News

DJI Has Released A More Affordable Mavic 3 Drone

The company’s new Mavic 3 Classic shares plenty of the original Mavic 3’s best features, but at a far more affordable price point.

Published

3 years ago

November 3, 2022

Nour Nasir

dji has released a more affordable mavic 3 drone

DJI

DJI has just added a new model to its drone lineup, the Mavic 3 Classic, which is positioned as a more accessible variant of the popular Mavic 3 machine. The latest drone boasts many of the flagship’s best features, but at a more welcoming price for newcomers.

The Mavic 3 Classic costs $1,469 for the base unit, though this will end up at more like $1,599 or $1,749 when teamed with either a DJI RC-N1 or DJI RC controller, respectively. Though it’s unlikely many buyers will take the option, it should be noted that the new drone will also be compatible with the company’s RC Pro controller.

So what do you get for the Classic’s asking price? The new budget model loses the additional telephoto lens of the original Mavic 3 drone but offers the same 4/3 CMOS 20-megapixel camera, O3 Plus transmission system, and 46-minute flight time.

dji mavic 3 classic specs

The Mavic 3 Classic’s 24mm equivalent lens can record video at 5.1K / 50fps, 4K / 60fps, and 1080p / 60fps using H.264 and H.265 encoding, while slo-mo footage can be captured at 4K / 120fps and 1080p / 200fps. If you want to download images and video directly from the drone, you’ll enjoy 80MB per second transfer speeds when using a Wi-Fi 6 connection.

Newbie Friendly Features

The Mavic 3 Classic looks to be the perfect drone for newcomers to the hobby, sporting features like automated quick shots and a cruise control feature for nervous pilots. When in this mode, the drone flies at a set constant speed, allowing you to focus on photography without the risk of a crash.

The drone can independently plan its own routes to weave around hazards, thanks to eight visual sensors feeding information to an APAS 5.0 obstacle avoidance system. Like many other models, it can also return to home when a connection is lost or if the battery pack is running low.

Availability And Regulations

The Mavic 3 Classic is available now, though you’ll have to check local regulations to ensure it’s legal in your region. In Europe, for example, drone pilots can fly the Mavic 3 Classic in the A1 Open Category without obtaining a remote piloting license.

News

AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs

Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2025

Nour Nasir

AltoVolo

AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.

The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.

“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.

The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.

To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.

Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence

Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.

Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.