Tested: DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Drone 

Whatever stereo trickery was done to this video's audio, it is making me CRAZY!

DJI just released a substantial firmware update that now allows the Advanced version to shoot 2.7K. I have the Professional which does 4K, but if I'd have known the Advanced was going to get a bump up to 2.7K, I would've saved my $250 towards an extra battery and backpack. I still freaking LOVE my Phantom 3 though. So, so cool. Love, love, love it.

I've got the Phantom 3 Advanced and there seem to be no difference expect the Pro is shooting in 4k :) Brilliant review and Thumbs up from me here in Ireland :)

I haven't flown yet just been practicing on the simulator but after watching this I do have two newbie questions for anyone who can answer it. Thanks! 1.) There are 3 different controller flight options ( joystick controls) to pick from which one do you use/ prefer and why? You seem to fly this thing pretty easy so maybe you have this dialed in. 2. When you fly it further away from you do you use the camera on the drone/live video on the iPad to fly it or do you always fly it using line of sight? I know everyone always says only do line of site but it seems like maybe some of you professionals use the live feed/camera on the drone when it's going a bit further. What do you use to fly? Seems to me the further I get I loose what direction is forward and backward. Sorry for all the noob questions.

Great review, plenty of good info, BUT, with the issues with the FAA and model aircraft it would be in every bodies interest to voice safety regulations at the end of any video you produce about any RC flying. Again, great review, the viewers watching who have not seen the Adam Savage Project on multi rotor safety will not know not to fly near airports, bush fires, over other people or even near places like hospitals which have helicopter landing pads. Safe flying education is a must with the advances in technology we have today. Keep the reviews coming.

I really love when norm does this kind of review, he is really great! keep up the good work :)

Excellent review. You've done a great job.

Great video and description of the capabilities between the phantom 2 and 3. I have a phantom 3, 4K and it takes good pictures and videos. I've toggled between 4K and 1080p with the camera and both look grainy.

Norm some great shots of SF but the best was the Vancouver and Canadian country side shots some nice stuff there.

For someone starting out new to drones, is the Phantom 3 a good first drone? Also, is it better to start off learning to fly a Phantom 3 before learning to fly an Inspire 1 or can I just start right off with the Inspire 1?

I LOVE my new Phantom 3 professional

Norm How far is the image Transmission Of the P3 professional and Is it a Cheap Beginner and Is it really a Professional Drone?

The picture on the camera is beautiful

Great review. The DJI 3 is a huge improvement over the 2. Not only it now supports GloNAS GPS, faster motors and 2 new sensors underneath its bottom, for both indoor flights and better control in outdoor enviroments when flying 10 feet or lower. But mostly it finally has a Video Downlink, giving a live-feed 720p30 which is great, which now works up to 2 KMs (in the video he said 1 but on the official DJI website they state 2), the same distance the remote control works from the Phantom 3. So both commands and video live-feed have a range of 2KMs from the drone. It's a great upgrade from the 2, but I prefer to wait for the 4th one :)

nice review. and of course killer quality quadcopter. look at that footage! makes me want to buy one now.

Have any of you experience cracking issues with your P3P..? Mine is cracking. And I have only flown it about 7 times. I bought at Best Buy on 10/05/2015. It Is an expensive Quadcopter to be having issues so soon. I talked to DJI customer service today about the cracking issues and they said they never heard about the cracking issues before.

I've seen a video of a quadcopter from aerosky that looked like this one and has many of the same features as the dji phantom, but for less than half the price. Perhaps you should do a comparison video between dji and aerosky on their quadcopters.

Great video review Norm! DJI's P3P is a class act.

its sad that the flight time is so low when there is another quad in the 300 price range with a 30min flight time

Seeing as you like the DJI range so much could you please do a comparison with some other AP platforms like the Yuneec Q500 range maybe?

Loved you vids of Canmore and Calgary Norm.

Hello Norm,I have a problem up load firmware on to my new phantom 3 pro. i did follow the instruction step by step, after i start up loading the LED was soled green no blink, and i saw other one is not like that. and i can not up load it, i wondering what i cold did it wrong? Please help me.any answer on it ? thank you very much

Happy I watched this.

When you mentioned how "rock solid" the Phantom 3 is at high altitude, just how high are you talking about?

Battery charger on the P3P charges at twice the watts as the P3A or the P3S. Important note to bring to light because the 4K is not the only difference between the P3P and the P3A for the extra $250. Should cut charging time in half which is huge for those with multiple batteries and no charging station.

What would you suggest in an Android quad-core tablet. I have an older 10" Toshiba Thrive but it will not run the DJI Pilot app AND the 10" Toshiba Thrive tablet is too big. I want to stay with Android tablets about 8" in size. Please let me know.

I really don't like this guy on the maker videos but he is really great at the drone vids. This really is his strong point. I huge thumbs up from me!

Yo, when were you in Calgary? That's a gorgeous shot of downtown.

Nice review Norm.

