DJI Air 3S drone: the Mavic 3 better watch out!

The various promotional offers that have recently flourished on the Internet left little doubt as to the arrival of the successor to the DJI Air 3 drone. With the Air 3S, the Chinese manufacturer is discreetly changing its dual-camera device, now equipped with a 24 mm main camera with a 50 Mpx 1-inch CMOS sensor, without forgetting a 70 mm 48 Mpx telecamera, each boasting a wide dynamic range of up to 14 stops and supporting the new Free Panorama feature.

The DJI Air 3S also features new nightscape obstacle detection, as well as precise next-generation intelligent RTH (Return to Home) capabilities.

Two cameras, two sensors, a handful of extra pixels

The drone's telecamera therefore remains limited to 48 Mpx and still equipped with a 1/1.3 inch sensor, therefore imitating the Air 3, but the wide-angle module today adopts a 1 inch sensor instead of the sensor 1/1.3 inch from its elder. The promise of this tandem is to do even better than the current Mavic 3 Pro with more details and an improvement in 10-bit image quality and ISO sensitivity range.

Both cameras will be able to record 10-bit video with H.265 encoding, providing refined color performance and greater flexibility in post-production with the maximum ISO increased to 12800. In D-Log M color profiles and HLG, the maximum ISO sensitivity is increased to 3200, granting greater brightness and more details in night scenes.

The 24mm main camera's large 1-inch sensor supports 4K/60fps and 4K/120fps HDR video recording, as well as 10-bit D-Log M color profile. It benefits from advanced image processing technology using intelligent algorithms, capable of preserving the smallest details in low light conditions.

The secondary 70mm telecamera is equipped with a 3x optical zoom offering a reduced depth of field to highlight any subject with a bolder look. Its 1/1.3-inch 48MP CMOS sensor supports the same video specifications and color profiles offered by the main camera.

The new Free Panorama mode, available with both cameras, will allow you to easily create panoramas by stitching together multiple images with a manually selected subject or area. The wide-angle module features a wider field of view (FOV), significantly improving efficiency when capturing panoramic photos. The mid-telecamera significantly reduces image distortion, creating expansive shots with a wide perspective from multiple photos, as well as rich details captured by its superior focal length.

Integrated front LiDAR

The Air 3S is DJI's first drone to feature front-facing LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), while integrating downward-facing time-of-flight (ToF) infrared sensors and six optical sensors (two front, rear and below) to realize omnidirectional obstacle detection in night landscape.

This advanced technology allows the Air 3S to automatically identify and bypass obstacles during its flight and its return, guaranteeing flawless safety, including during night flights, – a practice prohibited by French legislation, remember. Powered by real-time optical positioning and map-building technologies, the Air 3S remembers flight paths when there is sufficient lighting, ensuring a safe return to base from locations without a satellite signal.

The Air 3S drone has 360° ActiveTrack to keep any type of subject in the frame. Based on the surrounding environment, Tracking Performance Optimization automatically plans the flight path and adjusts the framing to ensure the subject remains in the center of the image, even if the lower half of their body is partially obscured, for example when standing behind bushes or on a bridge.

The Air 3S also introduces a new subject focus feature that keeps it sharp, even when flying manually or when it moves off-center. A function that allows the pilot to concentrate on the more creative and technical aspects of the sequence figure he is performing.

Other features

• Flight time up to 45 min
• The drone provides DJI O4 10-bit HD video transmission at 1080p/60 fps over a distance of up to 20 km
• The DJI Cellular Dongle 2 inserts directly without requiring additional accessories. 4G connectivity ensures stable video transmission and drone control, improving flight safety and reducing disconnection risks
• 47GB of built-in storage without requiring microSD cards
• Power-off QuickTransfer: Files can be sent from the Air 3S to a smartphone even when the drone is turned off. Transfer to a computer can also be done with the drone turned off, by simply connecting the Air 3S using a compatible USB cable
• The charging station supports Power Delivery fast charging and has a power accumulation function that allows the user to transfer the remaining charge from multiple low-level batteries to the one with the highest charge

Configurations, pricing and availability