The Mavic series is DJI’s most well known drone range. Taking almost 70% of the drone market, SZ DJI Technology has been dominating the scene since 2006 as one of the leading producers of drones but one of the most frequently asked questions of the past few years is will there be a Mavic Pro 3?
What is the Mavic Drone Series?
The Mavic Series is the leading drone line of DJI, which is specifically tailored for use by professional photographers and videographers. The drones in the Mavic line boast of top-of-the-line cameras and omnidirectional obstacle sensors .
When is the Mavic Pro 3 being Released?
DJI releases several models every year. One of those rumoured to be coming out is the Mavic Pro 3, with the Mavic Mini 3 or Mavic Air 3.
Currently, there is no official news yet on whether a Mavic Pro 3 is coming out after the Mavic 3 model was launched in 2021. However, rumours of the Mavic Pro 3 release have been going around in social media circles.
The release of the Mavic Pro 3 is highly anticipated as the past Mavic Pro models have always had better camera features than its predecessors. Additionally, past Mavic Pro models have better camera sensors as well.
Mavic Pro 2 vs Mavic 3
With no hard dates or announcements from DJI that a Mavic Pro 3 is in the works you’re likley wondering what the next best thing is and is it worth upgrading. The Mavic 3 was released in 2021 and basically out-does the Mavic 2 Pro in almost every feature; flight time, lower weight and higher quality imagery.
| Mavic Pro 2 | Mavic 3 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
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| Release Year | 2018 | 2021 |
| Weight | 907g | 895g putting this model in the <900g range |
| Sensor Size | 1 CMOS | 4:3 CMOS Prime Lense 1:2 CMOS TeleLense |
| Field of View | 77 Degrees | 84 Degrees |
| Video Resolution | 4K / 30 Frames per second (fps) | 5.1K / 50 fps 4K / 120 fps |
| Bit Rate | 100 mb/s | 200mb/s |
| Maximum Flight Time | 31 mins | 46 mins |
| Memory Card Capacity | 128GB | 2TB Micro SD |
| Speed (S Mode) | 44.7mph (72km/h) | 47 mph (75.5 km/h) |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Mavic Pro 2 Drone Highlights
Mavic Pro 2 was released in 2018. Design-wise, Mavic Pro 2 looks like a bigger cousin of the original Mavic Pro. Like the other drones in the Mavic series, the Mavic Pro 2 is foldable and portable.
Camera & Video Quality
The Mavic Pro 2 has smart shooting features such as QuickShots, Sphere, Hyperlapse, and 180-degree shots. The transmission distance, or the distance in which the Mavic Pro 2 can send photos and videos smoothly, is 10 kilometers.
The lens has an aperture of f/2.8-f/11 and a shooting range of 1m to infinity. The camera of the Mavic Pro 2 allows up to 4x zoom. One of the main gripes of drone photographers is the field of view of the Mavic Pro 2 is 77 degrees, this is slightly improved in the Mavic 3.
On top of the previously mentioned features, the Mavic Pro 2 also has a 10-bit Dlog-M color profile that results in refined details and vibrant colors.
With a 4k Hasselblad camera and a sensor with 1” CMOS the Mavic Pro 2 is capable of capturing images in low-light situations but this capability is also outdone by the Mavic 3.
...What Is CMOS And Why Does it Matter?
CMOS is a type of sensor that converts light to images in digital photography (the part of the camera that is sensitive to light). CMOS stands for complementary metal oxide semiconductor. Generally, bigger sensors give better image quality.
1 Inch camera sensors (such as in the Mavic Pro 2) are commonly used in small digital cameras which is slightly larger than the camera sensors found in a high end smart phone.
Flight Features
In addition, Mavic Pro 2 variant is also equipped with the 3-axis gimbal technology that allows it to tilt, roll, and pan without compromising the video quality.
As for the flight time, the Mavic Pro 2 can cruise the sky for a maximum of 31 minutes. The omnidirectional obstacle sensors that allow it to fly with ease, avoiding any possible obstacles it may encounter. The Mavic Pro 2 has a detection range of 20 meters to 40 meters, and a field of view of 40 degrees horizontal and 70 degrees vertical.
Mavic 3 Drone Highlights
The Mavic 3 was released in November of 2021. Like the Mavic Pro 2, Mavic 3 is also foldable and portable.
Size & Weight & Speed
The Mavic 3 is smaller and more compact than its older sibling. It’s also lighter than Mavic Pro 2 by around 12 grams. Because of this, the Mavic 3 can move faster than the Mavic Pro 2. The Mavic Pro 2 has a top speed of 44.7 mph while the Mavic 3 can fly at an outstanding speed of up to 47 mph.
The lower weight also puts the drone in the under 900g category which is important in the regulatory guidelines for European countries.
Camera & Video Quality
As for camera performance, the Mavic 3 has more options with the prime lens and the tele lens. The prime lens has a 5.1k Hasselblad Camera with 4:3 CMOS. On the other hand, the tele lens has a 4k Hasselblad Camera with 1:2 CMOS.
This means that the Mavic 3 performs better than the Mavic Pro 2 in low light conditions. It has an adjustable aperture of f/2.8-f/1.1 and a 24 mm equivalent focal length.
The field view of the Mavic 3 is also comparatively wider at 84 degrees. The shooting range, on the other hand, is 1 meter to infinity with autofocus.
Like the Mavic Pro 2, the Mavic 3 model also has smart shooting features. However, what sets the Mavic 3 apart is that it has intelligent modes which allow it to set the mode on its own, depending on what the situation calls for. This feature has been available via firmware updates since January 2022.
One of the biggest advancements with the Mavic 3 is the transmission distance. As mentioned earlier, the transmission distance of the Mavic Pro 2 is 10 kilometers. Meanwhile, the transmission distance of Mavic 3 is longer at 15 kilometers.
Flight Features
The flight time of the Mavic 3 is also longer than the Mavic Pro 2 at 46 minutes. This is longer than most drones currently sold on the market.
The omnidirectional obstacle sensor of the Mavic 3 has also been improved. The forward vision of the Mavic 3 has a detection range of 0.5 up to 200 meters. Its field of view is 90 degrees horizontal and 103 degrees vertical.
Mavic 3 will also have an updated tracking system software called ActiveTrack 5.0.
What is the difference between the Mavic 3 and the Mavic 3 Classic?
The difference between the Mavic 3 and the Mavic 3 Classic is that the Classic doesn’t have the additional telephoto camera. DJI saw the opportunity to release the Mavic 3 Classic as a cheaper option to the full version because the single Hasselbland camera meets many drone photographers needs.
In the Mavic 3, the tele lense is activated automatically when zoom exceeds 7x in Explore mode.
Summary
In terms of features, hands-down the newly-released Mavic 3 is the winner. However, as it has a steep price point, some may also want to consider its older sibling, the Mavic Pro 2. The features of the latter are still competitive in the current market.
DJI Mavic 3 Drone: Check current best price & availability
Drone Weight & Regulations
* The weight bracket may be of importance to you if your flying drones in Europe. The A1:Sub 900 category sets the regulations for flying drones in the 250-900g weight bracket. The weight of the Mavic 2 Pro pushes it into the A2 weight bracket which requires an additional exam needs to be passed. Check out this article on what drones have to be registered and for handy information on where you can fly drones in the US.
