I bear in mind ready with bated breath for the discharge of the DJI Air 3. When it got here out, it rapidly turned one among my favorites, sufficient in order that I virtually stopped utilizing my trusty Mavic 3 Traditional for it.
Properly, at the least for a short time.
Maybe you’ve been in the identical boat, and if not with these two drones, then two others, the place the attract of the shiny and new precipitated you to rethink the present drone you’re utilizing.
I’ve had sufficient time with the Air 3 now to provide it a good shake in opposition to the Mavic 3 Traditional. After evaluating my flight hours with each drones, I’m able to declare a winner.
This text will clarify the variations between these two DJI drones and reveal my insights, having flown these drones for a whole lot of hours altogether. You’ll see why I’ve arrived at my choose – the Air 3 – with loads of useful info to encourage your personal selection.
You need a dependable drone that may transition seamlessly between your business and leisure ventures, a companionable piece of tech designed to facilitate ease of use and produce wow-worthy footage.
I’ve acquired the information you want so you possibly can store with confidence, so be part of me as I reveal which drone comes out on high.
Transient overview
DJI Mavic 3 Traditional
The Mavic 3 Traditional is one other in a protracted line of esteemed Mavic 3 drones. It comes on the heels of the unique Mavic 3, which was launched in late 2021.
The Traditional debuted a few 12 months later, in November 2022.
The Traditional model may not have the three-camera system of the Mavic 3 Professional, nevertheless it boasts a Hasselblad digital camera and plenty of different distinctive options that make it price specializing in in its personal respect.
There’s a motive why DJI declared this drone one among its flagship fashions and that it acquired a European C1 certification, the primary drone to take action.
What on the planet is a European C1 certification, you ask? It means it’s labeled as an A1 Open drone below European Union Aviation Security Company or EASA guidelines. It may fly extra freely with much less danger.
Moreover these accolades, the Mavic 3 Traditional has many others price discussing, together with:
- An distinctive Hasselblad digital camera with a 4/3 CMOS sensor able to taking pictures in 5.1K HD video high quality and 20 MP single-shot picture decision.
- A flight time that may make you do a double-take, because it’s marketed to fly for 46 minutes.
- Prime-notch picture expertise, together with Imaginative and prescient Detection Auto Focus Know-how, an adjustable aperture, Hasselblad Pure Color Answer, 10-bit D-Log, and evening pictures.
- DJI’s main APAS 5.0 impediment detection for safer flights, even for inexperienced persons. It’s bolstered by multi-directional visible help.
- Superior automated options, equivalent to cruise management, RTH, and Waypoint flights for hands-off flying.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Traditional vs. Air 2S (Right here’s My Selection)
DJI Air 3
The newest within the line of the Air drones, the Air 3 is the brand new child on the block, launched fewer than six months in the past as of the time of this publication.
It’s no marvel DJI’s tagline for this drone is “double up.” The Air 3 is sort of a cross between the Mavic 3 Traditional and Professional, delivering the most effective qualities of each in a single distinctive drone.
Somewhat than three cameras, the Air 3 has solely two. Though you would possibly really feel prefer it’s not the only option to scale back the variety of cameras, you haven’t even heard about how they work but.
This twin main digital camera system has one 1/1.3-inch CMOS medium tele digital camera and one other 1/1.3-inch CMOS wide-angle digital camera.
The previous can zoom 3x, and each cameras ship various focal lengths to enhance the dynamism and high quality of your photographs.
Better of all, this drone stays light-weight regardless of the additional digital camera!
Let’s assessment a few of its different pertinent features:
- 12 to 48 MP picture decision for each cameras, relying in your settings, and 4K video capabilities at 60 frames per second, proving how devoted DJI is to remaining the chief in drone tech.
- A flight time that’s simply so long as the Mavic 3 Traditional, an superior 46 minutes. That may make it straightforward to get extra duties carried out.
- APAS 5.0 omnidirectional impediment sensing for inexperienced persons to launch safer flights and intermediates to fly with fewer worries.
- Clever Flight Modes to take your drone expertise to the highest, together with superior RTH, FocusTrack for monitoring topics, automated modes with QuickShots and MasterShots, and a pair of.7 Vertical Capturing with both digital camera you want.
- Compatibility with DJI RC Movement 2, DJI Goggles 2, and DJI Goggles Integra to take pleasure in an FPV-like expertise while not having an FPV drone.
» MORE: Does DJI Air 3 Have Return to House (Defined)
Fast verdict
I acquired my palms on the Mavic 3 Traditional shortly after launch and used it steadily.
