ok so ive been going back and forth on this for like three weeks now and i just need someone to help me make a decision. i mostly want to fly around parks and on hikes, maybe some beach stuff, nothing crazy professional. budget isnt really the issue i can stretch to either one but i dont want to spend more than i have to if the cheaper one is basically just as good.

the main thing i keep reading about is the obstacle avoidance ? the mini 4 pro apparently has omnidirectional sensors now which the older minis didnt have, but then some people say the air 3 is just better all around and worth the extra money. i genuinely cannot tell if those people are just justifying their own purchase or if its actually true. also the dual cameras on the air 3 seem cool but i honestly dont know if id ever use the 3x zoom in real life.

someone at the park said i should just get the mavic 3 classic but that feels like overkill for what i want to do. anyway if anyone has used both id love to hear what you actually think day to day, not just specs

had the air 3 for about six months and honestly for your use case i think the mini 4 pro is probably fine. the weight difference is real ? under 250g means you dont have to register it in most places and it genuinely feels less stressful to throw in a bag for a hike. the image quality is close enough that unless you're pixel peeping on a big monitor most people wont see the difference.

that said i do use the zoom on the air 3 more than i thought i would, especially at the beach where you cant always get as close to things as you want. its not a dealbreaker either way. if i was buying again today just for casual stuff i might have gone mini 4 pro and saved the money honestly

i was in the exact same spot lol. ended up going air 3 and dont regret it but i think i talked myself into it more than i needed to. the dual camera thing does come in handy more than i expected tho so theres that. whatever you pick youll be happy, both are genuinely great drones