DJI Air 3S was launched a month ago, bringing some impressive upgrades to the model. This isn’t just another drone; it’s packed with cutting-edge tech that makes flying at night safer and smoother. The new LiDAR sensor helps the drone avoid obstacles in the dark, something many drones struggle with. Plus, the main camera now features a larger sensor, making it even better at capturing stunning video in low light.
But that’s not all—the Air 3S introduces ActiveTrack 360, a feature that lets the drone follow your subject from every angle, just like a pro cameraman. And it still keeps that compact, easy-to-carry design, all at the same $1,099 price as the Air 3. Let’s see how all these upgrades come together in the sky.
Table of Contents
Design and Weight
The DJI Air 3S is built to impress, combining sleek design with solid durability. At 1.59 pounds, it’s just a hair heavier than its predecessor, but that slight increase in weight actually gives it a sense of sturdiness, allowing it to handle gusty winds without being tossed around. Whether it’s a gusty breeze or some light turbulence, the Air 3S takes it all in stride. Having wind resistance up to 12 m/s (about 26 mph), you can count on it to stay steady and maintain control, even when the conditions aren’t perfectly calm.
When it comes to size, the Air 3S doesn’t disappoint either. Its compact folding design makes it incredibly easy to carry fold it up, and it’s small enough to slide into a bag. Unfolded, it measures 12.81 x 10.47 x 4.17 inches, almost identical to the Air 3, but when it’s time to travel, you can fold it down to 8.43 x 3.96 x 3.51 inches. I personally had no trouble carrying it around all day in the Fly More combo’s shoulder bag, which keeps everything neatly packed and secure.
The Air 3S feels solid and premium, with its smooth, high-quality plastic body (which does not feel cheap at all) and sleek dark grey finish. The four foldable propellers easily click into place, staying secure when you’re packing it away. Plus, to protect the gimbal and camera during transport, DJI includes a hard plastic cover, so you can travel without worrying about damage.
DJI Air 3s Review: Performance
The DJI Air 3S truly impresses with its performance, offering a seamless flying experience that feels both natural and exciting. I took it out for a variety of tests—walking, biking, and even driving at speeds between (20-25)mph and it handled everything effortlessly. At those speeds, it remained rock-solid, gliding through the air with smooth precision, even when dodging trees and power lines. While biking, the Air 3S kept up with me easily, weaving around obstacles and maintaining a steady track without missing a beat. It felt like I had a personal camera crew in the sky, letting me focus solely on capturing the moment.
In Sport mode, the Air 3S really shows what it’s made of. It flies fast, but what’s impressive is how steady and responsive it stays the whole time. As someone who’s flown quite a few drones, I felt completely at ease pushing it to its limits, knowing it would stay smooth and in control. It’s quick, no doubt, but it never feels jittery or hard to handle. The way it balances power and precision makes flying it a blast, whether you’re zipping through the sky or just cruising along at a more relaxed pace.
The Air 3S has excellent wind resistance capabilities. With a max wind resistance of 12 m/s (about 26 mph), I had no issues when I flew it in high wind conditions. Whether it was a bit gusty or there was some light turbulence, the drone stayed steady and never felt out of control. Even when the conditions weren’t perfect, it just kept flying smoothly, like it was made for it. Flying in tricky weather? No problem at all.
Battery life is another standout. I managed to get about 38 minutes of solid flying time on a full charge, more than enough to get in a good session. Plus, with the optional Fly More kit, I could easily swap out batteries and keep flying for hours.
In short, the DJI Air 3S delivers an exceptional flying experience. It is a kind of drone that makes you feel totally in control, confident that whatever the sky throws at you, you’re ready to take it on.
– 1-inch sensor for low-light shots.
– LiDAR for safe night flying.
– ActiveTrack 360.
– Compact and wind-resistant.
– 42GB built-in storage.
DJI Air 3s Review: Features
The DJI Air 3S is packed with features that make it both powerful and user-friendly. At the very beginning, the dual camera system is a standout, offering two lens options for more creative flexibility. Combined with the three-axis gimbal, it ensures ultra-stable footage, even in wind speeds of up to 12 m/s (26 mph). Whether you’re flying in tight spots or wide open spaces, you can rely on the Air 3S for smooth, sharp shots. Plus, the precise controls allow you to pan, roll, and tilt with ease, giving you total creative freedom in every flight.
Then there’s the ActiveTrack 360º—a game changer if you’re into cinematic shots. Imagine just drawing a box around your subject on the RC 2’s touchscreen and watching as the drone maneuvers around it, keeping it perfectly centered in the shot. I tried it while walking, biking, and even driving, and the drone kept pace beautifully, dodging trees, poles, and other obstacles with surprising agility. For even more confidence, the Air 3S is equipped with omnidirectional obstacle sensors and, for the first time, LiDAR for night flying. This makes nighttime flights feel a lot less risky as the forward-facing LiDAR sensor detects obstacles in the dark.
The Air 3S also features DJI’s reliable return-to-home technology. If the battery dips too low or the signal drops, the drone automatically returns to its takeoff point. And, thanks to the O4 video transmission system, you get a crisp, low-latency feed from the Air 3S’s camera right to your controller screen, even at impressive distances. Though regulations kept me within visual range, it’s designed to stay connected up to 20 km in ideal conditions.
