FIMI Mini 3 Drone Review 2025: A Lower Cost Compact Powerhouse for Aerial Enthusiasts

The FIMI Mini 3 Drone has quickly gained attention in the consumer drone market, offering a blend of portability, advanced features, and affordability. Designed by FIMI, a brand known for producing high-quality drones under the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Mini 3 targets hobbyists, content creators, and beginners looking for a reliable yet feature-packed drone. In this detailed review, we explore the FIMI Mini 3’s specifications, performance, camera quality, flight capabilities, and more to help you decide if it’s the right drone for you in 2025.

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Key Specifications of the FIMI Mini 3 Drone

The FIMI Mini 3 is a lightweight drone weighing under 249 grams, making it exempt from FAA registration for recreational use in many regions. Here’s a quick look at its core specs:

• Weight: 249 grams

• Camera: 4K HDR with 1/2-inch CMOS sensor

• Flight Time: Up to 32 minutes (standard battery), 37 minutes (plus battery)

• Transmission Range: Up to 9 km (FCC) or 6 km (CE)

• Gimbal: 3-axis stabilized

• Max Speed: 16 m/s (Sport mode)

• GPS: Dual-band GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou

• Storage: 32GB internal + microSD support (up to 256GB)

• Features: Intelligent flight modes, obstacle avoidance (optional), Level 6 wind resistance

These specifications position the FIMI Mini 3 as a strong competitor against drones like the DJI Mini 3 and Autel EVO Nano+, especially for those seeking a sub-250g drone with professional-grade features.

Where to Buy: Check out the FIMI Mini 3 for the latest deals.

Design and Build Quality

The FIMI Mini 3 boasts a sleek, foldable design that enhances portability. Measuring just 145 x 85 x 56 mm when folded, it easily fits into a pocket or small bag, making it ideal for travel. The drone’s matte gray finish gives it a premium look, while its durable plastic construction ensures it can withstand minor bumps during flights.

The propellers are designed for efficiency and reduced noise, and the drone’s Level 6 wind resistance allows it to remain stable in moderate winds (up to 38 km/h). The inclusion of a 3-axis gimbal ensures smooth footage, even during dynamic maneuvers or windy conditions.

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight

• Sturdy build quality

• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Plastic body may feel less premium compared to competitors

• No carrying case included

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Camera Performance: 4K HDR Excellence

The FIMI Mini 3’s camera is one of its standout features. Equipped with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor, it captures 4K HDR video at 30fps and 12MP stills. The camera supports a 100 Mbps bitrate, ensuring high-quality footage with rich details and vibrant colors. The F1.7 aperture performs exceptionally well in low-light conditions, making it suitable for dawn or dusk shoots.

The 3-axis gimbal provides excellent stabilization, delivering cinematic-grade footage even during high-speed flights. Additionally, the drone supports H.265/HEVC encoding, which optimizes storage without compromising quality.

Photography Features:

• Night Mode: Enhances low-light performance

• Panorama Mode: Creates stunning wide-angle shots

• Time-Lapse: Ideal for creative content creators

Video Features:

• 4K HDR at 30fps

• 2.7K at 60fps for smoother slow-motion clips

• Digital zoom up to 4x

Compared to the DJI Mini 3, the FIMI Mini 3 offers similar video quality but stands out with its higher bitrate and HEVC encoding. However, it lacks the vertical shooting mode found on some DJI models, which may disappoint social media content creators.

Pros:

• Sharp 4K HDR video

• Excellent low-light performance

• High bitrate for professional-grade footage

Cons:

• No vertical shooting mode

• Limited zoom capabilities

Where to Buy: Check out the FIMI Mini 3 for the latest deals.

Flight Performance and Battery Life

The FIMI Mini 3 delivers impressive flight performance for its size. With a maximum flight time of 32 minutes (extendable to 37 minutes with the plus battery), it offers one of the longest flight durations in the sub-250g category. The drone’s 9 km transmission range (FCC) ensures reliable connectivity, even in challenging environments, thanks to its OcuSync-like transmission system.

