Hello there, and thanks for testing this evaluate of two prime DJI drones, the Mavic 3 Basic and Mavic 3 Professional.
In my expertise, choosing between two drones from the identical product line is even more durable than choosing between two separate producers.
Nevertheless, on the subject of the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Professional, you shouldn’t have that downside.
These drones are separate sufficient that they every carry one thing distinctive to the desk. And though the Mavic 3 Professional is technically the predecessor to the Mavic 3 Basic, they each nonetheless have a whole lot of nice deserves.
I’ve had a blast flying each of those drones. After having fun with the flight expertise of the Mavic 3 Basic, I knew I needed to get my palms on the Mavic 3 Professional after its launch.
This in-depth information will plunge deep into the variations between the DJI Mavic 3 Basic and Mavic 3 Professional and share sufficient particulars about my flight experiences with every to information your buying choice. I’ll additionally clarify why the Mavic 3 Professional is my to-go between these two drones.
Whereas I genuinely consider you may’t go incorrect with both alternative, you solely want one drone, and also you’re on a quest for the very best. I’m right here that can assist you discover it, so let’s get proper into it!
Temporary overview
DJI Mavic 3 Basic
The Mavic 3 Basic is one in every of DJI’s newer non-Mini drones, launched in late 2022. It’s a follow-up to the DJI Mavic 3, launched a 12 months prior in 2021.
That drone was already spectacular with its Hasselblad digital camera and 4/3-inch CMOS sensor.
A number of months earlier than the Mavic 3 Basic launch, DJI put out the Mavic 3 Enterprise. Nevertheless, the Mavic 3 Basic bears extra resemblance to the OG Mavic 3 than the Enterprise version.
This drone was designed to be a lower-cost different to the Mavic 3. That meant omitting its secondary digital camera, lowering the zooming a pilot can do.
Apart from that, you received’t need a lot with the Mavic 3 Basic, because it contains these distinctive options:
- 4/3-inch CMOS sensor and Hasselblad digital camera able to capturing in 5.1K video and 20 MP picture high quality, with 12-bit RAW coloration depth.
- 15 kilometers of video transmission in crystal-clear HD high quality for streaming on social media.
- Omnidirectional impediment sensing and APAS 5.0 for safer flights.
- An impressively lengthy flight time exceeding 45 minutes.
- Hasselblad Pure Color Resolution for extra pure hues in your videography and images (a should for standing out in an more and more aggressive market).
- Automated flight options, together with Waypoints, Cruise Management, and superior RTH, are perfect for freshmen.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 3 Basic: Which Drone Ought to You Purchase?
DJI Mavic 3 Professional
Arriving on the heels of the Mavic 3 Basic was the Mavic 3 Professional, which was launched inside six months of the previous.
This newer and improved drone additionally bears extra resemblance to the OG Mavic 3 than any of its predecessors.
Costlier than the Mavic 3 Basic, the Professional version slaps on a 3rd digital camera, a medium tele digital camera designed to reinforce drone images.
This drone is a next-level resolution for the intense photographer desirous to up their sport. Listed here are some starring options of the Mavic 3 Professional:
- A triple-camera system for experimenting with focal lengths, lenses, and moods in your images.
- A flight time that almost mirrors the Mavic 3 Basic regardless of the extra weight of the digital camera system.
- Tri-Digital camera Apple ProRes Help to additional increase your pictures and professionalize your portfolio.
- 15-kilometer video transmission in HD high quality for protecting your viewers abreast of all of your drone actions.
- Omnidirectional impediment detection backed by DJI’s superior APAS 5.0 system for extra security in your flights.
- The identical autonomous modes discovered within the Mavic 3 Basic, and Panorama, QuickShots, MasterShots, and FocusTrack.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Professional Evaluation (I’ve NEVER flown a drone that I loved a lot)
Fast verdict
It’s our obligation right here at Droneblog to solely advocate the highest-quality drones to you thru a lot experimentation, testing, and private flight expertise.
We’ve concluded that the DJI Mavic 3 Professional – though costlier – has extra of what in the present day’s skilled drone photographers want. Its triple-camera system allows you to seize the identical vantage level in three distinctive methods with out having to change drones in your fleet, and its on-the-go modifying, good battery life, security options, and computerized modes make it an all-around incredible decide.
The Mavic 3 Basic caught my consideration when it got here out. I liked that it promised the identical high quality discovered within the authentic Mavic 3 however for a cheaper price.
