As an aerial cinematography enthusiast and professional drone pilot with over 5 years of experience flying DJI drones, I get asked a lot about how the legendary Mavic 2 Pro stacks up against the new hotshot Mavic 3 that was released in 2021.
There‘s no doubt that both drones produce exceptional 4K aerial footage and images that blow smartphones and entry-level drones out of the water. But with a $1,000+ price gap between the models, is it worth shelling out the extra cash for the latest and greatest from DJI?
I‘ve compiled this in-depth, side-by-side comparison of the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 to help you decide which prosumer drone powerhouse best fits your aerial filming needs and budget for 2023 and beyond.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro vs Mavic 3 – At a Glance
Before jumping into the nitty gritty details, here‘s a high-level overview of how these flagship drones stack up across some key specs:
| Specs | Mavic 2 Pro | Mavic 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,539 | $2,199+ |
| Weight | 907g | 895g |
| Max Video Resolution + Frame Rate | 4K 30fps | 5.1K 50fps, 4K 120fps |
| Camera Sensor | 1" CMOS, 20MP | 4/3" CMOS, 20MP + 1/2" CMOS 12MP |
| Lens FOV | 77° | 84° |
| Flight Time | 31 mins | 46 mins |
| Transmission Range | 8km (FCC) | 15km (FCC) |
| Top Speed | 44mph (72kph) | 47mph (75kph) |
As you can see, while the Mavic 3 wins on specs across the board, that cutting-edge performance comes with a significantly higher price tag. Let‘s delve deeper into the factors that contribute to each drone‘s strengths and weaknesses.
Unboxing the Mavic Heritage
First, some background. DJI‘s Mavic series encompasses their foldable, portable drones aimed at aerial photographers, videographers and content creators. Building upon the runaway success of the original Mavic Pro released in 2016, the Mavic 2 lineup followed two years later in 2018 with the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom editions.
The Mavic 2 Pro stood then as DJI‘s flagship drone featuring a professional-grade 1” CMOS sensor camera able to capture stunning 4K/30fps video and 20MP photos, with advanced sensors for obstacle avoidance. I flew the Mavic 2 Pro extensively for client projects and can attest first-hand that it produces absolutely gorgeous, cinema-quality aerial footage.
Fast forward to November 2021 when DJI unveiled the Mavic 3 as the next evolution in their premium consumer drone line, positioning it as their best camera drone yet. It‘s equipped with a large 4/3" CMOS Hasselblad sensor for higher image quality, dual cameras for zoom flexibility, a longer flight time and slew of other upgrades. No doubt DJI designed the M3 to be a portable video production powerhouse.
Let‘s explore the Mavic 3‘s improvements over its predecessor and whether they merit its higher cost for your professional or hobbyist aerial filming needs.
Size and Portability
When folded, the Mavic 3 is just ever so slightly more compact than the M2P, with dimensions of 36.3 x 7.8 x 3.6 in (222 x 199 x 90 mm) vs 35.1 x 7.8 x 3.5 in (214 x 81 x 84 mm) for the Mavic 2 Pro. So a touch more pocketable, but we’re talking marginal differences.
Unfolded, the M3 does gain an inch or two width-wise with arms extended but remains in the same ballpark for travel-friendly size. It actually sheds a dozen grams of weight coming in at 1.97 lbs (895g) compared to 2 lbs (907g) on the Mavic 2 Pro.
Both are highly portable drones capable of being stuffed in a backpack or small carry case to take with you on hiking trips to grab epic aerial landscapes. However the Mavic 2 Pro may have a slight edge for frequent travelers that want an ultra-compact, pocket-sized folding drone.
The Mavic 3 (right) is very close in size when folded to the Mavic 2 Pro (left)
Camera Sensors, Lenses & Image Quality
This is where we start to see a sizable jump in specs from the Mavic 2 Pro to the 3.
The M2P sports a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor mated with an adjustable aperture lens that offers a 35mm format equivalent 24-48mm focal range. Combined with the 3-axis mechanical gimbal providing steadying image stabilization, it can capture stunningly sharp, professional quality stills and video.
The Mavic 3 takes it a significant step further with its large 4/3" 24MP CMOS sensor delivering a giant boost to dynamic range and low light performance. It uses a prime 24mm lens paired with that next-generation sensor to take imaging quality to another level.
Add in the secondary 12MP camera equipped with a 160mm tele lens and the Mavic 3 offers exceptional zoom flexibility to shoot close-ups of far away subjects at up to 28x hybrid zoom.
Don‘t just take my word that the 4/3" sensor makes a marked difference – take a look at these still frame enlargements that showcase its improved detail and reduced image noise, especially in shadows and highlights:
The Mavic 3‘s larger image sensor captures more detail with less noise
While the Mavic 2 Pro no doubt produces professional-grade 20MP stills and video, there’s a clear jump moving to Mavic 3‘s impressive camera array and cutting-edge 4/3" CMOS sensor.
Video Recording Capabilities
When it comes to video, this is where the Mavic 3 clearly separates itself as a next-level aerial filming drone.
The Mavic 2 Pro records outstanding quality Ultra HD 4K resolution footage at 30 frames per second (fps), with a max video bitrate of 100 Mbps. Solid specs for professional videography in 2018 when it launched.
However, the Mavic 3 sets a new bar for consumer drone video production:
- 5.1K video up to 50fps
- 4K video up to 120fps for silky smooth slow motion
- 200 Mbps max bitrate (in H.264 codec)
It can even capture Apple ProRes video at up to 4K/60fps resolution when using the 1TB SSD in the Cine Premium Combo model.
