Hello Community,
I´m a relatively new to drone flying and planning to purchase my first DJI-Drone soon. Currently I´m struggeling between the Mavic and the Phantom 4 - I really want to take the drone with me at trips, therefore the mavic would be my first choice. Camera seems to be the same too (except of the field of view, which is smaller) and the maximum flight radius is even bigger (DJI OcuSync). Speed is almost the same too, same with the battery power. Now there´s only one thing left to be questioned - the wind resistance. As the Phantom 4 is bigger, it should have better wind resistance, shouldn´t it? But there are reviews saying, the mavic would have the same resistance, which kinda confuses me. Who would gain the point for "better wind-resistance"? Am I right with the other aspects I stated? Have you mavic users had problems with flying the mavic in specific heights?

Thanks in advance,
DjiDroneDude

I would say the P4 has a better wind resistance due to the weight ( I had a P4) and P4 has a slightly better camera than the mavic.  I am acutally thinking or purchasing another Phantom series just because of the better camera.

I've flown both the Phantom 4 and the Mavic.  The Phantom 4 seems to take to the wind better, likely due to it's greater mass and smooth lines.  Flying both just minutes apart on the same windy day, the Mavic gave me high wind warnings, while my Phantom gave me none.  Another difference I noticed is the Phantom seems to turn and angle its camera more smoothly.  That said, the Mavic is certainly more portable than the Phantom.

While they're both great drones, I prefer my Phantom 4.

TN Lone Wolf Posted at 2017-8-27 11:51
I've flown both the Phantom 4 and the Mavic.  The Phantom 4 seems to take to the wind better, likely due to it's greater mass and smooth lines.  Flying both just minutes apart on the same windy day, the Mavic gave me high wind warnings, while my Phantom gave me none.  Another difference I noticed is the Phantom seems to turn and angle its camera more smoothly.  That said, the Mavic is certainly more portable than the Phantom.

While they're both great drones, I prefer my Phantom 4.

You'd think due to the large feet in the Phantom design that there'd be a lot more drag, but I do keep seeing people say the Phantom does better in windy conditions. Maybe the motors are more powerful?

Ex Machina Posted at 2017-8-27 12:21
You'd think due to the large feet in the Phantom design that there'd be a lot more drag, but I do keep seeing people say the Phantom does better in windy conditions. Maybe the motors are more powerful?

I think it has to do with the shape.  The Phantom 4 has smooth, aerodynamic curves, while the Mavic is kind of blocky with a lot of flat surfaces along the front, sides, and arms.

Ex Machina Posted at 2017-8-27 12:21
You'd think due to the large feet in the Phantom design that there'd be a lot more drag, but I do keep seeing people say the Phantom does better in windy conditions. Maybe the motors are more powerful?

You are right! I

t is the power of the motors fighting winds. The P4 has more thrust but the MP is more stable because of it's smaller footprint!

i will leave these here:

ImHereToCrash Posted at 2017-8-27 16:30
i will leave these here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D01BMCexPRI

Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference.

Ex Machina Posted at 2017-8-27 16:53
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference.

exactly as i thought too..  now that's the standard phantom 4 not the pro.. but ill wager a bet that it's fairly identical.

I have both a Mavic and a P4Pro and both are stable in wind. The P4Pro is definitely faster except in the RTH where the Mavic returns at a higher speed.
The P4Pro certainly has a better camera but unless you need the camera for professional shots, the Mavic camera is good enough.
There is one instance where the Mavic beats the P4Pro and that is landing on an uneven surface. Even if you use a landing pad, if the ground is uneven or on a bit of an angle and there is wind, the Mavic just lands flat because it is so low to the ground but the P4Pro can tip over.

in my limited experiance, wind is hardly an issue unless you fighting 20mph gusts.  specially on mavic and P4pro.. in terms of which handles it better, i say its a draw.  i would rather have the Mavic pro out in the wind, its more streamlined i think and the phantom is heavier and less streamlined so fighting 2 forces head one.. gravity trying to pull that extra weight down and wind tryign to shove you in some direction..... that my theory.. i think mavic gets closer to the ideal balance where enough weight to fight wind but not so much that fighting to stay up as well, and its streamlined enough that wind rolls over smaller body easier.. but then again phantom 4 pro has stronger motors, but its, i guess if the wind really kicking up, maybe phantom has the edge...just because the motors a tad stronger than mavic's

i only owned a spark and a mavic, so i am no authority on this..... my ex sparky had no issues with 15mph winds when returning to me in the pouring rain. both head on wind and cross breeze because massive storm caught up to us..  my mavic has only fight up to i think a 10 mph wind and tbh i dont think i noticed it it was so stable.

in terms of video quality while fighting wind, it's hard to say, both actually great but i think the phantom edges out here slightly because of the decentralized camera/gimbal rig and wider field of view whereas mavic has camera right under its chin so the range of movement is little less.., but neither are ideal for recording while fighting winds..      

They possess the same wind resistance capacity which is up to 10 m/s. We don't suggest flying the Phantom series and Mavic when the wind speed exceeding 10 m/s.

TN Lone Wolf Posted at 2017-8-27 11:51
I've flown both the Phantom 4 and the Mavic.  The Phantom 4 seems to take to the wind better, likely due to it's greater mass and smooth lines.  Flying both just minutes apart on the same windy day, the Mavic gave me high wind warnings, while my Phantom gave me none.  Another difference I noticed is the Phantom seems to turn and angle its camera more smoothly.  That said, the Mavic is certainly more portable than the Phantom.

While they're both great drones, I prefer my Phantom 4.

So you say you´d prefer the Phantom 4. Did you ever take it onto trips? When yes, did you have to pay for an extra baggage? Would you, even though it is less work taking the mavic, take the Phantom 4 with you?
At the same time, have you ever travelled with the mavic? When yes, how were the pictures (acceptable, bad, good, movie-quality)? Where did you fly (high, low, ground, special terrain)?
What would you guys in the community rather take with you onto a trip? The big Phantom 4 (better camera qualty, better wind-resistance) or the small mavic (better portability)?
Thanks for all answers so far!
- DjiDroneDude

DjiDroneDude Posted at 2017-8-28 01:57
So you say you´d prefer the Phantom 4. Did you ever take it onto trips? When yes, did you have to pay for an extra baggage? Would you, even though it is less work taking the mavic, take the Phantom 4 with you?
At the same time, have you ever travelled with the mavic? When yes, how were the pictures (acceptable, bad, good, movie-quality)? Where did you fly (high, low, ground, special terrain)?
What would you guys in the community rather take with you onto a trip? The big Phantom 4 (better camera qualty, better wind-resistance) or the small mavic (better portability)?

I should emphasize that I don't own the Mavic I fly.  It belongs to my university, so I only fly it for university related business.  I personally haven't taken it very high, ~40 meters if I recall correctly.

I have not yet taken the Phantom 4 with me on a trip that requires air travel.  However, I have taken it with me to various locations and events locally, along with my laptop.  While, yes, the Phantom's case is very bulky, I don't feel encumbered by it.  However, what you have to understand is that I'm an outdoorsy person, and packing around extra weight and bulk especially when on foot is something I'm accustomed to.  But, as I said before, the Mavic is certainly more easily transportable than the Phantom, even over the short distances across campus.

As far as the quality of images/videos from both, I would say there is no difference between the Mavic and Phantom.  The only area I feel either drone has the edge in this area is that the Phantom seems to yaw and tilt its camera more smoothly, resulting in smoother video if you're in motion.

I prefer my Phantom 4 because I have far more experience with it than the Mavic.  I'm simply more comfortable at its controls.