This drone makes flying really feel easy

The next DJI Air 3S assessment was written by Betty Krachey, an authorized Half 107 drone pilot.

My first DJI drone was the Spark, and I beloved it. It was small, easy, and unintimidating — the form of drone that makes flying really feel accessible proper from the beginning. Since then, I’ve owned and flown different DJI drones as nicely, together with the Mini 3 Professional, which I additionally loved for its portability and ease of use.

That stated, the DJI Air 3S appears like the purpose the place every thing comes collectively.

It delivers the arrogance, stability, and options I want I’d had years in the past — with out turning flying right into a technical chore. The Air 3S appears like a drone constructed for individuals who really use their drones repeatedly, not simply those that wish to experiment as soon as and transfer on.

DJI Air 3S in a nutshell

The DJI Air 3S sits in the midst of DJI’s shopper lineup. It’s extra succesful than the Mini sequence however inexpensive and sophisticated than the Mavic 3 Professional. At $1,099-$2,250 relying on configuration, it targets skilled hobbyists and content material creators who want skilled outcomes with out the majority and value of DJI’s flagship fashions.

First impressions: Stable, assured, and prepared for work

Proper out of the case, the DJI Air 3S feels substantial and well-built. In comparison with smaller drones just like the Spark or Mini sequence, it instantly evokes extra confidence — particularly in less-than-perfect circumstances.

As soon as airborne, actions are easy and managed. The drone holds its place nicely, even in wind, and responds predictably to enter. That’s because of its bigger measurement than these different drones, coming in at 724g (in comparison with 249g for the Mini sequence). This isn’t simply psychological; the additional weight interprets to raised stability in wind and extra managed actions. In case you’re upgrading from a smaller drone, the distinction is noticeable instantly.

The twin-camera system: that is the place the Air 3S justifies its worth

The digital camera setup is the first purpose to decide on the Air 3S over cheaper options.

The Air 3S’s dual-camera system produces sharp images and easy video with little or no effort. Colours look pure, footage feels cinematic, and outcomes are clear straight out of the drone.

Main 1-Inch CMOS sensor: Distinctive low-light efficiency

The 50MP most important digital camera with a 1-inch sensor produces picture high quality that rivals some standalone cameras. In good lighting, images and video present wonderful element and dynamic vary with pure colour replica.

What impressed me most was the low-light efficiency. Flying throughout golden hour or in overcast circumstances, the sensor pulls in clear footage with out the noise and grain I’ve skilled with drones which have smaller sensors.

70mm medium telephoto lens: Compositional flexibility

The secondary 48MP telephoto digital camera offers a 70mm equal focal size, supplying you with inventive choices with out repositioning the drone.

It’s significantly helpful for getting tighter photographs of architectural particulars or isolating topics within the body. The added perspective choices imply much less flying time and extra inventive management.

What to learn about filming video on the Air 3S

Video captures at as much as 4K/60fps with 10-bit D-Log M colour, which provides you vital room to grade footage in submit if you need that further polish. However truthfully, even the usual colour profiles look adequate that informal customers gained’t want to the touch them. The footage has that signature DJI look — balanced publicity, pleasing colour science, and sufficient sharpness with out trying over-processed.

That is the form of digital camera that works simply as nicely for informal flying because it does for documenting actual initiatives. You don’t must battle settings or depend on heavy modifying to get usable footage.

Superior flight options change the way you shoot

The Air 3S contains clever flight modes that transfer past get together tips into genuinely helpful instruments.

Waypoints: A game-changer for repeat filming

Waypoints help you save a whole flight path — together with peak, angle, pace, and digital camera actions — and replay it later with millimeter precision.

I not too long ago used this whereas filming a house beneath development. With waypoints, I used to be capable of save a flight path and return later to fly the identical route — matching peak, angle, and motion — making it simple to indicate progress over time.

Making an attempt to recreate these photographs manually can be practically unattainable. Waypoints take the guesswork out and ship constant outcomes each time.

Cruise management is a type of options you don’t notice you want till you utilize it.

With the press of a customized button, the Air 3S maintains a gentle pace or route, making it a lot simpler to seize easy, cinematic footage. As a substitute of regularly correcting tiny actions, you may concentrate on framing the shot.

