DJI

DJI Inspire 3 Drone Review

Reviews
9
Score
93/100
From
MSRP $16,499
Released
January 2023

We've aggregated 9 high-signal reviews and 2 live retailer prices below.

DJI Inspire 3 Drone
Available
Our take
Worth buyingPreliminary

Our editorial take on the DJI Inspire 3 Drone

The DJI Inspire 3 represents the pinnacle of integrated aerial cinematography. This is not just another drone; it is a dedicated flying cinema camera system built around the spectacular full-frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air sensor. It delivers breathtaking 8K footage with a rich dynamic range and supports an interchangeable lens mount, offering creative flexibility previously reserved for much larger, custom-built rigs. The level of image fidelity and system integration solidifies its position as a go-to tool for high-end commercial productions and feature film work.

The conversation around the Inspire 3 inevitably turns to its price tag, which places it firmly in the category of serious professional equipment. This is a capital investment for a business, not a toy for an enthusiast. The cost is justified by a suite of professional-grade features that streamline complex shots. The new Waypoint Pro system, with its repeatable routes and 3D Dolly capabilities, offers a level of precision that is simply unattainable on consumer drones. Paired with a robust dual-operator control system and hot-swappable batteries, the Inspire 3 is built for the intense demands of a professional film set, minimizing downtime and maximizing creative control.

Best for: This drone is for professional production companies and high-end cinematographers who require uncompromising aerial image quality and repeatable flight paths for commercial film work.
What's great
  • Exceptional full-frame 8K image quality via Zenmuse X9-8K Air camera.
  • Advanced professional flight modes like Waypoint Pro for repeatable shots.
  • Integrated system replaces more cumbersome and expensive custom rigs.
  • Interchangeable DL-mount lens system provides creative flexibility.
  • Hot-swappable batteries allow for continuous operation on set.
  • Refined dual-operator control for dedicated camera and flight operation.
Watch outs
  • Extremely high price requires steady professional work to justify.
  • Large form factor is less portable than smaller prosumer drones.
  • Full ecosystem cost including lenses and accessories is substantial.

Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.

What reviewers say

Best reviews

The highest-signal reviews from creators and editorial blogs.

Editorial reviews

Dpreview·
DJI Inspire 3 sample gallery - DPReview

Curious how the DJI Inspire 3 performs? Check out our sample gallery to see how the highest-end professional drone on the market performs in a variety of shooting situations.

Read review
Cined·
DJI Inspire 3 Drone –Everything You Need to Know - CineD

Inspire 3 is DJI’s new full-frame 8K cinema drone with interchangeable lenses and a wide variety of hardware and software improvements compared to the last generation. In fact, DJI received one of our “NAB 2023 Best of Show” awards for this drone.

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Newsshooter·
DJI Inspire 3– with 8K Full Frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air Camera

After a long wait, DJI has finally announced the new Inspire 3.

Read review
Nofilmschool·
3 Things You Should Know About the DJI Inspire 3 - No Film School

This article discusses three key aspects to know about the DJI Inspire 3 drone.

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Bhphotovideo·
The 7 Best Drones for Filmmakers | B&H eXplora

Time for the big copters to come out. With bigger drones come bigger cameras, and bigger cameras means bigger sensors and better video.

Read review
Petapixel·
DJI Inspire 3 Review: A True, Pro Level Drone… For a Price

This is very much a professional, high-end filmmaking device that requires a steady amount of incoming work to rationalize the $16,500 price. For those professionals, it is certainly worth it

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Theverge·
DJI's new Inspire 3 is a flying 8K movie-making camera ... - The Verge

DJI makes a whole lot of drones, and many of them are feature-packed, easy to use, and generally are priced for casual or enthusiast buyers. But the company’s newly announced drone, the DJI Inspire 3, is not for the general populace — rather — it’s a commercial-level 8K-movie-making mega drone that’s packaged with a slew of accessories for a whopping $16,499.

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Engadget·
DJI's newest drone is a $16K model for pro filmmakers - Engadget

The Inspire 3 combines a full-frame 8K camera with a “highly portable” form factor.

Read review
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Overview

About this product

The DJI Inspire 3 Drone improves upon the Inspire 2 with advancements for professional drone operators. It features the X9-8K Air, an 8K full-frame camera on a 3-axis gimbal, and a new 1/1.8" FPV camera. This drone also offers RTK centimeter-level accuracy for mapping and customizable obstacle avoidance.

Specs

Gimbal Pan
360° Pan Movement
Gimbal Tilt
80° Tilt Boost
Gimbal Camera
X9-8K Air Full-Frame 3-Axis Gimbal
Control System
DJI O3 Pro
Fpv Camera Dfov
161° (double the Inspire 2)
Image Processing
CineCore 3.0 Image Processing
Rtk Gnss Support
GPS, BeiDou, and Galileo
Fpv Camera Sensor
1/1.8"
Live Feed Latency
90 ms (1080p90)
4k Live Feed Range
Up to 3.1 miles (4K30, 1080p60)
Obstacle Avoidance
Omnidirectional (nine visual sensors)
Positioning System
Centimeter-Level RTK Positioning
Fpv Live Feed Resolution
1080p60
Max Control Distance Dual Control Mode
7.5 miles
Max Control Distance Single Control Mode
9.3 miles
Live prices

Where to buy

Live prices from retailers. We earn a small commission when you click through - never affects ranking.

  • B&H Photo
    new○ Out of stock
    $16,499
    Buy
  • Adorama
    new○ Out of stock
    $16,499
    Buy