ok so ive been watching youtube videos for like 3 weeks now and i keep going back and forth between different drones and i honestly dont know what im doing. everyone seems to have a different opinion and half the videos are just sponsored anyway so its hard to trust them.

im not a kid, im 34, i just want something to fly around and maybe get some decent footage of hiking trips and stuff like that. i dont need anything crazy professional. my budget is probably like 300-400 dollars but i could stretch a little if something is really worth it. i looked at the mini 3 and also something called the holy stone which a friend mentioned but i dont know if thats even a real option or whatever

basically just tell me what to buy and why, i am so done trying to figure this out myself lol

honestly for what you're describing the Mini 3 is probably the right call, the non-pro version comes in around your budget and the footage is genuinely good for hiking and outdoor stuff. the obstacle avoidance isnt as robust as the pro but for open landscapes you wont miss it much. the geofencing stuff from DJI can be annoying at first but you get used to checking the fly app before you head out.

i'd skip the holy stone personally, nothing wrong with them for just learning stick inputs in your backyard but you said you want actual footage from trips so you'd probably outgrow it in a month and end up buying the mini anyway. just go straight to the thing you actually want is my take

i was in basically the exact same spot about 8 months ago and went with the mini 3, no regrets. the only thing i wish someone told me is to budget for a few extra batteries because one battery is like 30 mins and then youre just standing there watching other people fly lol. also get a landing pad, sounds dumb but its saved me from a few sketchy grass takeoffs already