The result’s a smoother video and a extra relaxed flying expertise.

ActiveTrack 5.0: Dependable topic monitoring

ActiveTrack has improved noticeably from earlier DJI fashions. The Air 3S locks onto topics extra reliably and maintains monitoring via partial occlusions higher than the Mini sequence.

It’s not good—fast-moving topics in complicated environments can nonetheless confuse it—but it surely’s purposeful sufficient for many real-world situations like following automobiles, monitoring athletes, or capturing strolling photographs.

Omnidirectional impediment avoidance that really works

The Air 3S contains omnidirectional impediment sensing, and it’s noticeably extra dependable than what I’ve skilled on smaller DJI drones. Flying via wooded areas or round buildings, the drone detects obstacles early and both warns you or robotically adjusts its path relying in your settings.

I’ve had moments the place branches I didn’t see on the display triggered an computerized cease, stopping what may have been an costly mistake. The system isn’t good — very skinny branches or wires can nonetheless be tough — but it surely provides a significant layer of security that makes flying in complicated environments much less hectic.

The forward-facing LiDAR additionally helps with low-light impediment detection, which is an actual benefit throughout early morning or late night flights when visible sensors alone may wrestle.

Wind resistance permits you to fly when smaller drones stay grounded

Wind can rapidly break a flying session, particularly with smaller drones. The Air 3S handles wind exceptionally nicely and stays secure in circumstances that might floor lighter fashions.

The controller offers clear alerts when wind picks up, permitting you to regulate altitude or return safely. It feels just like the drone is working with you fairly than preventing you.

I’ve flown the Air 3S in sustained winds round 20 mph with gusts greater, and when you positively really feel the drone working tougher, it maintains place and responds easily to inputs. Examine that to the Mini 3 Professional, which begins to really feel sketchy round 15 mph, and the distinction in confidence is important.

How lengthy does the DJI Air 3S battery final?

DJI claims 45 minutes of flight time in supreme circumstances. Right here’s what I’ve discovered you’ll really get, based mostly on my expertise:

Actual-world efficiency:

• Hovering in calm circumstances: 40-42 minutes
• Regular flying and filming: 30-35 minutes
• Lively maneuvering in wind: 25-Half-hour
• Sport mode flying: 20-25 minutes

What issues greater than uncooked flight time is that the battery efficiency feels predictable. The drone provides you clear warnings as energy drops, and the return-to-home operate prompts with sufficient reserve to get again safely. I’ve by no means felt rushed or anxious about working out of energy mid-flight.

Constructed for actual life (and journey)

Regardless of its energy, the DJI Air 3S stays simple to move. It folds down compactly, packs nicely, and contains beneficiant inside storage, lowering the necessity to juggle SD playing cards.

The included case within the Fly Extra Combo (extra on this under) is well-designed and protecting with out being cumbersome. I’ve traveled with the Air 3S on a number of journeys, and it matches simply right into a backpack. 

RC Controller vs. RC-N3: Why the display issues

In case you’re shopping for the Air 3S, you’ve gotten two choices on your controller, that are:

RC-N3 (Cellphone Mount Controller): $1,099-$1,199

• You present the telephone
• Decrease upfront price
• Acquainted if you happen to’ve used DJI’s phone-based methods

Compromises: Cellphone battery drain, app crashes, poor visibility in daylight, notifications interrupting flights, telephone overheating on scorching days

RC 2 (Built-in Display screen Controller): $1,599 for Fly Extra Combo

• Constructed-in 5.5-inch 1000-nit show
• Higher visibility in direct daylight
• Extra dependable connection and efficiency
• No telephone battery drain or thermal points
• Skilled really feel and workflow

My sturdy suggestion: get the Fly Extra Combo with the RC Distant Controller. This isn’t non-compulsory recommendation — it’s the configuration that makes probably the most sense for practically everybody.

The RC controller with the built-in display is considerably higher than utilizing your telephone. The display is brighter, simpler to see in direct daylight, and the general expertise feels extra responsive and dependable. You’re not coping with app crashes, notifications, or your telephone overheating on a scorching day. The devoted controller merely works higher.

