Autel EVO Lite+ vs. DJI Mavic 3 Pro (Which is Better)

Autel EVO Lite+ vs. DJI Mavic 3 Pro (Which is Better)

Thanks for reading this article on which drone is better: the Autel Evo Lite Plus or the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.





While DJI has been releasing prosumer and advanced-level drones at a blazing speed this past year to year and a half, Autel has taken a slower approach to drone releases, with a fair bit of time between major releases.



I primarily fly drones for business purposes. So my main focus oftentimes is “what drones work best for my client’s needs.” With this view in mind, I have used the Autel Evo Lite+ for a little over a year and the Mavic 3 Pro for a few months.



In this article, I’ll examine the key differences between the Autel Evo Lite Plus and the Mavic 3 Pro, the upgrades in the all-new Mavic 3 Pro, my overall experience with each, and why I consider the Mavic 3 Pro to be the better commercial drone.



If you are looking to expand your professional fleet, this article will help you decide which drone is best for you and your clients.









Brief Overview



Autel Evo Lite Plus

As the senior in this comparison article, the Autel Evo Lite Plus was released in January 2022 and is viewed as the direct competitor to the 2021 DJI Air 2S.





Aside from competing against the Air 2S, the Evo Lite Plus is a smaller (i.e. lite) and equally powerful version of the Autel Evo II professional drone, dubbed the Evo II Pro. Even close to two years later, the Evo Lite Plus offers a few industry standards.



While the Evo Lite Plus is smaller and substantially less expensive than the Mavic 3 Pro, it has quite a bit to offer:



- 40-minute flight times, perfect for long shoots, initially unheard of in a drone of this size in early 2022

- Three-way obstacle avoidance sensing which can aid in safer flight maneuvers

- 1-inch camera sensor for 20 MP high-resolution professional quality photos

- Absence of Geofencing to ensure you can fly where and when needed, with proper authorization

Mavic 3 Pro

Released in May of 2023, the newer Mavic 3 Pro is an upgrade to the original Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic, adding a tri-camera system that allows for three different focal lengths.





When looking for the best camera system in a prosumer drone, the Mavic 3 Pro, or especially the more expensive Mavic 3 Pro Cine, is the drone to purchase if you have the budget for it, as this quality comes at a price.



- Tri-camera system for bringing cinematic vision to life from varying perspectives

- Multiple 10-bit Color Profiles for added color grading flexibility

- Waypoint Missions included in the DJI Fly app to easily plan repeatable and complex routes

- Apple ProRes Video Encoding, included in the Cine version, for professional television and movie productions

Quick Verdict



As mentioned, in an effort to expand my fleet for commercial work, I have used both the Autel Evo Lite Plus and the Mavic 3 Pro on client projects, in various capacities.



Strictly from a feature-set point of view, the Mavic 3 Pro is the clear choice for the work I do for clients.





My company takes care of a wide variety of creative needs for our clients, and the camera on the Mavic 3 Pro is perfect for delivering theirs and even my vision.



The Evo Lite Plus does have an excellent camera. However, the Mavic 3 Pros tri-camera system takes this up a notch, offering more versatility in the images captured, making it perfect for a wider range of industries.



Having two additional focal lengths on the Mavic 3 Pro allows for getting tighter shots on subjects, whether this be for real estate, roofing, or even high-altitude cellular and electrical-related equipment.



Not only does the Mavic 3 Pro have various log-like color profiles for the three cameras, but these are also in 10-bit, which can be essential for client video work.



The Autel Evo Lite Plus, though, does an impressive job over a range of commercial projects, especially with its one-inch camera sensor and multiple shooting modes.



The Mavic 3 Pro, on the other hand, is a complete, well-rounded commercial workhorse, handling all content demands with flexibility and the highest quality.



What are the Main Differences?



Considering the year-plus release gap between the Autel Evo Lite Plus and the Mavic 3 Pro, there are quite a few technical upgrades the Mavic 3 Pro benefits from over the Autel Evo Lite Plus.



I enjoy using both the Evo Lite Plus and the Mavic 3 Pro. However, with the upgraded specs and overall flexibility, the Mavic 3 Pro is my choice for my commercial business needs.



When taking various types of photos and videos for my clients, the Mavic 3 Pro consistently does an excellent job.



The variety of media taken with the Mavic 3 Pro covered various industries, such as Real Estate, City commissioned projects, Construction, and Lake Management.



The Mavic 3 Pro excels over the Evo Lite Plus in quite a few areas, primarily camera-related, as well as an additional area or two:



- Tri-Camera System: The Mavic 3 Pro not only has a 24 mm equivalent lens (over the Evo Lite Plus’ 29 mm) but adds a 70 mm medium-tele lens and 166 mm tele lens for more dimensions of creativity when filming video and capturing still images.