Then, when the Air 3 got here out, my curiosity acquired the higher of me, and I needed to have it. I’ve used these drones extensively, studying all their options inside and outside and testing them in numerous situations.
That’s our promise to you at Droneblog, to solely counsel a drone primarily based on expertise. You want a reliable selection for work and play, and we attempt to offer that for you.
Based mostly on my in depth flight time, the DJI Air 3 is the superior drone. For the reason that Mavic 3 Traditional and Air 3 are comparable in lots of areas, together with flight time, impediment detection, superior imagery capabilities, and Clever Flight Modes, it needed to come right down to a nostril. The Air 3’s medium tele and wide-angle cameras put it a reduce above the Mavic 3 Traditional’s single-camera system.
That’s not to remove from the wonderful accomplishments of the Traditional. This drone is outstanding in some ways, nevertheless it doesn’t fairly compete on the identical stage because the Air 3.
Nevertheless, it’s a sensible choice as a go-between for the Air 3’s dual-primary digital camera system and the Mavic 3 Professional’s triple-camera system.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
What are the principle variations?
Whereas the Mavic 3 Traditional and Air 3 are spitting photographs of each other in some ways, they’re not equivalent drones by any means.
This part would possibly appear to be it’s splitting hairs in its specificity, however that’s solely as a result of these drones share a lot in widespread.
Let’s have a look at these particulars.
- Variety of cameras: The Mavic 3 Traditional cuts it right down to just one digital camera, a Hasselblad. It’s a incredible digital camera all throughout the board, nevertheless it’s the one one the Traditional has acquired. By comparability, the Air 3 has two cameras: a 3x medium tele digital camera that zooms and a wide-angle digital camera. This expands your pictures and videography sport in comparison with utilizing the Mavic 3 Traditional.
- Weight: Each DJI drones require you to register them if utilizing them both commercially or recreationally as a result of they’re nicely over the 250-gram threshold. The Mavic 3 Traditional weighs 895 grams at takeoff, and the Air 3 is 720 grams.
- Picture high quality: The 2 cameras constructed into the Air 3 produce picture high quality at 12 to 48 MP. The 12 MP decision is for simulated lengthy publicity pictures, so most footage will come out within the wonderful 48 MP. As for the Mavic 3 Traditional, it shoots in 20 MP max.
- Video high quality: There’s a small distinction within the video decision between the 2 DJI drones. The Air 3 has a satisfactory 4K video high quality, whereas it’s 5.1K HD for the Mavic 3 Traditional.
- Sensor measurement: The sensors are otherwise sized between these two drones. The Hasselblad digital camera within the Mavic 3 Traditional has a 4/3 sensor versus the 1 1/3-inch sensors for each cameras within the Air 3. Why does realizing the sensor measurement matter? The bigger the sensor, the extra gentle that will get in. That improves the drone’s nighttime and low-light pictures capabilities.
- Zoom: One of many two cameras included with the Air 3 can zoom, however the Mavic 3 Traditional’s digital camera? No such luck. You have got focal size choices, together with VDAF, however that’s not fairly the identical.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Right here’s my Selection)
DJI Mavic 3 Traditional
The Mavic 3 Traditional, launched after the OG Mavic 3 however earlier than the Mavic 3 Professional, additional legitimized the legacy of the Mavic line.
Its Hasselblad digital camera with the 4/3 CMOS sensor remains to be magical to this present day, as its 5.1K HD video is among the many finest DJI has achieved with its shopper drones.
The Traditional additionally dazzled with its flight time, which is nicely over what you’d anticipate for a drone of its measurement and stature.
DJI outdid itself with the Mavic 3 line, and the 46-minute flight time is one customers need whether or not utilizing a drone commercially or recreationally.
In spite of everything, who needs to curtail their drone adventures due to a dying battery? Actually not I, and I’m certain not you, both.
It’s particularly necessary to have a drone with a very good battery life in case you’re utilizing yours professionally, as you want extra time to get duties carried out.
Let’s return to the digital camera, because it’s the crowning achievement of the Mavic 3 Traditional if I do say so myself.
I do know its 20 MP picture high quality isn’t the best anymore, nevertheless it’s definitely satisfactory. It’s not even beginner-level picture high quality. It’s ample for skilled initiatives like information and actual property pictures.
Moreover, you’ll uncover there’s a lot extra to this Hasselblad digital camera than its picture decision. The 12-bit RAW photographs you’re taking might be stuffed with depth, coloration, richness, and element.
I really like working with RAW information, as do a variety of photographers.
