After three long years, DJI has finally released the hotly anticipated successors to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom. On Thursday, the company announced the release of two new drones, the DJI Mavic 3 and the DJI Mavic 3 Cine.
The new drones feature DJI's latest flight and camera technologies, and each drone presents a number of headline features. The higher-end model, the Mavic 3 Cine, is capable of filming Apple ProRes 422 HQ footage at 5.1K up to 50FPS. The slightly cheaper DJI Mavic 3 comes with the same camera module as the Cine version but cannot shoot 5.1K ProRes videos.
Both drones share the same dual-camera system using a 4/3 CMOS sensor, one of the largest installed on commercial drones. Both devices are capable of filming 4K video at up to 120fps. Detailed high-res photos can also be captured using the onboard 20-megapixel camera.
The drones will come with a hybrid zoom lens capable of 28x digital zoom to complement the main 24mm lens. Both the DJIC Mavic 3 and the DJI Mavic 3 Cine can fly for up to 46 minutes on a single charge. This is a big jump from the Mavic 2's 31-minute rated flight time.
The new drones will feature upgraded versions of the Hasselblad cameras on the previous models. DJI hasn't really used the Hasselblad branding on its products since it acquired the company in 2018. However, the brand is now prominent in the new drones' marketing.
DJI has incorporated Hasselblad's Natural Color Solution into the new drones, which means that content creators will no longer have to do much editing in post-production as videos will reportedly be coming out with stunning natural colors right out of the camera. Creators who want to customize their color profiles can do so by filming in 10-bit D-log for more control.
Apart from the cameras, DJI has also improved the Mavic 3's autonomous flying capabilities. The Mavic 3 shares omnidirectional obstacle detection with its predecessor, with the exception that the sensors can now identify objects up to 200 meters (650 feet) away, up from 20 meters (65 feet) previously.
The increased reach allows for several new enhancements, such as Advanced RTH (return to home), APAS 5.0, and ActiveTrack 5.0. Advanced RTH assists the drone in planning a more intelligent course to return to the launch pad. ActiveTrack 5.0, which will not be available at launch, promises significant improvements in subject tracking and following.
Both drones also come with upgraded versions of DJI's proprietary transmission technology, OcuSync 3+, which offers a range of 15 kilometers (under ideal conditions) and a live feed transmission rate of 1080p at 60 frames per second to a user's smartphone or controller.
The DJI Mavic 3 will be available for $2,199. A Fly More Bundle, which will include two additional batteries, a charging hub, extra propellers, and a carrying case, will be sold for $2,999. The DJI Mavic 3 Cine will be available through a Cine Premium Combo, priced at $4,999.
