Most drone enthusiasts are probably aware by now that DJI decided to release an upgraded version of their popular Mavic Pro drone. They call it ‘Mavic Pro Platinum,’ and it remains to be seen whether there’s more to this model than just a mere name change.
It’s worth noting that DJI is a decent company that’s been in the drone business for years, so we don’t think that they’ll disappoint. However, we can’t know for sure unless we make a comparison and discuss the particulars of both models.
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Things to Consider Before Buying a Professional Drone
Choose the Right Place to Buy the Drone
People who want to buy a professional drone should always avoid retailers. It’s true that they have a variety of models to choose from, but that doesn’t mean that they are the latest ones. The only way to ensure that you’ll get the latest version of the model is to contact the manufacturer directly.
For example, let’s say that we want to purchase one of the newest DJI models. We’d have to visit their website, inform ourselves about the specifications of the model, and then order it directly from their store.
People who are interested in hobby-grade drones don’t have to be so specific in terms of choosing the right place to purchase from. The retailers will do the job here.
Understand the Basics of Flying a Drone
There’s a common misconception that flying a drone is an arduous and difficult experience. While that might be true for some people, we think that it’s not complicated at all. However, we do believe that people should familiarize themselves with the flying mechanics and functions of their drones.
That means getting to know how a GPS receiver works and what affects them. If the drone loses the signal, there might be a potential disaster. So our advice is to learn as much as you can about the possible interferences.
Another thing to pay attention to is compass interference, which is said to be the main cause of drone crashes. It responds to anything that’s made of metal and causes inconvenience to the drone pilot.
What Are Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum?
Mavic Pro is an extremely efficient and portable drone that’s primarily oriented towards the professional drone pilots. The company behind it, DJI, advertises it as one of the most sophisticated pieces of technology. The main selling point of the unit is its careful utilization of various camera features. That’s why it’s so popular among people who use it for commercial and personal videography and photography.
Its recent counterpart, Mavic Pro Platinum, shares the similar appearance and design with the addition of some improvements.
What’s the History of Mavic and Its Series?
Mavic quadcopter drones first appeared back in 2016 with their first model, Mavic Pro. Since then, people consider Mavic drones to be some of the best-personalized drones on the market. Pro series utilized a 4k camera and featured 27 minutes of flight time.
Later on, the series expanded to Mavic Air, which popped up on the market in 2018. It was basically a pocket version of the Mavic Pro series, and it was able to capture 4k footage in 30 FPS.
In August 2018, DJI announced their Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom series which had a slightly longer flight time (31 minutes). Additionally, they were able to avoid obstacles better due to the addition of 10 new sensors.
The last model in the Mavic series (so far) is Mavic 2 Enterprise. It has all of the aforementioned features with the addition of M2E spotlight, strobe, and speaker.
Who Is Mavic Built For?
The main audience of Mavic series has always been professional photographers and videographers. Even some of the most popular vloggers (such as Casey Neistat) use Mavic drones. However, the statement isn’t definite and it doesn’t mean that other people (such as drone enthusiasts) can’t use them.[/wpsm_titlebox][wpsm_titlebox title=”” style=”3″]
Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum Comparison
In order to help you understand the exact differences between Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum, we’ve assembled this lengthy list of their features. So, let’s take a look.
- DJI Mavic platinum battery
- Highly durable product
- Manufactured in China
- Mavic Pro + 1 Extra New Battery
- Offers up to 4.3 miles (7km) of transmission range - Fly at up to 40mph (64kmh) or for as long as 27-minutes - True 4K, fully stabilized ensures smooth footage - Fly by Phone over Wi-Fi for even...
- Gimbal-Stabilized 12MP / 4K Camera
- OcuSync Transmission Technology
- See description below for a list of included accessories
How Are They Similar?
Obstacle Avoidance
Both Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum share the same Forward and Downward Vision Systems. Given that there’s sufficient lighting and that the patterns are clear, both models can successfully navigate through the obstacles and avoid them.
