DJI Air 3 vs DJI Mavic 3 Classic: A wilder comparison
The comparison between the DJI Air 3 and the DJI Mavic 3 Classic is one of the closest and toughest drone comparisons ever. The Mavic 3 Classic is essentially a Mavic 3 Pro drone without the two tele lenses, retaining most features of the Pro model. Yes, the Vanilla Model of Mavic Series, with a cherry on it. The new DJI Air 3 is the offspring of the DJI Air 2S, offering significant upgrades, including a dual camera setup with 24mm and 70mm tele lenses, providing dedicated optical zoom capabilities.
Camera Specifications
The Mavic 3 Classic features a micro four-thirds 20-megapixel camera with an adjustable aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/11, offering flexibility in various lighting conditions. The DJI Air 3 has a 1/1.3-inch 48-megapixel camera with a fixed f/1.7 aperture, which is advantageous for low light but requires ND filters in bright conditions due to the fixed aperture. The Mavic 3 Classic’s larger sensor generally delivers better dynamic range and low-light performance, making it a clear winner in terms of image quality.
Zoom Capabilities
The Air 3’s dual camera setup includes a 70mm tele lens, providing a three-times optical zoom without quality loss, unlike the Mavic 3 Classic, which lacks a tele lens and relies on digital zoom. This gives the Air 3 an edge in zoom capabilities, allowing users to get closer shots without sacrificing image quality. The Air 3 is more versatile with its quick and seamless switching between wide and tele lenses.
Frame Rates and Resolution
Both drones offer various frame rates, but the Mavic 3 Classic can shoot in 5K up to 50 FPS, allowing for slow-motion in higher resolution, while the Air 3 tops out at 4K 60 FPS HDR. The Air 3 also introduces a 2.7K vertical shooting mode for social media content, though it’s not as high-resolution as the Mavic 3 Classic’s capabilities, making the Mavic 3 Classic superior for overall resolution and frame rate flexibility.
Focus and Tracking Features
Both drones excel in active track capabilities, but the Air 3 adds enhanced functionality with its three-times zoom and vertical shooting modes, allowing for more dynamic and versatile shots in focus track. The Mavic 3 Classic also offers excellent tracking but lacks these additional features, making the Air 3 the winner in focus and tracking performance.
Weight and Portability
Both drones weigh under 900 grams, with the Mavic 3 Classic at 895 grams and the Air 3 at 720 grams. The Air 3’s lighter weight makes it more convenient for travel, but the Mavic 3 Classic’s superior wind resistance is a crucial factor in windy conditions.
Battery Life
The battery life is identical for both drones, offering up to 46 minutes of flight time, ensuring ample flight duration for various shooting scenarios. This results in a tie regarding battery life, as both drones provide extended usage on a single charge.
Obstacle Avoidance
Both drones feature omnidirectional obstacle avoidance systems, detecting objects in all directions and providing high levels of flight safety and confidence. The Air 3 shares the same system as the more expensive Mavic 3 Pro, making obstacle avoidance another tie between these two drones.
Video Transmission
The Air 3 uses the new Ocusync 4 video transmission with a 5.2 GHz channel and six antennas, offering better performance in interference-heavy areas. However, it requires new controllers, which might be inconvenient for users with older DJI controllers. The Mavic 3 Classic uses Ocusync 3+, with four antennas and broader compatibility with older controllers, making video transmission capabilities a tie due to differing user needs.
Wind Resistance and Power
The Mavic 3 Classic is known for its raw power and exceptional wind resistance. But still, Air 3 and Mavi 3 Classic, both have similar wind resistance, technically. Yet, in our personal testing, the Mavic 3 Classic, due to its heavier design, is more stable.
Additional Features
Both drones share features like cruise control, waypoints, hyperlapse, quick shots, master shots, and night video mode. However, the Air 3 adds more features, such as enhanced active track with three-times zoom and vertical shooting mode, making it more feature-rich than the Mavic 3 Classic.
For travel, the Air 3 is more practical due to its lighter weight and additional features. For wind resistance and raw power, the Mavic 3 Classic is superior. Ultimately, the choice between the two drones depends on specific user needs, with the Air 3 offering versatility and the Mavic 3 Classic providing superior camera quality and wind performance.