Charging and battery life are other strong points. In ideal conditions, the battery lasts around 45 minutes, but it still does well even with some wind involved. Plus, with the Fly More Combo’s charging hub, I could charge three batteries in sequence or consolidate power from two depleted ones into a third, which was super handy on long outings.
For a drone that packs so much tech, the DJI Air 3S doesn’t just perform—it does it all with a sense of ease. With its user-friendly features, incredible stability, and a ton of smart flight modes, it’s ideal whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pilot looking to up your game.
Camera capabilities
The DJI Air 3S raises the game for aerial photography with a camera system designed to offer ultimate versatility. Its dual-camera setup combining a 12MP/50MP wide-angle lens with a 48MP medium telephoto gives you the flexibility to capture everything from sweeping landscapes to fine details. Even JPEGs turn out clear, colorful, and detailed, demonstrating DJI’s high standards, while both cameras support RAW images for the most creative post-production freedom.
One big upgrade with the Air 3S is the larger 1-inch sensor on the wide-angle camera, which excels in tricky lighting. From dawn to dusk, it consistently delivers sharp, clear 4K video with vibrant colors and impressive detail. With a dynamic range reaching up to 14 stops—rivaling high-end cameras it’s an ideal tool for videographers. Shooting in D-LogM or HLG unlocks 10-bit color depth, capturing a billion shades and offering loads of flexibility for grading in post.
For those who love capturing motion, the Air 3S’s 4K/120fps slow-motion mode adds a cinematic feel, letting you create stunning, detailed shots that pop. Want to take it even further? Full HD slow-mo goes up to 240fps, adding serious flair to action sequences. The Air 3S boasts a three axis gimbal to keep your footage as smooth and stable as possible, regardless of whether you’re flying at higher speeds or in windy conditions.
With its compressed perspective, the 70mm-equivalent telephoto lens creates a distinct look, making it excellent for shooting distant scenes in remarkable detail. DJI has calibrated this lens to match the main sensor’s color profile, making it easy to switch seamlessly between the two cameras. While the telephoto lens doesn’t perform as strongly in low light, it does a solid job in daylight, adding depth and variety to your shots.
DJI has also included some neat features that improve the shooting process as well. The ND filter kit is really useful when it is bright outside and you need to adjust the shutter speed to achieve that smooth look. And the panorama tool is as basic as it is efficient—select your scene, and the drone combines it into a single wide-angle image for you.
If you’re big on social media, the Air 3S has you covered with vertical 2.7K video, perfect for Instagram Stories or TikTok. With real-time framing on the RC-2 screen, you can set up each shot perfectly.
In short, the DJI Air 3S is a top contender for anyone serious about aerial photography or videography. Its dual-camera setup, dynamic stabilization, and versatile shooting options make it a powerful tool, capable of capturing landscapes, action, and cinematic slow-mo with ease. This drone makes every shot feel easy, professional, and just plain fun to capture.
DJI Air 3s vs DJI Air 3
First up, the Air 3S’s main camera now has a larger 1-inch sensor, compared to the Air 3’s 1/1.3-inch. What does that mean for you? Simply put, better details in bright light, richer colors, and noticeably improved performance in low light. For photographers who love capturing every little nuance, that extra sensor size could be the deciding factor. While both drones sport a 3x telephoto lens (70mm equivalent), it’s worth noting that in low light, the main camera on the Air 3S will noticeably outperform its counterpart.
Another standout addition is front-facing LiDAR, making the Air 3S DJI’s first to boast this feature. The LiDAR gives an edge in low-light obstacle detection, a big win for those capturing sunset shots or flying in tricky environments.
A fun bonus on the Air 3S is its Free Panorama mode, allowing you to stitch images into sweeping scenes. This is great for capturing more of that stunning telephoto perspective or a massive landscape without sacrificing image quality.
The Air 3S also gives you a generous 42GB of onboard storage (compared to the Air 3’s 8GB) and an upgraded “Smart Return to Home” feature that tracks its flight path with real-time vision positioning.
At nearly identical launch prices, the Air 3S is tempting for these added features, though the Air 3 now sees slight discounts that could sweeten the deal for budget-conscious flyers. Whether you’re about that larger sensor, or just looking for a reliable all-rounder, these drones have you covered with DJI’s latest tech.
– 1-inch sensor for low-light shots.
– LiDAR for safe night flying.
– ActiveTrack 360.
– Compact and wind-resistant.
– 42GB built-in storage.
Final Verdict
The DJI Air 3S is a seriously impressive upgrade, blending ease of use with pro-level specs that will thrill both enthusiasts and professionals. Sure, it’s not a monumental leap from the Air 3, but with that larger 1-inch sensor, added LiDAR, and refined stabilization, it’s clear DJI is leaning into the needs of serious content creators. Image and video quality are top-notch even at 4K/60fps—and low-light performance is superb. Plus, with DJI’s hallmark safety features and a smooth flying experience, the Air 3S proves it’s not just about flashy upgrades but thoughtful, meaningful improvements. For anyone seeking a high-quality aerial tool at a reasonable price, this drone is a standout choice.
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