Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.

DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 4K UHD Video Camera Drone

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,127 ratings

To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.

About this item

  • 4k UHD video recording with fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal; Vision Positioning system allows stable flight indoors
  • Lightbridge digital streaming allows live viewing of 720p video (full resolution video is simultaneously recorded on the internal microSD card)
  • Included flight battery and rechargable remote controller means this system is ready to fly out of the box. Flying this product is restricted within 15 miles radius of the White House.
  • DJI Pilot app for iOS and Android allows live viewing and complete camera control (phone/tablet sold separately; see DJI's website for compatible models)
  • Kindly refer all the Tutorial Videos given in the Image Section on the Catalog before use for the proper training.

WARNING:

CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.
CHOKING HAZARD -- This toy is a small ball. Not for children under 3 yrs.
CHOKING HAZARD -- Toy contains a small ball. Not for children under 3 yrs. To be used under the direct supervision of an adult

Important information

Legal Disclaimer

Must be 18 & over to purchase, please see DJI.com for details. You must register your aircraft in the USA.

To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.

Top Brand: DJI

Highly Rated
4.5/5 star rating from 100K+ customer ratings
Trending
100K+ orders for this brand in past 3 months
Low Returns
Customers usually keep items from this brand

Compare with similar items

This Item
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 4K UHD Video Camera Drone
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 4K UHD Video Camera Drone
Recommendations
Ruko F11GIM2 Drones with Camera for Adults 4K, 3KM Long Range Video Transmission, Professional Gimbal Drone with EIS, 64Mins Flight Time GPS Auto Return Integrated Remote ID, Level 6 Wind Resistance
dummy
Potensic ATOM 3-Axis Gimbal 4K GPS Drone, Under 249g, 96 Mins Flight, Max 6KM Transmission, Visual Tracking, 4K/30FPS QuickShots, Lightweight for Adults and Beginners, Fly More Combo
dummy
DJI Mini 2 SE, Lightweight Mini Drone with QHD Video, 10km Max Video Transmission, 31-Min Flight Time, Under 249 g, Auto Return to Home, 3-Axis Gimbal Drone with EIS, Drone with Camera for Beginners
dummy
DJI Mini 3 (DJI RC), Lightweight Mini Drone with 4K HDR Video, 38-Min Flight Time, True Vertical Shooting, Return to Home, up to 10km Video Transmission, Drone with Camera for Beginners
dummy
DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine with DJI RC Pro (High-Bright screen), Flagship Triple-Camera Drone, Tri-Camera Apple ProRes Support with 1TB of storage, 3 Intelligent Flight Batteries, FAA Remote ID Compliant
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
PriceCurrently unavailable.-41% $339.99
List:$580.99
-20% $359.99
List:$449.99
$299.00$609.00$4,799.00
Delivery
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 18
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 18
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 18
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 18
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 18
Customer Ratings
Remote Control
4.0
4.5
4.6
4.3
4.2
4.6
For beginners
3.4
4.3
4.7
4.2
4.0
3.6
Easy to learn
3.7
4.5
4.3
4.2
4.5
Battery life
3.3
4.6
3.6
Sold By
Ruko Brand Store
Potensic®
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
model name
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Drone
F11GIM2
ATOM
MT2SD
DJIMINI3RC
DJIMAV3PROCD
weight
9.2 pounds
585 grams
249 grams
0.24 kilograms
0.64 kilograms
3.91 kilograms
control type
Remote Control
Remote Control
Remote Control
Remote Control
Remote Control
Remote Control
maximum range
5000 meters
3 kilometers
6 kilometers
15 kilometers
media type
Flash
SD
Micro SD
Micro SD
SD
SD
video resolution
4K
4K
4K @30fps;4K @25fps;4K @24fps; 2.7K @30fps;2.7K @25fps;2.7K @24fps; 1080P@60fps;1080P@50fps;1080P@30fps;1080P@25fps;1080P@24fps
2.7K, 1080p
4K
4K UHD 2160p
wireless tech
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

From the manufacturer

Phantom 3 Professional

Be your own director and tell your story as never before. Reach for the sky and capture professional-quality footage from a new perspective.

With a crystal-clear camera, real-time HD video display, and intuitive flight controls, what will you create?

Overview

Epic Aerial Video

With the Phantom 3 Professional, you’re shooting 4K video at up to 30 frames per second and capturing 12 megapixel photos that look crisper and cleaner than ever.