I didn’t miss the shortage of zoom a lot, contemplating there are such a lot of different enjoyable options to mess around with.
Then the Mavic 3 Professional got here out, and in my humble opinion, blew the Mavic 3 Basic out of the water.
Though it’s not the lower-cost resolution, the Mavic 3 Professional gives the identical primary options discovered within the Basic however accomplished higher or about the identical.
Its triple-camera system dances circles across the Basic’s Hasselblad digital camera, and that’s saying lots! In any case, a Hasselblad digital camera is nothing to sneeze at.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Basic vs. Air 3 (Which One is Higher)
What are the primary variations?
Contemplating the Mavic 3 Professional is the following within the evolution of the DJI Mavic collection after the Mavic 3 Basic, these two drones may have lots in widespread, as I’ve made clear.
Nevertheless, it’s their variations that make them much more fascinating. Let’s discover!
- Variety of cameras: Right here is by far the most important differentiating issue between these two Mavic 3 drones. The Basic has however one Hasselblad digital camera, whereas the Professional has three: a 1/1.3-inch CMOS medium tele digital camera, a 1/2-inch CMOS tele digital camera, and a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad digital camera. This unparalleled triple-camera system makes the Mavic 3 Professional exhausting to beat, particularly for skilled drone photographers who need the very best of the very best.
- Zoom: To make the Basic extra reasonably priced than the unique Mavic 3, it needed to forego the zoom. Nevertheless, the Mavic 3 Professional has zoom constructed into two of the three cameras. The medium tele digital camera boasts 3x Optical zoom, and the tele digital camera has 28x Hybrid zoom. The latter digital camera particularly is a famous person if you wish to seize footage from a distance with out sacrificing element and keep protected.
- Weight: There’s not a ton of weight distinction between these two Mavic 3 fashions, however they’re not similar right here, both. The Professional weighs 958 grams at takeoff and the Basic 895 grams. Business pilots – the audience for these drones – should register regardless, however you have to additionally register if you wish to use both Mavic 3 drone recreationally.
- Flight time: Once more, we’re splitting hairs right here a tad, however the flight instances of those drones diverge. The Basic flies for as much as 46 minutes versus 43 minutes for the Professional. That is smart, contemplating this drone’s reasonably larger weight, however each flight instances are decrease than marketed, anyway (that’s true of any drone!).
- Picture decision: The Basic tops out at 20 MP picture decision, which, belief me after I say, is greater than superb for even skilled images. Whereas the Hasselblad digital camera within the Mavic 3 Professional additionally has 20 MP of decision, this drone’s medium tele digital camera can shoot in 48 MP decision, twice what the Basic can do. That’s particularly pertinent to professional business pilots looking for a innovative.
- Hasselblad Pure Color Resolution: HNCS brings a pure diploma of coloration to your images, brightening hues and making your images pop with out heavy distinction. DJI included this characteristic within the Professional to scale back your time in put up, but it surely’s solely obtainable in that drone.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Basic vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
DJI Mavic 3 Basic
Because the Mavic 3 Basic celebrates its first birthday (as of this writing), it’s superb to think about all DJI has accomplished within the time since November 2022.
Within the Mavic line alone, we had the Mavic 3 Basic, then the Mavic 3M Multispectral, and the Mavic 3 Professional. That was all in lower than a 12 months!
Given the breakneck velocity at which DJI launched these drones, it’s simple for the Mavic 3 Basic to get missed.
It’s not the most recent within the Mavic 3 line anymore, a distinction it solely had for just a few weeks earlier than the Mavic 3M Multispectral got here out.
Nevertheless, the Mavic 3 Basic is one drone you shouldn’t overlook. It’s about $500 cheaper than the unique Mavic, relying on the place you buy it from.
The Mavic 3M Multispectral and Mavic 3 Professional are costlier, so the Basic nonetheless holds its cheaper price distinction.
Its Hasselblad digital camera, though it’s the one one it has, is similar to the Mavic 3 Professional’s Hasselblad digital camera proper right down to sharing the identical sensor dimension and picture high quality.
And sure, in fact, the Mavic 3 Professional has two extra cameras, however when you’re solely chasing after that Hasselblad digital camera, it can save you your self at the very least $500 by selecting the Mavic 3 Basic.
It’s a bummer it could possibly’t zoom, as that’s one of many greatest benefits the Professional has over the Basic if you take away its two further cameras.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Professional or Air 3 (Right here’s My Selection)
Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless an appropriate alternative for skilled drone pilots doing duties like actual property or information images.
