The DJI Phantom 3 Pro is a high-end drone that's perfect for professionals and serious hobbyists. It's a great investment, but you want to make sure you get the best price.
The DJI Phantom 3 Pro was initially released in 2015, making it a relatively old model. However, its price has remained competitive over the years.
If you're looking to buy a DJI Phantom 3 Pro, you can expect to pay between $400 and $600, depending on the retailer and any bundles or deals available.
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Design and Build
The DJI Phantom 3 is a sturdy and well-built drone, with a plastic body that can withstand minor bumps and crashes. It's designed to be portable, weighing just enough to carry in one hand.
The Phantom 3's design is similar to its predecessors, with four rotors and fixed landing legs. It's even small enough to fit into a backpack, making it easy to take on the go.
I can attest to its durability, having flown it straight into my house's roof and it still flying without any trouble. The only damage was a few cosmetic scuffs.
The rotor blades are easily replaceable, simply unscrew them from the motors on each corner. This is a convenient feature, especially if you're new to flying drones and prone to minor crashes.
The controller is similar to previous versions, with a clamp to hold a tablet or smartphone for displaying the drone's camera feed. I used my iPad Mini without any issues, but Android device support is a bit limited.
Design
The Phantom 3 has a sturdy white plastic body and four rotors, making it surprisingly portable.
It's light enough to carry in one hand and can fit into a decent-sized backpack. The design is pretty much identical to DJI's previous Phantom models, which is a testament to its reliability.
The Phantom 3 feels well-built and can withstand minor crashes or bumps into walls. I even accidentally flew it into my house and it survived with just a few cosmetic scuffs.
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Replacing the rotor blades is a breeze - just unscrew them from the motors on each corner. This is a great feature, especially for beginners who might accidentally snap a few blades.
The controller is similar to previous versions, with two main sticks and a clamp to hold a tablet. I used my iPad Mini without any issues, and it was great for viewing footage and navigating the DJI Pilot app.
The controller also has fold-down brackets to hold a smartphone, with the app optimized for iPhone 5S, 6, and 6 Plus. However, I found it easier to use the tablet's larger screen for viewing footage and navigating the app.
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Radio Controller Included
The radio controller is a crucial part of our drone's design, and it's packed with features that make flying and capturing footage a breeze.
The controller has a power on/off switch, so you can easily turn it on and off when you need to.
It also has a gimbal control dial, which allows you to adjust the camera's angle and orientation with precision.
In addition to the gimbal control, the controller has a camera settings dial, giving you fine control over your camera's settings.
The sensitive control sticks provide a smooth and responsive flying experience.
The flight mode switch lets you easily switch between different flight modes, such as sport mode or cinematic mode.
The Return Home button is a lifesaver in case you lose control of the drone or need to quickly bring it back to you.
The USB output is a handy feature for charging your devices on the go.
The customizable buttons allow you to personalize your flying experience and tailor the controller to your needs.
Here are some of the key features of the radio controller:
- Power on/off switch
- Gimbal control dial
- Camera settings dial
- Sensitive control sticks
- Flight mode switch
- Return Home button
- USB output
- Customizable buttons
Camera
The Phantom 3 Professional's camera is a 4K camera, which gives it a slight advantage in sharpness over other Phantom 3 models.
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It scored a 7 out of 10 in our video quality testing, which is mid-range compared to other gimbal models.
The camera's color performance is virtually the same as other Phantom 3 models, but the gimbal performance is good, with stability in straight line shots.
However, the gimbal does show some shakiness when turning and flying more aggressively, which can be a problem for those who like to fly fast.
The Phantom 3 Professional's camera also suffers from propeller intrusion issues, which can be a problem when flying aggressively or pointing at the sun.
This issue is not a major concern for most users, as it only occurs in certain flying situations, but it's something to be aware of.
The Phantom 3 Advanced's camera, on the other hand, scored alongside the Phantom 3 Standard, at the back of the pack of gimbal models.
Its 2.7K camera produces high-quality video with good colors, but it can be slightly less sharp than footage from other cameras.
The gimbal on the Phantom 3 Advanced is steady, but it shakes more readily when flying fast than some other models.
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Performance and Features
The DJI Phantom 3 Pro is a top-notch performer, scoring an 8 out of 10 in our flight performance testing. It's one of the better fliers in our test, and its solid, stable takeoffs and landings are a testament to its quality.
In terms of stability, the Phantom 3 Pro feels locked in when hovering, barely swaying or bobbing at all. This makes it ideal for capturing smooth footage, especially when using the cable cam autonomous flight function.
The orbit point of interest function is also superb, producing a smooth and predictable flight.
Flight Performance
The Phantom 3 Professional scored an 8 out of 10 in our flight performance testing, which is towards the front of the pack of gimbal models.
It performed solid, stable takeoffs and landings in our testing, though just slightly less so than the top scorer.
Using the cable cam autonomous flight function produced a smooth, predictable flight and very stable footage.
The orbit point of interest function was also superb, making it easy to capture smooth, stable footage.
The Phantom 3 Advanced scored an 8 in flight performance, which is right in the middle of the gimbal model group.
It made it through takeoffs and landings without issue, and the orbit point of interest and cable cam features put it on smooth, stable flight paths.
The automatic return to home function worked without issue in our testing, but remember to only use it if something goes wrong and you can't fly the drone back yourself.
The Phantom 3 Advanced has a maximum flight time of 23 minutes, which is slightly less than some of its competitors.
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Ease of Use
The DJI Phantom 3 series has made getting started with drone flying incredibly easy. The Phantom 3 Professional and Phantom 3 Advanced both scored an 8 in the ease of use metric, which is a testament to their user-friendly design.
One of the first things you'll notice is how straightforward the setup process is. The rotors install easily, and the controller pairs quickly with your smartphone and the drone. The DJI GO app guides you through initial calibration, making it a breeze to get started.
The Phantom 3 Professional's controller features some of the nicest joysticks we've tested, making it a joy to fly. A solid clamp holds your smartphone or tablet securely in place, allowing you to focus on capturing stunning footage.
The Phantom 3 Advanced's controller is nearly identical to the other Phantom models, with its ergonomic feel and well-designed joysticks making it a pleasure to use. A large red record button lets you know when you're capturing footage, making it easy to get the shots you want.
First flights with both drones feel fairly intuitive and easy, thanks to the on-screen menu's automatic takeoff function. This feature lifts the copter off the ground and puts it into a hover, giving you confidence to start flying right away.
The automatic landing function is a game-changer, gently touching the drone back down to the ground with the push of a button. This feature eliminates the stress of landing, making it a great option for beginners and experienced pilots alike.
With the Phantom 3 series, you can start capturing stunning footage right away. The on-screen menu is easy to navigate, and the joysticks respond quickly to your inputs, making it a joy to fly and capture the perfect shot.
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Sources
- spares (dji.com)
- DJI Phantom 3 Professional review: Stunning 4K aerial ... (cnet.com)
- DJI Phantom 3 Professional Review | Tested & Rated (techgearlab.com)
- DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Drone (cameratrader.ng)
- DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Review | Tested & Rated (techgearlab.com)
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