Live HD View

Simply connect your phone or tablet, and a 720p HD view of everything your camera sees as you fly is displayed live.

Complete Control

Keep your Phantom 3 fully under your command while accessing the most-used features right on the included remote controller.

Unparallel Safety for First time Pilots

A unique Beginner Mode helps you learn how to fly in a safe, limited area.

Powerful Mobile App

Complete power is at your fingertips. Control the camera and change flight settings, all from your mobile device.

Vision Positioning

Fly indoors, low to the ground, and in GPS-free areas with Vision Positioning technology.

Phantom 3 Professional Phantom 3 Advanced Phantom 3 4K Phantom 3 Standard
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,127
4.4 out of 5 stars
894
4.0 out of 5 stars
215
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,614
Suitable For Aerial videographers for whom high-quality UHD 4K video capabilities are a requirement Aerial photographers who need an aircraft with an extended range and live HD view Aerial videographers for whom high-quality UHD 4K video capabilities are a requirement Beginners who require a ready-to-fly, affordable aerial platform with Intelligent Flight modes
Flight Time About 23 mins About 23 mins About 25 mins About 25 mins
Video (up to) UHD 4K/30fps 2.7K/30fps UHD 4K/30fps 2.7K/30fps
Max Transmission Distance FCC:5 km (outdoors and unobstructed) CE:3.5 km FCC:5 km (outdoors and unobstructed) CE:3.5 km FCC:1200m (outdoors and unobstructed) CE:500m FCC:1000m (outdoors and unobstructed) CE:500m
Video Transmission System DJI Lightbridge Video Downlink DJI Lightbridge Video Downlink DJI WiFi Video Downlink DJI WiFi Video Downlink
Outdoors Positioning Module GPS+GLONASS Dual Positioning Module GPS+GLONASS Dual Positioning Module GPS Module GPS Module
Vision Positioning Module

US DJI Warranty Services Notice

Dear DJI Creators,

To provide you with ever better service, DJI will now only provide warranty services for products purchased from Authorized Resellers. Products purchased from unauthorized Resellers are not subject to warranty services. This rule takes effect from 3 Aug 2016. Customers who have already bought DJI products will not be affected.

Before buying a DJI product, visit the official DJI website to find an authorized DJI dealer where you can make your purchase.

When applying for a warranty service, the sales invoice of the product requiring warranty repair must be provided.

Conditions Apply. Visit the website for more details.

Best regards,

DJI

Product information

Warranty & Support

Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here [PDF ]

Feedback

DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 4K UHD Video Camera Drone


Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can't match every price reported, we'll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.

Where did you see a lower price?

URL:
Price: ($)
Shipping cost: ($)
Date of the price:
/
/

Store name:
City:
State:
Price: ($)
Date of the price:
/
/


Please sign in to provide feedback.

Looking for specific info?

What's in the box

  • 1
  • Product guides and documents

    Product Description

    Product Description

    The Phantom 3 Professional continues the proud tradition of DJI's Phantom series and brings several important innovations to the Phantom's rich feature set. The Phantom 3 Professional carries a fully stabilized 3-axis 4k UHD video camera for smooth, crisp videos and still photos. To allow you to see what the drone sees, DJI has engineered a new generation of their Lightbridge technology that allows 720p HD digital streaming of live video directly from the drone. You can control the camera and see video in real time as you fly and you can even share the video using the DJI Pilot app's advanced features. To aid indoor flying, the Phantom 3 Professional includes an integrated array of optical and ultrasonic sensors call Vision Positioning that allows you to fly precisely indoors without a GPS signal. The Phantom 3 Professional includes all the tried-and-true features you'd expect from a DJI drone, including GPS navigation with auto takeoffs and auto landings, intelligent high power flight battery, a built-in safety database of no fly zones, and a powerful mobile app for your iOS or Android device.

    Note: DJI has locked your Phantom from being able to even start the motor if you live within a 15 mile radius of the White House. This encompasses not only D.C. but much of Prince Georges County, Arlington, Fairfax, Silver Spring, Falls Church and Montgomery County. DJI does not warn you of this prior to purchase. Outside of this 15 mile radius, the drone works great, but be aware, that if you bought it and live within the restricted zone, you will not be able to fly it, even on your own property.