Great review. Where are you? Some of the flight shots looked like Taiwan and some looked like the SF bay area.

This is almost 3 years old now. Someone should have a good idea by now of how long do the quad smart batteries last, ie. How many charges till it dies?

Hi Norm Several Questions on this Quad , What if you DON'T like Apple and DO not want any apple products in your possession can it sync up with Say Nokia, Samsung etc OR even a Windows Platform or other OS's ? What is the Max size Sd card you can put in it and kets say it is 132gb at max Res how long would the card last in recording time ? and I assume the faster Card the better ? Do you need to let the quad cool down between battery charges or can you Hot swap from one to the next for almost continuous shooting ? Recharging time from flat Batteries to full ? The cost of Batteries? Would it auto Track Satellite's for GPS in another country IE Australia or NZ ? How long do the Batteries in the Remote last? Thanking you Tony

Are either of the DJI Phantom 3 models quieter than the other ?

I was actually 28th?! oO Anyway: Nice Video, now PLEASE give us a download link to the videos you shot! To actually judge the quality is pretty difficult because you never know which artifacts are caused by the YT compression and which are by the camera compression and quality itself. Also I would really like to see those shots in their full glory.

Norm sounded so professional in this vid XD

Hi Norm. question. i need to know is there a way to remove the no fly zone on the phantom 3. i've looked everywhere cant find any result please help. thanks

Norm could you please get a video or better instructions on the HML350 pro retractable landing gear for phantom I have purchased this but have no idea on how to install the instructions it comes with are vague and it would be great if you could make a video on it.

I have a phantom 3 pro and have a youtube video called "Frenchtown Harbor From the Sky" I love my phantom!

Fantastic footage!

The Phantom 3 rocks!

suppose there is a catastrophic failure at altitude, how will the unit withstand a hard landing? will it shatter and be destroyed or will it still be usable?

Where is Adams promissed second part to the dji inspire 1 video ?

I personally prefer the DJI Inspire drone. It has a way better handling and it already has a standard built 4k camera. Even if it is more expensive, it's totally worth it.

Excellent overview.

Excellent review

Oh... and love the footage of my home town of Vancouver.

is this water resistant? or water proof?

You guys should test 3DR's solo and do a comparison with the Phantom 3.

So it seems like this is just as good as the DJI inspire 1 ? It seems like the only difference is the legs move up on the inspire

Do you always have to connect the iPad whit a Cable to the drone?

brilliant review , your reviews are very detailed and enjoyable :)

New camera or new color correction?

great review!

Could one use this in the winter time?

great review! thanks!

Holy crap, just realized Norm's primary eye is his left!

0:21 "Be shooting some pretty amazing photos.....like a nude nymph sunbathing @ the beach, tee hee hee~~"

Great review! Very informative! Thanks!

Great review Norm. Full of information. Thanks.

Norm. . . .the next spokesperson for DJI ???? . . . . . . . .BTW a fine review and video.

"...all vastly improved..." but still dependent on you having a smart phone. Is there no controller with its own monitor?

Can I fly my phantom 3 without the use of the app?

I just bought one, if you are looking for a better deal Sears has them for $1099 right now.

You should try testing the wind response system in one of those Tornado Simulator machines they have in malls lol

You guys still remember your Ar Drone "review"?

Great review :) thanks !!!

Thanks!

I go the under-hyer Phantom 3 Standard :)

In terms of production shooting I can get 10 - 15 shots no problem Shots of 10 - 30 secs each then brought into post. Your comment of only a few shots does not make any sense.

well you can setup fpv on it

Isn't this a little late?

what's up with the meters and kilometers norm, this does happen to be the united states not the EU.

first of all the advanced is not a sony sensor second the standard can shoot 2.7k so how could the advanced only shoot 1080p get your facts right

a reviewer actually did that to see and capture video

God I want this

After you are done flying with it, make sure you send it to me! ;-)

The battery in the table is constantly shaking it's distracting 😕

True you are first

I swear I'd give away my left arm just to get my hand (not hands) on that nifty Phantom 3 Professional!

Yes, but it's made by DJI, so might just fly away at any time. And who will be responsible ? Certainly not DJI.

The phantom 3, you can change the colour and filters on the app, get ur facts right first

True you are second, but I'm thrid

really? only 15-20 min. that sucks. this is the first time I've watched anything on quadcopters. for how expensive they are, it should fly a lit longer.

Do more videos on FPV racing quadcopters!!! In my opinion these idiot proof DJI "drones" are extremely boring. I would only consider one if I had a professional use for one. Otherwise I fail to see the appeal of a system like this over a cheaper, more maneuverable, and faster mini-quad.

Seemed more like an infomercial than a review...

5th?

Hey

the dji video seem choppy

nice

Can you plz send me one

its just like apple. crap! :)

they are too expensive for me to care

first

is it a bad idea to get the standard one?? like this comment for its a good idea and dislike for bad idea

Nothing new to say; late to review game. Thumbs down.

Isnt it kind of late