REASONS TO BUY
6k video resolution
Great low light performance
Premium case included
REASONS TO AVOID
Less effective intelligent flight
Heavy
Choppy flight
Autel EVO II Pro V3 Review
A high-end drone option that shoots video in 6k and offers a user-friendly flight experience
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Drones of 2024
Our Verdict
The Autel Evo II V3 performs well enough to land in the upper tier of multiple metrics, though it doesn't quite come in first place. This drone can shoot video in 6K and offers excellent video quality in low light conditions, making it an excellent option for nighttime shots. We also loved how easy this drone was to fly, with easy set-up out of the box and a friendly pilot learning curve. While the overall flight performance was decent, the intelligent flight of the Evo II V3 wasn't as performative as other options, with somewhat erratic flying if the subject was doing anything more complex than hiking or walking. Ultimately, this option is worthy of your consideration if you need a quality drone that specializes in nighttime or low-light performance. For more, check out our best drones review to see how the Autel held up against its competition.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Autel EVO II Pro V3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Drone for the Prosumer | | Best Drone Overall |  A Budget Option for Kids | |
| Price | $2,500 List $2,099 at Amazon | $2,199 List $2,100 at Amazon | $1,279 List | $1,000 List $894.00 at Amazon | $164 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A pricey drone that shoots in 6k and is easy to fly | A high-end single-person camera drone that maxes out our scoring charts | This compact drone offer fantastic video, responsive controls, and great programming, making it a go-to for serious drone cinematographers | The is a great do-it-all drone that has 5K video, a highly capable sensor, and user-friendly controls making it one step below the prosumer class | A perfect low cost introduction to flying or incredibly entertaining toy for the kids |
| Rating Categories | Autel EVO II Pro V3 | DJI Mavic 3 Pro | DJI Mavic 3 | DJI Air 2S | DJI Tello |
| Video Quality (45%) | |||||
| Flight Performance (35%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Autel EVO II Pro V3 | DJI Mavic 3 Pro | DJI Mavic 3 | DJI Air 2S | DJI Tello |
| Video Resolutions | 6k, 4k | 5.1k, DCI 4k, 4k, FHD | 5.1K, DCI 4K, 4K, FHD | 5.4K, 4K, 2.7K, FHD | 720p |
| Weight | 2.62 lbs | 2.1 lbs | 1.97 lbs | 1.31 lbs | .17 lbs |
| Maximum Speed | 44.7 mph | 46.9 mph | 42.5 mph | 42.5 mph | 17.89 mph |
| Maximum Claimed Flight Time | 40 minutes | 43 minutes | 46 minutes | 31 minutes | 13 minutes |
| Diagonal Size (no props) | 10.1 in | 8.75 in | 8.75 in folded 16 in unfolded |
11.9 in | 8.12 in |
| Video Format | MP4, MOV | MP4, MOV | MP4 / MOV | MP4, MOV | MP4 |
| Maximum Video Bitrate | 120 Mpbs | 3772 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 150 Mbps | |
| Camera Sensor | 1" CMOS | 4/3 CMOS, 1/1.3" CMOS, 1/2" CMOS | Hasselblad: 4/3 CMOS Tele Camera: 1/2" CMOS |
1" CMOS |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Autel Evo II V3 is a well-made drone overall, with high scores in multiple metrics across our review. While other options scored higher, this is a well-made product that particularly excels in low-light conditions.
Performance Comparison
The Autel Evo II V3 is a solidly built drone and shoots in 6k -- the highest resolution we've reviewed yet.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Video Quality
The Autel Evo II V3 boasts up to 6k video resolution, among the highest you can find in this class of drones. At times, we found there was almost too much sharpening, with an odd glimmer appearing in our detailed shots tests, though overall, the detail was decent. Ultimately, this drone stood out in its low light performance and came in near the top of our review in this metric. This drone has excellent dynamic range, handling shots that had both bright and dark extremes, and kept shadow detail. As mentioned, the low light quality of this option is phenomenal and captures night shots very well. The Autel Evo II V3 especially excels at night shooting city landscapes, making this an excellent option for pilots needing a camera that can handle challenging lighting environments.
This camera has great dynamic range and low light performance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Flight Performance
The Autel Evo II V3 has good, but not great, flight performance. While the take-off and landing stability was great, the intelligent flight left something to be desired, as it had a tough time keeping its subject in frame. This drone ultimately landed in the middle of the pack in this metric, as it still offers some redeeming flight qualities. The Autel Evo II V3 was easily able to follow pre-programmed waypoints and its return home function was effective. While not the best we've seen, it also was able to lock into a hover and hold a line. The braking is harder than much of the competition, though you can tweak the onboard settings to help make its stopping more gradual.
We greatly appreciated the take-off and landing performance of this drone, but it wasn't the best in intelligent flight.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability
The Autel Evo II V3 is among the heaviest drones we tested, though its folded size is similar to other high-performing drones. Our favorite part of this option's portability is the included pelican case, which is a professional-grade case where protecting your gear is the priority. We'd recommend this option to those carrying their drone for short distances. The pelican case, while protective, is relatively heavy and bulky, so make sure you find the right drone for you.
This wasn't the most portable drone tested, but it comes with a phenomenal, high-end pelican case.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Autel Evo II V3 is incredibly user-friendly, and we were flying this drone minutes from unboxing it. The controller is also comfortable and has a built-in monitor with easily navigated menus. This option scored highly in this metric and helped boost its overall score. Learning to fly this drone was a breeze, and we got the hang of the Autel Evo II V3 quickly. The resolution of the video on the controller is 2340x1080 at 60 fps, and we thoroughly enjoyed the flight experience.
We absolutely loved how user-friendly the Autel EVO II Pro V3 was in testing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Autel Evo II V3?
This option is a well-made drone and is a great fit for someone hunting for a high-resolution model that can handle low-light environments like a pro. With slightly lower flight quality than other high-end models, weigh the Autel Evo II V3 carefully against its competition before making your purchase.
What Other Drone Should You Consider?
The DJI Mavic Pro 3 is a top-scoring drone that boasts professional-grade quality and minimal setbacks. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly design, the DJI Mini 3 Pro offers incredible flight and camera quality for a fraction of the price.
—
Zach Lovell
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