DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3 (Here’s my Choice)

Are you in the market for a new drone? Today I will look at two DJI drones, the new DJI Avata and the DJI Mavic 3.
My goal isn’t just to show you which one is better than the other but to help you choose between the two depending on the type of footage you want to create.
So, DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3, which one should you choose?
If you are looking for high-quality, smooth footage with a lot of detail and room for editing and color-grading, the DJI Mavic 3 is a clear winner. If you are looking for high-speed footage, an FPV experience, to film indoors, or film fast-moving objects, the DJI Avata is a great choice.
If possible, get both since they bring different types of footage to the table.
  <p>
    </a>
  </p></li> </ul> 
  
  <ul class="field-group">
    <li>
      <p>
        <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="product-name lasso-title" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GJZZ48?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1034209" data-lasso-name="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo" title="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo">DJI Avata Pro-View Combo</a>
      </p>
    </li>
    
    <li>
      <p>
        3.5
      </p>
    </li>
    
    <li>
      <p>
        $1,388.00
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  
  <ul class="field-group">
    <li>
      <p>
        <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="btn lasso-button-1" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GJZZ48?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1034209" data-lasso-name="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo" title="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo"><br /> Buy from Amazon </a>
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  
  <ul class="field-group">
    <li>
      <p>
        <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo"></p> 
        
        <p>
          </a>
        </p></li> </ul> 
        
        <ul class="field-group">
          <li>
            <p>
              <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="product-name lasso-title" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo">DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo</a>
            </p>
          </li>
          
          <li>
            <p>
              3.5
            </p>
          </li>
          
          <li>
            <p>
              $4,999.00
            </p>
          </li>
        </ul>
        
        <ul class="field-group">
          <li>
            <p>
              <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="btn lasso-button-1" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo"><br /> Buy from Amazon </a>
            </p>
          </li>
        </ul>
        
        <p>
          <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GJZZ48?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1034209" data-lasso-name="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo" title="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo"></p> 
          
          <p>
            </a>
          </p>
          
          <p>
            <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="product-name lasso-title" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GJZZ48?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1034209" data-lasso-name="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo" title="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo">DJI Avata Pro-View Combo</a>
          </p>
          
          <p>
            3.5
          </p>
          
          <p>
            $1,388.00
          </p>
          
          <p>
            <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="btn lasso-button-1" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7GJZZ48?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1034209" data-lasso-name="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo" title="DJI Avata Pro-View Combo"><br /> Buy from Amazon </a>
          </p>
          
          <p>
            <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo"></p> 
            
            <p>
              </a>
            </p>
            
            <p>
              <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="product-name lasso-title" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo">DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo</a>
            </p>
            
            <p>
              3.5
            </p>
            
            <p>
              $4,999.00
            </p>
            
            <p>
              <a rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" class="btn lasso-button-1" href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Cine-Premium-Combo/dp/B09HHB3YFW?tag=droneblog0a-20&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" data-lasso-box-trackable="true" data-lasso-id="1026159" data-lasso-name="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo" title="DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo"><br /> Buy from Amazon </a>
            </p>
            
            <p>
              10/05/2022 09:08 pm GMT
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Please keep reading to learn more about these drones and the features that make them suitable for your type of work.
            </p>
            
            <h2>
              DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3 – Detailed Comparison
            </h2>
            
