The DJI Mavic 3 Classic was released in the fall of 2022, almost exactly a year after the more powerful Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine drones were released. The new model is designed to be more affordable for consumers, and we’re glad DJI managed to lower the price without sacrificing the camera.
I’m also glad that the Mavic 3 Classic made it to our list of the best drones because DJI didn’t skimp on flight or safety features. In particular, we’re talking about omnidirectional obstacle avoidance sensors and a flight time of over 45 minutes.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
DJI Mavic 3 Classic Overview
Like most Mavic drones, the Mavic 3 Classic is a foldable quadcopter with a camera mounted under the nose of the aircraft. The Mavic 3 series as a whole is slightly larger than its predecessors. The added size and weight allows for a larger camera and larger battery. Rated for up to 46 minutes of flight time, we can say it’s worth it.
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance sensors are supported by APAS 5.0, currently DJI’s safest and most reliable self-guided flight system.
The Mavic 3 Classic connects to a few older DJI remotes. It’s a nice change from having to buy new gear every time. And it accepts most of the parts and accessories from other Mavic 3 drones. Essentially, if the Mavic 3 Classic had been released last year, we wouldn’t have questioned where it would fit in the lineup. The Mavic 3 Cine is the best of the best, the Mavic 3 has the same performance without the SSD, and the Classic is the consumer-grade entry-level.
In short, the Mavic 3 Classic doesn’t have a secondary camera with a telephoto lens, can’t add an internal SSD, and can’t record in ProRes format, but it’s otherwise equally capable in the sky. The Micro Four Thirds camera is just as good as most M4/3 DSLR cameras with similar lenses. However, the Mavic 3 Classic’s lenses don’t have a dedicated interchangeable mount.
What we like about the DJI Mavic 3 Classic
We rate most drones first for their flying ability, then for their ability to capture photos and videos from the sky. In both of these categories, we give the Mavic 3 Classic top marks.
big camera
Flight time 46 minutes
Huge connection range
The O3+ transmission system creates a fantastically stable connection with the remote control, allowing for near-instant responses from the stick and easy navigation in the sky. The Hasselblad 20MP camera captures silky-smooth 5.1K video and sharp still images.
The most important part of enjoying a drone is actually flying it. That’s where the Mavic 3 Classic shines. The 46-minute flight time is a big deal for most pilots. Most drones offer a flight time of less than 33 minutes, so the Mavic 3 series stands out.
Accessories like the Fly More kit, which includes ND filters and an extra battery, greatly expand the usability of the Mavic 3 Classic.
Ultimately, the Mavic 3 Classic is a reliable and safe drone that is fun to fly and creates quality media from the sky. The starting price is much more acceptable than the original Mavic 3 drone. I think DJI got it right!
What We Dislike About the DJI Mavic 3 Classic
In typical DJI fashion, the Mavic 3 Classic is actually quite limited in terms of configurable components. While I fully understand that the SSD in the Cine model is a major upgrade, there’s no technical reason why it couldn’t be a user-replaceable component with a simple firmware update.
Pilots in the racing world understand this idea. They buy a frame and then can replace dozens of parts and accessories over the life of the aircraft. Trying out different propellers is common practice. The same goes for changing cameras. The Mavic 3 series is a special machine, so don’t expect full configurability, but there is a huge price increase from the Mavic 3 Classic to the Mavic 3 Cine, and it could have been done in stages.
The DJI Inspire 2 is a prime example of this strategy, with its interchangeable payload giving the aircraft a shelf life of more than six years. The Mavic 3 is likely to expire in half that time as new cameras are released.
To be honest, these complaints aren’t limited to the Mavic 3 Classic, which is an appealing machine to any potential pilot.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic Performance
The Mavic 3 Classic was ready to fly from the first boot up, and it was on time. There was a slight delay before the first flight as it had to deal with a major firmware update for the drone and remote controller, but its battery lasted through the update and it still managed to stay in the sky for about 30 minutes after that. The second battery lasted over 40 minutes and landed with 12% remaining.
