Dji Phantom 3 Advanced Drone Review: Performance, Design, and Price

The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is a top-notch drone that packs a punch in terms of performance. It features a 12-megapixel camera that can capture stunning photos and videos.

One of its standout features is its 3-axis gimbal, which provides smooth and stable footage even in windy conditions. This is especially useful for capturing professional-grade footage.

The drone's design is sleek and compact, making it easy to transport and store. It weighs in at 1220 grams and measures 350 x 350 x 250mm in size.

The Phantom 3 Advanced is priced at $999, which is a competitive price point for a drone of its caliber.

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The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced has a camera capable of shooting 2.7K video at 30fps.

The camera also has a 94-degree field of view, similar to the Professional model, and can shoot 12Mp still photos in JPEG and DNG RAW.

The Phantom 3 Advanced's camera is lighter than the previous version, which means it allows for more flight time overall.

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The camera's sensor is different from the Phantom 2 Vision and DJI says it offers less noise and better clarity.

The Phantom 3 Advanced can record 2.7K video at a resolution of 2704×1520, and can also shoot 1080p at 30 or 60fps.

The camera's gimbal is quite steady, able to keep the camera locked in on sweeping landscape shots and long panning shots.

However, the gimbal does shake more readily when flying fast, but outperforms the Phantom 3 Standard in this regard.

The Phantom 3 Advanced's video downlink scored an 8 in our testing, putting it right in the middle of the group of gimbal models.

The downlink provides an uninterrupted video stream throughout all of our flights, even when we took the drone 3000 feet from the controller.

The on-screen video quality of the downlink is just slightly less crisp than that of the top-scoring models, but this certainly would not get in the way of framing and capturing the footage that you want.

Full-HD clips from the Advanced look pretty great and are more than suitable for sharing online and/or viewing on a phone, tablet or laptop.

The live-streaming quality to YouTube is just OK, requiring a pretty strong wireless connection to keep the video moving smoothly.

The Phantom 3 Advanced's low light capabilities are improved, with low noise from night flight shots and good color correction results.

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The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced has a flight performance that's hard to beat. It scored an 8 out of 9, with scores ranging from 6 to 9 amongst the gimbal models.

The Phantom 3 Advanced is stable in all aspects of flight, making it through takeoffs and landings without issue. It also features a smooth, stable flight path with the orbit point of interest and cable cam features.

With a maximum flight time of 23 minutes, you'll have plenty of time to capture stunning footage. This is slightly less than some of its competitors, but it's still a long time to be in the air.

Flying with the Phantom 3 Advanced is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly controls and GPS capabilities. It even has a flight simulator in the mobile app (iOS only) to help you learn the ropes.

The DJI Phantom 3 camera has improved low light capabilities, a significant upgrade from the GoPro's less than adequate performance in low light conditions.

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I was excited to test this feature, especially after shooting with GoPro, which often required additional lighting to get decent results.

The Phantom 3's night flight shots over Florence and Manarola show remarkably low noise, even when taken straight out of camera and downsampled to web resolution.

This is a significant improvement, and one that photographers will appreciate when shooting in low light conditions.

The camera's ability to capture high-quality images in low light is a major selling point, and one that sets it apart from other cameras on the market.

The Phantom 3 Advanced has a maximum flight time of 23 minutes, which may seem short but is still a long time to be in the air.

In our tests, the Phantom 3 Advanced made it through takeoffs and landings without issue, and its automatic return to home function worked smoothly.

The drone's stability is one of its strongest features, with a score of 8 out of 9 in the flight performance metric. It can handle smooth, stable flight paths and produces good footage.

However, the Phantom 3 Advanced couldn't quite match the rock-solid stability of the top-scoring Phantom 4.

You can get up to 23 minutes of flight time, but you'll want to keep an eye on your battery life, especially if you're trying to get out some distance for a picture and still make it back.

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The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is a powerful and feature-rich drone that's packed with innovative technology. It has a 12-megapixel camera with a 94-degree wide-angle lens.

Its camera is capable of capturing stunning 4K video at 30 frames per second. This means you can record smooth and detailed footage of your aerial adventures.

The Phantom 3 Advanced also features a 3-axis gimbal that helps to stabilize the camera, reducing shake and vibration. This ensures that your footage is smooth and professional-looking.

The drone's remote controller has a built-in screen, allowing you to see what the camera sees in real-time. This makes it easy to frame your shots and adjust settings on the fly.

The Phantom 3 shoots RAW DNG files that capture much more dynamic range than a typical jpeg.

These DNG files can be edited in Adobe Camera RAW or Adobe Lightroom with great results.

You can expect impressive dynamic range from these files, as demonstrated by a photo shot over the Vatican in Rome during a beautiful sunset.

The first photo was captured "straight out of camera", while the second is a final edited result using a single RAW file.

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The design of this product is truly impressive. The sleek and modern aesthetic is achieved through a combination of clean lines and minimalistic design elements.

The product's user interface is incredibly intuitive, with a simple and easy-to-use layout that makes navigating the device a breeze.

One of the standout features of this product is its ability to integrate with other devices seamlessly, allowing users to access a wide range of features and functions.

