Incredible. Phenomenal. Exceptional. Fantastic. These are only a few words that even come close to describing the Mavic 3 Pro.
Followed by simple sounds, sounds like Ooh, Ahh, and Whew. Sounds I made quite frequently when I first started flying the Mavic 3 Pro.
While the Mavic 3 series has been out since November 2021, making it close to two years now, the release of the Mavic 3 Pro has been a welcomed addition to the line for hobbyists and professionals alike.
This review will examine what’s new with the Mavic 3 Pro, its technical specs, its three-camera setup, and tracking abilities, and whether current Mini 3 Pro, Air 2S, current Air 3, and Mavic 3/3 Classic owners should upgrade.
To help, we’ve identified and reviewed the best drone courses for beginners and professionals.
New Stand-Out Features on the Mavic 3 Pro
The Mavic 3 line has been out for quite some time and has proved to be an excellent professional-level drone.
When the original Mavic 3 came out in the fall of 2021, the public was awed by the dual camera system, a 4/3 Hasselblad wide-angle camera, and a 162mm tele camera.
The Mavic 3 Classic was released a year later, with the same 4/3 Hasselblad wide-angle camera, sans the 162mm tele camera, at an affordable price tag.
» MORE: Drone Safety Features (All You Need to Know)
Additional Camera (DJI Triple-Camera System)
The new Mavic 3 Pro, released in 2023, has expanded on the Mavic formula in every way, adding a new 166mm tele camera (over the previous 162mm camera).
In addition to the 4/3 Hasselblad wide-angle camera, there is also a new 70mm medium tele camera.
The new DJI triple-camera system is professional level, perfect for those looking for excellent quality footage and photos as all three cameras support 4k60fps, whereas the 24mm Hasselblad and 70mm mid tele camera can film in the flat D-Log M color profile.
While the 166mm tele camera takes excellent pictures and video, the star focal length would be the 70mm medium tele camera.
The 70mm camera captures perfectly compressed shots with mesmerizing parallax effects.
Content creators and commercial drone pilots agree that using the 70mm to zero in on a subject with spacial compression is top-notch on the Mavic 3 Pro.
Another nice aspect of the triple-camera system is that, under the various modes in the DJI Fly app, there is an “Explorer” mode that allows for seamless zooming from 1x all the way to 28x.
While much of the zoom range outside of 1x (24mm), 3x (70mm), and 7x (166mm) is digital, being able to locate and zoom in on a potential subject or feature while surveying the area may prove to be beneficial to some.
Below are examples of images taken with Explorer mode.
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DJI RC – Standard
Another new addition to the Mavic 3 Pro line isn’t quite a new piece of equipment.
Instead, it has the standalone DJI RC included as a standard controller.
Previously, the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic had combos including the DJI RC-N1. Now, the standard included controller, again, is the DJI RC.
Although the RC-N1 is not included in any of the combos, it is fully compatible with the Mavic 3 Pro, if wanting to use it to connect a larger screened device.
Because the Mavic 3 Pro is a higher-tiered drone, having a higher standard remote controller included is appreciated.
Remote Controller for DJI Mini 3 Pro/DJI Mavic 3/DJI Mavic 3 Cine, Lightweight Body, FHD Screen, 4hr Battery, Precision Control Sticks, O3+ Transmission
» MORE: DJI RC vs DJI RC-N1 (All You Need to Know)
Pricing
The Mavic Pro series in general, has always had a higher price tag associated with it, as the Mavic line is geared more toward professional usage.
In addition to commercial operators, drone enthusiasts also lean towards the Mavic line.
With being synonymous with quality imagery (photo and video), the “Flagship” Mavic 3 Pro likewise commands a higher price tag, than even the Advanced series of drones like the Air 3.
» MORE: Best DJI Alternatives – What Drones Are Better Than DJI?
Mavic 3 Pro Standard (DJI RC)
Includes:
- Drone
- DJI RC remote controller
- Battery
Includes:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro
- DJI RC Remote Controller
- 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- USB-C Cable
- Sensor and Camera Harness
- 2 Spare Props
- 65W Charger
- Spare Control Sticks
Mavic 3 Pro DJI RC Fly More Combo
Flagship Triple-Camera Drone with 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera, 15km Video Transmission, three Batteries, Charging Hub, and more.