    Set Contains:

    • Aircraft Body (1)
    • Remote Controller (1)
    • Propeller Pairs (4)
    • Intelligent Flight Battery (1)
    • Battery Charger (1)
    • Power Cable (1)
    • Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Safety Guidelines and Disclaimer (Manual)
    • Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines (Manual)
    • Phantom 3 Professional Quick Start Guide (Manual)
    • Gimbal Clamp (1)
    • Vibration Absorbers (4)
    • 16GB Micro-SD Card (1)
    • Micro-USB Cable (1)
    • Anti-drop Kit (2)
    • Landing Pads (4)
    • Propeller Wrench (1)
    • Stickers (5 - Gold, Silver, Red, Blue, Pink)

    Customer reviews

    4.3 out of 5 stars
    4.3 out of 5
    1,127 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality, speed, and video quality of the unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, they say it's an excellent piece of equipment, can immediately fly after charging, and produces professional results. Customers are also impressed with the ease of use, and camera. That said, opinions are mixed on value and battery.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    306 customers mention270 positive36 negative

    Customers like the quality of the unmanned aerial vehicle. They mention it's an excellent piece of equipment, stable as a big rock, and easy to use with professional results. The 4K video is amazing, and the camera is nice.

    "...I whole heartedly recommend this as a high-grade aerial photography platform for serious amateurs. Perhaps it may even be professional grade...." Read more

    "...The controls are very responsive and well thought out. The controller is incredibly simple to use - only the essentials are on it...." Read more

    "...Overall, I love my P3 Pro. It is a superior product in many ways...." Read more

    "...The remote control (RC) works flawlessly and is a delight with respect to interfacing with my iPhone 6 plus...." Read more

    234 customers mention212 positive22 negative

    Customers are impressed with the ease of flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle. They say it's highly agile and advanced, and can immediately fly after charging and upgrading the firmware. Customers also say it has incredible maneuverability and is very responsive to controls. They also mention that it'll fly amazingly well outside and tolerating the wind with a nice app.

    "...4th gen is marginally better in battery life, camera capabilities, and speed, the breakthrough being the collision avoidance and selecting objects..." Read more

    "...3. It is FAST...." Read more

    "...was definitely in effect here, and it makes it easy and comfortable to fly...." Read more

    "...First the bullet points:Pros:- Incredible maneuverability- Very responsive controls-..." Read more

    161 customers mention153 positive8 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the video quality of the unmanned aerial vehicle. They mention that 4K and full HD video are very nice, and with a little bit of editing it will take great pics and video. The footage is awesome, and the clarity is simply incredible.

    "...4. The video is simply incredible. Setting the camera to auto and roaming out to a remote location nets you near cinema-quality content...." Read more

    "...It can actually record proper 4k resolutions, and it also has the option for "consumer" 4k (which isn't 4k at all, and I have no idea why it exists)..." Read more

    "...The sad part is the unit has incredible potential. The 4k video is incredibly crisp and smooth and even still photos captured in RAW are impressive..." Read more

    "...Does an amazing job taking high quality photos and video (when equipped with the right SD card)-..." Read more

    118 customers mention98 positive20 negative

    Customers like the stability of the unmanned aerial vehicle. They mention that it is very stable and has an excellent stabilized camera. The aircraft itself is extremely well built, with solid plastic parts and no flimsiness. The design and development of the product is very well-tested, and the drone is easy to use. It hovers in place well even with high winds, and it does not move in the air when you let go of the sticks.

    "...It has been out for almost a year now, its features, quality, and firmware are proven...." Read more

    "...First, the good, and there is a LOT of it:1. It simply DOES NOT MOVE in the air when you let go of the sticks...." Read more

    "...It is also incredibly stable - as long as the battery remains above 30%...." Read more

    "...Very responsive controls- Hovers in place well even with high winds-..." Read more

    110 customers mention91 positive19 negative

    Customers find the unmanned aerial vehicle easy to use. They mention that it has a very short learning curve, is fairly easy to navigate, and is easy to put in and take out. The tech support is very helpful and patient, and the drone has 'beginners' mode which limits distance from transmitter.