With a top speed of over 40 mph and large, powerful motors, the Mavic 3 Classic is a real joy to fly. Horizontal movement is mitigated by software control, but vertical takeoff speed is not significantly hampered. It takes very little time to climb to 400 feet from the ground. We haven’t specifically tested this speed, but one of our videos shows it taking about 20 seconds to get from about 6 feet to the maximum legal altitude.
Obstacle avoidance worked very well. This year there are a lot of fallen leaves and bare branches to watch out for. Thank goodness there were no collisions or accidents with drones.
We’ve had some crazy winds in our flight area recently, and we’ve managed to get some stable footage from the sky in winds of up to 11mph, but haven’t had much luck with stronger winds.
When it comes to range, the Mavic 2 Classic uses O3+. If you’re wondering what the “O” stands for, it’s the new version of OcuSync. DJI’s proprietary technology can now transmit 1080p video signals up to 15KM. This should provide a solid connection of at least 1KM in densely populated urban areas, which is still well beyond the legal line of sight rules in most countries around the world.
DJI Mavic 3 Camera
The Mavic 3 Classic’s Micro Four Thirds sensor shouldn’t be underestimated. This is a Hasselblad-made device with a 24mm lens, f/2.8 – f/11 aperture, 84-degree field of view, and 3x digital zoom.
It shoots 20MP stills, or 5280×3956 pixels, and up to 5.1K video at 50fps. Slow-motion enthusiasts can shoot 4K at up to 120fps and 1080p at 200fps. And not to be underestimated, it can record video at up to 200Mbps to the onboard storage or a high-speed microSD card.
The camera gimbal has a pretty good range. We were impressed with how far the nose of the aircraft could tilt up without being visible. The gimbal has a wider range when operating autonomously, but there are controls that allow it to operate from -90 degrees down to 35 degrees up.
Should you buy the DJI Mavic 3 Classic?
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is the first drone I can confidently recommend to budget-conscious pilots who value camera quality over flight capabilities.
The starting price of $1,469 is still in the upper range of consumer drones, but it is a DSLR-sized camera in the price range of a DSLR camera and can fly. Of course, this price does not include a remote control. Including the RC-N1 remote control, it will cost $1,599, and including the DJI RC remote control, it will cost $1,749. You can buy the drone alone there, and then buy the DJI RC Pro for $1,199 to get the best control experience.
If you need more, the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine include a second camera. This additional device is a telephoto camera built into the same gimbal. It offers up to 28x zoom. The Cine model also includes a 1TB onboard SSD and the ability to record in ProRes format. For reference, the Mavic 3 Classic can record video at up to 200Mbps, while ProRes 422HQ runs at a whopping 3,772Mbps.
The Mavic 3 series continues the Mavic trend of having a fixed camera. If you need interchangeable payloads and lenses, the Inspire 2 is still the best drone. However, there are rumors that an Inspire 3 will be released in the near future. Sony’s AirPeak system is also an attractive consideration.
If these are too much for your needs or your wallet, the DJI Air 2S is at the top of our list of favorite drones. It comes in at just under $1,000. The Mini series is the next best option. The Mini 3 Pro is quite capable, but the Mini 2 is still the best drone we’ve flown under $500.
We really like the DJI Mavic 3 Classic. It’s easy to fly, stable and reliable, and we love the photos and videos it takes from the sky. We appreciate some of the more refined manual controls on the camera, but full auto produces great shots. We think you’ll like this drone too.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
- Great Micro Four Thirds camera
- Cheaper than Mavic 3
Discover the amazing Mavic 3 camera at an affordable price
Like the Mavic 3 before it, the Mavic 3 Classic offers a 20MP Micro Four Thirds camera, 5.1K video, and 46 minutes of flight time. A few concessions come at a significantly lower price.
