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QuellFred

Crashed yet another drone today. Need to replace it.

Should I Buy/Recommend me a...

TL:DR: Not sure if I should get another Mini 3 or spend more on a drone with obstacle detection.

My DJI Mini 3 crashed into a roof this morning, I thought I was being careful, but still.

My mistake, obviously, but I can't help but to think I probably need a drone with obstacle detection. This would not have happened. I'm currently debating wether to just buy another Mini 3 for cheap, I can get it for about $300 USD where I live, or go further and get shiny new Mini 5 Pro, but that would be $900 USD. The Mini 4 Pro is $800, so might as well go for the 5.

The Mini 3 would be a good replacement and wouldn't break the bank, I already have ND filters and batteries for that, but it's likely I might have ANOTHER crash. This would be the third drone I buy. The Mini 5 would be an all-around upgrade, but it's three times more expensive.

It's so easy to crash these things, especially when clients want aerial shots in tighter spaces. I try to fly high enough to be safer, but sometimes it's just not possible to get a good shot from far away. I was shooting a building that is located just in front of another building that was a little taller and didn't calculate the distance properly.

Any advice? Have you had similar experiences?

Posted Oct 28, 2025, 4:50 PM UTC

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