The drones will hover automatically as soon as they notice a potential obstacle. They do that by utilizing the FlightAutonomy technology which scans all objects up to 49 feet in front of the drone. This technology uses 5 cameras, 2 ultrasonic rangefinders, a group of computing cores, and several redundant sensors to operate.
What’s interesting is that these ultrasonic range finder sensors use sound to help the drone in locating the obstacle. How does it do that? Well, it emits a 40 kHz sound wave that bounces off the surface and sends back data to the sensor.
There’s no real difference between Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum when it comes to obstacle avoidance. Both are using the same technology which is extremely efficient and helps the drone maneuver properly.
Camera, Gimbals And Optics Quality
As for the camera and optics quality, we can only assure our readers that it’s top-notch. Both Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum come equipped with a small three-axis gimbal. One thing that we particularly like about it is its ability to smooth out the movement that the camera picks up. As a result, we get some really smooth and neat looking shots as if they were shot by a professional.
The camera has the ability to capture C4K videos and utilizes its 12 megapixels for JPEG and RAW image formats. It’s a decent camera with a 28 mm f/2.2 lens with the exposure time of 8 seconds. You can basically record and capture anything with it.
Controls
Both models use the same controller which is the latest one in the series. The controller allows the signal to work in a radius up to 4.3 miles. It looks like some time went into carefully planning and designing the button layout of the controller. We’ve noticed that everything’s compact and user-friendly.
We can control the altitude and rotation of the drone by using the left control stick on the controller. Up and down will increase/decrease the altitude while right and left will rotate the drone.
Furthermore, we have the D-Pad which is a set of 4 multifunctional buttons. We can use them to toggle the camera view, orientation, and adjust the zoom.
The controller also has a set of antennas, a display screen that shows the info, a mobile device clamp, and a USB Port.
Subject Tracking
Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum are drones that belong to the category of DJI devices which use ‘ActiveTrack.’ That’s the name of the technology that allows us to select and track a subject in order to achieve a cinematic aerial shot.
We tested out this feature for both models, and the results were quite satisfactory, to be honest. Since Mavic Pro Platinum is an upgraded version of its counterpart, it features the same subject tracking functionality. The drone uses its ‘vision’ to intelligently track the subject while still maintaining safe flight.
There are three available options to choose from: Trace (tracking the subject from a constant distance), Profile (tracking from the side), and Spotlight (the camera is pointing to the subject).
Signal Range And Reliability
One of the things that people who are looking to purchase a drone always look for is the signal range. Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum can go up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away from you and still be responsive enough.
The entire process is quite reliable because we have an LCD display that shows us the exact coordinates of the drone. For example, there are separate parameters and values for distance, height, clearance, speed, etc. We wanted to test out how accurate these results were, so we played with the unit a bit and the results were quite satisfactory.
Setup
The whole setup process revolves around folding out the 4 propeller arms on top of the drone. That’s literally it. It looks like some serious thought process went into designing the user-friendly aspect of these drones.
One thing that we really liked about Mavic Pro drones is that you don’t have to take the propellers off. Other drone models that we’ve reviewed in the past usually required us to attach the propellers and spread them apart. Mavic Pro basically does everything on its own once you start it, which is excellent in our opinion.
Flight Sensors
We can only say the best about Mavic Pro flight sensors. They are extremely effective when the unit is operating and ensure that it flies safely.
Additionally, they help the unit position itself when it’s flying indoors. That means that it doesn’t need satellites in order to be able to stay in one place. These sensors also help it when it’s landing. For example, if the drone sees that the ground is coming up, it stops and hovers for a brief moment and then it lands very smoothly.
It also utilizes the three cameras in the front that we mentioned earlier. Their use isn’t limited only to obstacle avoidance. In fact, flight sensors constantly exchange data with the cameras and work in unison. That’s how the unit moves through the air efficiently and safely.
Performance Speed And Agility
According to the manuals that came with the units, both drones can go up to 40 miles an hour. We’ve had them up to 38 miles per hour in sports mode, and we can that the speed is consistent for such a small unit.
