DJI Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced: Which One is Best for You?

Let’s help you make the right choice between the DJI Phantom 3 Standard or Advanced

Those of you looking to buy a serviceable recreational drone have a lot of options these days, as these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become readily available and incredibly popular in recent years. Two of these options are the DJI Phantom 3 Standard Drone and Phantom 3 Advanced Drone (its more upscale relative). To help you decide which of these drones is more suited for you and your needs, in the following article we will take a closer look at each of these wonderful models, and explain the characteristics and features of each type, and the advantages and disadvantages when we look at the DJI Phantom 3 standard vs advanced model.

Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced: About the Phantom 3 Standard Drone

When we look at the Phantom 3 Standard vs Professional Drone, we can see that the former is an intuitive and ultra-resistant aerial machine that provides novice operators with the thrills and chills of incredibly speedy flight, thanks largely to its very responsive motor package—a package that allows users to speed up and slow down their drone at a second’s notice, and return it to “home” at just a press of a button, even if the control signal somehow becomes lost or interrupted.

A machine that hovers in place like a hummingbird after first engaged, the Phantom 3 Standard Drone is renowned in the industry for its stability and ease of use, allowing drone enthusiasts to rapidly change directions or altitude with just a flick of a finger. These motions can be terminated with the “stop” button, which returns the drone to hover mode as it awaits its next signal/instruction.

Here’s a nice intro video from DJI about the Phantom 3 Standard:

DJI Phantom 3 Standard vs Professional Drone: Features of the Phantom 3 Standard

Among the many great features of the Phantom 3 Standard Drone are:

Automatic Flight Assistant

Those who fly the Phantom 3 Standard Drone can rest assured their machine will always return to them at just the press of a button. With its built-in Geographic Positioning System, or GPS, this drone’s takeoff point is not only recorded by the GPS but remembered, and its easy-to-use control panel makes it simple to call the drone home after flight.

Another advantage of the Automatic Flight Assistant is that it allows users to easily change direction or altitude based on one’s flight preferences, enabling much more freedom of operation than other drones in its class.

Auto Hover

Not quite ready to fly your Phantom 3 Standard Drone? Not a problem. Thanks to its clever design, this aerial machine will always hover in place very near to you as it awaits your instructions.

Safe Flight Limits

With its sleek and intelligent motor and GPS function, operators will always be able to keep their Phantom 3 Standard Drone within the safe limits that they pre-program. Once these limits are set, the drone will maintain a given flight path, both directionally and in terms of altitude, reducing the chance of getting damaged or lost.

Live GPS

With its “Live GPS” the Phantom 3 Standard Drone can be tracked effortlessly by any hand-held device. This Live GPS application can be downloaded quick and easy to any smart phone or tablet.

Status and Direction Indicators

The ultra-bright LED lights, located on each arm of the Phantom 3 Standard Drone, will show you at a glance the direction your drone is flying.

Extended Flight

The amazing, rapidly-recharging battery that comes complete with your Phantom 3 Standard Drone offers you up to 25 minutes of uninterrupted flight with each charge, and the intelligent app allows you to track the battery life and return the drone when said battery is getting low (when we look at the DJI Phantom 3 advanced vs standard in the next section, you will see that the former has greater voltage and power).

Phantom 3 Standard vs Professional: About the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone

As you might expect, the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone offers everything users have come to love and expect about the earlier Phantom 3 Standard Drone. It also offers a bevy of upgraded features that are coveted by more experienced drone enthusiasts.

When you compare the Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced Drone, one thing you will notice is that the latter is even easier to fly than its earlier counterpart. From the moment users launch this intelligent aerial machine, the easy-to-operate hand controller allows them to engage in some very complex flight patterns, and its upgraded GPS system makes it nearly impossible to lose track of this drone, despite its altitude or (pre-programmed or spontaneous) flight pattern/plan.

DJI Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced: Features of the Advanced Drone

Below we have highlighted some of the great features associated with the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone, including some upgraded features not found on the Phantom 3 Standard Drone.

Upgraded GPS-Assisted Hover Function

In a side-by-side comparison of the Phantom 3 Advanced vs Standard drone, it’s fairly easy to recognize the upgrades to the advanced model’s GPS. And thanks to this updated GPS-Assisted Hover Function, the advanced or professional drone can now “hover more precisely, move more accurately, and lock more rapidly in satellite positioning systems.” Using the ‘DJ1 Go Application, for iPhone or Android you can track the movements of your Phantom 3 Advanced Drone on a live map, and record your takeoff location to ensure the drone always comes back to your exact location when the “return home” function is engaged.

Vision Positioning System

The intelligent sensors on the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone enable you to perform some very complex calculations in real time—calculations that help keep track of the drone despite its series of movements. The VPS is typically used to help the drone be able to fly indoors.

Automatic Flight Logs

One of the most notable advantages you will see when comparing the Phantom 3 standard vs advanced model, is that with the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone, every flight you take will be stored in the app’s Automatic Flight Logs, enabling you to repeat, exactly, an earlier flight if you so choose.

