Our source in China says the Mavic 3 Pro will “definitely” have a rear-mounted battery. Mavic 3 Pro features recap But this could just be wishful thinking. Our source in China doesn’t think this is in the cards, so tough to say: Text from our source… The Mavic 3 Cine is powered by a new remote called the DJI RC Pro. It basically looks and behaves like an updated version of DJI's Smart Controller. The RC Pro features a 1,000-nit, 5.5" high bright screen and a range of 15km (9.3 miles) thanks to O3+ (OcuSync 3) transmission. DJI says it takes 90 minutes to charge fully and can operate the drone up to 3 hours.

The Mavic 3 series has 2 obstacle avoidance sensors on the bottom of the drone plus auxiliary lights to aid in landing during low-light situations. The drone also warns you of nearby aircraft using ADS-B; a useful safety feature. (Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

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The 5,000 mAh battery’s theoretical limit of 46 minutes flight is attention-grabbing (31 was the previous limit), and we found nearly every one of them in our testing. More flight time is extremely useful in terms of positioning for a shot, and will working in teams much easier, reducing the extent the drone operator delays production with battery issues. The Mavic 2 already had the jump on the Inspire 2 here –this is a leap. The main difference between the Standard and Cine versions of the Mavic 3 is that the Standard version provides 8GB of internal storage, while the Cine features an impressive 1TB SSD with support for Apple ProRes 422 HQ video recording. Features and flight Tested with a production model DJI Mavic 3 in a closed environment in favorable conditions and an unobstructed wireless signal. Actual results may vary depending on environment, usage, and firmware version.

Strangely, DJI says that while the existing DJI Mavic 3 will remain on sale, it won't be producing that drone any more. This explains why the DJI Mavic 3 Pro's pricing is similar to the Mavic 3. The above figure is for reference only. Due to different production batches, DJI provides two kinds of gimbal protectors that are slightly different in appearance. The two gimbal protectors have the same function and can be used in the same way. APAS 5.0 – the latest iteration of an autopilot system that automatically detects obstacles – will avoid them by creating a path around them. In the demo given to DPReview by DJI's team, the video shown to us demonstrating APAS 5.0 capabilities was recorded at a maximum resolution of 4K/30p. This is consistent with the Air 2S. If you went to 4K/60 or 120p, the feature will no longer work. DJI says it has updated APAS 5.0 to work properly in more complicated environments, including a congested city. This feature was not yet available for us to test in the beta version of the DJI Fly app.We’ve even seen an image – we don’t know how legit – that shows a Mavic-like product that includes an array of visual sensors in very similar configuration to the Skydio 2:

For many pilots, perhaps most of them, this is more than enough. ( Here’s our launch review and video if you’re curious.) I look forward to trying out the features that aren't available yet, especially APAS 5.0. APAS 4.0 worked well on the Air 2S so I'm expecting promising flights, weaving through trees in a forest near my house. A cellular transmission dongle will also become available in the future (although we are told that it is not expected to be available in North America, the European Union, or the United Kingdom) and this will help the drone keep its connection in congested areas, especially if it's flying between buildings. All in all, the Mavic 3 series may not be perfect, but it represents DJI's ability to innovate and iterate with every new release. What we like Measured with Mavic 3 flying at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level until the battery reached 0%. Data is for reference only. Please pay attention to the RTH reminder on the DJI Fly app during flight.

DJI has put a premium on its flagship folding drone, but does the DJI Mavic 3 justify its price hike?

If you're feeling particularly flush, there's also the Cine Premium Combo, which sees the drone's storage bumped to 1TB and includes all of the Fly More Combo accessories, plus the new DJI RC Pro controller and two sets of ND filters. Unobstructed, free of interference, and when FCC-compliant. Maximum flight range specification is a proxy for radio link strength and resilience. Always follow local rules and regulations and fly your drone within your visual line of sight unless otherwise permitted. The release of the Mavic 3 series is long-awaited and for the most part, it delivers. My disappointment comes from the fact that more abilities to customize your photo settings weren't included. DJI periodically updates its firmware, so the company could surprise us in the future. And since they never cannibalize their product line, I can't help but wonder what's next? What's yet to come might offer the Hasselblad color profile, an optical zoom, and possibly even interchangeable lenses on an aircraft that can easily be carried around.