There’s really not much to say about the performance other than the fact that it’s on a satisfying level. The movement of the unit feels quite responsive and it’s agile enough to let you maneuver it wherever you want.
How Are They Different?
Build and Design
Unlike its counterpart, Mavic Pro Platinum features a unique chrome design. There are a lot of gold accents and details that really freshen up the overall look of the device. DJI also included several interesting decals on the propellers, which is another difference between the two models.
As for the build, both units are lightweight and there’s really not much difference when it comes to their overall structure. There’s a set of 4 foldable propellers at the top of the unit (as is the case with most drones out there). The size of the unit when it’s completely folded is around 85 x 83 x 197 mm. It weighs about 740 grams, which makes it one of the most compact drones on the market.
The Difference in Battery Life And Flight Time
Another improvement comes in the form of an extended battery life and flight time. The older Mavic Pro model is able to keep the drone in the air for up to 27 minutes, which is already impressive. With Mavic Pro Platinum, we get an additional three minutes of battery life. When it’s hovering, it can remain in the air up to 25 minutes. You might ask yourself – if they’re using the same intelligent Flight Battery, how is platinum any different?
There are two possible explanations which we came across during our review. The first one is that Mavic Pro Platinum uses completely new propellers. These propellers reduce the noise levels due to their design, which in turn increases the flight time.
The second explanation is the addition of FOC (Field Oriented Control) technology. It uses a sinusoidal wave drive which results in good power maintenance in the motor area. That’s also a contributing factor when it comes to flight time.
Noise Level Difference
The final difference between the two models is that Platinum has lower noise levels. Based on our test, the reduction in noise is 4 decibels quieter. We admit that Mavic Pro has an irritating buzzing sound when it’s operating. The fact that DJI wanted to address that issue confirms our thoughts. The 4-decibel reduction is a considerable improvement because it corresponds to 60% of noise reduction.
Are the DJI Mavic Pro and Mavic Pro Platinum Waterproof?
We’ve seen that many people online wonder about the water resistance of these units. Unfortunately, they are not waterproof. There might be some level of resistance when the unit comes in close contact with the water. On the other hand, if the unit gets completely submerged for more than 30 seconds, we doubt that it’ll work properly.
How to Prepare Yourself for Owning a Drone
Before we conclude the article, we’d like to divert the attention of our readers to several important factors to consider before purchasing a drone. The factors that we’ve included into our short list will help the readers prepare for owning a drone. So, let’s take a look, shall we?
Check and Learn the Rules
In our opinion, all drone pilots should educate themselves on the airspace regulations of the country. Going against these sets of rules can only get you in trouble. There’s even a chance that you might lose your drone. So, let’s take a look at what we should and shouldn’t do.
The first thing to do is to register the drone with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
When it comes to the actual drone operation, we need to make sure that we don’t fly it over government facilities, private properties, crime scenes, airports, etc. Additionally, the flying height should never exceed 400 feet above the ground. Be sure to keep that in mind.
Check Whether the Drone Is Ready to Fly
If we take a look at some of the drone models from the market, we’ll notice that there’s a difference in the acronyms that pop up in their descriptions. What do we mean by this? Depending on the drone model, they can either have an RTF, BNF, or ARF acronym.
Each of these acronyms determines whether the drone is ready to fly out of the box or not. For example, RTF drones don’t require any assembly whatsoever. They are pre-assembled and come with their own remote controller. On the other hand, ARF drones require partial assembly and don’t have their own controller. BNF drones are basically somewhere in between (you can use them with the controller that you already own).
The Bottom Line
As we can see from the article above, Mavic Pro Platinum isn’t that much different from its counterpart. However, we can’t deny the fact that there are several worthy improvements, especially when it comes to flight time.
All in all, we hope that our article was helpful to you and that you’ve found out everything about Mavic Pro drones that you wanted to know.
If you’re interested to know more about these products, be sure to check the manufacturer’s website here and here. There’s a lot of information there about the particulars of these units.
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