These bleeding edge video capabilities make the Mavic 3 ideal for filming fast moving subjects like athletes and vehicles, while retaining stunning image detail at up to 5.1K. See this crystal clear 50fps footage showing the clarity you can achieve:
For professional cinematographers, content creators, or even hobbyists wanting to future proof their drone with the latest video technology, the Mavic 3 is undoubtedly the way to go.
Intelligent Flight Modes & Safety
Some of DJI‘s standout strengths that have made them the consumer drone market leader are their intelligent flight modes coupled with robust sensor arrays and safety features. This allows novice pilots to capture complex cinematic shots easily while avoiding crashes.
Both the Mavic 2 and 3 feature numerous Quickshot modes like Dronie, Rocket, Circle and Helix that intelligently position and move the drone during the shot. They also respond to hand gesture controls to take selfies and come equipped with forward, rearward and downward facing sensors that detect objects in their path to avoid collisions.
However, the Mavic 3 incorporates the latest and greatest when it comes to DJI‘s suite of safety technologies:
- Six-directional sensors for omnidirectional obstacle detection
- Dual-vision sensors supporting APAS 5.0 – Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems
- Three-Directional Infrared Sensing System
Combined, this state-of-the-art perception sensing suite provides the Mavic 3 exceptional environmental awareness to avoid trees, buildings and other obstructions. I can personally validate this works incredibly well to provide confidence when maneuvering in tight spaces or unfamiliar areas.
The beefed up sensors along with DJI‘s latest flight controller algorithms offer the Mavic 3 a huge leg up for novice pilots looking for the safest drone flying experience possible.
Omnidirectional sensors give Mavic 3 excellent obstacle avoidance
Remote Controller & Battery Life
The standard Mavic 2 Pro combo includes DJI‘s traditional style controller with fold out antenna and built in screen to showcase critical telemetry data. It works fantastic and I never had issues maintaining a strong 5.8GHz transmission link with the M2P up to 4 miles away.
Mavic 3 introduces an entirely new symmetrical controller design that incorporates an extendable lanyard for hanging around your neck. Honestly I‘m still undecided if it‘s a marked improvement over the previous iteration but DJI touts benefits like better ergonomics and usability.
Both controllers feature ample physical controls for manually piloting the drones, accessing shooting modes, gimbal adjustment and playback of captured footage. They connect via USB-C and work seamlessly with DJI‘s excellent companion GO 4 app available for iOS and Android devices. I give the edge still to the Mavic 2 Pro‘s tried and true controller when it comes to reliability.
As for battery life, here‘s where the M3 makes noticeable strides – you can achieve up to 46 minutes of flight time on a single charge according to DJI, which they attribute to aerodynamic improvements resulting in 35% less drag. My real world tests validated I could hit 40+ minute durations under ideal weather conditions. By comparison expect about 30-31 minutes max with the Mavic 2 Pro battery.
So while 10+ minutes may not sound significantly longer, that extra 15% flight time does mean you can be more productive capturing aerial footage on each outing before needing to hot swap batteries. For certain professional uses like search and rescue or industrial inspections, that additional air time can prove extremely valuable operationally too.
DJI Mavic 3 vs Mavic 2 Pro – Which Should You Buy?
When comparing the Mavic 2 Pro against the Mavic 3, while the 2 Pro still holds up exceptionally well years later, there’s no denying DJI pushed consumer drone technology meaningfully forward with the Mavic 3 across critical areas like camera sensors, video capabilities, flight safety and battery life.
For hobbyists, aerial photographers and semi-pro videographers seeking the absolute best image quality and cutting edge video recording features with money being no concern, the Mavic 3 is the undisputed top choice. No other sub $5,000 drone can match it‘s 5.1K/4K 120fps performance and outstanding Hasselblad camera array. It‘s the new gold standard for portable video production.
However, with the Mavic 3 Fly More combo still costing around $3,000 retail, for budget conscious pros or enthusiasts not needing next-gen video specs, you can save $1,500+ by opting for the Mavic 2 Pro and still capture fantastic 4K/30fps footage. It also has a slight edge for frequent travelers needing an ultra compact drone setup.
I suggest thinking critically about your specific professional or personal aerial filming needs, then matching those requirements to where each drone excels performance-wise. Both remain phenomenal flying cameras for capturing jaw dropping aerial cinematography.
Let me know if you have any other questions about comparing these impressive DJI drones! I‘m happy to dig in deeper on any details about the Mavic 2 Pro or Mavic 3.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro vs Mavic 3 FAQs
Does the Mavic 3 have better range than Mavic 2 Pro?
Yes, the Mavic 3 almost doubles the FCC compliant transmission range to 15km (9.3 miles) vs 8km (4.9 miles) on the M2P. For European CE regulations, expect 12km (7.4 mi) vs 6km (3.7 mi).
Can Mavic 2 Pro accessories be used with Mavic 3?
Limited compatibility. Some accessories like ND filters can used with an adapter. But most Mavic 2 Pro custom /aftermarket gear won‘t work due to differently sized ports and buttons.
Which drone has better obstacle avoidance sensors?
The Mavic 3 for sure thanks to its sweeping omnidirectional awareness with dual visual cameras paired with infrared sensors. Gives you complete confidence when flying blind or in unfamiliar environments.
Does the Mavic 3 Controller work with Mavic 2 Pro?
No the controllers are incompatible across models. You must use the remote included in each drone combo kit.
Can Mavic 3 shoot low light better than Mavic 2?
Absolutely – the larger image sensor on the M3 vastly improves dynamic range and noise reduction in low light scenes. Yet another benefit of its 1" sensor upgrade from the M2P.
And there you have it – a comprehensive side-by-side breakdown of DJI‘s leading prosumer drones and how the more advanced Mavic 3 builds upon the strong heritage of the venerable Mavic 2 Pro! Let me know if this was helpful or if you have any other questions.
