Updated
By Paul Posea · Verified by Marcus Taylor
This guide covers the consumer Mavic 3 family (Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3 Pro). For the commercial model, see our Mavic 3 Enterprise guide. Compare all cards in our main SD card guide.
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 256GB |
| Speed Class | V30, U3, C10 |
| Bus | UHS-I |
| Read Speed | 190 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 130 MB/s |
| App Performance | A2 |
| Operating Temp | -25°C to 85°C |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited |
Pros and Cons| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 256GB |
| Speed Class | V30, U3, C10 |
| Bus | UHS-I |
| Read Speed | 160 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 120 MB/s |
| App Performance | A2 |
| Operating Temp | -25°C to 85°C |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Pros and Cons| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 256GB |
| Speed Class | V30, U3, C10 |
| Bus | UHS-I |
| Read Speed | 180 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 130 MB/s |
| App Performance | A2 |
| Operating Temp | -25°C to 85°C |
| Warranty | 10 years limited |
Pros and Cons| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 512GB |
| Speed Class | V30, U3, C10 |
| Bus | UHS-I |
| Read Speed | 190 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 130 MB/s |
| App Performance | A2 |
| Operating Temp | -25°C to 85°C |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited |
Pros and ConsThe Mavic 3 family shoots up to 5.1K/50fps and 4K/120fps from a 4/3 Hasselblad sensor, higher resolutions than the Air or Mini lines. Even so, in standard H.265 recording the bitrate stays within what a quality U3 (V30) card handles, around 200 Mbps at the top. DJI's recommended list for the Mavic series names Lexar and Kingston cards.
We recommend the SanDisk Extreme as the value workhorse, the DJI-listed Lexar Professional 1066x, and the durable Samsung PRO Plus. All three are above.
5.1K and 4K/120fps fill a card noticeably faster than the 4K from a Mini. Use the calculator to see how each size holds up at the mode you shoot, and size to a 512GB card if you work in the highest-quality settings.
Pick a recording mode to see how much footage each card size holds.
Recording mode
At 4K/120fps (~150 Mbps), a 256GB card also holds roughly 16,384 photos. Figures are approximate and vary with scene complexity.
Speed is settled at V30, so the only real decision on the Mavic 3 is capacity, and it leans larger than on a Mini. 5.1K/50fps and 4K/120fps at roughly 200 Mbps eat through a 256GB card in well under two hours, and the Mavic 3 family supports a full 512GB. If you shoot at the top settings or fly full days, the SanDisk Extreme 512GB above doubles your runtime for far fewer swaps and offloads, at a better price per gigabyte than chasing a faster speed class you cannot use. A 256GB card is fine for casual 4K outings; 512GB is the pick for serious 5.1K work.
One important caveat: the Mavic 3 Cine records Apple ProRes 422 HQ, a far heavier codec than the standard H.265 the regular Mavic 3, Classic, and Pro use. ProRes bitrates run into the gigabits per second, which is why the Cine ships with a built-in 1TB SSD rather than relying on a microSD card.
A microSD card rated U3 (V30), up to 512GB, for standard H.265 recording. DJI lists Lexar and Kingston cards for the Mavic series; the SanDisk Extreme is a reliable value pick.
512GB microSDXC for the Mavic 3, Classic, and Pro. The Mavic 3 Cine adds a built-in 1TB SSD for ProRes.
Yes, 8GB on the standard models (the Cine has a 1TB SSD). The 8GB is a small buffer, not a substitute for a card.
No microSD card is fast enough for ProRes, which is why the Cine records to its built-in 1TB SSD. A standard V30 microSD only covers H.265 recording on the non-Cine Mavic 3 models.
Author · Dronesgator
Paul Posea founded Dronesgator in 2015 and has been reviewing consumer drones for over a decade. With 195 YouTube drone reviews drawing 3.55 million views and published work on Digital Photography School, he combines hands-on flight testing with data-driven analysis to help pilots find the right drone.
Expert Reviewer · Deployed Consultancy Ltd
Marcus Taylor is a UK CAA certified drone pilot and owner of Deployed Consultancy Ltd. With 6 years of commercial experience spanning UN site surveys in West Africa, aerial photography across Europe, Africa, and Japan, and defence consulting, he verifies the technical accuracy of Dronesgator's drone reviews and guides.
