DJI Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 vs Mavic 3 Cine

• In-depth comparison between the DJI Mavic 3, DJI Mavic 3 Classic and DJI Mavic 3 Cine, which are great content-creation tools;
• All three drones have a quality 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad sensor, but the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine also feature a tele camera for enhanced zoom capabilities;
• The DJI Mavic 3 Cine - aimed at pro-filmmakers - supports Apple ProRes 422 HD Codec and has larger built-in storage of 1TB;
• The new Mavic 3 Classic has a lower price - making it a more cost-effective option; 
• Different packages are available for the Mavic 3 drones. Find out more in this blog;
• All three Mavic 3 drones are compatible with the DJI RC-N1, DJI RC Pro, and DJI RC. Find out which controller is best for you.

This video shows the amazing cinematic capabilities of the DJI Mavic 3.

Several of the breathtaking clips specifically reference the phrase: 'Shot on the Mavic 3 Cine'.

And there's good reason for this: There's three versions of the Mavic 3 Series. DJI initially released the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine in November 2021. A year later, DJI has added the Mavic 3 Classic to the mix.

So, what's the difference between the three, who are they aimed at and how do they impact your content creation? Find out in this comparison.

Mavic 3 Classic Vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Key Specs

The table below shows a quick, at-a-glance comparison between the Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3, and Mavic 3 Cine.

DJI Mavic 3 Classic Vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Camera

The Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3, and Mavic 3 Cine are quality content-creation drones, sharing key features such as the 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad sensor for 20MP imaging, and ability to shoot 5.1K/50fps video and epic 4K/120fps slow-motion.

Engineered for quality content creation and utilising that Hasselblad sensor, all three Mavic 3 drones have:   

• 12.8 stops of native dynamic range;
• f/2.8-f/11 adjustable aperture;
• 24mm equivalent focal length;
• Vision Detection Auto Focus;
• Hasselblad Native Colour Selection (HNCS): Delivers vivid natural colours;
• 10-bit D-Log: Provides more natural colour gradations for greater flexibility in post-production;
• HLG: Provides higher dynamic range, capturing footage that does not require colour tuning in post-production; 
• Night Mode: This video mode optimises footage in low-light scenarios such as sunsets and sunrises, reducing noise for cleaner shots. All three Mavic 3 drones were given Night Mode in a firmware update. For details, visit Mavic 3/Mavic 3 Cine firmware update or visit Mavic 3 Classic firmware update.  

However, one of the key differences between the Mavic 3 Series is that the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine also feature a 162mm telephoto lens, with an aperture of f/4.4 and capable of up to 28x hybrid zoom.

In contrast, the Mavic 3 Classic does not have the tele camera, featuring only the single Hasselblad sensor, with 3x digital zoom capabilities.

It's also worth noting that the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine feature gimbal lock, whereas the Mavic 3 Classic does not.

Another key difference is that the Mavic 3 Cine uses Apple ProRes 422 HQ Codec - the industry standard for high-quality video and one of the best practical HD formats available for cinematography.    

To complement this, the Cine has an internal 1TB SSD to cater for these larger Apple ProRes files. A microSD card can also be inserted for additional capacity.

In contrast, the standard Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic have 8GB of onboard storage, plus capacity for a microSD card. They do not use Apple ProRes, instead utilising H.264 and H.265 encoders. Incidentally, the H.264 and H.265 video formats can be used on the Mavic 3 Cine. 

Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 vs Mavic 3 Cine: Design

The Mavic 3 Series are lightweight and foldable drones.

All three have the same dimensions:

• Folded - without propellers (L x W x H): 221 x 96.3 x 90.3mm
• Unfolded - without propellers (L x W x H): 347.5 x 283 x 107.7mm

The Mavic 3 Classic and Mavic 3 weigh 895g, while the Mavic 3 Cine comes in at 899g.

It makes the Mavic 3 Series extremely portable - perfect for capturing quality content on the go. 

Being from the same family, the Mavic 3 Series look practically identical, furnished with a suite of safety sensors, and an auxiliary bottom light, while the removable battery is located at the rear of the aircraft.

Of course, the big difference in the drones' appearance is the sensor: The Classic featuring the single Hasselblad camera, while the Mavic 3 and mAVIC 3 Cine have the tele lens positioned above the Hasselblad camera.

Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 vs Mavic 3 Cine: Flight Performance - Battery Life, Transmission, Safety Features, Smart Shooting Modes

All three Mavic 3 drones are top performers, with excellent battery life, enhanced transmission, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

The table below shows some of drones' key flight performance features - which are shared between the Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Classic, and Mavic 3 Cine.

Safety Features

The Mavic 3 Series features a suite of safety features. These include:

While not strictly a safety feature like the others, the Mavic 3 Series is able to perform cruise control. This enables operators to fly the drone in any direction without having to continually press the control sticks - which not only makes long-distance flight more effortless, but also helps reduce shakes during manual control for smoother camera movement.  

Cruise control has been made available via firmware updates. Find out more by clicking Mavic 3/Mavic 3 Cine firmware updates or by clicking Mavic 3 Classic firmware updates.

Smart Shooting Modes

The Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3, and Mavic 3 Cine utilise the DJI Fly app and share a suite of smart shooting modes to streamline quality content creation. These are:

Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Controllers

The Mavic 3 Series is compatible with three controllers - the DJI RC, DJI RC Pro, and the DJI RC-N1.