And that’s not the one advantage of upgrading. The Fly Extra Combo contains three batteries as a substitute of 1, which is the distinction between a fast 30-minute session and a day of precise flying. Swapping batteries takes seconds, and having extras means you’re not continuously chopping flights quick to recharge.

The combo additionally features a charging hub that allows you to cost a number of batteries effectively, a shoulder bag, and additional propellers. All of those are stuff you’d doubtless find yourself shopping for individually anyway, and the bundle pricing makes it the smarter buy upfront.

Who the DJI Air 3S is for

The DJI Air 3S is a superb alternative if you happen to’ve began with an entry-level DJI drone just like the Spark, have flown compact fashions such because the Mini 3 Professional, need extra stability and smarter options with smoother footage, want consistency for repeat filming, or need professional-looking outcomes with no steep studying curve.

It’s additionally supreme for anybody who discovered themselves restricted by smaller drones in windy circumstances or low mild, or who desires impediment avoidance they will really belief.

Think about the Air 3S if you happen to match one of many following payments:

• Upgraders who’ve outgrown the Mini sequence and want higher wind efficiency and digital camera high quality
• Semi-professional creators producing content material for purchasers who don’t want a $3,000+ cinema drone
• Actual property photographers needing repeatable photographs with waypoint performance
• Critical hobbyists able to put money into a drone they gained’t outgrow in a yr
• Journey content material creators who need skilled ends in a conveyable package deal

DJI Air 3S vs opponents

DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mini 4 Professional ($759)

The Mini 4 Professional is DJI’s most succesful sub-250g drone and sometimes the drone folks think about earlier than upgrading to the Air 3S.

Mini 4 Professional wins on:

• Value (lower than half the price of Air 3S Fly Extra Combo)
• Portability (249g means no FAA registration for leisure use)
• Higher for rookies and informal customers
• Simpler to journey internationally with out registration hassles

Air 3S wins on:

• Dramatically higher low-light efficiency (1-inch sensor vs. 1/1.3-inch)
• Twin-camera system with 70mm telephoto lens
• Higher wind resistance (flies confidently in 20+ mph winds vs. Mini 4 Professional’s 15 mph restrict)
• Longer real-world flight time (30-35 minutes vs. 25-Half-hour)
• Extra superior options (waypoints, cruise management, superior impediment avoidance)
• Skilled 10-bit D-Log M colour for critical modifying

Select Mini 4 Professional if: You’re a newbie, informal traveler, social media creator, or prioritize portability and worth over most picture high quality

Select Air 3S if: You’re an skilled pilot, semi-professional creator, actual property photographer, or incessantly shoot in difficult lighting circumstances

Learn extra: DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mini 4 Professional: how to decide on the most effective drone for you

DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 4 Professional ($2,700)

The Mavic 4 Professional represents DJI’s skilled tier with a three-camera system and enhanced capabilities.

Mavic 4 Professional wins on:

• Three-lens digital camera system (together with 168mm telephoto)
• Even higher picture high quality and dynamic vary
• Longer most vary and flight time (As much as 51 minutes)
• Extra skilled options and construct high quality
• Higher for industrial cinematography work

Air 3S wins on:

• A lot inexpensive
• Extra moveable (smaller and lighter)
• Simpler to fly and fewer intimidating for non-professionals
• 95% of the picture high quality at 70% of the value

Who ought to select which:

• Select Mavic 4 Professional if: You’re an expert filmmaker, industrial operator who wants the very best high quality, or licensed pilot doing complicated missions requiring most vary
• Select Air 3S if: You’re a semi-professional, critical hobbyist, or don’t want that final 5% of functionality for an additional $600+

Closing ideas on the DJI Air 3S

The DJI Air 3S succeeds at being precisely what it’s designed to be: a professional-capable drone in a semi-portable package deal at a mid-range worth level.

It takes what works from DJI’s smaller drones and provides stability, smarter flight options and higher digital camera efficiency. Whether or not you’re flying for work, journey, or enjoyment, the Air 3S makes the expertise smoother and extra rewarding.

In case you’ve outgrown smaller drones however don’t need one thing overly complicated, the DJI Air 3S hits a candy spot. Simply be sure you get the Fly Extra Combo with the RC controller — it’s the setup that lets the drone attain its full potential.

–By Betty Krachey

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