Includes:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro
- DJI RC Remote Controller
- 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- 3-Battery Charging Hub
- Shoulder Bag
- 2 x USB-C Cables
- Sensor and Camera Harness
- 8 Spare Props
- 100w Charger
- Spare Control Sticks
- ND Filter Set (ND8/16/32/34)
Mavic 3 Pro RC Pro Fly More Combo
- Hasselblad Main Camera 4/3 inch CMOS 24mm equivalent
- Medium Tele Camera 1/1.3 inch CMOS 70mm equivalent
- Tele Camera 166mm equivalent up to 28x hybrid zoom
- 43 minutes flight time, DJI O3+
- DJI RC Pro
Includes:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro
- DJI RC Pro Remote Controller
- 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- 3-Battery Charging Hub
- Shoulder Bag
- 2 x USB-C Cables
- Sensor and Camera Harness
- 8 Spare Props
- 100w Charger
- Spare Control Sticks
- ND Filter Set (ND8/16/32/34)
Mavic 3 Pro RC Pro Cine Premium Fly More Combo
Flagship Triple-Camera Drone
- Tri-Camera Apple ProRes Support with 1TB of storage
- Three Intelligent Flight Batteries, and more
Includes:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro
- DJI RC Pro Remote Controller
- 3 x Intelligent Flight Battery
- 1TB Internal Storage
- Apple ProRes Support
- 3-Battery Charging Hub
- Shoulder Bag
- 2 x USB-C Cables
- 10Gbps Lightspeed Data Cable
- Sensor and Camera Harness
- 8 Spare Props
- 100w Charger
- Spare Control Sticks
- ND Filter Set (ND8/16/32/34)
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 3 Classic: Which Drone Should You Buy?
Technical Specs
Although the Mavic 3 Pro is in the same line as previous Mavic drones, there are some differences and improvements that are mentioned here.
| SPECS | Mavic 3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Weight: | Mavic 3 Pro 958 g, Mavic 3 Pro Cine 963 g |
| Dimensions: | Folded (without propellers): 231.1×98×95.4 mm (L×W×H) Unfolded (without propellers): 347.5×290.8×107.7 mm (L×W×H) |
| Maximum Speed: | 47mph |
| Ascent/Descent Speed: | 17.9mph/13.4mph |
| Wind Resistance: | 26.8mph |
| Battery Capacity: | 5000 mAh |
| Maximum Flight Time: | 43 Minutes |
| Sensing Type: | Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft |
| Remote Controllers Compatibility: | DJI RC Pro, DJI RC, RC-N1 |
| Maximum Flight Distance: | 9.3 Miles |
| Camera | DJI Mavic 3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Wide-Angle Camera: | Hasselblad Camera: 4/3 CMOS, Effective Pixels: 20 MP Format Equivalent: 24mm Aperture: f/2.8-f/11 Digital Zoom (only in Normal Video Mode and Explore Mode) 1-3x Still Photography Modes Single Shot: 20 MP Burst Shooting: 20 MP, 3/5/7 frames Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 20 MP, 3/5 frames at 0.7 EV step Timed: 20 MP, 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s Video Resolution Apple ProRes 422 HQ/422/422 LT 5.1K: 5120×2700@24/25/30/48/50fps DCI 4K: 4096×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*fps 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*fps H.264/H.265 5.1K: 5120×2700@24/25/30/48/50fps DCI 4K: 4096×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*fps 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*fps FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/48/50/60/120*/200*fps * Recording frame rates. The corresponding video plays as slow-motion video. |
| Medium Tele Camera: | Medium Tele Camera: 1/1.3″ CMOS, Effective Pixels: 48 MP Format Equivalent: 70mm Aperture: f/2.8 Digital Zoom (only in Normal Video Mode and Explore Mode) 3-7x Still Photography Modes Single Shot: 12 MP or 48 MP Burst Shooting: 12 MP or 48 MP, 3/5/7 frames Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 12 MP or 48 MP, 3/5 frames at 0.7 EV step Timed: 12 MP: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s 48 MP: 7/10/15/20/30/60 s Video Resolution Apple ProRes 422 HQ/422/422 LT 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps H.264/H.265 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/48/50/60fps |
| Tele Camera: | Tele Camera: 1/2″ CMOS, Effective Pixels: 12 MP Format Equivalent: 166mm Aperture: f/3.4 Digital Zoom (only in Normal Video Mode and Explore Mode) 7-28x Still Photography Modes Single Shot: 12 MP Burst Shooting: 12 MP, 3/5/7 frames Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 12 MP, 3/5 frames at 0.7 EV step Timed: 12 MP, 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s Video Resolution Apple ProRes 422 HQ/422/422 LT 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps H.264/H.265 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/50/60fps FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/50/60fps Only the Cine version supports ProRes recording. |
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Air 2S (Here’s My Choice)
Mavic 3 Pro Hardware
The Mavic 3 Pro follows the same aggressive-looking design aesthetics made popular with the Mavic 3, design aesthetics that have even trickled down to the new Air 3.