    "...The Phantom 3 Professional is simply amazing. Unboxing and set-up was pretty easy...." Read more

    "...to have any issues with swelling during use, so they are really easy to put in and take out, even when they are warm from being freshly used...." Read more

    "...The firmware update process has gotten much better, and updating is fairly easy now...." Read more

    "...Assembly is very easy. Basically just charge the battery and controller, twist on the props and you are ready to go. Well almost...." Read more

    63 customers mention45 positive18 negative

    Customers like the camera of the unmanned aerial vehicle. They mention that the camera is amazing, the unit itself and the camera are excellent, and the Sony sensor makes this a very competitive product in camera performance. They are pleased with the drone's performance, and say that it delivers a great platform for advanced photography at a reasonable price. Customers also say that the gimbal does a good job of producing smooth video, and that the top speed of the drone itself is remarkable.

    "...I would avoid taking any quadcopter out in winds over 20mph. The camera is great, I bought the Professional for the 4k, even though I don't have all..." Read more

    "...This drone has *NONE* of those issues. I am quite pleased with this drone's performance...." Read more

    "...I was having trouble with video playback when using 1080p at 60fps and 4k. After doing a lot of research I found others having the same issues...." Read more

    "...control wheel on the base controller is also very smooth and not in the least jerky.Video is recorded in .mp4 format (H264 codec)...." Read more

    113 customers mention78 positive35 negative

    Customers are mixed about the value of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Some mention that it's well worth the price, while others say that the spare batteries are pricey and the drone arrived unusable out of the box.

    "...Even though it was cheap and small, it flew amazingly well outside; tolerating the wind with a level of mastery that I still quite don't understand...." Read more

    "...2. It was a bit cheaper...." Read more

    "...Be ready to spend $120 for spare batteries, they are pricey and you're at the mercy DJI and just a few knock off companies that make batteries for..." Read more

    "...The autofocus is great and it just amazes me that it packs so much quality at this price point...." Read more

    49 customers mention17 positive32 negative

    Customers are mixed about the battery of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Some mention that the extra battery is nice, as it allows them to fly for roughly 40 minutes and not lose power. However, others say that the battery was only lasting 15 minutes and that the second battery would not take a charge.

    "...Extra batteries are essential and I plan on buying at least 6 although they may not come in until Christmas at this rate...." Read more

    "...The 4th gen is marginally better in battery life, camera capabilities, and speed, the breakthrough being the collision avoidance and selecting..." Read more

    "...The one negative I will say about it is it only comes with one battery at the time of this writing and a second battery is quite pricey at $150.00..." Read more

    "...P.S. Batteries run for about 20 min, so if you plan on flying a lot, be aware of that...." Read more