After all, RAW information can take up a variety of house, and this drone solely has 8 gigabytes of cupboard space, so think about shopping for an SD or microSD card to make your life simpler.
» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Traditional vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
The 24-millimeter equal focal size and Imaginative and prescient Detection Auto Focus Know-how assist you residence in on a topic.
It’s a very good factor, too, contemplating this digital camera has no zoom functionality. I do know I discussed that within the part prior, nevertheless it’s price reiterating.
What the Mavic 3 Traditional does have is HNCS via its L2D-20c lens to calibrate pixels and produce out probably the most stunning coloration palette you maybe have ever achieved from a drone digital camera.
It’s so necessary to have a leg up within the aggressive drone market, and HNCS could possibly be yours.
That’s not even all. The Traditional’s digital camera has supersampling for crisper movies, pictures coloration gradations via the 10-bit D-Log, an distinctive dynamic vary, and a nighttime mode.
As you in all probability may have guessed, I may go on all day concerning the distinctive pictures and videography options this drone is able to.
Whenever you discover their full depths, it doesn’t make you thoughts practically as a lot that the Mavic 3 Traditional solely has one digital camera.
So let’s transfer on, as you possibly can already see how the Hasselblad digital camera will put you in a extra advantageous place as a drone photographer and videographer, whether or not you’re knowledgeable or a rising social media star.
Its omnidirectional obstacle-sensing system can also be A+.
Geared up with DJI’s newest Superior Pilot Help System (APAS 5.0), this drone has a Horizontal Omnidirectional Imaginative and prescient System, a Downward Imaginative and prescient System, an Upward Imaginative and prescient System, and four-way multi-directional visible help.
Moreover, it boasts stabler hovering, superior RTH, Cruise Management, Waypoints, Panorama, Hyperlapse, QuickShots with 4 auto modes (Circle, Dronie, Helix, and Rocket), ActiveTrack 5.0, and MasterShots.
These Clever Flight Options put the management in your palms.
You’ll be able to take the sorts of movies that rack up tens of millions of views on YouTube, even in case you’ve by no means flown a DJI drone a day in your life!
DJI Air 3
I do know I heaped reward on the Mavic 3 Traditional, so it’s solely honest to provide the Air 3 the identical type of consideration.
This drone was eagerly anticipated by pilots equivalent to me and seemingly everybody else. Individuals had been predicting its launch date, after which bam, it hit.
Most of the options of the Mavic 3 Traditional are replicated within the Air 3, which fits to point out how high-quality the Traditional is.
It flies for a similar period of time, it has an equally high quality omnidirectional impediment sensing system with APAS 5.0, and it makes use of superior RTH.
However the Air 3 boasts but extra Clever Flight Modes, together with MasterShots with automated drone motion and the liberty to edit on the go together with the results and music.
It’s such as you’re an all-in-one social media-producing machine.
Talking of social media, the Vertical Capturing choice allows you to produce footage prepared for Fb, TikTok, and Instagram in 2.7K high quality.
Though this high quality isn’t the max that the Air 3 can obtain, and though it’s low for a drone launch in 2023, it nonetheless helps you produce content material that might go viral.
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You don’t must be a drone skilled to make use of QuickShots, an automatic mode that performs dependable flight actions whereas capturing video.
Level of Curiosity 2.0 and ActiveTrack 5.0 are superior options for monitoring the topics you care most about, whether or not automobiles or folks.
Your social media followers will marvel once you turned so proficient at drone flight! These options are additionally nice for information footage you possibly can promote and make some money.
Let’s speak about that digital camera system, lets?
The Air 3’s twin digital camera system features a medium tele zooming digital camera with an aperture of f/2.8, a format equal of 70 millimeters, and a 2.4 um pixel measurement.
Its wide-angle digital camera has an f/1.7 aperture, a format equal of 24 millimeters, and a 2.4 um pixel measurement.
These cameras are the last word for sweeping panorama pictures or a packed area for a information occasion you’re masking. The optical zoom and spatial compression lend you a wonderful perspective and improve your total high quality.
Head-to-head comparability
Digital camera system
Winner: DJI Air 3
Contemplating what number of unbelievable image-enhancing options each drones have, the winner right here in the end got here right down to which had the superior digital camera. That’s the Air 3.
Its twin digital camera system has a wider body of view and unbelievable zoom capability. I really like the Hasselblad digital camera included with the Mavic 3 Traditional. I may virtually wax poetic about it.
As unbelievable as it’s – and it’s, very – it’s solely a single digital camera. It doesn’t zoom, and it doesn’t have the wide-angle functionality of the Air 3’s digital camera.