The Basic shares a whole lot of different nice options in widespread with the Professional, sufficient that you simply may rethink the newer model of the Mavic 3 line when you’re on a price range.
The video high quality is similar at 5.1K, the flight time is sort of the identical, the impediment sensing know-how and APAS editions match, its video transmission doesn’t differ, and it has most of the similar Clever Flight Options.
These drones even share the multi-directional visible help system, which might detect obstacles coming at your drone from the fitting, left, again, and entrance.
You need to use your distant controller or smartphone to see the obstacles that encompass you and make smarter flight selections.
DJI Mavic 3 Professional
The most recent and biggest version of the Mavic 3 line (at the very least as of the time of this publication) is the Professional.
This drone has an outstanding triple-camera system designed for capturing all the things from wildlife in a wide-open savannah to sky-high structure in a busy metropolis like Seoul or Chicago to peaceable nature pictures in your personal yard.
The Hasselblad digital camera has a better dynamic vary and excessive ranges of element by its 12-bit RAW photograph capabilities.
HNCS will produce a good looking, pure coloration profile you’ll by no means need to take images with out. This characteristic will brighten up your portfolio, and it’s not even the one coloration augmentation characteristic this drone boasts.
The Professional additionally has a 10-bit D-Log M coloration mode, a characteristic DJI launched across the time of the Mavic 3 Professional’s launch.
It might probably file a billion colours so your movies look pure, colourful, {and professional}.
Its Apple ProRes codec can assist ProRes 422, ProRes 422 LT, and ProRes 422 HQ encoding between the three cameras, ratcheting up the professionalism even additional.
The tele digital camera has an superior aperture vary of f/3.4, and the Optical and Hybrid zoom capabilities of the three cameras allow you to get lifelike pictures of targets from greater than a mile away.
» MORE: Autel EVO Lite+ vs. DJI Mavic 3 Professional (Which Is Higher)
If you happen to’re a wildlife drone photographer, you’ll admire how one can stand safely far out of your topic but nonetheless take photographs that make you appear to be you’re solely toes away.
This drone can be one of many most secure within the skies, with multi-directional consciousness.
Nocturnal Help helps you discover obstacles in low-light situations, and the included LightCut app – a Mavic 3 staple – lets you edit on the go utilizing AI and single-tap alterations.
Your skilled footage doesn’t have to take a seat in put up for hours or weeks till you get time to edit it between this drone’s portfolio-ready footage and on-the-go modifying.
You possibly can put up your drone photographs or movies quicker, construct a portfolio sooner, and start being profitable together with your drone.
Our Choose
DJI Mavic 3 Professional (Fly Extra Combo)
Flagship Triple-Digital camera Drone with 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Digital camera, 15km Video Transmission, three Batteries, Charging Hub, and extra.
We earn a fee when you make a purchase order, at no further value to you.
11/09/2023 07:16 am GMT
Head-to-head comparability
Digital camera system
Winner: DJI Mavic 3 Professional
Let’s get the straightforward one out of the best way, lets? The Professional goes to win this class head and shoulders.
I like my Basic, but it surely’s not unfair to say the Professional deserves this one.
Since these drones are in the identical product line, they share DJI’s superior three-axis mechanical gimbal for adjusting the yaw, roll, and tilt.
In addition they have the identical video decision of 5.1K for crystal-clear, shining footage each time.
Even their Hasselblad cameras have the identical picture decision, however the digital camera system similarities come to an finish there.
Sure, I’m going to say the Basic’s lack of zoom another time. It’s possibly not the most important concession to make when you solely do a really particular kind of drone images and videography.
Nevertheless, I can’t consider many roles the place zooming doesn’t come in useful. As I discussed earlier than, it’s helpful for wildlife images and videography.
You don’t must get too near the animals and danger somebody’s life, and also you received’t spook the creature you’re making an attempt to {photograph}.
Actual property images and videography require a succesful digital camera with zoom, as does capturing information footage.
In case your drone digital camera doesn’t have zoom, you’re handicapping your self in comparison with a pilot’s digital camera that does.
The Mavic 3 Professional has digital camera capabilities to match all moods and eventualities, and just for $500 greater than the Basic.
You possibly can put a value on advancing your drone profession, whether or not you’re an influencer, social media maven, or actual property knowledgeable, and it’s $500.