    Phantom 4 is out! Now what do I do!
    5 Stars
    Phantom 4 is out! Now what do I do!
    So....800lb gorilla in the room, DJI just released the new Phantom 4 on March 1st. I'm going to write this review on the Phantom 3 Professional, then comment on some of the new features offered on the new 4th gen release, and offer some thoughts on why the Phantom 3 is still a good buy.I've been buying and flying quadcopters for two years now. Everything from Hubsan X4s to Cheerson CX 20s (Quanum Nova). The Phantom 3 Professional is simply amazing. Unboxing and set-up was pretty easy. Set up consists of charging the batteries, updating the firmware, installing the props, and calibrating the compass (also the IMU but that's a one time thing). Even if this is your first quadcopter and you don't understand everything I'm writing about, you can set this up and fly it, trust me, and its a blast! Once I got in the air, I couldn't believe how precise the GPS guidance and hold pattern was, it will hover and stay in place exactly where you want it. You can send it straight up, and straight down, and it stays in the same place within inches. Flying it is a dream, it will use GPS to maintain direction and compensate for breezes/wind. I had it out in 15mph winds and it did a fantastic job, I didn't once feel like it was going to blow away or that I didn't have control. If you do get into a sticky situation, it has enough power to overcome 20mph winds as far as I have tested. I would avoid taking any quadcopter out in winds over 20mph. The camera is great, I bought the Professional for the 4k, even though I don't have all the equipment yet to utilize that much information and picture quality, I wanted to do some future proofing. I still film some shots in 1080HD and it looks awesome on our TV! What's cool is in mid flight, you can hover and switch between camera and recording mode, and adjust all settings on the camera while its in the air using the DJI GO app. The app is nice and will install on Apple and Android devices. You have access to live information such as speed, altitude, battery voltage, and much more. I'm running the app on my Nexus 9 tablet and it is true that it has some issues crashing, it seems to crash once in a while when I push the record button to stop recording, but not often enough where its a major concern, and the Phantom will just hover in place until you get the app back up and running. The batteries charge fully within about an hour, as advertised. Be ready to spend $120 for spare batteries, they are pricey and you're at the mercy DJI and just a few knock off companies that make batteries for the Phantom. One of the more difficult parts to flying quads is landing them without tipping over or bouncing too much, as the quad gets caught up in its own draft from the props when close to the ground, causing it to drift erratically. DJI came through big with a solution for this, a three sensor sonar system on the belly of the quad that monitors the ground once you get within about 3 feet of landing. The sensors basically take a picture of the ground below, then overlay that with live motion to hold the quad steady while you finish your decent to land. Its truly amazing, I've had first time flyers land this thing no problem. Now about the customer service, which by large is the reason this product is taking a lot of hits on the ratings. I don't have any service experience with DJI service and sure hope not to, it sounds terrible based on other reviews. The reason I proceeded with my purchase, is that I was confident the quality was there and I could for the most part expect to get one that isn't defective, so far I was right. And while we're talking about "defects" be sure to always calibrate the compass when you change flying/shooting locations, as per DJI instructions. Compasses not being calibrated is a big reason why pilots experience fly away malfunctions. I appreciate the technology built onto the Phantom 3 because prior to this I flew quads in full manual mode with little help from any type of guidance systems. This is an outstanding product for the price and you won't be disappointed!Now the Phantom 4 is out. Having the Phantom 3 Professional for two weeks I still have time to return it and upgrade to the 4th generation. Will I do it? No. For several reasons. First the features. I consider myself an amateur aerial photographer and really enjoy shooting awesome photos and videos. At the same time, I love flying quads and sharpening my piloting skills. One of the major advancements with the Phantom 4 is the collision avoidance system, where it can avoid head on collisions only (no sensors on the sides, back, or top). The technology is totally awesome, but you can still easily crash into tree branches while ascending or back into or fly sideways into something. The only time this feature would be helpful to even the most experienced pilots, is when you go into return to launch mode, it will avoid and adjust for obstacles on the way back if you get in a sticky situation. Another cool feature is on the app, you can select an object on the screen and it will automatically follow that object (person, car), or you can tap on a location on the screen and it will automatically fly to that location, avoiding obstacles on the way, awesome! Final notes, they claim 47mph speed, compared to 35mph for the 3rd generation. Battery life 28 minutes compared to 25 minutes for 3rd generation. Controller (transmitter) remains the same for the 4th generation. Camera on 4th gen can shoot 4k at 30fps over 4k at 24fps on the 3rd gen, it can also shoot 1080HD at 120fps for slow motion footage. Today, the price of the Phantom 3 Professional is $1,000. The 4th gen is going for $1,400. Keep in mind with a Phantom 4, you'll hit $2,000 in no time buying a few spare batteries, a hard shell backpack, and any other accessories you might want. The 4th gen is marginally better in battery life, camera capabilities, and speed, the breakthrough being the collision avoidance and selecting objects to follow and flight destinations on the app screen. If all you want is great aerial photography and have little interested in actually trying to fly a quadcopter, or just want the latest impressive tech, the Phantom 4 is a great buy. If you don't need the latest and greatest and are looking for a value buy, the Phantom 3 Professional is still unmached in my opinion. For those of us that enjoy putting some art into flying and shooting, the 3rd gen is still an excellent choice! It has been out for almost a year now, its features, quality, and firmware are proven. I'll wait and see what DJI comes up with for the 5th or 6th gen. DJI has been releasing new versions of the Phantom faster than Apple has released new iPhones (first generation Phantom was released in 2013). So if you want to keep up with DJI, you'll need to earmark $1,400+accessories every 9 months with the way the last two generations were priced. I'm not trying to sell one generation over the other, just offering my opinion from a standpoint of experience with quads/drones. Finally, regardless of the new tech features and guidance systems, ALWAYS learn how to fly in full manual mode. GPS signals get lost, compasses malfunction or aren't calibrated due to human error, and sometimes there are situations that current technology can't compensate for, when things get real, you want to be able to safely maneuver your quad and get it back. Have fun, and be safe out there!UPDATE: I'm coming up on a year now with my Phantom 3. Still love it! Everything still functions properly and I have yet to crash it. As I predicted above, DJI already launched a new quad since the Phantom 4 called the Mavic Pro. Looks cool and has fold up arms. I ended up going back to school for a masters so I won't be able to purchase new quads for a while. I'm really glad I have the Phantom 3 and flying it hasn't gotten old. I paid over $1,000 a year ago, now you can get it for $800...great deal! Also, the battery prices have been fluctuating. Sometimes you can find genuine DJI Phantom 3 batteries for $110, compared to $130 when it was new.
    Thank you for your feedback
    Sorry, there was an error
    Sorry we couldn't load the review

