DJI MAVIC 4 PRO vs MAVIC 3 PRO

Are you wondering whether you should upgrade from the DJI Mavic 3 Pro to the brand-new Mavic 4 Pro? Can you save money by sticking with the Mavic 3 Pro, or is the upgrade truly worth it? In this detailed comparison, we dive deep into real-world differences, camera performance, features, and everything else you need to make an informed decision.

Introduction to the Mavic Line

The Mavic 3 Pro was released in April 2023, marking two years since its debut. Known as DJI’s “hero drone”, the Mavic line is DJI’s premium foldable drone series offering the best features and camera performance, albeit at the highest price point. Now, with the launch of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, DJI has packed it with advanced technology and enhancements that drone enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for.

A image of DJI MAVIC 4 PRO vs MAVIC 3 PRO

Should You Upgrade If You Own the Mavic 3 Pro?

This is the big question. While the Mavic 3 Pro introduced fantastic features like a triple-lens camera and robust obstacle avoidance, DJI released the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro shortly after with newer and more intelligent flight features. Unfortunately, the Mavic 3 Pro hasn’t received many significant firmware updates, leaving it behind in DJI’s ecosystem.

Camera Comparison: Mavic 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro

Video Resolution and Sensor Performance

Mavic 3 Pro: 5.1K video
Mavic 4 Pro: 6K video

In side-by-side comparisons under real-world conditions (not idealized paradise settings), both drones deliver exceptional detail, easily outperforming the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro due to their larger Micro Four Thirds sensors. The original 6K footage from the Mavic 4 Pro shows greater detail, sharper images, and more flexibility in post-processing, including cropping.

Low-Light Performance

Mavic 3 Pro: f/2.8 – f/11
Mavic 4 Pro: f/2.0 – f/11

The Mavic 4 Pro has a wider aperture, allowing more light into the sensor making it significantly better for low-light or nighttime shooting.

Telephoto Lenses and Zoom Comparison

Both drones feature triple-lens systems with telephoto capabilities:

Mavic 3 Pro: 17mm f/2.8, 8x zoom, 166mm f/3.4
Mavic 4 Pro: 70mm f/2.8, 168mm f/2.8

While these are relatively close in specs, the Mavic 4 Pro’s slightly faster aperture at the long end gives it an edge in low-light zoom performance. In daylight, differences are minimal when filming in 4K (as 5.1K and 6K aren’t supported in telephoto modes).

Also, Spotlight mode is enhanced in the Mavic 4 Pro you can record in 6K at 60fps while tracking, unlike the Mavic 3 Pro which limits you to 4K.

Photo Quality: 100MP vs 20MP

Mavic 3 Pro: 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor
Mavic 4 Pro: 100MP Micro Four Thirds sensor (downscalable to 25MP)

The Mavic 4 Pro’s 100MP capability is a game-changer for aerial photographers. While you won’t use 100MP for every shot, it’s perfect for landscapes and “hero” shots where cropping flexibility and fine detail are essential.

Gimbal Design and Vertical Shooting

Mavic 3 Pro: Standard gimbal (tilts up/down only)
Mavic 4 Pro: New 360° Infinity Gimbal

The Mavic 4 Pro’s gimbal is revolutionary. It allows:

Full 360° roll shots
Native vertical video and photo capture

This is ideal for creators focused on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok removing the need for cropping horizontal footage.

Transmission and Controller Compatibility

Mavic 3 Pro: OcuSync 3+, limited to older DJI RC or DJI RC Pro controllers
Mavic 4 Pro: OcuSync 4+, compatible with RC 2 and RC 2 Pro

The Mavic 4 Pro’s new transmission system significantly improves signal strength and latency. Additionally, it works with DJI’s latest controllers:

RC 2 Pro: 2,000 nits brightness, rotatable screen for vertical video, integrated flight sticks.

In contrast, the Mavic 3 Pro is locked to older, less capable controllers.

Battery Life and Charging

Mavic 3 Pro: 43 minutes (real-world ~35 mins)
Mavic 4 Pro: 51 minutes (real-world ~45 mins)

The Mavic 4 Pro also supports fast charging you can charge three batteries sequentially in just 90 minutes, nearly twice as fast as the Mavic 3 Pro.

Obstacle Avoidance and Return to Home

Mavic 3 Pro: Lacks obstacle sensing in low light
Mavic 4 Pro: Features LiDAR, six low-light vision sensors

The Mavic 4 Pro includes:

Advanced Return-to-Home (like Air 3)
Obstacle avoidance in the dark
Free-form panorama photos

Intelligent Tracking and Dynamic Home Point

Tracking systems have also been vastly improved:

Mavic 3 Pro: Fixed-distance tracking, older software
Mavic 4 Pro: Air 3-level tracking, 360° clock-face tracking, dynamic home point

The new dynamic home point ensures your drone always updates its return location based on your controller’s position especially useful when filming from a moving vehicle.

Article Summary

If you’re a professional drone pilot, the answer is yes the Mavic 4 Pro offers significant improvements in image quality, tracking, gimbal control, low-light performance, battery life, and controller functionality. However, for casual flyers or those satisfied with 4K footage and decent photo quality, the Mavic 3 Pro still holds up well especially in daylight conditions.