The DJI Phantom 3 Series just got  a new brother aimed at novice camera drone fliers --- the DJI Phantom 3 Standard. The Phantom 3 Standard is also cheaper at US$799 compared to the US$999 Advanced and US$1,250 Professional versions. But with that price means that certain features have been stripped off but also in place are beginner-friendly features to make the flying experience pleasant for those new to drones.

What are missing in the DJI Phantom 3 Standard are the GLOSNASS connectivity when flying outdoors, Lightbridge video downlink, ultrasonic sensors, and no downward facing camera. Though it does come with its own camera, 3-axis gimbal for stabilisation, and able to transmit video to the controller on the ground.

The camera is more than good enough as it can capture 2.7k footage at 30 frames per second, 12 megapixel photos, and stabilised with the 3-axis gimbal so one can take a steady and smooth video even if the drone banks and turns. With the Wifi connectivity, it can stream the video up to 1km which is half the range of both its older Phantom 3 siblings. However, the Phantom 3 Advanced only shoots up 1080p HD video.

The controller is a bit of a letdown as it does not have clamp that can fit a tablet to have a bigger screen to use when flying the drone. But the clamp can handle some of the bigger smartphones which should be enough to view the what drone sees.  With the DJI GO App, the owner gets an  automatic video editor for an instant movie that is ready to be shared to friends and social media. It also comes with a live map and radar to track the drone as it flies and gives full flight telemetry that includes current speed, altitude, and distance. It also has flight logs to record and remember the best moments.

As for battery life, the Phantom 3 Standard can fly up to 25 minutes on a full charge and with the patented DJI Intelligent Flight Battery, information on how long the drone can continue to fly is transmitted and displayed on the Go App.

In the future, there will be firmware updates to enhance the capabilities of the Phantom 3 standard. This includes Point of Interest, Follow Me, Waypoints, and Intelligent Operation Controls. If you don't need the features of both the Phantom 3 Advanced and Professional and your budget is up to US$800, you should do fine and still be able to do more with the Phantom 3 Standard.