Unveiled a couple of months ago, the new DJI Air 3S is a prosumer-grade midrange drone that’s a worthy upgrade to its already impressive predecessor that will attract drone photography enthusiasts.
With the newer camera system, the Air 3S is probably closer to the performance of DJI’s Mavic 3 professional drone, yet the new drone is also compact for fun trips abroad.
The Air 3S’ most significant upgrade is its larger 48MP 1-inch CMOS sensor for its main camera, which excels in low-light conditions, preserving detail in both shadows and highlights.
Notably, the drone maintains the same 70mm (full-frame equivalent) zoom, and when shooting with this camera, it still utilises a smaller 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor.
This camera is capable but an upgrade here would be a welcome improvement. That said, the overall image quality from the drone remains excellent.
DJI has also made it a point to improve its night flight capabilities so that the drone can fly safely while you’re up in the air for night landscape photography and videography.
The new drone can plot its way back to the launch point by remembering its flight path without needing a satellite GPS lock. This smart feature is useful when flying in urban areas when satellite signals are easily blocked.
The DJI Air 3S can even safely navigate in low-light situations using downward-facing infrared Time-of-Flight (TOF) technology, six vision sensors placed around the drone, and a forward-facing LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system. Together, they make sure the drone does not crash into any obstacles while following a subject.
An interesting feature in the new drone is the Free Panorama function. With this, the drone will automatically stitch a set of randomly shot images instead of going through the whole shooting sequence. This flexibility means I can re-shoot certain parts of the panorama using different exposures or avoid unwanted objects in the images.
All the improvements, of course, come at a cost. The Air 3S’s maximum flight time is 45 minutes, a minute shorter than the Air 3. I expect the flight time to be even shorter if you face windy conditions and other factors.
To get back into the air quicker, buy the Fly More Combo with two extra batteries. This lets you swap out a depleted battery and use a battery charging hub that supports fast PD charging when you are not flying.
The other good news is the bump in internal storage from 8GB to a good 42GB. In other words, in an expected situation, you won’t have to scrounge for a fast MicroSD card from your other cameras or devices.
Like with other DJI offerings, you have two controller options to pair with the Air 3S. The DJI N3 controller is the cheaper option, but you must use your smartphone to see the video feed from the drone. For some users, swapping the smartphone for a tablet makes it easier to see the on-screen controls with a bigger screen.
If using a smartphone or tablet is too much of a hassle, getting the DJI RC 2 controller with a built-in screen is simpler without tackling snaking USB cables. However, extracting full-sized photos and videos from the drone to your smartphone for post-editing requires a few more steps.
The good news is that the files can quickly be transferred from the drone wirelessly to a smartphone via Bluetooth, even with the drone powered off and in standby mode.
To recap, the DJI Air 3S features a larger sensor, offering improved low-light image capture. With enhanced tracking, night-flying capabilities, and advanced safety features that enable it to return to the landing pad without relying on satellites and the LiDAR sensor, it presents a more compelling option than the DJI Air 3.
Should you buy the new drone? For those seeking a drone smaller than the Mavic 3 but want something more adept at handling windy conditions than the ultra-portable DJI Mini 4 Pro, the Air 3S is an excellent choice.
That said, in Singapore this new drone is large enough to require you to register with the country’s Civil Aviation Authority before you can fly it. For some potential buyers, this is a hassle that might make the Mini 4 Pro the more attractive option.
The DJI Air 3S retails for S$1,399 with the DJI N3 controller. Two extra batteries, a Neutral Density filter set for smoother video capture, backup propellers, and a quick charging hub will set you back S$1,729.
If you have a bigger budget, you can have the Fly More Combo with the DJI RC 2 controller for S$1959. That provides for a better overall flying experience.