    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2016
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Phantom 4 is out! Now what do I do!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2016
    So....800lb gorilla in the room, DJI just released the new Phantom 4 on March 1st. I'm going to write this review on the Phantom 3 Professional, then comment on some of the new features offered on the new 4th gen release, and offer some thoughts on why the Phantom 3 is still a good buy.

    I've been buying and flying quadcopters for two years now. Everything from Hubsan X4s to Cheerson CX 20s (Quanum Nova). The Phantom 3 Professional is simply amazing. Unboxing and set-up was pretty easy. Set up consists of charging the batteries, updating the firmware, installing the props, and calibrating the compass (also the IMU but that's a one time thing). Even if this is your first quadcopter and you don't understand everything I'm writing about, you can set this up and fly it, trust me, and its a blast! Once I got in the air, I couldn't believe how precise the GPS guidance and hold pattern was, it will hover and stay in place exactly where you want it. You can send it straight up, and straight down, and it stays in the same place within inches. Flying it is a dream, it will use GPS to maintain direction and compensate for breezes/wind. I had it out in 15mph winds and it did a fantastic job, I didn't once feel like it was going to blow away or that I didn't have control. If you do get into a sticky situation, it has enough power to overcome 20mph winds as far as I have tested. I would avoid taking any quadcopter out in winds over 20mph. The camera is great, I bought the Professional for the 4k, even though I don't have all the equipment yet to utilize that much information and picture quality, I wanted to do some future proofing. I still film some shots in 1080HD and it looks awesome on our TV! What's cool is in mid flight, you can hover and switch between camera and recording mode, and adjust all settings on the camera while its in the air using the DJI GO app. The app is nice and will install on Apple and Android devices. You have access to live information such as speed, altitude, battery voltage, and much more. I'm running the app on my Nexus 9 tablet and it is true that it has some issues crashing, it seems to crash once in a while when I push the record button to stop recording, but not often enough where its a major concern, and the Phantom will just hover in place until you get the app back up and running. The batteries charge fully within about an hour, as advertised. Be ready to spend $120 for spare batteries, they are pricey and you're at the mercy DJI and just a few knock off companies that make batteries for the Phantom. One of the more difficult parts to flying quads is landing them without tipping over or bouncing too much, as the quad gets caught up in its own draft from the props when close to the ground, causing it to drift erratically. DJI came through big with a solution for this, a three sensor sonar system on the belly of the quad that monitors the ground once you get within about 3 feet of landing. The sensors basically take a picture of the ground below, then overlay that with live motion to hold the quad steady while you finish your decent to land. Its truly amazing, I've had first time flyers land this thing no problem. Now about the customer service, which by large is the reason this product is taking a lot of hits on the ratings. I don't have any service experience with DJI service and sure hope not to, it sounds terrible based on other reviews. The reason I proceeded with my purchase, is that I was confident the quality was there and I could for the most part expect to get one that isn't defective, so far I was right. And while we're talking about "defects" be sure to always calibrate the compass when you change flying/shooting locations, as per DJI instructions. Compasses not being calibrated is a big reason why pilots experience fly away malfunctions. I appreciate the technology built onto the Phantom 3 because prior to this I flew quads in full manual mode with little help from any type of guidance systems. This is an outstanding product for the price and you won't be disappointed!

