DJI Mavic 3 vs Phantom 4 Pro 2023: Which Is Better For You

When it come to drone brands, DJI is one of the famous brands. They are known for high quality drones that equip with various features. . The DJI Mavic 3 vs Phantom 4 Pro are two of their most popular drones.

So, which one is better? In this blog, Lucidcam will make that clear.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Phantom 4 Pro

Design

Personally, I love the Mavic drones’ compact folding design.

The Mavic 3 is no exception; although it is a better drone than the Phantom 4 Pro, it is smaller and lighter. Mavic 3 is really lighter than Mavic 2 Pro, even it has a dual-camera system. This is a very impressive engineering feat from DJI.

Like all foldable drones, the Mavic 3 is great for traveling. Their small size and foldable design make it easy to transport without taking up too much space.

There are LED flight indicators under each rotor arm and an omnidirectional sensing device that includes ten sensors. These sensors include sensors at the top, bottom, sides, and front.

An additional LED light is located at the bottom of the drone to aid in a safe landing if lighting conditions are not optimal.

The smart battery is located in the back. It has LED lights to indicate the power level. Smart technology ensures that the battery remains in top condition.

The Phantom 4 Pro V2 is identical in design to its predecessor and retains its unique architecture just like other Phantom drones.

The drone is quite large and weighs in at just over 1.3kg. This difference could make it more portable.

Its weight and size can provide some advantages in less favorable weather conditions.

The drone has LED lights under each rotor to indicate flight status and help with troubleshooting issues.

A 4S lithium-polymer battery powers the drone, providing it with approximately 30 minutes of flight time.

Both drones have two types of controllers. They both use DJI’s OcuSync transmission technology. However, the Mavic 3 controller has the 3.0 version, which allows for a much longer range (15km) than the Phantom 4 Pro’s (10km).

Flight Features and Performance

Mavic 3 offers four flight modes: positional, positional, sport, and tripod. The default mode, the positional, is the Mavic 3. All features work in this mode. Tripod or cinematic mode works in the same way as the default mode, but its speed is just over two mph.

Sports mode has more sensitive controls and can reach speeds of 42 mph. However, the obstacle avoidance system is disabled, so you need to be more aware.

If the drone cannot connect to a GNSS or its vision sensor is disabled, it enters altitude hold mode. However, the Mavic 3 can only connect with three satellite systems, so this rarely happens unless the pilot wants to fly in this mode.

The Phantom 4 Pro V2 has positional mode and sports modes, but it doesn’t have a tripod or cinematic mode. If the GPS is disabled or the vision sensors are disabled, it will enter altitude hold mode.

Both drones have intelligent flight modes, including active track, point-of-interest and waypoint. The Mavic also has some intelligent features, such as the hyperlapse feature. This allows users to create time-lapse videos using 4 flight modes. Three of these modes can be completely autonomous.

Both drones have a GPS-assisted return to home feature. However, the Mavic 3 has a more sophisticated version.

The AI processor calculates the safest and most efficient path to the home point, conserving battery power and minimizing the risk of the drone crashing.

Master shots, a new video capturing mode for the Mavic 3, is another intelligent feature. This feature allows drone users to create short cinematic videos without having to use their hands. Performs around ten different maneuvers.

Both drones fly very well and can be operated easily, even in windy conditions, thanks to their advanced flight technology.

Although the obstacle avoidance system works well for all drones, the Mavic 3 is more efficient in densely populated areas. The DJI Mavic 3 is as close as DJI has come to the Skydio 2 drones’ obstacle avoidance system.

Overall, both drones perform admirably in all major categories.

Although most individuals buy these drones primarily for photography and videography, they can be applied for various other purposes. The Mavic 3 and Phantom 4 Pro are equipped with high-end cameras and can be employed in autonomous flight modes.

Additionally, these drones serve as useful tools for photogrammetry, surveillance, and emergency response activities such as search and rescue operations.

