Last year I took the DJI Mini 2 SE to Jordan and I was genuinely impressed with the quality you can get from such an inexpensive little drone. After that trip I grabbed the Mini 3 because there were a few key features the 2 SE just doesn’t have, and in this video I break it all down category-by-category so you can pick the right one for how you actually shoot. I also linked raw Mini 2 SE and Mini 3 photos/videos so you can download them and compare for yourself. I compare video specs (2.7K vs 4K), vertical vs horizontal shooting, and SDR vs HDR—because that highlight/shadow detail really matters around sunrise/sunset. I also talk low light, where the Mini 3 is a big win for me thanks to the f/1.7 aperture, a bigger sensor, and dual native ISO for video (that “clean reset” around ISO 500 is super handy). Then we hit photography (both are 12MP RAW), controller options (I love the RC with the screen), battery life (including the insane Plus battery tradeoff), price, range, wind, obstacle sensors, and build quality. My verdict is simple: if you need 4K, low light, vertical, and the RC controller, save up for the Mini 3—otherwise the Mini 2 SE is an unreal value for a first drone.