    Now the Phantom 4 is out. Having the Phantom 3 Professional for two weeks I still have time to return it and upgrade to the 4th generation. Will I do it? No. For several reasons. First the features. I consider myself an amateur aerial photographer and really enjoy shooting awesome photos and videos. At the same time, I love flying quads and sharpening my piloting skills. One of the major advancements with the Phantom 4 is the collision avoidance system, where it can avoid head on collisions only (no sensors on the sides, back, or top). The technology is totally awesome, but you can still easily crash into tree branches while ascending or back into or fly sideways into something. The only time this feature would be helpful to even the most experienced pilots, is when you go into return to launch mode, it will avoid and adjust for obstacles on the way back if you get in a sticky situation. Another cool feature is on the app, you can select an object on the screen and it will automatically follow that object (person, car), or you can tap on a location on the screen and it will automatically fly to that location, avoiding obstacles on the way, awesome! Final notes, they claim 47mph speed, compared to 35mph for the 3rd generation. Battery life 28 minutes compared to 25 minutes for 3rd generation. Controller (transmitter) remains the same for the 4th generation. Camera on 4th gen can shoot 4k at 30fps over 4k at 24fps on the 3rd gen, it can also shoot 1080HD at 120fps for slow motion footage. Today, the price of the Phantom 3 Professional is $1,000. The 4th gen is going for $1,400. Keep in mind with a Phantom 4, you'll hit $2,000 in no time buying a few spare batteries, a hard shell backpack, and any other accessories you might want. The 4th gen is marginally better in battery life, camera capabilities, and speed, the breakthrough being the collision avoidance and selecting objects to follow and flight destinations on the app screen. If all you want is great aerial photography and have little interested in actually trying to fly a quadcopter, or just want the latest impressive tech, the Phantom 4 is a great buy. If you don't need the latest and greatest and are looking for a value buy, the Phantom 3 Professional is still unmached in my opinion. For those of us that enjoy putting some art into flying and shooting, the 3rd gen is still an excellent choice! It has been out for almost a year now, its features, quality, and firmware are proven. I'll wait and see what DJI comes up with for the 5th or 6th gen. DJI has been releasing new versions of the Phantom faster than Apple has released new iPhones (first generation Phantom was released in 2013). So if you want to keep up with DJI, you'll need to earmark $1,400+accessories every 9 months with the way the last two generations were priced. I'm not trying to sell one generation over the other, just offering my opinion from a standpoint of experience with quads/drones. Finally, regardless of the new tech features and guidance systems, ALWAYS learn how to fly in full manual mode. GPS signals get lost, compasses malfunction or aren't calibrated due to human error, and sometimes there are situations that current technology can't compensate for, when things get real, you want to be able to safely maneuver your quad and get it back. Have fun, and be safe out there!

    UPDATE: I'm coming up on a year now with my Phantom 3. Still love it! Everything still functions properly and I have yet to crash it. As I predicted above, DJI already launched a new quad since the Phantom 4 called the Mavic Pro. Looks cool and has fold up arms. I ended up going back to school for a masters so I won't be able to purchase new quads for a while. I'm really glad I have the Phantom 3 and flying it hasn't gotten old. I paid over $1,000 a year ago, now you can get it for $800...great deal! Also, the battery prices have been fluctuating. Sometimes you can find genuine DJI Phantom 3 batteries for $110, compared to $130 when it was new.
    Images in this review
    Customer image Customer image Customer image Customer image
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    36 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2016
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous piece of engineering that exceeds my expectations.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2016
    When tax time rolls around and you know what you are getting back, what do you do after being introduced to inexpensive quadcopters? Nothing, aside from learning all you can before dropping the kind of money needed to purchase this thing.

    That being said, I can safely and confidently say this is a truly incredible piece of engineering that delivers on its claims.

    First, the good, and there is a LOT of it:
    1. It simply DOES NOT MOVE in the air when you let go of the sticks. I have heard people comparing it to, "a tripod in the sky," and they are correct. Also, the stick behavior makes it pretty panic free if you get crazy with it; it just stops, levels out and hovers.
    2. The camera's stabilization gimbal and associated control software/hardware is simply incredible. Violent wind shifts (and controller input) do nothing to long range shots, and only causes the image to move ever so slightly to the left and right.
    3. It is FAST. Sporting a 15.2 volt, 4480 mAh battery provides the Phantom 3 Pro the ability to cruise, with a modest tailwind, upwards of 50 MPH according to the GPS (all the while taking DCI 4K video at 24 fps with nary a flutter).
    4. The video is simply incredible. Setting the camera to auto and roaming out to a remote location nets you near cinema-quality content. Learn to use the settings proper in manual mode and I can imagine they would only get better.
    5. The "idiot proof" factor: No newbie should jump into this unless you have a history in RC or multi-rotors in general, and I could argue that me making the jump from some of the cheap ones I have flown to the Phantom is foolhardy. That being said, unless there is a software/hardware error or you intentionally ignore the warnings on screen, you should not have a fly away or a crash. It warns you of low battery. It shows you how long it will take to return to home, and if you ignore all this, at the 10% mark, it will return to home automatically.
    6. Feature-rich. The automation and assistance built into this unit is comparable only to the myriad of features available to you in the DJI Go app. it allows you to set battery self discharge time, expo and rates, customize controller buttons, set default operations for low battery and loss of transmitter signal. On and on.
    7. Range. They are not joking when they tout a mile (or so) as viable range. Just remember, that is line of site; trees, buildings and the person standing in front of you will reduce that.
    8. Run time. If you are concerned about run time, as long as you are handling the Phantom's actions at a sane pace, 20+ minutes of continuous flight has been the norm for me. If just hovering and panning with little distance, expect 25 minutes before having to land.

