The DJI Phantom is one of the most popular consumer drones in the whole world, and with good reason too. It is truly ready-to-fly out of the box, with everything that you will need to fly shipping with the drone. It has a relatively earlier learning curve, making it the perfect first choice for beginners to the world of drones and aerial videography.
Now the Chinese company has introduced a new low-end model called the DJI Phantom 3 Standard. It costs $799, compared to the $999 and $1,250 for the Phantom 3 Advanced and Professional, respectively.
So what did the Phantom 3 Advanced and Professional had to jettison to become the barebones Standard? Well, for starters, no downward-facing camera, no LightBridge video downlink, and no ability to connect with the GLONASS satellite positioning system. These are the features that make the Phantom 3 more stable and secure outdoors when it can reach satellites, and allow it to fly more precisely indoors when you don’t have a signal. Without the LightBridge, you also can’t use the coolest new feature of the Phantom 3: live streaming.[blockquote cite=”Frank Wang, DJI CEO and Founder” type=”left”]”Based on the remarkable success of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional and Phantom 3 Advanced, we wanted to create a new drone that addresses people who are curious about aerial imaging, but not quite ready to commit to a more professional system” [/blockquote]
And while the Phantom 3 Professional and Advanced use both the GPS and GLONASS satellite systems for navigation/positioning, the Standard just uses GPS. Additionally, the Standard lacks the other two models’ downward-facing visual and ultrasonic sensors, which allow them to hold their position even when indoors and out of satellite range.
What you do get however, is a device more comparable to the DJI Vision 2+ but with a much better camera, better range, and longer battery life. There’s also an improved controller and integrated remote that removes the need for the external Wi-Fi rage extender. You’ll also be able to use the apps designed for the Phantom 3. Other features in the drone include a 3-axis stabilization gimbal, GPS-based stabilization, 25-minute flight times, and intelligent flight features (e.g. Follow Me, Waypoint, and Point of Interest).
As for the camera, it actually is more powerful than the Advanced’s unit, capable of shooting “2.7K” video (2704×1520) at 30fps, 1080p video at up to 48fps, and 720p video at up to 60fps. Still, it is lower than the Professional’s 4K/30fps shooter.
Other than the price, what makes the Phantom 3 Standard so beginner-oriented, though, is the controller, a variation on that which accompanied DJI’s Phantom 2 Vision+. Essentially, it’s smaller, simpler, and stripped down compared to the controller paired with the Phantom 3 Professional.
Customers can order the Phantom 3 Standard direct from DJI starting today. Orders are expected to begin shipping later this week.
