so my mini 3 (non pro) has been great honestly, no real complaints, but i've been eyeing the air 3 for a while and trying to figure out if it's a meaningful upgrade or if i'm just gassing myself up because i want new gear. my partner keeps asking me to justify the cost and i dont have a great answer yet.

the dual camera thing on the air 3 is the main thing pulling me toward it. being able to switch to that medium tele without physically doing anything is actually kind of huge for the way i shoot ? i do a lot of stuff where i want compression but i'm not always in a position to reframe by moving the drone. also the battery life on the air 3 looks significantly better on paper but i know real world is always different.

anyone made this specific jump? i feel like most comparisons online are air 3 vs mini 4 pro which isn't really my situation. does the step up in wind resistance actually show in real flying or is that more of a spec sheet thing

the wind resistance difference is real, not just numbers. i had a mini 3 and took the air 3 out on a day i probably wouldn't have even launched the mini and it handled it without drama. not saying go fly in a storm but for coastal stuff or open fields where it gets gusty it genuinely makes a difference in how confident you feel and how smooth the footage comes out.

the tele lens though is what i use constantly. way more than i expected. it changes how you think about composing shots because suddenly you have options you didn't before without repositioning the whole aircraft. if that appeals to you based on how you described your shooting style i think you'd use it a lot. whether that's worth the price gap from where you are only you can say but i dont think you'd regret it.

tbh if your mini 3 is working fine and you're happy with the footage maybe just wait. the air 3s been out long enough that whenever the next thing drops the price will probably come down a bit. unless you have a specific trip or project coming up where you need more capability i'd just keep flying what you have and save up. that's what i wish someone told me before i upgraded too soon last time haha