So, what is the difference between these controllers, and which one is best for you? 

In a nutshell, the DJI RC and DJI RC Pro are smart controllers with built-in screens...

...whereas the DJI RC-N1 requires pilots to connect a separate mobile device.

Benefits of using the smart controllers include: Ultra-bright screen for crisp viewing even under direct sunlight; easy setup and quick start; and no need for pilots to worry about interference from calls or text messages during flight.  

But whether this matters comes down to preference, and the DJI RC-N1 - which is still a popular controller - may well fit the bill.

The table below provides some key specs of each controller. For a more in-depth comparison, read the DJI RC Pro vs DJI RC vs DJI RC-N1 blog.

At this point, it is worth mentioning that different Mavic 3 packages come with different controllers included in the box. This is discussed in the next section.

Mavic 3 Classic Vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - What's In The Box

When choosing between the Mavic 3 Series, it is important to know what comes in the box, as various options are available.

Mavic 3 Classic What's In The Box

Mavic 3 And Mavic 3 Cine What's In The Box

So, having looked at the what's in the box tables, there are several key things to note.

Firstly, the different Mavic 3 drone packages come with different controllers, ie:

• Mavic 3 Classic: DJI RC-N1 or DJI RC;
• Mavic 3: DJI RC-N1;
• Mavic 3 Cine: DJI RC Pro. 

It is also worth noting that the DJI Pro and DJI RC can be purchased separately, as individual items, if required.

Secondly, the Mavic 3 Classic is the only option which is available as a drone-only package, without a controller. This is ideal for operators who already own a DJI RC-N1, DJI RC, or DJI RC Pro. 

Thirdly, the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine are available as combos. The Mine 3 Cine Premium Combo is pictured below. 

These combos represent great value for money, featuring several key accessories, such as battery charging hub and ND filters, as well as additional batteries and propellers. It is a more cost-effective option to purchase the combo instead of purchasing these extra accessories separately.

In contrast, the Mavic 3 Classic is not available as a combo. However, operators who want the Classic (or who purchase the non-combo version of the Mavic 3 standard) can bulk out their accessory suite with the separate Mavic 3 Fly More Kit.

This features:

• DJI Mavic 3 Intelligent Flight Battery x 2
• DJI Mavic 3 100W Battery Charging Hub x 1
• DJI 65W Car Charger x 1
• DJI Mavic 3 Low-Noise Propellers (pair) x 3
• DJI Convertible Carrying Bag x 1

Incidentally, the Mavic 3 Fly More Kit is compatible with any Mavic 3 Series drone. However, it is not compatible with the Mavic 3 Enterprise Series. 

It is also worth noting that the Mavic 3 Fly More Kit does not feature ND filters, but the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine combos do. Click for Mavic 3 Classic ND filters, or click here for Mavic 3 ND filters.

Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Price

Aimed at pro-filmmakers, and featuring Apple ProRes, extra storage and the DJI RC Pro in the box, the Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo is the most expensive option.

At the other end of the scale, the Mavic 3 Classic represents great value, with a significant cost saving compared to the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine. 

The table below shows the prices of the various Mavic 3 packages. The prices were correct as of November 4th, 2022, but are subject to change.

And for reference, the Mavic 3 Fly More Kit is priced at £529 (correct as of November 2022). 

Mavic 3 Classic vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Target Audience

The target audience between the Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3 and the Mavic 3 Cine is different.

The standard Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic are arguably best-suited to tech-savvy amateur or semi-pro content creators who want to benefit from the latest tech and raise the bar of their aerial photography or filmmaking. 

And the lower price of the Mavic 3 Classic will probably make it a more attractive option, opening up a quality camera drone to more people. In fact, following the release of the Mavic 3 Classic, it is perhaps hard to see many pilots choosing the standard Mavic 3 - unless zoom is an essential requirement, and so bringing the additional tele lens into play. 

However, the Mavic 3 Cine will still be popular - despite the release of the Mavic 3 Classic - because it is geared to a different crowd.

Indeed, with its heftier price tag, support for Apple ProRes and internal 1TB SSD, plus the DJI RC Pro coming in the box as standard, the Cine's target market is very much professional filmmakers and production houses, for high-end, top-level content creation. 

DJI Mavic 3 Classic Vs Mavic 3 Vs Mavic 3 Cine - Summary

The Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Classic, and Mavic 3 Cine are amazing content-creation tools, sharing some incredible specs, such as the 46 minute flight time and that 20MP 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad sensor.

There are two major differences which will impact your decision.

The first is that the Mavic 3 Classic does not feature the additional tele camera, whereas the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine do. The tele camera enables up to 28x hybrid zoom. Whether this is a factor is up to the requirements of each operator.

The second key difference is that the Mavic 3 Cine supports Apple ProRes Codec. It also comes with a larger internal memory of 1TB SSD. This, coupled with the Mavic 3 Cine's more expensive tag, probably pushes it more into the hands of pro-level content creators.

But the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic are also quality camera drones, especially for recreational or semi-pro photography and filmmaking. And with its more cost-effective price tag, the Mavic 3 Classic becomes a very attractive proposition.

It means that the Mavic 3 Series provides videographers and content creators plenty of choice to pick the best camera drone for them.