When holding the Mavic 3 Pro, it feels and looks like a serious piece of professional equipment.
What is most important, though, when speaking of a work-horse, is: how it actually performs.
The Mavic 3 Pro has to be the best flying drone I have ever put my hands on, and currently, that would be over 20 drones in and counting.
From the moment the motors quietly spin up, and the Mavic 3 Pro ascends, it is obvious the flight performance is going to be stellar.
Whether casually flying to capture footage in nature or purposely flying with a mission to capture imagery for a client, the 3 Pro easily and purposefully gets the job done.
The Mavic 3 Pro is rated for 26mph winds, and I don’t doubt that, as I have flown at Florida Gulf Side beaches in winds upward of 23mph, with no noticeable effects on the drone, whatsoever.
Yes, the 3 Pro moved around some, but it didn’t move drastically when hovering.
When flying into headwinds, it does so easily, without effort. I never felt like I would lose the drone over the Gulf waters.
Conversely, in the same environment and conditions on the same uber-windy day, the Air 3 did well, while our Mini 3 Pro struggled.
Although the Mavic 3 Pro uses an older version of OcuSync, O3+ (OcuSync 3.0+), the transmission strength is solid, with little to no noticeable interference.
When used in a variety of interference-laden locations, including downtown Orlando and various large subdivisions (for commercial work) there was never an issue with signal interference or visual dropouts.
Flying in the Gulf was easily done, for as far as the drone can be seen.
Because it is a large drone, when equipped with FAA-approved anti-collision lights, it can be seen thousands of feet out, even during daylight.
The Mavic 3 Pro’s visibility, due to it being a larger-sized drone is important when flying further out in the United States because flying within VLOS (visual line of sight) is a requirement.
Considering the large size of the Mavic 3 Pro, one would be expected to think it’d be very loud sounding.
Surprisingly, the Mavic 3 Pro is quieter than the Air 2S and sits just slightly louder (to my untrained ears) than the Air 3.
Being relatively quiet is a must in the industry I shoot for, as loud drones are regularly looked upon with disdain.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Pro – How to Turn ON/OFF (Step-by-Step Guide & Video)
DJI RC Pro, DJI RC, & RC-N1
The RC Pro, DJI RC, and RC-N1 have been used for quite a while with the Mavic 3 Line and work equally well with the Mavic 3 Pro.
From a professional level viewpoint only, the DJI RC Pro is the best control method for the 3 Pro as it offers so much when it comes to functionality as an all-in-one device.
The RC Pro’s all-in-one functionality comes into play with the ability to install 3rd party apps, apps that can be used to further the flight experience, such as having access to drone-specific apps like UAV Forecast and the much appreciated and lauded Aloft Air-Control app.
Of course, there are many many more apps that can be used with the RC Pro.
With DJI RC compatibility, the Mavic 3 Pro is a little more accessible to the enthusiast and hobbyist crowd, as it is a fair bit less expensive than the DJI RC Pro.
The DJI RC functions well with the 3 Pro, so much so, it seems to be made specifically for the Mavic 3 Pro.
When I finally pried the DJI RC Pro away from the Mavic 3 Pro and used the DJI RC, everything operated perfectly.
While the RC Pro felt more professional while doing commercial jobs, I thoroughly enjoyed using the DJI RC when flying casually.
I found myself to be a little less “uptight” when using the lower-cost DJI RC for recreation.
Last but not least is the DJI RC-N1 controller. For those that own Mini 2’s, 3’s, Air 2, or Air 2S’, using the RC-N1 is familiar and simple.
Although not included in any of the combos DJI offers, there may be those who would like to use the RC-N1 for one specific reason: using a larger or brighter device to fly the Mavic 3 Pro.