            <p>
              Let’s what these drones are best used for based on their features.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Size, Weight, and Design
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              Looking at them, you can tell these drones were not made for the same applications. The DJI Mavic 3 is large, spanning up to 283mm in width, 357 mm in length, and 107 in height when the arms are unfolded.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              It also weighs 0.9 kg, making it a bulky and heavy drone (heavier than most Mavic drones) that will not be very easy to move around.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The design also makes it unsuitable for flying in very tight spaces and also makes it a hazard in case it crashes. The heavier it is, the more impact it will have, and the more damage it’s likely to experience compared to a lighter drone.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata, on the other hand, is small, spanning 180*180*80(MM), and instead of unfolding arms, the propellers are enclosed in propeller guards.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata is also lighter, weighing 410 grams.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The propeller guards and the smaller size allow this drone to fly in tighter spaces and to fly closer to people compared to the Mavic 3.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The only advantage a heavier drone like the Mavic 3 would have over the Avata is its ability to withstand stronger winds.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Camera
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Mavic 3 is hands down the better camera drone of the two. It features a Hasselblad camera setup that comprises two cameras.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              One of the cameras features a micro 4/3 sensor, an aperture ranging from f2.8 to f11, and can shoot in 5.1K at 50fps and 4K at 120 fps, 20MP stills, 12-bit raw images, and 86 degrees FOV.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The second camera i9s a 162mm tele lens that features an f/4.4 aperture and a 28x hybrid zoom.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Combined, these cameras shoot in 10-bit D-log and have access to Hasselblad Natural Camera Solution, which has been around for a while. It’s known for its higher quality compared to standard cameras.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata’s camera is no match for the Hasselblad, but it’s better than the one on the DJI FPV and most FPV drones you will find on the market.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Unlike the DJI Mavic 3, which has a variable aperture, the DJI Avata features an f/2.8 aperture. It also shoots in 4K at 60 fps and 1080p at 120 fps. However, it features a larger FOV thanks to the 1-axis gimbal design.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              With the Avata, you get to shoot in D-Cinelike at 8-bit. Compared to the Mavic 3’s 10-bit D-log, you have access to fewer colors, and the D-Cinelike gives you less room for editing with editing software compared to the D-log, which is flatter and allows you to reveal the natural colors of the subject.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Speed
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              Where the DJI Avata lacks in the camera, it compensates in speed, agility, and ability to fly in orientations that standard camera drones can’t.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata can fly at speeds of up to 62 mph when in Manual Mode, 31 mph in Sport Mode, and 17 mph in Normal mode.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Some FPV drones can fly faster than the DJI Avata, but those that can fly at those speeds and produce great footage are pretty few.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Mavic 3 is larger and slower, achieving a top speed of 42 mph in sport mode, 11.2 mph in Cine mode, and 33.6 mph in Normal mode.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              This is enough speed for the style of flying this drone was made for. Fast enough to get to the destination and slow enough to ensure smooth footage.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Image stabilization
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              Both of these drones have stabilization good enough for their type of flight.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata is faster, banks a lot, can dive, and fly in a wide range of orientations, which explains why it has a single-axis gimbal.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              It also has RockSteady and HorizonSteady stabilization that keeps the footage stable throughout all these movements.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Since the DJI Mavic 3 mostly flies horizontally, the only stabilization it has is the 3-axis gimbal, but its weight, altitude hold, and GPS also add to the drone’s stability when in flight.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Controllers
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata is not your typical camera drone. Unlike the DJI Mavic 3, which comes with a standard controller where you attach a smartphone or use the smart controller, the Avata comes with a motion controller.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              While it has a learning curve, the Motion Controller unlocks a wide range of possibilities and movements that would be difficult to accomplish with a standard controller. It also unlocks head tracking, where you can control the drone with your head movements.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              However, you still need the DJI FPV controller, which looks like the Xbox gamepad, to access all features of the Avata. More importantly, you can only fly in Manual mode when using the FPV controller.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              In most cases, both controllers work in the same way, but the DJI Avata’s controls seem to be more sensitive.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              With the Avata, you are more like controlling a sports car, but with the Mavic 3, it’s like controlling a truck.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Flight experience
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata provides one of the best flight experiences since you get to view the footage like you are in the cockpit of a fighter jet.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              And no matter how great the Mavic 3’s camera is, the experience you get from it doesn’t come close to what you can get with the DJI Avata.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              FPV has even been made possible in the Mavic 3, with goggles such as the Orca FPV goggles, but it’s not as good as you can get in the Avata.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Besides, they only work with the Smart controller that comes with the Mavic 3 Cine or individually and at an extra cost.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              To use FPV with the standard controller, you would need to use Drone Mask (or something similar), which is just a device that makes the smartphone an FPV screen.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The DJI Avata uses the Goggles 2, or the older Goggles V2, which are both comfortable, and can achieve up to 1080p, and the new Goggles 2 even have diopter adjustments and can transmit through WiFi.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              While the third-party goggles are not of the same quality as DJI’s goggles, they still offer a good immersive experience and come in handy when it’s too bright, and you can’t see your smartphone’s screen clearly.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              I’d consider them if I chose to go for the Mavic 3.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Obstacle sensing
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              Another reason the DJI Avata is perfect for flying in tight spaces or indoors is because of the obstacle avoidance systems, since it only has downward sensors.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              And why is that a good thing in such an environment?
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Every time the drone senses an obstacle, it either stops or swerves, and if there are too many obstacles, the drone will either end up crashing or have trouble flying since it keeps stopping.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              But a more comprehensive obstacle-sensing system will be more helpful for regular flights in areas with trees, buildings, and other barriers.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              That’s why the DJI Mavic 3 has 5-directional obstacle sensing:
            </p>
            