» MORE: Digital camera Expertise in Drones (Defined)
Efficiency
Winner: Tie
The Mavic 3 Basic shines in all different areas however its digital camera system.
It has most of the similar options because the Mavic 3 Professional exterior of that, from superior security know-how to Clever Flight Modes, LightCut, and impediment avoidance.
These two drones aren’t similar, as they diverge in different methods, however they’ve sufficient of the identical options that it’s exhausting to reward one the class of efficiency greater than the opposite.
This isn’t a nasty factor in any respect. If you happen to’re on a price range and may’t spring for the additional value of the Mavic 3 Professional, you’re not sacrificing a lot within the efficiency division.
But if you’d like the Mavic 3 Professional and have used the Basic like I’ve, you will get used to this one lickity-split.
Portability
Winner: DJI Mavic 3 Basic
Neither drone is moveable, per se. They’re each massive, heavy drones.
Granted, you may fold each, however they nonetheless measure bigger than your common foldable drone, particularly when you evaluate the Mavic 3 drones to a Mini.
For instance, the Mavic 3 Professional is 231.1 millimeters by 98 millimeters by 95.4 millimeters unfolded with out propellers, and the Basic is 221 millimeters by 96.3 millimeters by 90.3 millimeters with out propellers.
There’s barely a dimension distinction between them, so neither is essentially moveable. Nevertheless, they excel in sufficient different areas the place that’s okay.
» MORE: The place Can I Fly My Drone (United States)?
RC compatibility and long-range flights
Winner: Tie
We already know the Mavic 3 Basic and Professional share the identical long-range transmission potential, they usually’re additionally appropriate with the identical distant controllers.
The RC-N1 works for a lot of DJI drones, together with the Mini 3, Mini 3 Professional, authentic Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Basic, Mavic 3 Professional, Mini 2, Mini 2 SE, and Air 2S.
It’s a easy, primary controller with no display, two joysticks, just a few buttons on the entrance, and extra on the highest.
It’s simple sufficient for any newbie drone pilot to select up and use, but it surely’s not essentially the most ergonomically pleasing distant controller on the planet.
It additionally lacks a display, that means you have to use your smartphone if you wish to observe your drone’s actions on a display (and sure, you’re going to need to do this).
Nevertheless, each drones are additionally appropriate with the DJI RC Professional, which options O3+ video transmission with a 15-kilometer vary and 1080p video footage at 60 frames per second.
It has a display, a 5.5-incher that shows your drone adventures in beautiful 1080p and 1,000 nits of brightness.
Obtain your killer new drone pictures utilizing Wi-Fi 6, immediately begin your drone through the push of a button, and revel in an extended battery life, as this distant reduces energy utilization by 20 %.
» MORE: DJI Transmission System (All the pieces You Must Know)
Battery life
Winner: DJI Mavic 3 Basic
The Basic wins this solely by a hair, as its marketed battery life is 2 minutes better than the Mavic 3 Professional’s.
Contemplating the previous weighs much less, it’s not stunning it ought to get extra time within the sky.
Nevertheless, in my flight expertise, the battery life variations aren’t noticeable between the 2.
Neither drone will fly for so long as DJI advertises, and within the wind, they fly for even much less time.
And sure, that’s contemplating these drones are burly decisions for blustery flights with the identical diploma of wind resistance.
Conclusion
After dozens of hours spent flying the DJI Mavic 3 Basic and Mavic 3 Professional, I’m assured after I say these drones are shut in some ways.
Nevertheless, the Mavic 3 Professional has two issues the Basic doesn’t: additional cameras.
They actually make all of the distinction, permitting you to raise your drone images, whether or not you’re a newbie or intermediate.
The keys to the dominion you maintain in your hand with the Mavic 3 Professional will assist you elevate your talent shortly as you tinker round with coloration settings, aperture, zoom, and focus between the three cameras.
The standard is phenomenal with any of the three, and one even boasts 48 MP high quality, greater than twice what the Basic’s Hasselblad digital camera provides.
Nevertheless, that digital camera may be very succesful, as is the Mavic 3 Basic itself.
It’s not an unsuitable possibility for a drone pilot torn between the 2, however finally, you get a lot extra with the Mavic 3 Professional that the $500 soar is just not that a lot to ask for.
You’ll have a drone with top-of-the-line security, a burly physique, high-quality sensors, and Clever Flight Modes galore.
You received’t be dissatisfied together with your alternative if you select the Mavic 3 Professional!
