DJI Mavic 3 Pro Review

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro had our testers constantly collecting their jaws from the floor. From high-powered photo and video capability to intelligent flight, this drone effortlessly flew its way to the top of our scoring charts, confirming its rightful place at the front of the pack. If you're seeking a top-shelf drone, this is the one for you.

Performance Comparison

Video Quality

For most pilots, the photos and video footage their drone captures is the primary focus of any flight, so we gave this metric 45% of the total score of the Mavic 3 Pro. We flew every drone in our review along the same flight paths at the same time of day, comparing the recorded scenes of each option side-by-side on identical monitors. Our test shots included everything from smooth pans to tight, twisty orbits in dynamic lighting to see how this drone fared when scenes were bright or low-lit. Undeniably, the Mavic 3 Pro took first on the podium in video quality.

Just a few short years ago, 1080p used to be considered a premium resolution for drones. Present day, high-end options like the Mavic 3 Pro boast up to 5.1K video, offering several times more pixels than the best models of yesteryear.

Uniquely, the Mavic 3 Pro has three different CMOS sensor cameras onboard, allowing for a diverse menu of shot types. On every flight, imagine the power of being able to switch to an entirely different camera without having to return to the ground. These cameras, firstly, include a 24mm Hasselblad with their “Natural Color Solution” offering a rich restoration of color, reducing your time in the editing booth. In 10-bit D-Log M color mode, you can even record up to 1 billion colors. The 70mm medium tele camera offers 3x optical zoom and 48mp, the highest megapixel count of the three cameras. The 166mm telecamera boasts a staggering 7x optical zoom, offering breathtaking shot composition and compression while also allowing the drone to stay further away from your subject.

The Mavic 3 Pro produces the cleanest video out of any drones in our testing lineup, delivering consistent, high-detail scenes with accuracy and brilliance. This drone handled bright white clouds while simultaneously yielding great shadow detail when we examined its dynamic range and highlight retention. When using this drone in exclusively low light environments, it keeps noise down while keeping details sharp.

Flight Performance

Similar to video quality, this metric is crucial when weighing the merits of a drone, so it's worth 35% of the total score. We tested this metric by piloting the Mavic 3 Pro on flights of all lengths and intensities, exploring every single mode and setting available to leave no stone unturned. Each model's flight performance is scored based on landing/take-off, intelligent flight modes such as following or orbiting, hover stability, responsiveness, and battery life. Once again, this drone flies in front of the rest, outperforming every other option in our review. It is, however, important to note that this drone requires more manual flying than most of its competition.

The controls on the Mavic 3 Pro are extremely responsive, allowing practiced hands to pilot this drone on complex flight paths and video shoots. This model offers very smooth take-offs, especially if engaging its automatic take-off function. You'll need to be more involved in its landing, though with practice you'll be nailing buttery landings every flight, just remember how sensitive those controls are.

The intelligent flight of the Mavic 3 Pro offers a lot of customization, with DJI's Active Track allowing you to select from eight different following positions ranging from front, back, or diagonal subject positioning — you can even change between those positions while in the air. Tracking wasn't always perfect, given that the drone occasionally lost its subject, but we found the best chances of success by locking onto the subject while standing still before moving or beginning the scene. Features like spotlight offer a hybrid of intelligent and manual flight by setting a point or subject to automatically frame while you manually fly around it. With eight obstacle sensors, we never experienced a collision in testing, greatly boosting our confidence in intelligent flight in complex settings. Lastly, its return home function is dependable, just make sure you set your waypoint first.

The Mavic 3 Pro offers twelve adjustable flight and control parameters to make your drone fly the way you exactly want. For many, this can be overwhelming, but DJI offers three preset flight settings from cine (short for cinema), normal, to sport, allowing you to quickly switch between different piloting needs. This drone sets the standard for flight performance, with exceptional stability and high-powered flight customization exemplifying its capabilities in the air.

Portability

This metric, worth 10% of the total, simply addresses the weight, size, and storage of the Mavic 3 Pro. Even though this drone boasts professional build quality, it's a relatively small package and likely won't weigh you down.

At 2.1 pounds, this drone won't weigh you down too badly, and its diagonal size comes in at 8.75 inches folded, easily fitting in a backpack or a camera bag. The cover that's included with the Mavic 3 Pro helps protect the camera, gimbal, and props when being placed inside another bag. On its own, you're likely asking for trouble if you accidentally drop it or something gets thrown on top of it.

Ease of Use

We gave this metric 10% of the total score of the Mavic 3 Pro, investigating its out-of-box set-up, flight controls interface, flight learning curve, range, and video downlink. For such a capable drone, one might expect a challenging break-in period, but this model topped the charts once again.

You can have the Mavic 3 Pro out of its box and airborne in minutes if the batteries are charged. The remote offers a clear picture and is easily held, also offering button customization, if desired. Unlike previous pro-grade models, this option has intuitive setting menus, and we never got lost in the depths trying to adjust the camera or the flight mode. This drone offers 9.3 miles of transmit distance, and its signal strength is utterly dependable.

Should You Buy the DJI Mavic 3 Pro?

The Mavic 3 Pro is one of the best options available for a high-end drone. You will be hard-pressed to find a better in-class model, and if this product is in your budget, it's worthy of your hard-earned cash.

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