Reboot Hub comparison

DJI Mavic Comparison: Mavic 2, Mavic 3 & Mavic 4 Pro

Choose Mavic 3 Classic for a single 4/3 wide camera, Mavic 3 Pro for three useful focal lengths, or Mavic 4 Pro when its newer capture options change your deliverable. Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom remain distinct older choices: one prioritizes a 1-inch camera, the other a 24-48mm optical zoom. They are not interchangeable camera packages.

Reviewed 6 September 2026. Consumer Mavic 2, Mavic 3 and Mavic 4 Pro camera platforms; enterprise and thermal variants are outside this comparison.

Name the camera system before the kit

  • Mavic 2 Pro

    Main camera
    1-inch CMOS, 20 MP; jointly developed by DJI and Hasselblad.
    Lens
    28mm equivalent; adjustable f/2.8-f/11 aperture.
    Video reference
    Up to 4K/30fps.

    Consider it for: a lower-cost route to a 1-inch camera when the actual kit, battery condition and editing requirements make sense. It is not the Mavic 2 optical-zoom model.

  • Mavic 2 Zoom

    Main camera
    1/2.3-inch CMOS, 12 MP; not the Mavic 2 Pro Hasselblad camera.
    Lens
    24-48mm equivalent, 2x optical zoom; f/2.8 at 24mm to f/3.8 at 48mm.
    Video reference
    Up to 4K/30fps.

    Consider it for: changing framing through a real optical zoom range. That ability is different from switching between the fixed-focal-length cameras on newer multi-camera Mavics.

  • Mavic 3 Classic

    Main camera
    Single 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera, 20 MP.
    Lens
    24mm equivalent; adjustable f/2.8-f/11 aperture. No separate tele camera.
    Video reference
    Up to 5.1K/50fps; 4K/120fps slow-motion recording.

    Consider it for: wide landscape, location and establishing shots when you do not need another camera. Paying for additional lenses makes little sense if your finished work never uses them.

  • Original Mavic 3

    Two cameras
    4/3 20 MP Hasselblad wide camera plus a 1/2-inch 12 MP tele camera.
    Lenses
    24mm f/2.8-f/11 and 162mm f/4.4 equivalents.
    Main-camera video reference
    Up to 5.1K/50fps; not a specification shared by its tele camera.

    Consider it for: a used wide-plus-long-tele kit. There is no dedicated 70mm camera between those two viewpoints, so do not describe it as the same system as Mavic 3 Pro.

  • Mavic 3 Pro

    Three cameras
    4/3 20 MP wide, 1/1.3-inch 48 MP medium tele and 1/2-inch 12 MP tele.
    Lenses
    24mm, 70mm and 166mm equivalents.
    Recording split
    The wide camera reaches 5.1K/50fps; both tele cameras reach 4K/60fps.

    Consider it for: a project needing wide context, a medium-tele subject shot and a tighter detail from one aircraft. Confirm whether the selected item is standard or Cine before comparing codecs and storage.

  • Mavic 4 Pro

    Three cameras
    4/3 100 MP wide, 1/1.3-inch 48 MP medium tele and 1/1.5-inch 50 MP tele.
    Lenses
    28mm, 70mm and 168mm equivalents.
    Main-camera video reference
    Up to 6K/60fps; storage and ALL-I support depend on the aircraft version.

    Consider it for: a production plan that benefits from its capture options. Start with the specific output and framing advantage, not an assumption that the newest aircraft improves every shot.

Focal lengths above are 35mm-format equivalents. Frame-rate ceilings belong to the named camera and recording mode; slow-motion capture is not a promise of that playback frame rate. Sources: Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom manual, Mavic 3 manuals, Classic manual, Mavic 3 Pro manual and Mavic 4 Pro specifications.

Choose the shots that justify the upgrade

Wide scenery without a telephoto requirement: start with Mavic 3 Classic, then compare the complete kit with Mavic 2 Pro. Classic's 4/3 sensor, wider 24mm-equivalent lens and higher recording ceiling are concrete differences. Whether they justify the cost depends on the files you deliver. A buyer making short 4K/30fps edits has a different requirement from one who needs 5.1K source footage or slow motion.

Medium-tele framing for a subject within a landscape: Mavic 3 Pro's 70mm camera is the meaningful addition over Classic and original Mavic 3. It lets you compose a tighter image without treating a digital crop of the wide camera as another physical camera. Plan the viewpoint and subject distance for the shot; perspective depends on where the aircraft is, not focal length alone.

Moving between wider and tighter framing: distinguish Mavic 2 Zoom's 24-48mm optical range from the separate 24/70/166mm cameras on Mavic 3 Pro. Those systems do not provide the same intermediate focal lengths in the same way. Ask whether you need an optical zoom movement during a take or several independently composed shots. That question is more useful than comparing a marketing zoom multiplier.

Upgrading from Mavic 3 Pro to Mavic 4 Pro: note the change from a 24mm to a 28mm-equivalent main lens. At an unchanged position, the latter frames more tightly; "newer" does not mean "wider." Decide whether that framing suits your locations before weighing higher-resolution capture. Our Mavic 3 Pro vs Mavic 4 Pro comparison is the next step when both aircraft remain plausible.

These recommendations are editorial interpretations of documented camera differences. They are not claims of a Reboot Hub side-by-side flight test, a measured low-light advantage or a guaranteed commercial return.

Editorial comparison image for DJI Mavic drone family comparison; distant unmarked drones in a landscape, not product or condition evidence.
Editorial comparison image. Check the selected product record for actual-item photos and condition evidence.

Standard, Cine and Creator are different recording purchases

A professional-sounding package name is not a codec specification. Start with your editor or client's required file format, then identify the exact aircraft version that records it. A controller upgrade or extra-battery bundle does not, by itself, change the aircraft's recording hardware.

  • Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine: the standard aircraft has 8 GB internal storage. Cine adds a 1 TB SSD and the documented Apple ProRes recording route. Do not apply the main camera's ProRes specifications to every camera or to a standard aircraft.
  • Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine: standard Pro has 8 GB internal storage; Pro Cine has a 1 TB SSD and supports Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 422 and 422 LT. The manual explicitly reserves ProRes for Cine. Three cameras alone do not prove Cine hardware.
  • Mavic 4 Pro versions: DJI lists 64 GB nominal storage for the standard version and 512 GB for the Creator Combo aircraft, with approximately 42 GB and 460 GB available respectively. H.264 ALL-I is reserved for the 512 GB version. ALL-I is not another name for Apple ProRes.

Read the Mavic 3 Pro recording footnotes and Mavic 4 Pro version-specific specifications before selecting a used kit. Request an original file in the intended codec, not just a screenshot showing a high-resolution setting. Import it into the actual editing workflow and check playback, color interpretation, storage needs and export requirements.

Color profiles also vary by camera. For Mavic 3 Pro, the manual lists D-Log on the main Hasselblad camera and HLG/D-Log M on the medium and long tele cameras; do not label every lens as an identical D-Log source. Matching shots in an edit requires attention to the profile that produced each file, even when every clip came from the same aircraft.

Compare the whole working kit, not the aircraft price

Controller identity comes first. Mavic 4 Pro's manual covers DJI RC 2 and DJI RC Pro 2. Mavic 3 Pro's manual covers DJI RC and DJI RC Pro. Those similar names identify different devices; the family name "Mavic" is not a compatibility rule. Confirm the selected aircraft, controller and firmware together before assuming an existing controller can move to a newer generation.

Battery quantity is not battery condition. Manufacturer maximum-flight references are 31 minutes for Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom, 46 minutes for Mavic 3/Classic, 43 minutes for Mavic 3 Pro and 51 minutes for Mavic 4 Pro. These figures use stated test conditions, not one matched field test. They are not a warranty of the next flight from a used battery. Ask about the supplied batteries and warnings, and plan a return reserve rather than budgeting a job around the headline maximum.

Carry weight includes more than the airframe. DJI lists 958 g for Mavic 3 Pro and approximately 1,063 g for Mavic 4 Pro. Chargers, controllers, batteries and protective packing add to the bag. When deciding whether to upgrade, compare the equipment you will actually carry and charge, not only the two aircraft weights.

Inspection evidence should follow the camera configuration

  1. Mavic 2 Pro or Zoom: ask for an identifiable camera assembly and model record. For Pro, review focus and aperture behavior; for Zoom, ask whether the optical zoom operates through its range. A generic "Mavic 2 camera checked" note does not distinguish those tests.
  2. Classic: inspect the wide-camera glass, focus, gimbal movement and recorded image. There is no tele camera to test. A photograph showing a different multi-camera assembly is a reason to resolve the listing identity before buying.
  3. Original Mavic 3, Pro or Mavic 4 Pro: request a sample or check record for each physical camera, not merely confirmation that one live image appears. Look for focus inconsistency, persistent artifacts and any unresolved camera or gimbal warning. Record which lenses were actually checked.
  4. Cine or 512 GB versions: confirm the aircraft's storage and recording options through the selected item's evidence. Ask whether recording and file export were checked. A box marked with a premium bundle name is not sufficient proof of the aircraft inside.

Then inspect the common airframe items: arms, motor mounts, propellers, battery latches and contacts. Review the selected listing's actual photos, included-item notes and evaluation evidence alongside the Reboot Hub Standard and warranty policy. Do not infer crash history, remaining battery capacity or a specific warranty entitlement from a cosmetic grade alone.

Follow the comparison that resolves your remaining choice

Questions before you choose

Does Mavic 2 Zoom have the Mavic 2 Pro Hasselblad camera?

No. Mavic 2 Pro has the jointly developed DJI/Hasselblad 1-inch 20 MP camera. Mavic 2 Zoom has a different 1/2.3-inch 12 MP camera with a 24-48mm-equivalent optical zoom lens. The camera identity must match the selected item.

Does Mavic 3 Classic have the same cameras as Mavic 3 Pro?

No. Classic has one 4/3 20 MP wide camera. Mavic 3 Pro adds separate 70mm-equivalent medium-tele and 166mm-equivalent tele cameras alongside its wide camera. Classic is a single-camera choice, not a three-camera aircraft with features disabled.

Does every Mavic 3 Pro record Apple ProRes?

No. DJI reserves Apple ProRes recording for Mavic 3 Pro Cine. A standard Mavic 3 Pro does not acquire Cine recording capabilities just because it is sold with a premium controller or extra batteries.

Is Mavic 4 Pro automatically the right upgrade?

No. Decide whether its capture options, framing and exact recording version solve a requirement in your work. Compare the complete kit and editing workflow. Mavic 3 Classic or Mavic 3 Pro can remain a better fit when their camera system already supplies the shots you need.

Specification sources and scope

The source review used the English Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom User Manual v2.2 (printed pages 6, 37, 62-63), Mavic 3 User Manual v2.3 (47, 77-79), Mavic 3 Classic User Manual v1.5 (50, 84-86), Mavic 3 Pro User Manual v1.4 (9, 66, 104-107, 111) and Mavic 4 Pro User Manual v1.2 (12-17, 66, 85). Mavic 4 Pro's manual directs readers to DJI's current online specifications; those figures were cross-checked with the Mavic Data register supplied to Reboot Hub.

These are consumer-camera comparisons, not enterprise, thermal or multispectral capability claims. Firmware and recording modes can change; inspect the exact aircraft version and current official documentation when a particular feature decides the purchase.