DJI Air 3S review

As the latest drone from DJI, the Air 3S introduces several major upgrades compared to the Air 3, much like the transition from the Air 2 to the Air 2S. However, while the camera system has received a significant overhaul, the rest of the drone features only minor refinements, justifying the incremental “S” update rather than a complete leap to a DJI Air 4. Once again, this drone has been designed with both photography and video enthusiasts in mind, combining professional-grade features in a familiar compact and lightweight body. At just 724g, the Air 3S remains highly portable and comes with its own carry case. Its size ensures that, along with the controller, it fits easily into a typical camera bag without much effort.

The DJI Air 3S brings several key improvements over the Air 3, most notably in the dual-camera system. While the Air 3 also featured a dual-camera setup, the Air 3S’s system has been significantly enhanced. The new primary camera now sports a 1-inch CMOS sensor, upgraded from the Air 3’s 1/1.3-inch sensor, delivering 50MP resolution, up from 48MP. Alongside this is the 70mm medium tele camera, which retains the 48MP resolution. Both cameras are capable of shooting 4K/60fps HDR video, representing a slight but important improvement over the Air 3’s capabilities. The new setup also offers up to 14 stops of dynamic range, ensuring more detailed shadow and highlight capture.

As well as the camera upgrades, the Air 3S does, of course, include a few other unique new features. One of the most notable is the nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing system, which integrates forward-facing LiDAR technology and a suite of sensors around the drone to ensure smooth and safe flights, even in low-light conditions.

Complementing the low-light object avoidance is the boost in the ISO performance, which now supports a maximum ISO of 12,800, doubling the Air 3’s capabilities. A nice feature is that both cameras offer 10-bit video and support HLG and D-Log M color modes, ensuring flexibility during post-production, especially in low-light conditions, and helping to boost color accuracy and detail.

As with the Air 3, the Air 3S again features the power accumulation charging hub. This charging dock can be used as standard to charge the drone’s batteries through a USB Type-C connection to AC power or a power station, or used to intelligently transfer remaining power from partially depleted batteries into one fully charged battery.

In terms of flight time, the Air 3S offers a maximum flight time of 45 minutes, just under the 46-minute claim of the Air 3. However, this is no doubt in part due to the upgraded video transmission capabilities. The Air 3S supports DJI’s O4 video transmission technology, delivering 1080p/60fps video over distances of up to 20km—an upgrade from the Air 3’s transmission system, and this is really noticeable when using the DJI RC 2 with the integrated screen.

Going back to just a few of the reasons why this drone will appeal to photographers and videographers, the Air 3S introduces tools like Free Panorama mode and Subject Focusing, making it easier to capture panoramic images and maintain sharp focus on subjects. While the Air 3S isn’t a huge upgrade from the Air 3, its upgraded camera now all but makes the DJI Mavic 3 Pro redundant, especially considering the price difference.

The DJI Air 3S, like the Air 3, features solid build quality yet still retains a relatively small frame that weighs in at 724g, including the battery, MicroSD, and props. Checking over the body, there are a few small differences between the Air 3 and Air 3S, most notably the sensor across the front of the machine and a darker Mavic-esque color scheme. On the bottom, it also highlights the noise level at 81dB.

In flight, the Air 3S feels robust enough to withstand the occasional bump, and there are optional prop guards if you are flying in tricky locations. As ever, the sensors can be switched off if you need to take more control without it stop-starting through obstacles, although for the most part, keeping the full object avoidance system on is definitely the safest idea.

While the Air 3S is quite a bit larger than the Mini 4 Pro, it’s still compact enough to fit into the section of a backpack thanks to the folding arm design. The Air is definitely the first step on the rung to professional drones, and the gap between this and the Mavic 3 Pro has now completely closed. However, there are a few accessories that it’s a shame the Air 3 doesn’t ship with—primarily the pro harness. It’s a simple addition that’s actually really missed here, especially as you pack and unpack the drone from backpacks and the standard case. At present, a harness hasn’t been listed in the accessories, but it would be a great addition.