    The device is not without its foibles, however... Nothing particularly wrong glares at me, but there are some annoyances that you have to accept with this level of advanced tech. Some include:
    1. What I like to call, "The Safety Dance." You SHOULD calibrate your compass on EVERY flight, not just when you move from location to location. The parking lot rotations you have to do may cause some curiosity from passers by, but the calibrations ensure a safe flight.
    2. You must use a tablet/smartphone with the remote, and it should be relatively powerful. I personally use an nVidia Shield tablet with it to great success, but my older iPad mini chokes on trying to display the real time video from the Phantom. Android and iOS devices only please.
    3. SO MANY FEATURES. There are so many features, it can be overwhelming. You can (and should) spend 2-3 battery charges just learning all it can do, even if it means sitting on the ground to do so.
    4. Firmware... This was literally my first grumble after unboxing the Phantom. I had prepared by downloading the latest firmware, but the process is somewhat un-intuitive, and requires the battery, Phantom 3 and the controller to all be updated. If you have extra batteries, those must be updated as well.
    5. No lens cover. It ships with a piece of plastic over the lens, but you will want to get a real lens cover (and likely one that also has gimbal lock built in for the sake of convenience.
    6. Props and/or landing gear in the shot during "intense" maneuvering. Be prepared for this, as the first time you try to get that awesome shot with the camera dead level and start screaming forward, you will see the props in frame. Under intense rolls, you can also see the gear from time to time. I knew this going in, and I suppose this is why they make the Inspire 1 with its retractable landing gear.
    7. No "real" gimbal panning. If you want to pan, proper, you must use rudder control and yaw the Phantom left and right. it does have a nifty slight pan left and right (1-2 degrees) when you start to yaw, but as with 6, I knew this before buying and realize that is a core feature and selling point of the Inspire 1.

    I whole heartedly recommend this as a high-grade aerial photography platform for serious amateurs. Perhaps it may even be professional grade. I am no pro, I am no cinematographer, but if I can slap in a micro SD card and take 4K, rock solid, in-focus point of interest aerial video like I am on a crane, with my skill level, I cannot imagine how much better it can get. If you are NOT planning on leveraging the camera's 4K capabilities, you should look to the Phantom 3 Advanced, as is sports a 1080p camera at the time I purchased this.

    Here's actual, unedited video from the recent weekend, using "Point of Interest" mode, after having flown only 3 real flights under my belt.
    Please understand, that is the raw DCI 4K at 24 fps (not 60) from the quad, and not professionally done. I will probably re-shoot in 1080p for higher framerate when I get back out there.

    Update: The video I uploaded looks awful on Amazon. It looks gorgeous on YouTube, not sure if it was an Amazon transcoding issue or what, but attaching a picture of screenshot of paused video playback on my 1080p display.

    Update 2: Not sure what I have to do to upload a good looking video here, but the video I have attached DOES NOT do it justice. I have uploaded DCI 4K, 1080p, etc, but they don't look good on the review videos, despite looking phenomenal on other, public video sites.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    6 people found this helpful
    Report

    Top reviews from other countries

    Translate all reviews to English
    Siegfried Britsch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Produkt sehr überzeugend
    Reviewed in Germany on April 3, 2023
    iEscudero
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente Artículo!
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 5, 2017
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
    Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this Phantom 3 Professional drone from DJI
    Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2016
    One person found this helpful
    Report
    Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendable al 100%
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 10, 2021
    CB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great product so far!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2015
    20 people found this helpful
    Report