REASONS TO BUY
Controller with integrated screen
Superb obstacle avoidance
Three-camera payload
Exceptional flight stability
5.1k video quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Sluggish ActiveTrack performance
No case included
DJI Mavic 3 Pro Review
A premium, versatile drone with exceptional obstacle avoidance and a three-camera payload capable of capturing smooth 5.1k video, 48 MP still images, and zooming up to 28x
Credit: Kolby Anderson
By Kolby Anderson ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ December 1, 2025
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Our Verdict
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a highly customizable professional-grade drone capable of capturing 5.1k video and 48 MP stills from any of its three cameras, allowing you to have the capability of three distinct cameras in every flight. The Mavic 3 Pro is a premium option for experienced drone pilots who want to elevate their video game or for those new to drones but with a background in videography. It comes with the DJI RC Controller, which has an integrated 5.5-inch screen that simplifies the process of getting the drone in the air and utilizes a bright 700-nit screen. It employs eight visual sensors for dependable obstacle avoidance, and although it is expensive, it offers incredible capability for those with enough knowledge to take full advantage of it.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a sophisticated and high-performance drone that carries a three-camera payload, which allows you to nail the shot in a variety of circumstances. It is ideal for professionals and hobbyists looking to step up their video and photo game to the next level.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro makes capturing breathtaking landscapes simple with its many smart shot options, like this dronie. Credit: Kolby Anderson
Image Quality
Capable of capturing crystal-clear video in up to 5.1k/50fps and 48MP still images, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a heavy hitter when it comes to image quality. Its camera payload consists of three distinct lenses, each with a different skill set, making it one of the most versatile drones in our testing lineup. The three-axis gimbal of the Mavic 3 Pro, paired with its steady and stable flight performance, allows it to capture rock-solid and steady video, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Our testing results consistently showed that the Mavic 3 Pro has extensive dynamic range and highlight capture, even in very low-light scenarios.
Although the DJI Mavic 3 Pro doesn't capture the highest resolution video of all the drones in our test group, it's still arguably the most capable when it comes to image quality. For those who regularly use an iPhone for video and photo, the Mavic 3 Pro will fit right into your workflow as all three of its cameras support Apple ProRes. For those who don't use Apple devices, the Mavic 3 Pro is also capable of capturing 10-bit D-Log M color, allowing it to record up to one billion colors for consistently natural color gradation in your footage, which helps reduce the time spent on color grading. For those serious about videography, the three-camera setup lets your creativity flow efficiently and allows you to easily capture various composition styles with a single drone.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro demonstrated superb flight stability and control response in our testing. Credit: Kolby Anderson
Flight Performance
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro, like many other DJI drones, can be flown in three different control modes: Cine, Normal, and Sport. The flight control modes are easily accessible on the controller and can be selected on the fly. From the second it takes off, it's obvious that the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is stable and composed, as it demonstrated rock-solid hover stability when taking off and landing in our testing. The controls are extremely responsive and demonstrate a wide range of useful sensitivity when switching between modes.
You can fly the DJI Mavic 3 Pro with a high level of confidence that you're not going to run into something by accident, or if the subject of your active tracking shot suddenly stops, that the drone isn't going to collide with it. It utilizes eight wide-angle vision sensors to employ omnidirectional obstacle sensing capability. Aside from flying in Sport Mode, which disables the obstacle sensing, the Mavic 3 Pro delivered the best obstacle-sensing performance of all the drones in our test group.
Folding down from over 16 inches to just 8.5 inches, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is quite portable.
Portability
When it comes to portability, the DJI does a great job of taking a fairly large and capable (it measures just over 16 inches diagonally when ready to fly) and designing it to fold down to just 8.5 inches for transport. The Mavic 3 Pro comes with a fitted piece of foam that immobilizes and secures the gimbal when not in use, as well as a sling-style cover that wraps around the drone, further protecting the cameras and securing the propellers during transportation. However, it does not come with a hardsided case.