Super Intelligent Battery

In comparison to the battery on the Phantom 3 standard vs advanced drone, the advanced model of this machine boasts a battery with much higher voltage, increased energy output and greater power, all of which give users a longer and much more improved flying experience.

Greater Propulsion

The brushless motor and Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) that are included with the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone give this aerial machine considerably more power than its predecessor, as well as unrivaled precision within the recreational drone marketplace.

State-of-the-Art Main Controller

The main controller of the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone is very smart and extremely intuitive, boasting the ability to process and analyze flight data in real time.

Inertial Measurement Unit

The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which is included in every purchase of the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone, is responsible for keeping the drone incredibly stable in all weather conditions, thanks largely to its “six-axis gyroscope and accelerometer” that records and relays even the most indistinguishable changes in tilt and movement.

Great Video Quality

The video shot by the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone is very high in quality—1080p video that is bright and clear. The Advanced Phantom 3 model also has very reliable Wi-Fi streaming.

Near Silent Operation

When comparing the DJI Phantom 3 standard vs professional, there is no doubt that the Phantom 3 Professional Drone operates much more quietly than the earlier and more basic model.

Return to Home Function

Although both the Phantom 3 Standard Drone and the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone have a “Return to Home” function, that of the latter is much more intuitive and reliable according to those who have tested both models.

This is a great video to watch if you want to have a quick brief of the differences:

Phantom 3 Standard vs. Advanced Drone: Pros and Cons

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with both the Phantom 3 Standard Drone and the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone. They include:

The Phantom 3 Standard Drone

Pros:

• Great Price. The Phantom 3 Standard Drone has a great price point and is a terrific value for the money. Rather than being an expensive drone, this is a very affordable but high-quality video and photo drone.
• Easy-to Follow Instructions. The easy-to-follow instructions included with this machine allow users to assemble and get their drone in the air quickly.
• Good Battery Life. The Phantom 3 Standard Drone has good battery life as compared to other basic drone models

Cons:

• Difficult to Land. The Phantom 3 Standard Drone can be a bit difficult to land, especially for novice operators.
• Sporadic Responsiveness. The Phantom 3 Standard Drone does not always respond right away to the controller, increasing the odds that it may become lost or damaged.
• Poor Video Quality. The Video Quality is significantly worse than that of the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone.

The Phantom 3 Advanced Drone

Pros:

• Great Pictures and Videos. The Phantom 3 Advanced Drone takes amazing still pictures and boasts top-of-the-line 1080p video quality.
• Greater Flight Freedom. The very responsive and intuitive controls of the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone give operators more flight freedom.
• Superb Battery. The high voltage battery that comes with the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone means greater battery life and a more powerful drone overall.
• Quiet Operation. As compared to its rather noisy predecessor, the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone is much quieter when in use.

Cons:

• Difficult to Follow Instructions. The manual that comes with the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone does not answer all the questions a novice user may have.
• Sharp Blades. While the sharp blades on the Phantom 3 Advanced drone allow for more responsiveness flight, they can also be dangerous if the drone flies too close to children or animals.
• Increased Cost. As compared to its predecessor, the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone is much more costly.

DJI Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced: Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced Model.

Can you upgrade the Phantom 3 Standard to a more advanced model?

No. There is no upgrade kit on the market today. Thus, the only way to upgrade is to buy the advanced model separately.

Is the video quality the same with both the standard and advanced Phantom 3 drones?

No. The video quality provided by the advanced Phantom 3 drone is much higher in quality—1080p video that is crystal clear and very stable.

Is the Phantom 3 Drone difficult to land?

The best answer to this question is: it depends. Novices who are new to drones may have trouble landing either the Phantom 3 Standard drone or the Phantom 3 Advanced drone. This is because the controls can be pretty tricky at times. For best results, try to land the drone on a hard, flat surface, something like plywood that can easily handle the drone’s weight while keeping it stable.

Is there a cost difference between the Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced drone model?

Yes. The price point for the Phantom 3 Advanced drone is considerably higher than that of the Phantom 3 Standard model. However, the upgraded features on the advanced model make it well worth the extra cost (for experienced drone enthusiasts).

When comparing the DJI Phantom 3 standard vs professional drone, is there a difference in the noise output.

Yes. The Phantom 3 Advanced or Professional drone is much quieter to run than the Phantom 3 Standard.

Conclusion: Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced—Which Drone Is Best for You?

In our final analysis of the Phantom 3 Standard vs Advanced Drone, we can confidently say that they are both two of the best recreational drone kits on the market today. Naturally, the “Advanced” model of this easy-to-fly and simple-to-control unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with many more bells and whistles as compared to the basic model, but both machines offer a terrific and fairly straightforward flying experience, regardless of your intended use.

So which is the right drone for you?

Those with plenty of experience in basic drones and their technology could certainly benefit from some of the upgraded features on the Phantom 3 Advanced Drone. However, for those just starting out, we recommend you first experiment with the (much more affordable) Phantom 3 Standard Drone, whose basic features and functions are much easier to understand. Once users feel comfortable with their Phantom 3 Standard Drone, they can then purchase the advanced model, which will give them more freedom of flight and help further their knowledge of drone technology.