As the Mavic 3 Pro is indeed one of DJI’s flagship professional drones, there are those who may want or even need a larger and brighter screen than the one provided with the RC Pro, which is plenty bright at 1000-nits.
Those that come to mind in particular are tower and roof inspectors.
I too have thought about using the RC-N1 on the Mavic 3 Pro with an ultra-bright Tripltek tablet, but find it difficult to part with having an all-in-one solution like the RC Pro.
» MORE: Best Drone Controllers
Obstacle Avoidance & Tracking
One of the big things this year in the drone community has been subject tracking. With the release of new DJI drones with better and better obstacle avoidance, subject tracking has finally begun to reach the masses.
DJI has released two new advanced drones this year with omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, or 360-degree obstacle avoidance. These are the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro.
The flagship Mavic 3 Pro, like the earlier Mavic 3 and subsequent Mavic 3 Classic likewise has omnidirectional obstacle avoidance.
With this 360-degree protection, the Mavic 3 Pro can safely fly sideways.
This is key for the upgraded Active Track functions that allow the 3 Pro to track from all four sides of a subject or point of interest.
Having used the upgraded active track on the Air 3, I can say the Mavic 3 Pro performs equally as well when tracking subjects.
Where the Mavic 3 Pro really excels is in tracking fast-moving objects like watercraft.
I used the active track feature extensively on my last visit to the Gulf Coast of Florida and the Mavic 3 Pro did a stellar job of keeping fishing charters, jet skis, and speed boats in frame while chasing them down in sport mode.
Likewise, while tracking myself, while walking through wooded areas along the beach (more like the woods), the Mavic 3 Pro never lost me and navigated its way easily through and around the many trees in the area.
Where it did struggle a bit, which I also noticed with the Air 3 on the same trip, was with the Mavic 3 Pro not anticipating where a person would show up, once completely and momentarily blocked from view.
A few times I purposely walked behind thick shrubs (to fool the Mavic 3 Pro and Air 3) only to pop out behind them a few feet later.
Both the Air 3 and Mavic 3 Pro stopped and did not reacquire me as a subject although well within view of both.
Of course, this was an extreme test trying to find the absolute limits of the Mavic 3 Pros tracking.
Again, for tracking fast-moving subjects and those on trails and in the woods, the Mavic 3 Pro did great.
» MORE: Follow Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Explained for Beginners)
Photos & Video
As would be expected from a pro-level drone from DJI, the Mavic 3 Pros’ main 24mm Hasselblad camera has a variable aperture.
Unlike most drones on the market with fixed apertures, the 3 Pros aperture ranges from f/2.8 – f/11.
The 70mm medium tele camera has a fixed f/2.8 aperture with the 166mm tele camera having an aperture of f/3.4.
The variable aperture on the main camera enables one to easily adjust the exposure on the 3 Pro, when shooting video, without the immediate need for ND filters.
As my Mavic 3 Pro does not have ND filters, this came in handy when filming on the bright Gulf Coast beaches and water.
Now, the abilities of the triple-camera system are the reason many, if not most, will gravitate towards the Mavic 3 Pro.
The Mavic 3 line perfected the main 24mm Hasselblad 4/3 camera on the Pro 3, resulting in rich colors and the famed Hasselblad color science.
Not only does the 3 Pro have great images, but these pictures can be taken at various focal lengths: 24mm, 70mm, and 166mm.
Having these three focal lengths in a single camera allows photographers the ability to get great compressed images, with videographers getting great compressed videos with astounding parallax effects.
All three focal lengths have the same photography modes, although these modes are at differing resolutions:
- Single Shot
- 24mm 20MP
- 70mm 12 MP or 48 MP
- 166mm 12 MP
- Burst Shooting
- 24mm 20MP
- 70mm 12 MP or 48 MP
- 166mm 12 MP
- Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB)
- 24mm 20MP
- 70mm 12 MP or 48 MP
- 166mm 12 MP
- Timed
- 24mm 20MP
- 70mm 12 MP or 48 MP
- 166mm 12 MP
Since regularly using the Air 3 and its dual cameras, I have come to appreciate the multiple focal lengths on the Mavic 3 Pro’s tri-camera system.
With the 3 Pro being a larger drone (that can be heard a bit more when out shooting, than the smaller, newer DJI drones), being able to get photos and videos from a distance has oftentimes been beneficial.