Camera

The size of the image sensor is an important factor in determining the quality of an image. Sensors with larger resolutions and better dynamic range perform better in low-light environments.

The Mavic 3 foldable drone is the first to have an MFT sensor. This is a significant upgrade to the Mavic 2 Pro as well as all other consumer drones.

This camera was jointly developed with Hasselblad, a legendary Swiss camera manufacturer. It features their natural color solution technology, which improves color accuracy in each image.

The camera’s large sensor can capture 20MP images in 12-bit raw for HDR images. This camera is also equipped with features such as hyperlight, adjustable aperture, and a high ISO range. It can perform well in all types of lighting conditions.

There are many functions on the camera that can be used to create amazing images, even for amateur photographers. Smart photo mode, which automatically optimizes images with HDR without any editing, is one of these functions.

The Mavic 3 camera can record video in video formats such as 5.1k at 50fps and DCI4K @ 120fps, 4k@ 120fps, 5k at 120fps and 1080p at 200fps.

The maximum video bitrate is 200Mbps. It can encode videos in H.264 and H.25. Cine versions allow for the encoding of videos in Apple ProRes 422HQ.

The Mavic 3 has only two color options, unlike the Phantom 4 Pro. You can choose between normal and 10-bit D-log. Normal looks great without any post-processing.

However, professional videographers will love the 10-bit D log option.

The secondary camera is a 1/2- CMOS sensor equipped with a 162MM lens. It has a fixed f/4.4 aperture, 15deg FOV and a 162MM lens. The hybrid digital/optical zoom lens allows users to explore and scout by zooming up to 28x.

The drone equip with 8GB of internal storage and a memory card slot which can increase the capacity to up to 1TB.

Although not as powerful as the Mavic 3 in terms of features, the Phantom 4 Pro V2 has a great camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor as well as a mechanical shutter.

The mechanical shutter reduces wobble and captures better images of fast-moving objects.

You can also get better images in low-light conditions thanks to the adjustable aperture and high ISO range.

This camera can take 20MP images in JPEG and RAW. It also has multiple photography modes, including single, burst at 15 fps, and AEB. The PIV feature allows users to capture images while recording videos.

Videos can be recorded in C4k 60fps or 4k 60fps and 1080p at 120fps. Videos can also be recorded in H.264 & H.265 codescs.

HDR video can be captured in D-log and D-Cinelike color profiles. There are also a few other options that do not require post-processing.

The Phantom 4 Pro is not equipped with an internal memory like the Mavic 3. However, it has a memory card slot that can accept up to 128GB cards of class 10 and above.

The Mavic 3 has a better camera. Its dual-camera system, Hasselblad engineered image sensor, and camera lens provide superior features for capturing precise color details.

Battery life

Mavic 3’s higher capacity Intelligent Flight Batteries combined with the new propulsion system provide a maximum flight time of 46 minutes and a maximum hover time of 40 minutes. The battery of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V.2.0 is rated for 30 minutes of flight.

FAQs

1. How farơ can Phantom 4 Pro fly

2. Can a drone fly in the rain?

Drones cannot fly in the rain if it is not claimed that they are waterproof or watertight. Drones are equipped with sensitive electronic components which can short-circuit if they come into contact with raindrops. Although this may not occur immediately, it can cause severe damage over time.

3. What distance will the DJI Mavic 3 fly at?

The DJI Mavic 3’s 5000mAh battery can deliver a 9.3-mile (15 km) range and up 46 minutes of flight time. The drone can reach 3.72 miles (6 kilometers) at altitude. It also features the new O3+ transmission system that allows for an extended range.

Conclusion

When weighing up the DJI Mavic 3 against the Phantom 4 Pro, it’s difficult to determine a clear winner. Both drones boast unique features that cater to distinct user preferences. The Mavic 3 stands out as a suitable choice for users seeking a lightweight and robust drone that is easy to maneuver. Meanwhile, the Phantom 4 Pro would be a more appropriate selection for users requiring a drone with advanced features and a longer flight duration.