DJI Air 3S: a dual-camera drone for higher-end travel photography

DJI is on a hot streak of new drone launches lately. Just weeks after announcing its beginner-friendly camera drone, the DJI Neo, DJI on October 15 gave us a new product: The DJI Air 3S.

Released on October 15, 2024, this latest DJI camera drone was designed specifically for travelers and photographers seeking top-tier aerial photography and videography capabilities. Packed with advanced features like a dual-camera system, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and enhanced night-time performance, this drone is especially well-made for travelers who want high-end photos and videos of their trips given its small size.

It takes on the iconic form seen in past Air models as well as the DJI Mavic line where the arms fold in, turning this drone into roughly the shape of a water bottle.

It starts at $1,099, coming in at a price point that packs in enough new technology while still remaining relatively affordable for people who know they’re passionate about the hobby. And it’s already available for shipping.

Here’s everything you need to know about the DJI Air 3S, which is the next in the fleet of DJI Air drones. It follows the DJI Air 3, which debuted in July 2023:

DJI Air 3S: key features

Professional quality, dual-camera system

With the DJI Air 3S, you’re getting not one but two cameras. That main camera is capable of 4K/120fps video recording and 10-bit D-Log M color mode. Both cameras offer up to 14 stops of dynamic range.

Here are some key specs of each:

Primary camera	Secondary camera
50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor	48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor
24mm lens	70mm medium tele camera with 3x optical zoom
Great for low-light environments such as sunsets and night-time shots	Great for portraits and other shots where you need a cinematic look with a compressed depth of field

Now I haven’t had a chance to fly the DJI Air 3S myself, but DJI did share some sample photos taken by the drone. Keep in mind, they employ professionals to take these photos, so they’ll naturally be more aesthetically pleasing than what a novice might take. But, here’s an example of the image quality you can expect to see from the DJI Air 3S:

LiDAR improves nighttime photography

With nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, the DJI Air 3S is set to level-up the world of night photography due to one critical piece of tech that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a camera drone: LiDAR.

LiDAR is a common and critical tool for many sorts of industrial drones, particularly those with use cases such as mapping. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and some consider it more accurate than other mapping methods like photogrammetry. The remote sensing method uses a pulsed laser to measure light distances. That data then creates high-resolution digital surfaces, terrain and elevation models. It’s popular on drones, as pilots can fly over areas like forests and still be able to see the conditions on the ground, even through the overgrowth.

Now you’re likely not using the DJI Air 3S for mapping (there are plenty of better drones for mapping). But DJI has maximized the technology to make it valuable for other reasons: namely safer navigation.

Through a combination of this advanced LiDAR, as well as infrared, and vision sensors, the DJI Air 3S can better detect obstacles and navigate safely, even in low-light conditions. That’s critical for safety as photographers seek to capture nighttime landscapes or even just low-light areas like buildings and tunnels in urban settings.

Free Panorama mode

It’s rare that we get an all-new shooting mode with a camera drone, as it’s always felt like the options had been exhausted. But that feeling turns out to be not true.

With the DJI Air 3S, the company pioneered what they call Free Panorama mode. It’s exactly what it sounds like: an automatic flight mode that makes it easier to take panoramas. And it’s made possible thanks to the dual cameras.

Free Panorama mode works by using both cameras to stitch together multiple images, offering stunning wide-angle views or focused telephoto panoramas. This is ideal for capturing vast landscapes or intricate architectural details.

How does the DJI Air 3S fly (and is it a good follow-me drone)?

Flight times on this drone are long, with one battery netting up to 45 minutes of drone flying time.

It’s set to be one of the best follow-me drones on the market. Besides the aforementioned LiDAR tech that’ll allow this drone to perform better in low light, it also includes the ActiveTrack 360° tech seen in other recent DJI drones. ActiveTrack 360° allows you to set a “subject” like you, a car or a friend. From there, the drone’s camera automatically keeps that subject in focus, no matter where it moves. To do that, it’s able to intelligently track and adjusts its flight path, even when obstacles like bushes or bridges obscure part of the subject.

And whether or not you’re actually using the ActiveTrack for follow-me functionality, the Smart RTH is a key safety feature. Short for Return-to-Home, it uses advanced sensors to map the environment and safely return the drone to its takeoff point, even if satellite signals are weak.

