What's new on the DJI Phantom 4 Advanced?

The decision to discontinue the Phantom 4 'standard' (following the end of the 3 Advanced and Professional models) has left the Phantom lineup looking quite sparse. So it isn't surprising that DJI have now announced a new model to bridge the gap. In this blog we take a look at what is included (and what is left out) on the new DJI Phantom 4 Advanced, in an attempt to clarify if the new drone is best suited for your needs.

What is the Phantom 4 Advanced?

The Phantom 4 Advanced is the latest in a line of powerful quadcopters designed from the ground up for consumer aerial photographer and cinematographers. It enables amateurs to achieve stunning 20MP snaps and 4k videos at a silky smooth 60fps (100Mbit data rate). With a 30 minute flight time and 4.3mile maximum flight range it opens up incredible new imaging possibilities. Simply connect your smartphone to the included handset transmitter and you can be in the air filming like a professional in a matter of minutes. Its advanced on-board flight controllers makes it incredible simple to fly even if you are a beginner, and its sensor array and redundant systems help keep the craft out of danger.

What is missing from the Phantom 4 Advanced?

It all sounds great so far, but not all of the technology from the Pro model has been passed down to this youngest sibling. The Advanced model is missing the following features: No rear vision sensors : The Advanced cannot detect items behind it, thus cannot fly backwards in protected or tap-to-fly modes. No side mounted IR sensors : These complement the front and rear vision sensors on the PRO to give the craft 360T No tap-to-fly 'backwards' : As a result of removing these sensors. No 5.8Ghz support : The secondary transmission frequency support has been removed from lightbridge to cut hardware costs. We are yet to if this this will affect the real world range and interference protection. For the record the 5.8Ghz link for the PRO is rated at 4.3mi under FCC, 3.1miles in SRRC and  1.2miles in CE mode. For further clarification on the new changes, see the official product FAQ on DJI's website.

How does it compare to the other DJI Phantoms?

The current Phantom range is somewhat transitional. The Phantom 4 (standard, if you will) had been discontinued leaving a huge gap between the Phantom 3 Standard (aimed at first time quadcopter pilots or those on a strict budget) to the all-singing all-dancing Phantom 4 Pro (aimed at professional photographers). The below graphic shows the current lineup of DJI Phantom quadcopters, so you can see how it compares to other consumer drones from DJI (press/click to enlarge):

Should I buy a Phantom 4 Advanced?

If you were planning on buying a DJI Phantom 4 then this could well be the model worth waiting for. On paper the Advanced is a solid step up from the original Phantom 4 and a worthy replacement. The new camera with its mechanical shutter, 4k @ 60FPS with a 100Mbit data rate is a great upgrade from the previous camera. Our only concern would be the omission of the 5.8Ghz transmission frequency for the Lightbridge system, something we hope to test when the first models land. You can order your DJI Phantom 4 Advanced today on our webstore. It is worth noting that the Phantom 4 Advanced is also available as a 'plus' model, should you prefer the controller with a super-bright 5.5inch 1080p display built in.

RC Geeks - DJI Phantom Specialists

We have stocked every model in the series since the original Phantom released back in 2013, so you can be confident that we know the Phantom drones like the back of our hand! Take a look at our spares selection to see just how well supported the Phantom 4 line is, and remember that should you ever have an accident, our repair team is on hand to help out!