so ive been going back and forth on this for like two months now and im no closer to a decision. i mostly fly recreationally, some landscape stuff, occasional travel. i dont do any professional work but i do care about image quality a fair bit.

the mini 4 pro seems like the obvious choice because of the weight exemption thing and i travel internationally sometimes so that matters. but then i keep reading that the air 3 sensor is noticeably better and the omnidirectional obstacle avoidance vs just front/back/down on the mini feels like a real difference when youre flying somewhere new and not totally confident.

has anyone actually used both? like not just watched the youtube comparison videos but actually flown them in real conditions. i feel like the reviews online are all kind of samey and nobody really talks about what its like day to day. the price difference isnt a dealbreaker for me but its not nothing either.

i had the mini 3 pro before i got the air 3 and honestly the jump in image quality was real, not just spec sheet stuff. the dual cameras on the air 3 make a bigger difference than i expected especially when youre trying to get a medium telephoto shot without having to reposition the whole drone. that said if youre traveling internationally the weight thing is genuinely not a small deal depending on where youre going, some countries the rules are pretty strict about anything over 250g and having to register or get permits can be a whole thing.

if i was primarily a traveler id probably go mini 4 pro and just accept the slightly smaller sensor. but for mostly local flying where registration isnt a hassle the air 3 is just a better drone in pretty much every way that matters to me.

im kind of in the same boat as you actually, ended up going mini 4 pro about 6 weeks ago. the obstacle avoidance hasnt been as limited as i worried about honestly ? i think the marketing around omnidirectional avoidance is a bit overhyped for recreational flying anyway, youre not usually sneaking through dense forest at speed. the footage looks great to me but i dont have the air 3 to compare side by side so take that for what its worth lol