The drone’s features and controls remain much the same as the Air 3 and can all be accessed through the DJI Fly app. In this review, I’m looking at the combo kit, but if you go for the standard controller, you can access those options and settings through the app. Using the DJI RC 2 controller, with the integrated screen, makes the whole setup feel neat and streamlined, and there’s just no hassle every time you set up compared to the no-screen versions.

The controller itself is comfortable to hold, with responsive controls that allow for precise flight adjustments. Across the top of the controller, additional dials and buttons enable users to easily tilt the camera or adjust exposure settings. Through the screen, you can quickly monitor flight data, access camera controls, and seamlessly switch between the primary and telephoto cameras using the zoom function. The big difference here is the speed of the transmission, and while the old system was good, the fluidity of the stream is just a level up—it’s something that seemed great on the old system until you see the new.

The DJI Air 3S is in many ways very similar to the Air 3, but it packs in enough new features to make it a great choice for enthusiasts, pros, travel photographers, and videographers alike. At the heart of the Air 3S is the updated dual-camera system, offering a primary 50MP 1-inch CMOS camera and a 70mm medium tele camera. Both of these small cameras support 4K video recording at up to 120fps, and the 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color, which enable plenty of flexibility in post-processing. The telephoto camera also features a 3x optical zoom, making it ideal for portrait and vehicle shots.

One of the drone’s big new features is the new Nightscape obstacle sensing, although this involves low-light flying, so in the UK, use of this feature will be a little limited due to flight laws. Still, it’s overcast enough, so anything to aid with low light is welcomed. This new system uses forward-facing LiDAR and six vision sensors to provide omnidirectional obstacle detection.

The Air 3S also supports DJI’s ActiveTrack 360°, which intelligently follows and keeps subjects in the frame, even when they become partially obscured, making it ideal for chasing vehicles and bikes off-road. The drone also has an updated automatic return-to-home function, with the Smart RTH system guiding it safely back, even when there’s no satellite signal. Again, in the UK, when there’s plenty of cloud cover, this can be handy.

The feature set makes this an ideal drone for creative photographers, with options for imaging such as the Free Panorama mode, which enables you to capture panoramic images by stitching multiple shots together. Essentially, you set it going, and the drone shifts position to capture each image before processing.

Additionally, the Air 3S is equipped with DJI’s O4 video transmission technology, providing a reliable 1080p feed over 20km distances and supporting stable video transmission through 4G, even in areas with high interference.

A feature that has recently been a part of the latest DJI drones is the built-in storage of 42GB and Off-State QuickTransfer capability, transferring footage to a smartphone or computer even when the drone is powered off. Then there are further features such as Subject Focusing, which keeps your subject in sharp focus during manual flights, and a robust data protection mode ensuring no data is transmitted externally during flights.

DJI Air 3S Key Features

• Dual-camera system: 50MP 1-inch-CMOS primary camera and 48MP 70mm medium tele camera
• ISO range: Video ISO up to 12,800 for better low-light capture
• Omnidirectional obstacle sensing with LiDAR and vision sensors
• Flight time: Up to 45 minutes
• 10-bit O4 video transmission over 20km
• Waypoint Flight, Free Panorama Mode, and Subject Focusing

The DJI Air 3S has been designed as that difficult mid-range product that sits between two exceptional models: the DJI Mini 4 Pro and the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. However, with this latest model, while there’s a marked boost in everything between the Air 3S and the Mini 4 Pro, the lines have become increasingly blurred, if not crossed, when it comes to the Air 3S and the Mavic 3 Pro.

What makes that difference is the upgraded dual-camera system with the 50MP 1-inch CMOS camera alongside the 48MP 70mm medium telephoto camera. While the upgrade in resolution is small for the primary camera, the fact that it features a larger sensor is a big deal, and as soon as you start to check out the images, even in normal light conditions, that difference is apparent. This is fast approaching the quality of far larger systems, with tone, color, and detail that challenge many cameras.

As before, and with the Mavic range as well, switching between the cameras is easy. So if you want to capture an establishing shot of, say, someone walking toward a remote building and then zoom into a close-up of them arriving at the door, you can do so without the need to reposition the drone. Just switch cameras.

