DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Is Pricey, But Expect Decent Specs And A Superior Performance
DJI currently has three variants of the Phantom 3 drone: the Standard, Advanced and Professionals.
All three variants are targeted at different segments of the fast growing worldwide non-military quadcopters market, with the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced primarily priced for the mid-range segment.
Having stated that, "mid-range" is only a subjective term and at $999, Phantom 3 Advanced is certainly not the cheapest drone money can buy.
However, a careful observation of the specs and features makes it abundantly clear that DJI has managed to pull off a decent job in making Phantom 3 Advanced one of the bests in its category.
With its price tag, the Advanced is capable of capturing video in 1080p (1,920 x 1,080p) and brings a slower 57-watt charger.
Even though 1080p is somewhat dwarfed by the Phantom 3 Professional's 4k video capability, you won't certainly be disappointed by the output the Advanced has to offer.
Overall, the design is not much different from its predecessor Phantom 2 Vision+. Thanks to the same self-tightening, color-coded propellers as the Vision+, installation is comparatively a lot easier and so is replacement.
However, the Advanced is powered by a newly designed battery which means, you can't operate the device with Phantom 2's batteries and vice versa.
DJI made a good choice by sticking to the three-axis gimbal to stabilize the camera even during strong wind or irregular/abrupt changes in movement.
Also, because the camera is designed to do seamlessly do 90-degree tilts, you can effortlessly shoot straight ahead, down and up (or anywhere in between).
The DJI Phantom 3 Advanced also carries a new-generation Vision Positioning System (VPS) at the back of its gimbal. The VPS comprises multiple high-quality sensors that make it possible for the device to hover even in the absence of GPS signal.
Although, you will have to take extra precautions while operating it in areas with no GPS connectivity. For example, the maximum effective range without GPS connectivity is only 3 meters (10 feet). Also, under such circumstances, it may not be a good idea to fly it over water, reflective surfaces or sound absorbing materials.
Just like any other quadcopter, the performance of the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced depends on how many satellites it can dock onto. Therefore, DJI made sure to include GLONASS, the Russian navigational system in addition to GPS so the device can tap into more satellites.
In addition, it is capable of faster satellite acquisition speed as compared to its older sibling, the Vision+,
Connecting the Phantom 3 Advanced with your Android or iOS device is fairly simple - all you need to do is plug in the charging cable of your smartphone/tablet in the Advanced's controller USB port.
With all factors taken into account, the advantages of the Phantom 3 Advanced can be surmised into the following, top-notch full-HD video, ease-of-use, enhanced safety features; new sensor technology and additional satellite support.
On the flip side, despite the hefty price of DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, the battery life, even though better than some of its competitors, is a bit on the shorter side (20+ mins).
Batteries could be purchased separately but don't expect the price to be cheap.