The product's high-resolution display is a major selling point, offering crystal-clear visuals and vibrant colors that bring content to life.

With its compact and lightweight design, this product is perfect for taking on the go, whether you're commuting or traveling.

The product's advanced security features ensure that your personal data is protected at all times, giving you peace of mind and confidence in your device's capabilities.

The Phantom 3 is much smaller and lighter than the Inspire 1, making it less intimidating when taking off, landing, and flying through the air.

This smaller size and lighter weight will likely factor into regulations distinguishing between recreational and professional use of drones. I have a feeling that the Phantom 3 will always come up under the recreational category.

The Phantom 3 fits into a small backpack or even a shoulder bag, allowing me to easily carry it into cities and urban areas without alerting local authorities.

We've got some exciting updates to share with you. The latest software release includes a completely revamped user interface, making it easier to navigate and find the features you need.

One of the most notable changes is the addition of a new dashboard, which provides a clear overview of your projects and tasks. This is a game-changer for anyone who's struggled to keep track of multiple projects simultaneously.

The new dashboard is customizable, allowing you to prioritize the information that matters most to you. You can choose which projects and tasks to display, and even set up notifications to keep you on top of deadlines.

Another significant update is the introduction of a new collaboration feature, which enables seamless teamwork and communication. This feature allows you to assign tasks to team members, track progress, and even conduct virtual meetings.

The collaboration feature also includes a built-in chat function, making it easy to discuss projects and share files in real-time. This is a huge time-saver, especially for remote teams or those working on complex projects.

The new software release also includes a range of other improvements, including enhanced security features and improved performance. These updates will make a big difference in your productivity and overall user experience.

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The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is a capable drone that offers many great features. One of the main advantages is its ease of use, making it a great option for beginners.

Here are some of the key pros of the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced:

While the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced has many great features, it's not perfect. One of the main cons is its limited battery life.

The Phantom 3 is a great drone to fly, especially for beginners. It comes in three models: Standard, Advanced, and Professional.

One of the main advantages of the Phantom 3 is its ease of use. The Professional model, which we tested, is a great option for those who want a high-end flying experience.

The Advanced version, priced at £899, is also a great choice. The only difference between the two is not specified in the article, but we can assume it's a matter of minor upgrades.

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The Phantom 3 is very stable in the air, making it perfect for capturing smooth video footage. This is especially true when flying in motion.

Here are some of the key features of the Phantom 3:

The Phantom 3 Advanced isn't perfect, and here are some of its drawbacks.

No 4K support is a notable limitation, which is a key difference between this drone and its more expensive sibling, the Phantom 3 Professional.

Limited battery life means you'll need to keep an eye on your power levels and plan your flights accordingly.

The wide-angle lens shows some edge distortion, which can be noticeable in certain situations.

Here are the specific cons in a quick rundown:

The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is an impressive drone, and its specs are no exception. It has a flight time of 23 minutes, which is plenty of time to capture some amazing footage.

The charging time is relatively quick, taking just 55 minutes to get you back in the air. This is a big plus, especially if you're planning a long day of flying.

The spare battery cost is £105, which might seem steep at first, but it's a small price to pay for the convenience of having a spare on hand. I've found that having a spare battery can be a lifesaver on long flights.

The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced has a claimed range of 2000m, making it perfect for open field flying. Just keep in mind that this range may vary depending on your surroundings.

Here are some key camera specs to consider:

The drone itself weighs in at 1.28kg, making it relatively lightweight and easy to transport.

The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced has a user experience that's hard to beat, scoring an 8 out of 10 in this metric. The initial setup process is seamless, taking just a few minutes to get the drone out of the box, install propellers, and connect everything.

The controller is nearly identical to other Phantom models, with an ergonomic feel and well-designed joysticks that make it a joy to use. This is my personal favorite controller, and I think you'll find it just as comfortable to hold.

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The on-screen menu is a bit crowded, but it's not a deal-breaker. You'll get used to navigating it quickly, and the large red record button is a nice touch, letting you know when you're capturing footage.

Taking off is a breeze, thanks to the automatic takeoff feature. Simply press a button on the on-screen menu, slide an unlock bar, and the drone will lift off and settle into a low hover.

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The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is a top-notch consumer quadcopter that produces stunning video footage. Its range goes beyond what most consumers will need, and it's stable enough for even beginners to fly.

The Phantom 3 Advanced has a list price of $1000, but it can often be found online for substantially cheaper. Given its performance, this feels like a fair value.

One of the main selling points of the Phantom 3 Advanced is its ease of use. DJI has rebuilt it from the ground up to make aerial imaging as simple as smartphone photography.

The Professional model is fairly expensive at over £1000 online, but those who don't need 4K can save (and still be happy) with the Advanced model for under £800. This makes it a more affordable option for those who want high-quality video footage.

Spare batteries cost a whopping £124 from DJI, but you can buy compatible batteries for under £50. This is a significant cost savings for those who need extra batteries.

The Phantom 3 Advanced has a thriving third-party market for accessories, which means there are often cheaper alternatives to official spares like propellers. However, it's recommended to stick with official DJI batteries for guaranteed performance.

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