Weighing in at 937 grams or just over 2 pounds, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is pretty hefty for a drone, but when it comes to portability, it is not much of a hassle to carry. Although the features and capabilities of the Mavic 3 Pro help justify its price, it's a bummer that something so expensive and delicate doesn't come with a simple carrying case to allow you to safely transport it.
It's always a good idea to use a landing pad with your drone, as most can put the camera gimbal dangerously close to the ground on uneven terrain. Credit: Kolby Anderson
Usability
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro demonstrated ideal usability in our testing, proving itself to be a versatile, capable, and dependable drone in various circumstances. It might seem strange, but the Mavic 3 Pro is the only DJI drone in our testing lineup that includes a power adapter, in addition to the included power cable, to allow you to charge your drone straight out of the box without any further accessories. We like that the included power adapter has an additional port that allows you to charge the drone and the controller at the same time. The DJI RC Controller is included with the Mavic 3 Pro and was our favorite controller among our test group due to its bright, 5.5-inch, 700-nit screen and convenient, customizable C1/C2 buttons located on the bottom. The simplicity of eliminating your phone from your drone flights as a display is a game-changer, and it's something we recommend to anyone planning to spend some serious time behind the control stick of a drone.
The DJI Fly App runs on the included controller and is very intuitive to use. It allows you to do everything from watch the drone's live view, install firmware updates, and adjust camera settings. The only competitor in our lineup that comes close is the Autel Explore App, and DJI has them beat in terms of delivering a creator-friendly experience. Comparatively, the Autel App feels more lifeless and industrial. The Mavic 3 Pro is capable of several tracking and smart shots like dronie, boomerang, and asteroid, to name a few. It also features solid active tracking, but it's a bit sluggish and was outperformed by the DJI Air 3S in our testing.
The DJI Fly App uses a screen overlay to show you where it detects overexposure in a photo to help you get the balance just right. Credit: Kolby Anderson
An important feature of a drone's usability is how accurately the return-to-home feature works. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro was a top performer in this test, landing less than three inches away from where it took off. One thing that we found strange about the Mavic 3 Pro is that the drone must be powered on in order to access its storage when connected to a computer, whereas every other DJI drone in our test group's storage can be accessed without needing to be powered on. This is an important distinction, as we believe it makes the Mavic 3 Pro more prone to damage, since you must remember to remove the gimbal protection before powering it on to prevent damage.
Even when following from a distance, the active tracking feature of the DJI Mavic 3 Pro seems to overreact with camera gimbal movement, but sluggishly responds with the flight of the drone itself. Credit: Kolby Anderson
Should You Buy the DJI Mavic 3 Pro?
It's hard to go wrong with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro if you're looking for a high-end drone with bleeding-edge specs like 5.1k video capture, rock-solid stability, and robust obstacle avoidance capability. Its three-camera payload makes it extremely versatile, and when paired with its 43-minute battery life, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. Keep in mind, though, that the Mavic 3 Pro is quite expensive, and if your workflow doesn't include utilizing its high-resolution capability, there are much cheaper options out there that may be a better fit.
When taking off, landing, hovering, or anything in between, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is extremely stable when in flight. Credit: Kolby Anderson
What Other Drone Should You Consider?
If the DJI Mavic 3 Pro seems like more than what you need, we'd suggest checking out the DJI Mini 4 Pro which is available at less than half the cost of the Mavic 3 Pro but is still capable of 4k video, 48 MP stills, and is a much smaller form factor measuring only 5.75 inches diagonally when folded. The DJI Flip is another drone worth considering and is a perfect drone for those new to the hobby or even experienced pilots looking for a drone capable of flying in a variety of circumstances. The Flip can be piloted with or without a controller and proves especially clever and handy when using its active tracking to capture action sports footage, and being able to have it land back in your hand.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare DJI Mavic 3 Pro versus top competing products:
—Kolby Anderson
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