Speaking of signals, the TDJI Air 3S uses DJI’s O4 HD transmission technology. That’s ideal for long distance control. By sending 10-bit video at 1080p/60fps over distances of up to 20 kilometers aAbout 12 miles), you can still see the drone’s video feed in real-time (and thus control the drone) from that far away.

And what about after you’re flying?

DJI has continuously sought to cut back on the friction that often comes with not flying, but the aftermath of getting footage from the drone into a video. That’s clear here.

For starters, you likely don’t even need a memory card, as the Air 3S comes with 42GB of internal storage. That’s definitely sufficient for likely the day of drone flying, especially because DJI Air 3S employs a more advanced video encoding compression algorithm that reduces video file sizes by more 30% (which just saves storage space).

As far as getting footage from the drone to your computer or smartphone where you might edit it, there’s QuickTransfer. When the drone is powered on, you can view the files on your DJI smartphone app. From there, it’s easy to tap into the app on your smartphone or tablet to transfer your drone footage quickly.

As you do edit footage, you can take advantage of the drone’s various color modes, including 10-bit D-Log M and HLG. These modes provide greater flexibility during post-production, allowing photographers and videographers to fine-tune colors and details in the editing stage. For what it’s worth, even in normal color mode, Air 3S dual cameras can record 10-bit video using H.265 encoding.

What about drone data privacy?

As drone data privacy has become an especially-hot topic (especially in the wake of calls to ban DJI drones by some American politicians), DJI is seeking to offer its own solution that doesn’t necessitate regulation. It’s called Local Data Mode.

Local Data Mode is basically just like “airplane mode” on your phone. When turned on it, completely disconnects your drone DJI Air 3S from the internet, ensuring your flight data stays only in the drone.

How to get your hands on the DJI Air 3S

The DJI Air 3S is available now in a couple configurations, depending on the accessories (and your willingness to pay extra). Those are:

• DJI Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 ($1,099): The base model includes the DJI RC-N3, which is the type of controller with no built-in screen. You’ll have to use your smartphone or tablet in tandem with DJI’s app to view the live feed, adjust settings and see your flight status.
• DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC-N3 ($1,399): For $300 more, you’ll end up with the same controller as described above, but some extra accessories. That includes an ND filter set, two additional batteries, a battery charging hub and a shoulder bag.
• DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2 ($1,599): If you want the best of the best, go for this version, which gives you the DJI RC 2 remote controller instead of the DJI RC-N3. This controller offers a far superior flying experience given its 5.5-inch 1080p 700-nit high-bright screen. IT also includes the other accessories described in the aforementioned Fly More Combo, such as that ND filter set, two additional batteries, battery charging hub and shoulder bag.

Here’s a look at everything included in the DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC-N3:

DJI Care Refresh, which is DJI’s extended warranty plan, is also available for purchase with this drone.

The $1,099 price point is particularly compelling give that’s how much DJI initially sold the DJI Air 3 when it first launched in July 2023. But this, newer model costs the same, despite the increased bells and whistles. Plus, when you take inflation into account, it’s (by some “girl math” metrics) even cheaper than the DJI Air 3 was upon its 2023 launch.

Who is the DJI Air 3S best for?

Starting at $1,099, the DJI Air 3S is certainly not DJI’s cheapest drone. If you’re penny-pinching (or just new to the hobby, and not sure you want to go all-in on an $1,000 drone yet), skip this one. You’re better off with either the DJI Mini 3 (which is less than half the price of the DJI Air 3S) or perhaps the even-more affordable DJI Mini 4K. A super-beginner shouldn’t overlook the DJI Neo, either (that’s DJI’s latest drone launch prior to the DJI Air 3S).

Instead, this is for a committed photographer or drone enthusiast who wants a top-tier drone without the super expensive specs of the DJI Mavic 3 (nor the larger size).

The DJI Air 3S hits the middle, sweet spot between a Mini and a Mavic — all with the latest specs. It’s something of an all-rounder drone for travel photographers and videographers, especially given its small size (it weighs 724 grams). Standing out for its dual-camera system, night-time obstacle sensing and professional-grade video capabilities, it should be well-received by the drone community seeking something new.

I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet (it just started shipping today!) but stay tuned for a review, coming soon.