These times were mostly when shooting recreationally in congested locations.
Below are two photos taken from the same distance from a local pier restaurant. One was 24mm 20MP the other at 70mm 12MP.
While both images look very good, there is a noticeable difference between the resolution on the main 24mm Hasselblad 4/3 camera and the 70mm medium tele camera.
The pictures, unfortunately, do highlight one negative I have about the tri-camera system, and that is color shift, which we’ll discuss shortly.
For real estate photography work, I have found that simply using the 24mm focal length, at 20MP, yielded the best results for my client’s purposes.
On the video end of things, the Mavic 3 Pro continues to shine.
The Mavic 3 Pro can shoot video in resolutions up to 5.1k, on the main 24mm camera and up to 4k on both the 70mm medium tele and 166mm tele cameras.
This is a much-needed improvement over the dual camera setup the original Mavic 3 had where the resolution for the 162mm tele camera was something to be desired initially.
Below is the exact breakdown of video resolutions and speeds for the non-Cine version of the Mavic 3 Pro. The technical specs section earlier in this article goes into more detail on the Cine version resolutions:
- 24mm
- 5.1K: 5120×2700@24/25/30/48/50fps
DCI 4K: 4096×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120fps
4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60/120fps
FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/48/50/60/120/200fps
- 5.1K: 5120×2700@24/25/30/48/50fps
- 70mm
- 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps
FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/48/50/60fps
- 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps
- 166mm
- 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/50/60fps
FHD: 1920×1080@24/25/30/50/60fps
- 4K: 3840×2160@24/25/30/50/60fps
In addition to such high video resolutions, the Mavic 3 Pro also comes complete with 10-bit color profiles.
The main 24mm camera can shoot 10-bit Normal, DLog, and DLog-M/HLG whereas the 70mm and 166mm cameras each can shoot 10-bit in the Normal and DLog-M/HLG profiles.
For those unaware, DLog, and DLog-M are flat color profiles, that have a higher dynamic range than normal color profiles.
This is great news for those who color grade all of their footage and would like to be able to do so even with the two tele cameras onboard the 3 Pro.
Previously, the original Mavic 3 did not have 10-bit on the 162mm camera at launch.
» MORE: Best Drone Video Editor (With Screenshots)
The Not-So-Great
While the Mavic 3 Pro is the drone I absolutely enjoy flying the most, that isn’t to say there aren’t a few minor things that are slightly less than irritating.
Color Shift
For those that shoot in RAW and use Photoshop and Lightroom regularly, and those that shoot in DLog and color grade meticulously in post, this might be the most irritating negative on the Mavic 3 Pro: Color Shift.
When using the various focal lengths there are very noticeable differences in color between the three lenses, even when choosing proper white color balance.
This can be seen slightly in the examples of the pier above.
Of course, this can be corrected in post, with some time and effort. The examples above took 15-20 minutes to get them looking similar in color, although not identical.
While the color shift issue can indeed be corrected, if shooting multiple photos, or even video, at all three focal lengths, one might be in for a fair bit of work trying to color match the content.
» MORE: How to Edit Drone Photos for Social Media Using Lightroom (Guide)
Aperture
While this doesn’t fall in the color shift category, I thought I’d mention something to note when it comes to aperture, and this can be said for any multi-camera system with lenses of different apertures, or zoom lenses.
Because the 24mm camera has a variable aperture, and each of the tele cameras has differing apertures, when shooting video you have to be mindful and alert to the changes in exposure between each camera when changing focal lengths.
For instance, when shooting manually on the 70mm at an aperture of f/2.8 and then moving to the 166mm for an even closer shot, there is going to be a difference in exposure between the f/2.8 on the 70mm and the f/3.4, causing the footage to darken, after which the ISO may have to be adjusted to maintain the 180-degree rule.
If you decide to move out for a reveal at 24mm, it’ll be necessary to adjust the aperture, and possibly ISO, accordingly.
While, again, this is not an issue found only in the Mavic 3 Pro, as many variable aperture zoom lenses have this same issue, it is good to be aware of it prior to shooting video and then be prepared to adjust accordingly on the fly.
» MORE: Tips for Shooting & Editing Drone Videos (Guide for Beginners)
USB-C & SD Card Port
While I continue to thank DJI for moving the SD card slot from behind the folding arms and legs of the drone, the placement of the USB-C port and SD Card port to the top of the rear of the Mavic 3 Pro makes it a little difficult to eject SD cards.