The image quality of the Air 3S is exceptional. With the new sensor’s 14 stops of dynamic range, this really does seem to be the case. The quick switch in exposure as you move from light to shade through trees is fast and progressive, with a smooth shift in exposure rather than a quick switch. During testing, I was able to capture a decent amount of footage through rain intervals, and that footage showed sharp and vibrant detail with smooth color transitions. The quality of the footage is impressive, and enthusiasts will be more than impressed with the results. However, the quality is now at a point where professionals will inevitably be just as impressed with what this drone has to offer. With that larger sensor, footage captured at 4K/60fps in HDR video shows an improvement over the Air 3, enabling greater shadow and highlight detail to be captured.

One feature that was instantly noticeable was the quality of the video transmission, which has always been excellent but here definitely seems to have taken a step up. When the drone arrived, it was before the specifications or much information about what was new, but the quality of the feed through to the RC 2 was something that instantly stood out. Sure enough, the video transmission has had an upgrade and is powered by DJI’s O4 system. This upgraded system provides a 1080p/60fps video transmission up to 20km, although, of course, I wasn’t able to test this distance due to UK flying laws, but still, it’s a big update.

In flight, again the drone handles with ease, so whether you’re new to flying or an expert, the Air series of drones has always been one of my personal favorites to fly. In flight, they always feel robust, stable, and responsive, with a power to the build that seems to be offered by the heavier weight of larger drones. If you want to stop after flying at full speed, it stops in the air like it’s hit an invisible airbag. There’s still some distance for it to slow, but that distance is short. Likewise, in-flight sharp turns and corners are smooth—well, as smooth as your control of the flight can be—and unlike the Mini 4 Pro, which drifts a little at speed, the power of the motors seems to push it through corners with relative ease.

Checking the specifications, it states that the wind resistance is 12 m/s, which is slightly less than some larger models like the Mavic 3. However, it all seems good and solid in the air.

The Nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing system is another key improvement on paper over the Air 3 and aims to provide enhanced safety, especially in low-light scenarios. In testing, I flew the drone through a tree-lined pathway in the woods, and sure enough, the system kicks into action, with the flight speed slowing to a snail’s pace or stopping completely when the system picks up an obstacle in its path. The system works well, and combined with ActiveTrack 360°, it offers some serious potential. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet been able to test this out fully and will bring an update as soon as I have.

Once again, the quality and performance of the DJI Air 3S offer a great option for enthusiasts, with the camera marking a clear upgrade compared to the Air 3. However, while the Air 3’s camera performance was good, the Air 3S is exceptional, now making it an ideal choice for professionals as well. That does, of course, raise the question: when is the DJI Mavic 4 Pro going to be with us?

The DJI Air 3S initially looks like a subtle upgrade from the Air 3, but once you start to explore the imaging potential, you realize this is a drone on another level—closer in performance to the Mavic range than the Air. The Mavic 3 Pro does still have the 4/3 sensor, which is much larger, but when it comes to the actual quality between the two, there’s so little difference. That boost in performance essentially makes the Mavic 3 Pro redundant—why spend more for a drone that is essentially inferior?

In flight, the Mavic 3 Pro does still have the edge, with the additional weight making it look and feel slightly more stable in the air. However, with the excellent gimbal and stabilization, when it comes to the quality of the footage, you really wouldn’t know the difference.

When it comes to object avoidance and ActiveTrack, again the DJI Air 3S is on another level, and it suddenly becomes easier to compare the Air 3S against the Mavic 3 Pro than the Air 3.

When you also take into consideration the 45, or closer to 35, minute air time per battery, excellent build quality, and host of other features, this is to date the best drone on the market of its size, considering the price.

For enthusiasts and professionals, the Air 3S is now a sound choice for all. But this does highlight that there must be a Mavic 4 in the wings, as you just can’t have a drone lower down the range that is this good.

Whether you’re into landscape photography, urban exploration, or simply capturing family moments, the Air 3S offers exceptional value at its price point, with the RC-N3 model priced at £959 ($1,165) and the Fly More Combo available at £1,239 ($1,510).

For more information, visit the DJI Air 3S page.