Punchline payoff: It’s the drone that makes you look like you know what you’re doing — even when you don’t.

The Island Drones Verdict

The DJI Air 3S is the sweet spot drone. It’s the one that balances price, power, portability, and performance without making you sell a kidney.

It won’t flex like the Mavic 4 Pro, and it won’t disappear in your pocket like the Mini 4, but it nails the middle lane. For real estate agents, resort marketers, and construction managers on Vancouver Island — this is the drone that gets the job done.

👉 Check out our full gear page for where the Air 3S fits into our fleet.
👉 Subscribe on YouTube to see the Air 3S in action — including footage we definitely had permission to film.

Punchline payoff: It’s the gin and tonic of drones — classy, reliable, and guaranteed to make you want another.

Best Drones for Construction Projects in 2025 (Island Tested, Client Approved)

Construction moves fast. Investors want updates, stakeholders want reassurance, and clients want to see progress that matches the invoices. Phone snapshots don’t cut it anymore — you need consistent aerial documentation that actually tells the story of your build.

At Island Drones, we’ve flown drones over everything from waterfront mansions to mid-size housing projects. Some drones thrive in the chaos of a job site, others fold like a cheap lawn chair in the Tofino wind. Here’s what matters most in 2025 if you’re using drones for construction:

What to Look For in a Construction Drone

• Flight Time → 35–45 minutes to cover a full site without juggling batteries like a circus act.

• Wind Resistance → Coastal gusts will bully underpowered drones — heavier airframes matter.

• Obstacle Avoidance → Cranes, scaffolding, and trees don’t care about your shot. Smart sensors do.

• Camera Quality → Clear 4K+ footage that makes reports look professional, not like surveillance tapes.

• Mapping Capability → For larger projects, turning flights into 2D/3D site maps is a game-changer.

The Best Fits Right Now

• Lightweight Updates → Mini 4 Pro
  Sub-250g, legal-friendly, and collision avoidance built-in. Perfect for quick daily or weekly site snapshots without paperwork headaches.

• The Workhorse → Air 3S
  Balances flight time, stability, mapping capability, and image quality. Big enough to handle wind, small enough to fly often. This is the drone most pros should start with.

• Investor Flex → Mavic 4 Pro
  When it’s time to impress investors or package footage into polished marketing reels, this is the flagship. The “wow factor” drone.

Story From the Field: The Half-Built Mansion

We once flew a Mini 3 over a half-built oceanfront mansion. The location was stunning, but the footage? Brutal. Overexposed shots, jitter from the wind, and glare bouncing off every unfinished window.

The lesson was clear:

1. Entry-level drones like the Mini are fine for quick updates — but not for high-stakes jobs.

2. For professional progress documentation, you need a stable platform with better sensors and wind resistance.

Since then, the Air 3S has become our go-to for construction. It delivers smooth aerial sweeps, accurate progress shots, and even mapping when needed. Clients instantly see the difference — and that confidence pays for itself.

Punchline payoff: Sometimes the best sales pitch is showing the mistakes you don’t make anymore.

The Island Drones Verdict

If you’re documenting construction progress in 2025, here’s the breakdown:

• Quick updates / light regulations → Mini 4 Pro

• Everyday workhorse / mapping → Air 3S

• Investor-ready “wow factor” reels → Mavic 4 Pro

For most builders, the Air 3S is the sweet spot: powerful enough to deliver consistent, professional progress updates, yet compact enough to use every week without hassle.

👉 Want to see the exact drones and accessories we run on job sites? Check out our Recommended Gear Page.

Punchline payoff: Because “trust me, it’s coming along great” doesn’t hit as hard as a 4K aerial sweep.

Construction Drone Services in Vancouver Island: How Builders Save Time & Money

Deadlines. Budgets. Stakeholders. If you’re in construction, you already have enough reasons to lose sleep. Add Vancouver Island weather into the mix and… yeah, “fun” isn’t the first word that comes to mind.

That’s where we come in. At Island Drones, we make documenting your projects a lot easier — and a lot more impressive. Whether you’re building a dream home in Parksville or a commercial site in Victoria, our aerial photography and video give you the updates, safety checks, and cinematic marketing shots that ground-level photos just can’t touch.

Why Use Drones for Construction?

• Accurate Progress Monitoring
  Forget blurry phone pics and “I think it’s coming along?” updates. Aerial images show the whole site, so you can track milestones week to week without playing detective.

• Enhanced Safety
  Skip climbing scaffolding or sending workers into sketchy spots. Our Transport Canada–licensed pilots do the risky stuff from above, so your team stays on solid ground.

• Better Stakeholder Communication
  Share high-resolution photos and videos with clients, investors, or contractors. One email with drone footage = ten fewer site visits where everyone argues about progress.

• Marketing-Ready Content
  Show off your craftsmanship with cinematic video that makes your builds look like they belong on HGTV — or at least LinkedIn.

What We Offer Builders & Developers

• Progress Photography → Monthly or biweekly site visits with clean, organized milestone photos.

• Inspection & Survey Flights → Aerial views that spot issues before they become expensive problems.

• Marketing Video Production → Edited, branded, and ready to wow clients, social media, or future bids.

Why Vancouver Island Builders Choose Island Drones

• Local Expertise
  We’re based right here. We know the terrain, the weather, and which seagulls are most likely to photobomb your footage.

• Licensed & Insured
  No cowboy operations here — every flight is Transport Canada–approved and insured for peace of mind.

• Fast Turnaround
  Edited photos and videos in as little as 48 hours, because no one wants to wait two weeks to show an investor what already happened.

Service Areas

We proudly serve builders across Vancouver Island.

The Island Drones Difference

Construction is complicated. Your aerial updates shouldn’t be. With Island Drones, you get reliable documentation, safer inspections, and visuals that make your builds look every bit as impressive as they are.

👉 Ready to see your project from above? Contact Island Drones today and ask about our free first shoot.