This is because when the SD card is slightly ejected from its slot, the top of the battery obstructs the removal of the card completely, no matter how small one’s fingers are.
I have found two ways to get around this:
- Remove the battery then eject the SD card, which takes up time, or
- Slightly eject the card, then push it in slightly with a nail, then let go and have it fully spring-eject itself out of the 3 Pro.
One shouldn’t have to go through either of these methods to get the card out.
As it stands, the Mini 3 series and the Air 3 also have SD cards in the rear of the drone, however, with them being on the bottom, the battery does not obstruct the card’s removal.
- SD Cards for DJI Drones (What You Need to Know)
- How to Format SD Cards in DJI Drones (Quick Steps with Photos)
Camera Harness
The camera harness on the Mavic 3 line is an interesting device, as it looks and behaves like a harness one would use on a horse.
I totally understand the usage of the harness and it does act as an all-in-one gimbal and propeller guard. It is just a little tedious to take off and on.
DJI got it right with the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro gimbal and front sensor cover. There are 3rd party solutions that have done similar for the Mavic 3 Pro.
However, It’d be great to have a DJI-manufactured one for the Mavic 3 Pro series as well.
Gimbal Guard Vision System Protector for DJI Mavic 3 Pro Drone Accessories
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Should you Upgrade?
This is a commonly asked question by anyone who currently has a drone and the funds to shell out for a new model.
DJI Mini 3 Pro
The Mini 3 Pro is geared toward and perfect for:
- Travelers
- Content Creators
- Professionals needing a small backup drone
If you are someone with a Mini 3 Pro and plan on keeping it while moving up to something more professional, then it is an easy decision. Get the Mavic 3 Pro.
If you are planning on using a drone for travel, specifically, but need to upgrade to something with omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, then upgrading to either the new Mini 4 Pro or Air 3 may be in order, forgoing the Mavic 3 Pro altogether.
DJI Air 2S
As someone who uses the Air 2S as a reliable workhorse professionally, it’ll always have a place in my heart.
The Air 2S was my first “favorite drone” and I continue to use it occasionally.
With its 1″ CMOS sensor, the DJI Air 2S is still a worthy drone for capturing 5.4k video and high-resolution images, perfect for paying clients.
If you are looking to upgrade the Air 2S with the specific intended purpose of using the upgrade for professional work, then the Mavic 3 Pro will easily fit the need.
If on the other hand, you are a hobbyist Air 2S owner looking for omnidirectional obstacle avoidance in a larger, less expensive package than the Mavic 3 Pro, then the Air 3 would be a great fit with its dual camera setup and excellent subject tracking.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 vs. DJI Air 2S (All You Need to Know)
DJI Mavic 3 & Mavic 3 Classic
If you are a Mavic 3 owner, upgrading to the Mavic 3 Pro most likely isn’t necessary, unless you have to have the 70mm medium tele camera.
The Mavic 3 Pro, outside of the triple-camera system, is running practically the exact same hardware as the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic, including compatibility with the DJI RC Pro, DJI RC, and DJI RC-N1.
If you are a Mavic 3 Classic owner and feel multiple cameras are a necessity, then upgrading to the Mavic 3 Pro is the logical choice, skipping the upgrade to the Mavic 3 as the 3 Pro is priced just about the same.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Here’s my Choice)
New DJI Air 3 Owners
This is an interesting one, as there might be those who have an Air 3, but aren’t very satisfied with the picture resolution of the dual cameras.
If you already have an Air 3 and feel the need to upgrade for client-specific work that requires a larger camera for still images, then upgrading to the Mavic 3 Pro would work.
The thing is, although the Air 3 uses smaller dual 1/1.3-inch cameras (smaller than the main 4/3 Hasselblad camera on the Mavic 3 Pro), there are quite a few professionals who swear by them.
The dual cameras shoot great quality high-resolution 4k video, in addition to working well in low light conditions.
When it comes to photos, you would need to ask yourself if the current quality of the 12MP or 48MP photos produced by the 1/1.3-inch cameras is noticeably lower in quality than the photos produced by the Mavic 3 Pro.
If you or your clients can say yes, then an upgrade to the Mavic 3 Pro may be in order.