When shopping for most of DJI’s new digicam drones, you’re sometimes introduced with two choices so far as the controller goes: buying the drone with the DJI RC, or buying the identical drone with the upgraded DJI RC Professional — which is inevitably dearer. The RC Professional is definitely an total higher controller, however is it value the additional value? Right here’s a information to deciding between the DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC:
DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC: a breakdown of specs
If shopping for a la carte, you’ll pay almost 4x extra for the DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC. However you additionally get manner fancier tech within the upgraded model, starting from longer, more-powerful transmission to improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection tech.
The RC Professional is larger and brighter. Whereas each DJI RC Professional and DJI RC have a 5.5-inch 1080p display, the DJI RC Professional helps display brightness as much as 1,000 nits versus simply as much as 700 nits on the DJI RC.
And for folk looking for to attach it with an HDMI, the controversy between DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC is straightforward as a result of the cheaper counterpart has no video output port. The cheaper model additionally solely presents storage by way of your personal exterior microSD card (with no possibility for inside storage accessible).
Right here’s a comparability of specs between the DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC:
| DJI RC | DJI RC Professional | |
| Worth (when bought standalone) | $309 | $1,199 |
| Drones appropriate with | DJI Mavic 3, Basic and Cine DJI Mavic 3 Professional and Professional Cine DJI Mini 3 DJI Mini 3 Professional DJI Air 2S |
DJI Mavic 3, Basic and Cine DJI Mavic 3 Professional and Professional Cine DJI Mini 3 Professional DJI Air 2S |
| Video Transmission System | O3 (DJI Mini 3 Professional and DJI Air 2S) O3+ (DJI Mavic 3 collection) |
O3+ |
| Max. Transmission Distance (FCC) | 12 km (DJI Mini 3 Professional and DJI Air 2S) 15 km (DJI Mavic 3 collection) |
15 km |
| Antennas | 2 antennas, 1T2R | 4 Antennas, 2T4R |
| Video output port | N/A | Mini-HDMI port |
| Storage Capability | Expandable storage solely by way of microSD card | 32GB inside + expandable storage by way of microSD card |
| Wi-Fi Protocol | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Bluetooth Protocol | Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Display screen Decision | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| Display screen Measurement | 5.5 inches | 5.5 inches |
| Display screen Brightness | 700 nits | 1000 nits |
| Contact management | 10-point multi-touch | 10-point multi-touch |
| Working Time | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| GNSS | GPS + BeiDou + Galileo | GPS + Galileo + GLONASS |
| Weight | Approx. 390 g | Approx. 680 g |
| Mannequin | RM330 | RM510 |
DJI RC: extra to know
The DJI RC takes the previous DJI RC-N1 and provides some main upgrades — most notably a built-in display, which suggests you don’t want to attach a smartphone in an effort to get your drone up and operating.
Although, if you wish to get your footage on-line rapidly, you’ll nonetheless desire a smartphone close by with the DJI Fly app put in. After flying, you’ll be able to join it straight together with your drone by Wi-Fi and use the QuickTransfer perform to obtain footage to your smartphone.
Some key specs on the DJI RC:
- 15km O3+ Video Transmission
- 390g Light-weight Physique
- 5.5-inch FHD Show
- 4-hour Extremely-Lengthy Working Time
- Twin-Spring Management Sticks
One factor you received’t discover on the DJI RC is the antennas. That doesn’t imply that they’re not there — it’s simply that they’re built-in (tucked contained in the physique of the controller so you’ll be able to’t see them). As a result of DJI RC adopts built-in antennas you solely have to level the highest of the machine towards the path of the drone to make use of it.
DJI RC Professional: extra to know
Whereas the RC is a large improve over the RC-N1, the RC Professional in flip presents an enormous improve over the DJI RC. The display is brighter, which might be handy to point out to shoppers or for flying on shiny, sunny days.
Some key specs on the DJI RC Professional:
- 15 km Video Transmission
- 120 ms Extremely-Low Latency
- 5.5-inch 1080p Excessive-Brilliant Show
- Brightness As much as 1000 nits
- 3-hour Max Working Time
The DJI RC Professional is provided with the latest-generation processor, providing stronger efficiency and decrease energy consumption. And it affords high-speed downloads, supporting Wi-Fi 6 protocol and obtain speeds of as much as 80MB/s.
Not like the built-in antennas on the RC, the antennas are seen on the RC Professional. And somewhat than the 2 antennas on the RC, the RC Professional is provided with 4 antennas.
It additionally helps third-party apps, which might be useful for extra diversified modifying and sharing choices. That additionally means the controller is able to live-streaming, assuming you’re utilizing a third-party app with a live-streaming perform to make use of the drone’s digicam view for direct live-streaming or different varieties of prompt sharing of brief movies. You may obtain third-party apps by the built-in browser or set up APK recordsdata from a microSD card (although simply be aware that DJI doesn’t declare legal responsibility ought to something go flawed since you used a third-party app).
Utilizing the HDML port, you would possibly join a second display for added viewing, corresponding to by FPV goggles.
DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC: which ought to I purchase?
So with all that data, which is one of the best controller for you?
Clearly the Professional model has all of the bells and whistles that the DJI RC doesn’t essentially have, however all these extras don’t come low-cost. In brief, anticipate the RC Professional to supply considerably higher specs in these principal classes:
- Inside storage (solely your personal microSD storage accessible on the RC)
- HDMI output (no video output port accessible on the RC)
- A brighter, nicer display
Who the DJI RC is finest for
Given it’s far cheaper price ticket, the DJI RC is clearly higher for budget-conscious drone pilots. However that’s not the one motive why the RC would possibly truly be higher total, and that’s measurement. There are not any exterior antennas on the DJI RC (they’re built-in) which provides to how rather more compact it’s.
The RC weighs simply 390 grams, versus the 680 grams that the RC Professional weighs. A 290-gram distinction won’t look like lots (it’s about 0.6 kilos) however for drone pilots who worth portability, corresponding to photographers who steadily journey (and wish to have the ability to maintain their controller with them of their carry-on baggage) or who’re out working within the subject on initiatives that require lengthy hikes, each gram can actually add up.
And the RC additionally has an extended battery life. For conditions the place you’ll want a full cost for hours on finish, the RC is healthier, as it may possibly run fours hours on a full cost versus three hours for the RC Professional. Once more, these movie classes in a distant wilderness with no entry to energy would possibly demand the RC over RC Professional.
Who the DJI RC Professional is finest for
Most people operating an expert aerial images operation will need to improve to the DJI RC Professional, which makes use of the latest-generation processor, presents expanded storage capability and is constructed with {powerful} O3+ video transmission expertise.
Extra antennas means a stronger, extra dependable connection over larger vary, which might be essential for business functions. In that vein, the built-in HDMI ports and inside storage would possibly unlock new use circumstances that the RC is incapable of, and that inside storage is usually a live-saver, notably in the event you’re anxious about dropping (or utilizing a corrupt) microSD playing cards.
Maybe most significantly for business functions is the truth that DJI RC Professional helps third-party apps, whereas DJI RC doesn’t. When you depend on apps for functions corresponding to live-streaming, then shopping for the DJI RC Professional over the RC is non-negotiable.
In brief, the DJI RC Professional is a large improve over the usual DJI RC (and the older DJI RC-N1). However for a virtually $900 worth distinction, it won’t be value it for everybody.
Between the DJI RC Professional vs DJI RC, which controller do you suppose is finest (account for the value distinction)? Go away a remark beneath!