The drone supports three flight modes:

• Cine Mode: Smooth and slow for cinematic shots

• Normal Mode: Balanced for general use

• Sport Mode: Up to 16 m/s for faster, more agile flights

The dual-band GPS system ensures precise positioning and reliable return-to-home (RTH) functionality. The optional obstacle avoidance module (sold separately) adds an extra layer of safety, though its absence in the base model is a slight drawback compared to competitors like the Autel EVO Nano+.

Pros:

• Long flight time

• Reliable GPS and RTH

• Stable in windy conditions

Cons:

• Obstacle avoidance not included in base model

• App interface could be more intuitive

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Intelligent Flight Modes

The FIMI Mini 3 comes equipped with several intelligent flight modes that enhance its versatility:

• Follow Me: Tracks the subject dynamically

• Orbit: Circles around a point of interest

• Waypoint: Pre-programmed flight paths

• QuickShots: Pre-set cinematic maneuvers like Dronie, Helix, and Rocket

These modes are user-friendly and make it easy to capture professional-looking footage, even for beginners. However, the app’s interface for accessing these modes can feel slightly clunky compared to DJI’s Fly app.

Where to Buy: Check out the FIMI Mini 3 for the latest deals.

App and Connectivity

The FIMI Navi Mini app is available for iOS and Android and serves as the control hub for the drone. It allows users to adjust camera settings, access flight modes, and monitor live footage. While functional, the app has room for improvement in terms of user experience, with occasional lag reported by users.

The drone’s 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi and advanced transmission system ensure a stable live feed up to 10 km. However, urban environments with heavy interference may reduce the effective range.

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Pricing and Value for Money

The FIMI Mini 3 is priced competitively for both the standard combo and for the fly-more combo (including extra batteries and accessories). This makes it more affordable than the DJI Mini 3 Pro while offering comparable features. The optional obstacle avoidance module costs an additional $50, which may increase the overall cost for safety-conscious users.

Who Should Buy the FIMI Mini 3?

• Beginners: Easy to fly with intelligent modes

• Content Creators: 4K HDR camera and long flight time

• Travelers: Compact and lightweight

• Budget-Conscious Buyers: Affordable alternative to DJI

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FIMI Mini 3 vs. Competitors

Feature	FIMI Mini 3	DJI Mini 3 Pro	Autel EVO Nano+
Weight	249g	249g	249g
Camera	4K HDR, 1/2″ sensor	4K HDR, 1/1.3″ sensor	4K, 1/1.28″ sensor
Flight Time	32–37 min	34 min	28 min
Transmission Range	9 km (FCC)	12 km (FCC)	10 km (FCC)
Obstacle Avoidance	Optional	Yes	Yes
Price	$349–$399	$669	$659

The FIMI Mini 3 offers excellent value for money, especially for those who don’t need built-in obstacle avoidance. However, the DJI Mini 3 Pro’s superior app experience and larger sensor may justify the higher price for professionals.

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Pros and Cons Summary

Pros:

• Lightweight and portable (under 249g)

• 4K HDR camera with high bitrate

• Long flight time (up to 37 minutes)

• Affordable price point

• Strong wind resistance

Cons:

• Obstacle avoidance requires additional purchase

• App interface needs refinement

• No vertical shooting mode

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Final Verdict

The FIMI Mini 3 Drone is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a compact, feature-rich drone without breaking the bank. Its 4K HDR camera, long flight time, and intelligent flight modes make it a versatile tool for beginners and experienced pilots alike. While it lacks built-in obstacle avoidance and a polished app experience, its affordability and performance make it a worthy competitor to pricier models like the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

If you’re a content creator, traveler, or hobbyist looking for a reliable drone under $400, the FIMI Mini 3 is a solid investment. For those prioritizing safety and app polish, consider saving up for the DJI Mini 3 Pro or adding the obstacle avoidance module to the FIMI Mini 3.

Where to Buy: Check out the FIMI Mini 3 for the latest deals.

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