In any other case, that little Hasselblad digital camera can achieve this many unbelievable feats that it’s nonetheless a sensible choice in case you don’t have a necessity for wide-angle pictures and zooming.
Nevertheless, I’m of the mindset that it’s all the time higher to have than haven’t.
In the event you’re new to drone work, you by no means know the place and the way you’ll must diversify your profession and the way these options will come in useful.
That’s true, even in case you’re flying a drone for enjoyable or keen to get monetized on YouTube. Extra options are virtually all the time higher!
» MORE: Digital camera Know-how in Drones (Defined)
Efficiency
Winner: Tie
These drones carry out about the identical. They weigh inside 100 grams of each other, and – wouldn’t you recognize it – they’ve the identical diploma of wind resistance.
Each drones can deal with at the least 25 miles per hour of wind after I examined them, which isn’t too shabby!
They’ve top-notch impediment avoidance due to the newest version of DJI’s APAS, so that you gained’t have to fret about your drone smashing into something and all the things round it.
Actually, these two fashions are evenly matched in relation to efficiency. That’s often a deciding issue for me after I purchase a drone.
However fear not.
There are many different elements to come back that may influence your selection.
» MORE: Fly DJI Air 3 Drone (With DJI RC 2)
Portability
Winner: DJI Air 3
As an illustration, there’s portability.
Now, neither of those drones is precisely what I’d name ultra-portable. They’re fairly heavy, however not a lot that you just’re going to really feel dragged down.
At the least they fold so you possibly can extra simply stow your DJI drone in your bag.
Though perhaps touring with them isn’t as handy as bringing a Mini drone, it’s nonetheless not that a lot of a problem with both, and price your whereas.
The unparalleled pictures and videography capabilities of those two drones are constructed for adventuring.
In the event you don’t journey with one among these drones, you’ll want you had, particularly the Air 3.
You’ll be able to reward your self for climbing a summit by capturing breathtaking footage from the highest, and the zoom operate means you possibly can safely take movies and images with out having to get near your topic.
That’s tremendous necessary if you wish to take viral social media footage of a dangerous cliffside!
» MORE: Do I Need to Register My DJI Air 3 (All You Must Know)
RC compatibility and long-range flights
Winner: DJI Air 3
The Mavic 3 Traditional makes use of the DJI RC-N1, which is appropriate with the OG Mavic 3, the Mini 2, the Air 2, and the Air 2S.
It’s a easy controller with a box-like form and no display screen. You should have no selection however to make use of your smartphone because the display screen when working this DJI distant.
Unsurprisingly, the Air 3 has the higher controller attributable to its newer age: the DJI RC 2. You’ll be able to depart your telephone in your bag or your again pocket, as you gained’t want it with this distant.
It has an FHD show with O4 video transmission and an upgraded processor.
The display screen is large too, 5.5 inches!
You’ll recall that the Air 3 can also be appropriate with FPV controllers. In the event you’ve ever needed the FPV expertise with out all of the simulator coaching and studying that flying FPV requires, right here is your probability.
The Mavic 3 Traditional makes use of DJI’s O3+ transmission, which might ship movies dwell to your social media or work viewers in 1080p high quality at 60fps as much as 15 kilometers away.
It’s completely satisfactory by itself, however the Air 3 one-ups the Traditional with its O4 HD video transmission system.
Though the dwell video transmission high quality doesn’t change, the transmission distance does, because it’s now as much as 20 kilometers.
These further 5 kilometers may not be a lot of a dealbreaker, however the Air 3 has a greater transmission system throughout.
» MORE: How Drone Controllers Work (Defined for Rookies)
Battery life
Winner: Tie
The Mavic 3 Traditional and Air 3 boast impressively nice battery lives of over 45 minutes, at the least in keeping with DJI’s promoting.
These drones each logged in over 40 minutes however below the proposed 47 minutes after I examined them.
Nevertheless, that’s nonetheless actually nice.
It’s longer than many drones can fly and may offer you ample time to finish your mission earlier than you need to recharge the battery.
Conclusion
The DJI Mavic 3 Traditional and Air 3 are two unbelievable drones in their very own proper, with many shared options between them.
Nevertheless, it’s the Air 3’s dual-camera system – one which has 3x zoom and one other that helps wide-angle pictures and videography – that makes it the winner.
I had have a blast flying the Air 3.
It felt acquainted proper out of the field as a result of shared options it has with the Mavic 3 Traditional, but it carves out sufficient of its personal distinctive path that it makes me excited for what DJI will do subsequent!