            <ul>
              <li>
                Lateral
              </li>
              <li>
                Front
              </li>
              <li>
                Back
              </li>
              <li>
                Top
              </li>
              <li>
                Bottom
              </li>
            </ul>
            
            <h3>
              Flight time
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              I don’t know about you, but I love a drone that will last longer in the air and gather as much footage as I can, and the DJI Mavic 3 does just that.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Thanks to the 5000mAh battery, you can get up to 40 minutes of flight time.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              And if you have the Mavic 3 Cine, you get a free 1TB SD card that will store lots of footage before you think of buying third-party SD cards.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              On the other hand, the DJI Avata is designed for short bursts of fun at high speeds, which explains the 18-minute flight time.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Compared to the Mavic 3, 18 minutes is relatively short, but when you cross to the world of FPV, 18 minutes is considered to be a long flight time.
            </p>
            
            <h3>
              Range
            </h3>
            
            <p>
              While both drones use the new OcuSync 3.0+, the DJI Avata has a smaller range (up to 6 miles) compared to the Mavic 3’s 9.3 miles.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              In the CE and SRRC regions, the Mavic 3 can fly for up to 5 miles, while the Avata is limited to 1.2 miles and 3.7 miles, respectively.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Since the DJI Mavic 3 is mainly designed to fly in VLOS, the 9.3 mile range means you have enough transmission power for such operations.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              But with the Avata, since you are flying FPV, the range is good enough for VLOS, but you will often fly beyond the line of sight, which is why most regions require drone pilots to have a spotter.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The limited range shows that you shouldn’t fly too far from the drone, especially in the CE and SRRC regions.
            </p>
            
            <h2>
              DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3 – Which one should you choose?
            </h2>
            
            <p>
              So, why would you choose the DJI Avata over the Mavic 3 or vice versa? It all comes down to the shooting style.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              With the Mavic drones like the Mavic 3 or its predecessors, you are limited to slow, flat footage where the horizon doesn’t bank.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              However, the DJI Avata introduces you to a new world of cinematic possibilities: you can make the footage bank, fly at very high speeds, and even perform acrobatic shots and incorporate all these movements into your shots.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Such footage is adrenaline-inducing, even to the one who’s watching, and can help you create very entertaining content for social media. Some of my favorite shots are high-speed shots when navigating a cliff, waterfall, or rugged landscape.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The high-speed footage also works best when filming fast-moving objects like racing cars, motorbikes, or even other drones.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              If this is the type of footage you are looking for, then the DJI Avata would be great.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              But if you still want that smooth footage with great detail and high-quality stills, stick to the Mavic 3. This is the kind of footage that will be more useful in industries such as real estate, weddings, and corporate events, among others, compared to footage from the DJI Avata.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Besides, the DJI Mavic 3 allows you to introduce a slight bank on the Horizon, but it’s not as pronounced as in the DJI Avata.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              And due to the speed and nature of stabilization, the DJI Avata isn’t ideal for shooting stills and wouldn’t be the best drone for those specializing in drone photography.
            </p>
            
            <h2>
              DJI Avata vs. DJI Mavic 3 – My choice
            </h2>
            
            <p>
              As we have seen, both are great drones. It all depends on what you need the drone for. I am more of a photographer and videographer, so I am more inclined to choose the Mavic 3 over the Avata.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              The Hasselblad camera setup, extended range, image quality, and battery time are best suited for my work.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              However, the Avata drives a hard bargain, and the FPV shots would look great, especially if you combine them with the Mavic 3 shots.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              If possible, I would like both drones in my arsenal, but not the DJI Avata alone. If budget is an issue and you want a camera drone but find the Mavic 3 expensive and want to get the Avata because it’s cheaper, that wouldn’t be the best choice.
            </p>
            
            <p>
              Instead, get the Mini 3 Pro or the DJI Air 2S since you can do more with these. The DJI Avata is more of a specialized drone and works best as an extra drone to a cinematographer’s arsenal, but not as an only drone.
            </p>