Walkera Voyager 3 test, video, comparison, camera & flight characteristics

Professional drones, which are suitable for the production of very high-quality photo and video material, are usually enormously expensive. By expensive we mean they are in the four-digit price range and not everyone can afford them “just like that”.

The Walkera Voyager in the third version is a strong competitor to the DJI Inspire models in this league, as it is very similar in construction. If you have any doubts about the quality, the manufacturer Walkera has been in the “drone business” for a long time. Furthermore, the name is very well known in the model building business, similar to the DJI brand among drone fanatics.

The question of whether the Walkera Voyager 3 Quadrocopter is really as good as one of the Inspire models seems to be enormously important. This is exactly the core question we have been trying to answer.

Technical features

According to the manufacturer, the Walkera Voyager 3 beats the DJI Inspire. With the first generation Inspire model, the average flight time is 18-20 minutes. With the Voyager 3, it is about 25 minutes.

The flight battery of the Walkera Quadrocopter, also needs only a charging time of about 40 minutes. Compared to other models, this is an enormously good ratio between charging time and flight time. It is of course useful to have several batteries in order to extend the flight time, provided of course that there are some intermediate landings. With 3 fully charged flight batteries, you can fly up to 75 minutes. However, the Voyager drone also needs more battery capacity. The flight battery consists of 2 segments and has a maximum charge of 6.000 mAh (2 x 3.000 mAh), which it can take.

That makes them pretty heavy too. In total, it weighs about 3750 g and has the following dimensions: 47 x 46 x 30 cm. Compared to the Inspire, the overall impression is rather fat and clumsy, no wonder, the Walkera quadrocopter also weighs about 20% more. Nevertheless, it looks somehow cool and makes a high-quality impression. Here you have to decide for yourself if the model meets your taste.

For many drone pilots it is important that the display for FPV flights is integrated into the transmitter, which is actually the case with the Walkera Voyager 3. The ability to use a drone without a smartphone or tablet is actually pretty cool. If the battery of the end device runs low, this can quickly become a problem. Most tablet and smartphone screens reflect sunlight quite strongly, which can be fatal. For the Inspire model, you’ll need another mobile device. So the Walkera is definitely the right choice.

The transmission range of the Voyager 3 is pretty good. You can reach a distance of about 2000 meters. You should note, however, that there are special laws in Germany regarding the flying of drones. This includes that the pilot may only fly the aircraft as far away from him as he can recognize it. In addition, a maximum legal flight altitude of 100 meters in Germany is specified. In foreign countries, other laws may apply, which you should inform yourself about in advance.

Safety was important to the developers of the Walkera Voyager 3. It has 2 positioning systems. One is the normal GPS and GLONASS, which is rather unknown and stands for “Global Navigation Satellite System”. If one of the two signals becomes too weak, the other system takes over the positioning.

But the most important question for you might be how good the camera is. So let’s have a look at it: Here, a 4K sensor with a resolution of 4096 × 2160 and 10 MP is installed. You can take the camera off and it delivers very high quality pictures. In the highest resolution, videos with a frame rate of 12 fps are possible. To reach 60 fps, you have to set the resolution in the menu to 1080 pixels or for 120 fps to 720 pixels.

In order to have a clear view, the envelopes can be retracted after the start. This function is also available on DJI’s Inspire Quadrocopter. This allows spectacular shots in 360 degree visibility.

In addition, the drone has a very sophisticated gimbal system in order to be able to exactly compensate for camera movements. Even during fast, spectacular flight manoeuvres, the position of the camera remains the same.

Scope of delivery

Everything is included in the scope of delivery in order to be able to fly with the Voyager 3 Quadrocopter:

• 1 x Walkera Voyager 3
• 2 x 3000 mAh 29.6 V 10C (8S) LiPo
• 2 x replacement propellers
• 1 x radio remote control
• 1 x BT-2401B 2.4GHz Bluetooth data connection
• 1 x 4K camera with gimbal
• 1 x 100W charger (SKYRC E8AC)
• 1 x charging cable
• 1 x cable for remote control
• 1 x remote control bracket
• 1 x tool
• 1 x user manual (English)

Advantages and disadvantages of the Walkera Voyager 3

It is clear that when weighing up the pros and cons, you must not lose sight of the fact that this is a model from the high-priced class. Disadvantages of such aircraft are often very individual and also subjective. Pay attention to what you want to use the drone for and whether it meets your requirements. We have tried to approach the matter as objectively as possible. In our opinion, the following points of criticism have emerged:

Advantages:

• 25 minutes flight time
• Collapsible envelopes
• FPV flights possible without smartphone/tablet, thanks to built-in display
• High quality 4K camera sensor
• Up to 2 km transmitter range
• 2 independent positioning systems (GPS and GLONASS)

Cons:

• Slightly heavier than DJI’s Inspire models
• At highest resolution only 12 fps maximum frame rate possible

Conclusion

Whether the Walkera Voyager 3 Quadrocopter suits you, you have to decide for yourself. If you like to shoot in cinema format and want to create real movies with it, then one of the DJI Inspire models could be just as suitable for this purpose.

Buyer reviews confirm the high-quality workmanship, reliable flight characteristics and durability of Walkera products. Compared to the Inspire, however, it could still make up for a lot in terms of camera and video footage, and maybe even weigh a little less.

In our opinion, the Walkera Voyager 3 drone still deserves the stamp of “professional drone“. If your budget is sufficient and you would like to produce high quality video recordings & photos without having to use an annoying smartphone or tablet, then we give you a crystal clear recommendation.