Two cameras, big sensor, the serious-video step up
DJI Air 3S
Reviewed by
Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade
The sweet spot below flagship. The Air 3S adds a big 1-inch sensor and a second telephoto camera, so you frame wide and tight shots without moving, and it flies 45 minutes. At 724g it needs registration and isn't pocketable, but for serious video it's the value pick.
The upgrade that makes your footage look intentional. The Air 3S pairs a big 1-inch main sensor with a second 70mm telephoto camera, so you can switch from sweeping wide landscapes to tight, compressed shots without flying any closer, and the larger sensor holds up far better in low light than a Mini. It flies up to 45 minutes, resists wind well, and adds LiDAR for safe night flying. At 724g it crosses the registration threshold and it's no longer pocketable, but for a creator who wants a real camera-and-range step up without paying Mavic money, it's the one.
$1,099
PickGrade may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our grades. Full disclosure.
Last reviewed Jun 9, 2026
What we like
- ✓Dual-camera flexibility
- ✓Strong flight performance
- ✓Good creator feature set
Trade-offs
- −724g - FAA registration required
- −Bulkier and heavier than the pocketable Mini 4 Pro
- −Not dramatically different from the previous Air 3
- −Screen-equipped RC 2 controller only in the pricier Fly More combo
Best for
Creators who want upgraded image quality, tracking, wind confidence, and more camera flexibility than a tiny travel drone.
Avoid if
You want the smallest sub-250g setup, a beginner price, or a drone mainly for occasional vacation clips.
The three lenses
How we grade →- 8.6/10
Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
Score breakdown
- quality9.3/10
- fit9.2/10
- ease8.9/10
- value8.6/10
Specs
- price
- ~$1,099 (RC-N3 kit)
- video
- 4K/60, 4K/120 slow-mo; 10-bit D-Log M; vertical
- safety
- Omnidirectional sensing + infrared + forward LiDAR (night)
- weight
- 724g (FAA registration required)
- cameras
- 1-inch wide (50MP) + 70mm 3x medium-tele (48MP)
- storage
- 42GB internal + microSD
- flight time
- Up to 45 minutes
- dynamic range
- Up to 14 stops; ISO to 12,800; strong low-light
How we know
High confidenceLast checkedThe DJI Air 3S is the step-up pick for serious aerial video — reviewers have called it the new gold standard and the best sub-flagship drone you can buy. What sets it apart from the Mini class is a dual-camera system: a large 1-inch wide-angle sensor (50MP, up to 14 stops of dynamic range) paired with a 70mm 3x medium-telephoto camera, so you can frame both sweeping landscapes and tighter, compressed shots without moving the drone. It records smooth 4K/60 (with 4K/120 slow-motion), 10-bit D-Log M, and vertical video, and its larger sensor delivers genuinely strong low-light performance. Practical extras stack up: 42GB of built-in storage, up to 45 minutes of flight time, solid wind resistance, and next-gen omnidirectional obstacle sensing that adds infrared and forward LiDAR for safe night flying — all while staying easy to fly, with ActiveTrack 360 and Waypoints automation. The honest caveats: at 724g it's over the 250g threshold, so FAA registration is required; it's noticeably bulkier and heavier than the pocketable Mini 4 Pro; it isn't dramatically different from the previous Air 3; and the nicer screen-equipped RC 2 controller only comes in the pricier Fly More combo. For creators who want a real camera and range upgrade without going full Mavic, it's the sweet spot.
Other expert reviews
Video reviews
DJI Air 3S — review
From real owners
Human reviews that sharpen our AI grade
No owner reviews yet. Be the first to share what you think.
Own this? Write a review
Head-to-head matchups
All drones matchups →VS · 2 products
DJI Air 3S vs DJI Mavic 4 Pro
DJI Air 3S vs Mavic 4 Pro: dual cameras at $1,099 against triple Hasselblads at $2,199. Where the pro drone earns its doubling — and who should keep the $1,100.
VS · 2 products
DJI Mini 4 Pro vs DJI Air 3S
DJI Mini 4 Pro vs Air 3S: the sub-250g Mini skips registration; the Air 3S adds a 1-inch sensor, 70mm telephoto, and LiDAR night flying. Freedom or capability?
Was this review useful?