Autel EVO II: is this the alternative to DJI?
Autel Robotics announced the EVO II series drone at CES 2020 , promising major improvements over the original EVO model launched in 2018.
· 7 min read
DJI Mavic 4 Pro vs Mavic 3 Pro: everything new in the most anticipated drone of the year
Table of contents
After a very long wait, DJI has finally unveiled the Mavic 4 Pro, a drone that brings significant innovations over its already highly acclaimed predecessor, the Mavic 3 Pro. The newcomer promises to further revolutionise aerial photography and filming, consolidating DJI's position at the top of the market.
But what exactly are the differences between the Mavic 4 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro, and is the upgrade really worth it? Let's go through, point by point, what the new DJI drone offers in addition.
Camera and telephoto lenses
The Mavic 4 Pro is equipped with a brand-new 4/3" Hasselblad CMOS sensor, capable of capturing 100 MP images and HDR video up to 6K at 60 fps. An extraordinary upgrade over the 20 MP sensor of the Mavic 3 Pro, which reached a maximum of 5.1K at 50 fps. The difference also lies in the dynamic range, now raised to around 16 stops, enabling extremely detailed footage in any lighting condition.
In addition, the Dual Native ISO Fusion technology, introduced in the Mavic 4 Pro, delivers superior performance in low-light conditions, greatly expanding creative possibilities.
The telephoto lens setup has also been significantly improved:
- The 70 mm medium camera keeps the 1/1.3” CMOS sensor size, but uses a more advanced image processing engine than the Mavic 3 Pro, enabling video recording up to 4K at 120 fps instead of the previous 60 fps.
- The real novelty is the 168 mm camera, which goes from the Mavic 3 Pro's 12 MP (1/2”) sensor to an impressive 50 MP (1/1.5”) CMOS sensor with decidedly more detailed and sharper image quality.
Both telephoto lenses now offer improved tracking performance, thanks to the introduction of the Subject Focusing function, which automatically keeps focus on the subject during zoom and focal length changes.
Infinity Gimbal: shooting from every possible angle
The Mavic 4 Pro introduces a breakthrough innovation with the new Infinity Gimbal, able to rotate a full 360° and tilt up to 70° upward. Compared to the classic three-axis gimbal of the Mavic 3 Pro, limited to a 35° upward tilt, this novelty hugely expands creative possibilities, allowing shots never seen before with a Mavic-line drone.
Endurance and flight performance
Another improvement concerns endurance: the Mavic 4 Pro guarantees a flight time of up to 51 minutes, 8 minutes more than the Mavic 3 Pro's 43 minutes. Maximum speed has also increased, now up to 90 km/h, as has range, thanks to the new DJI O4+ transmission system reaching up to 30 km, double the previous O3+ of the Mavic 3 Pro (15 km).
Safety and obstacle detection, even in the dark
The Mavic 4 Pro takes safety capabilities to a new level with 0.1 lux Nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing and a forward LiDAR sensor. This allows the drone to recognize and avoid obstacles even in near-total darkness, clearly improving night operations compared to the Mavic 3 Pro.
The Mavic 4 Pro's new Smart RTH, based on LiDAR and visual mapping, enables even more precise automatic returns, even without a GPS signal, a feature absent in its predecessor.
Class marking
A crucial detail for the European market is that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, with its weight of over 900 grams, has obtained C2 class certification from EASA, while the Mavic 3 Pro was certified as class C1. This means that to fly the new model you will need to hold the Open A2 certificate. This makes access to the Mavic 4 Pro more selective, introducing stricter requirements for operators who want to use it.
Available versions and prices
The new Mavic 4 Pro sits in a significant price range, a factor that could make buying it demanding for those looking for a drone mainly for hobby and recreational purposes. However, the cost is fully justified by the remarkable technological innovations introduced by this model: in fact, the value for money of the new DJI drone is absolutely competitive considering its advanced features and the performance offered.
The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is available in three versions at different prices to meet different needs: base version (which still includes the new DJI RC 2 remote controller, with a rotatable, ultra-high-brightness 7-inch screen), perfect for those who want the drone with its essential capabilities, Fly More Combo version, perfect for users looking for a complete and versatile solution, and Creator Combo 512 GB version, dedicated to videomaking professionals and advanced users, offering superior tools and storage capacity.
You can click here to see the details and price of each of the three versions mentioned above.
Conclusions
With the Mavic 4 Pro, DJI has not just updated its most popular drone line, but has introduced substantial improvements affecting every single operational and creative aspect. The Mavic 4 Pro is an excellent investment for anyone who wants to harness the full potential offered today by DJI technology.
