The DJI Air 3S is holding back the final perfect upgrade

When DJI launched the Air 3 in 2023, it set a high bar for subsequent models. With the launch of the Air 3S, the Air 3 was discontinued, and with good reason. The Air 3S matches or exceeds its predecessor, leaving me wondering how much room is left to improve it before the Air series pushes the larger Mavics out of the equation.

Price and availability

Not cheap, but hard to beat

With the launch of the Air 3S, DJI discontinued the original Air 3 and replaced it with the Air 3S for the same price of $1,099. This includes the drone, a single battery, the RC-N3 controller (which requires a smartphone), and standard accessories. You’ll need to buy a good SD card with high continuous write speeds

The question is whether you should get it with the Fly More Combo. I’ve had mixed opinions in recent years because the flight time of a single battery is often enough for many fliers, meaning fewer people need extra batteries. However, things are different this time. In addition to the usual two extra batteries, charging hub, shoulder bag, and extra propellers, the new Fly More Combo includes a set of three ND filters (8 / 32 / 128). While these typically run $99 if purchased separately, they only raise the combo price by $50 compared to previous generations. It’s a good deal, assuming you will use them.

As a result, the Fly More Combo with the RC-N3 controller (requires a smartphone) retails for $1,399, and the combo with the standalone RC 2 controller costs $1,599.

What’s good about the DJI Air 3S?

Approaching perfection

While it seems hard to imagine, the Air 3S successfully adds features and improves on the previous model. The biggest addition is a forward-facing LiDAR sensor, which adds obstacle avoidance when there’s little or no light or the other sensors are blinded.

Since camera sensors are increasingly capable for evening shots and flight times allow for staying in the air after the sun has set, it’s not uncommon to have a drone in the air as it turns dark. The LiDAR sensor adds an extra safety measure to reduce the likelihood of tapping tree limbs or other obstacles that might not be visible to a camera or the naked eye.

Another addition to the Air 3S is called ActiveTrack 360, which builds on the classic ActiveTrack features. This is the familiar automated following mode we’ve seen for a long time, but it’s capable of more fluid movement around and between obstacles. It’s not perfect and can get into questionable spots or be stuck behind trees and shrubs. I wouldn’t trust it around trees without prop guards installed. However, it’s as agile and nearly as aggressive as sport chasers like the old Skydio 2.

We have to talk about the cameras. First, the performance specs have increased slightly from the Air 3, raising the max framerates to 4K@120 and 1080p@240, up from 4K@100 and 1080p@200.

One thing I found strange when the Air 3 came out was that it took a step backward in its camera configuration. It was the first of the Air family to adopt a second camera, and both were backed by a pair of identical 1/1.3-inch sensors. It was technically a downgrade compared to the Air 2S before it, which was equipped with a 1-inch sensor. In the past, I recommended the Mini 4 Pro over the Air 3 because they had the same main sensor.

DJI resolved that quirk by stepping up the main wide-angle camera of the Air 3S to a 1-inch sensor. This provides better light-gathering performance, more bokeh, and a better-looking image. According to DJI, between the larger sensor and upgrades to its image processor, the Air 3S is capable of up to 14 stops of dynamic range when shooting in D-Log M. This is a sizable step up from 12 stops with the Air 2S or 10 stops with the Air 3.

What’s bad about the DJI Air 3S?

Saving the best for next time

It feels almost disingenuous to suggest anything is “bad” about the Air 3S, but we have to talk about the camera again. This time, we’ll focus on the telephoto with a 1/1.3-inch sensor. This camera produces great images, and you’d have a hard time arguing it’s anything less than incredible, but there are predictable ways it could have improved.

First, the 1/1.3-inch sensor doesn’t pick up as much light as the 1-inch sensor for the wide-angle camera. That’s a minor detail that most people won’t notice, but it affects noise at night or in dark settings.

DJI’s marketing implies both cameras are capable of 14 stops of dynamic range. I don’t have the equipment to test that, but my side-by-side comparisons suggest the 1/1.3-inch sensor fell short of that mark. I would guess it’s closer to 12 or 13 stops, but it’s difficult to judge.

One unique feature touted in the Air 3 was that its two camera sensors matched, meaning they should produce identical colors. This is ideal because it requires little or no work in color correction to match footage when mixing footage from both cameras. Now that the sensors aren’t matched on the Air 3S, they may produce some color variation. However, DJI tuned both sensors to produce similar results and minimize inconsistencies, but they may not always be perfect.

Again, these points are primarily nitpicks. I doubt anybody other than a professional colorist or cinematographer will notice a trivial mismatch in colors or a difference in dynamic range at the extremes. These are mostly academic observations rather than practical problems.

There aren’t many things to criticize. The Air 3S checks nearly all the boxes, and I’m inclined to focus on wishlist items. I would like to see two identical 1-inch sensors for the main and telephoto cameras. That would solve everything I said earlier and could be the headlining improvement to the Air 4 or 4S.

Regarding the Fly More Combo and DJI’s decision to build in the cost of ND filters, I also think it’s time to include a set of propeller guards. They’re pieces of plastic that are inexpensive enough to be included without raising the cost. It would be a worthwhile addition to the kit that most people skip or replicate with a 3D printer.

Should you buy it?

Every time DJI releases a new Air model, finding where it fits into the market is tricky. On the one hand, the Air 3S is smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the Mavic 3 Pro. However, despite stepping up to a 1-inch sensor, it falls short of the 4/3-inch sensor on the current Mavic 3 Pro. It’s also about half the price. On the other hand, the Mini 4 Pro is a great drone that happens to weigh below the 250g threshold and has a less daunting price tag. However, it doesn’t enjoy the benefits of a telephoto lens.

It’s easy to distinguish the advantages and compromises in either direction. However, if you’re trying to work within a budget and for some of the conveniences of the lighter weight, I think most people will be more than happy with the Mini 4 Pro. Meanwhile, if cost isn’t an issue, the Mavic 3 Pro is the better option. As much as the Air 3S feels like it’s approaching perfection, I can’t help but think it’s only suited for a narrow cross-section of people who feel it’s worth getting a dual-camera drone but want to spend as little as reasonably possible.