- Camera quality: This is where the Mavic 3 Pro really sets itself apart from the Evo Lite Plus (and most drone cameras). The main 24 mm camera is a 4/3 20 MP Hasselblad camera with excellent color science. For professionals, having a larger main camera than the Evo Lite Plus allows for more dynamic range and flexibility. Additionally, unlike the Evo Lite Plus, the three cameras can record 10-bit footage, which is important regarding flexibility when color grading. Also, if opting for the more expensive Cine version of the Mavic 3 Pro, Apple ProRes video encoding is available for all three cameras.

- Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance: While this is practically commonplace with DJI’s newest lines of drones, it is missing from the Evo Lite Plus and offers added 360-degree protection when performing difficult maneuvers in obstacle-ridden environments. The new obstacle avoidance system is also instrumental for advanced subject-tracking functions.

- Weight: This might not be as important for some as it is for others. However, the Mavic 3 Pro, being heavier than the Evo Lite Plus by close to 120 g, means it is slightly more stable in the air. This makes it even more ideal when filming in windier conditions.

Autel Evo Lite Plus



The Evo Lite Plus is part of a series of smaller but capable Autel drones modeled after the larger Evo II and Evo II Plus.





While having Lite in the name might indicate to some that the Evo Lite Plus is a lesser drone, this is far from the truth. The Evo Lite Plus has many of the benefits of the Evo II Plus, only in a smaller package.



Autel pioneered longer battery life in consumer and prosumer drones with the release of the Evo II and II Pro, which boasted 40-minute flight times back in 2020.



That longer battery life made its way to the smaller Evo Lite Plus, and I must say I was initially impressed with the battery life when directly comparing it to my then workhorse, the Air 2S.



Also making its way into the smaller Evo Lite Plus is a 20 MP one-inch camera sensor. This was actually an improvement over the larger Evo II (non-Pro version), as that camera was half the size, using a 1/2-inch sensor.



With this larger camera sensor came the ability to shoot excellent low-light footage. Case in point: one of their modes is dubbed “Night shot.”



Additionally, following the tradition of the Autel drones before it, the Autel Evo Lite Plus is not Geofenced. Although Autel has oftentimes spoken of perhaps adding geofencing to the larger Evo II line, they did specify that the Lite and Lite Plus would not be receiving any type of geofencing limitations.



Key features of the Evo Lite Plus:



- 20 MP 1-inch camera sensor

- Adjustable aperture from f/2.8 – f/11

- 6k 30 fps; 4k 60fps Log and normal color profiles

- 3-way obstacle avoidance system

- 40-minute battery life









Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ Premium Bundle

$1,399.00

$1,299.00





1'' CMOS Sensor with 6K HDR Camera, No Geo-Fencing, 3-Axis Gimbal, 3-Way Obstacle Avoidance, 40Min Flight Time, 7.4 Miles Transmission, Lite Plus More Combo.





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10/25/2023 06:56 pm GMT

Mavic 3 Pro



The Mavic 3 Pro is the next iteration in the Mavic 3 line.



Originally released in 2021, it is the successor to the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic and is specifically intended for photography and videography professionals looking to deliver the highest quality content to their clients.





The Mavic 3 Pro adds a medium-tele camera at 70 mm and improves the tele camera of the Mavic 3, increasing the focal length from 162 mm to 166 mm, while simultaneously bumping up the image quality.



While the physical performance of the Mavic 3 Pro is pretty much identical to the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic (regarding speed and stability), the main improvements are found in the technically improved and expanded camera system.



The Mavic 3 Pro continues the tradition of having 360-degree obstacle avoidance protection due to the omnidirectional obstacle avoidance sensors throughout.



For many professionals, this is essential, especially when filming complicated sequences in difficult locales.



Key features of the Mavic 3 Pro:



- Triple-camera system

- Pro-level Remote Controller option

- Hasselblad 24 mm Main camera with adjustable aperture (f/2.8 – f/11)

- 5.1k 50 fps; 4k 120fps 10-bit D-Log, D-Log M color profiles

- Apple ProRes (Cine Version)

- DJI Goggles and DJI Motion 2 compatibility

- Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance

- Waypoints









DJI Mavic 3 Pro (Fly More Combo)

Flagship Triple-Camera Drone with 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera, 15km Video Transmission, three Batteries, Charging Hub, and more.





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10/26/2023 04:51 pm GMT

Head-to-Head Comparison



Camera



Winner: DJI Mavic 3 Pro



Regarding drone photography and videography, having more focal length options is always best. This can certainly be agreed upon by professional photographers using DSLR and Mirrorless cameras.


https://skydanceimaging.com/autel-evo-lite-vs-dji-mavic-3-pro-which-is-better/

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