We have to admit, DJI made us wait a little while for this one, but it is finally here. Since 2018, when we got the chance to witness the release of its predecessor, there were many other models and each came with something special. The Mini series have proven to be a success amongst beginners. The Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S have also found their place in the hands of pros and enthusiasts. Now, DJI Mavic 3 Quadcopter is ready to claim its spot in the flagship department. Let’s discover together everything it has to offer!
| Dimensions (L x H x W) | Folded (without propellers) 221×96.3×90.3 mm Unfolded (without propellers) 347.5×283×107.7 mm |
| Flight speed | 5 m/s (C mode) 15 m/s (N mode) 19 m/s (S mode) |
| Flight time | 46 minutes |
| Flight distance | 30 km |
| Internal storage | 8 GB |
| Camera | Hasselblad, 20 MP, 4/3 CMOS |
| Video resolution | 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*fps |
| Gimbal | 3-axis motorized |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
Mavic 3: Design
In terms of design, not much has changed. Mostly, the same rules that were used for the Mavic models so far have been followed. Therefore, the propeller arms fold inwards to make the drone much smaller and more backpack-friendly. The paint job is darker, but otherwise, the iconic Mavic look and quality remain untouched. Size wise, when it is folded, it is very similar to the Mavic 2, but when unfolded, it is slightly larger. One feature that is different is that the battery is inserted into the back of the Mavic, rather than into the top. Also, a few tweakments were made in order to reduce drag. The shape of the drone, camera and propeller arms are all streamlined, which results in a 35% improvement, compared to the Mavic 2 series.
Mavic 3: Flight performance
Compared to the Mavic 2, it is a more nimble and responsive drone. Due to this, it can actually be more similar to the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0. Also, the controls are more sensitive, both in the Normal and Sport modes. While its features and price are marketed towards experienced drone pilots, it could also work for beginners. This is possible thanks to the wide range of safety features incorporated in the drone. Of course, there are other models that might be more suitable for them, like the DJI Mini 2.
Mavic 3:Flight features
As we mentioned safety, the Mavic 3 has multiple vision sensors to sense obstacles in all directions. This feature can be improved to work for a distance of 200 meters when the Advanced Return to Home feature is activated. Also, there is improved obstacle avoidance with the Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 5.0. This combines six fish-eye sensors and two wide-angle sensors to sense obstacles in all directions. Once this feature is enabled, the drone can be set to fly autonomously around obstacles when detected to maintain continuous flight or to brake. Of course, you should not abuse this by flying your quadcopter in complex environments like forests, and you should stick to standard ones.
Another safety feature is the Mavic 3’s new positioning algorithm, which claims to improve hovering. It does so by connecting to GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou satellites. It sounds pretty amazing, but many have claimed that there is not really any major difference between the Mavic 3 and the previous models while hovering.
For video enthusiasts, there are also a couple of features. With the ‘Trimmed Download’, you can select part of a video clip to download rather than the whole file. Also, there is QuickTransfer available, which will allow you to store and process content on your smartphone. You can link to the drone through Wi-FI 6.
Battery
Officially, the Mavic 3 can fly for up to 46 minutes with its 5.000mAh battery, but here is the key: this is in no wind conditions. Realistically, this is not possible, because you have to take wind into consideration, and also ambient temperature and minimum battery charge. In true life conditions, the battery life was around 30 minutes which is still a pretty decent time.
Camera
Maybe the most interesting feature in the Mavic 3 is the Hasselblad camera. It has a main camera with a 20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor and an equivalent focal length of 24mm. It also offers an adjustable f/2.8 to f/11 aperture with auto and manual focus from 1m to infinity. The second camera has a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an equivalent focal length of 162mm, a fixed f/4.4 aperture and a 28x hybrid zoom.
Now, in more simple terms, the image quality is excellent, the biggest downside being a slight amount of sharpness falling off at the edges of the frame when viewing stills. However, this is minimal and is barely noticeable. Also, there are no chromatic aberrations visible and the high ISO noise handling works without a flaw.
In conclusion, the Mavic 3 seems to tick all the boxes. If you are a professional videographer and you are looking for excellent, pro-level image quality, then this is the right model for you, especially if you also had the chance to test the Mavic 2 Pro. You can even find it on the DJI store for a great price! Let us know about your experience with it!
