DJI Air 3 vs DJI Air 2S: Should You Upgrade?

Now that DJI has released the DJI Air 3 how does it compare to the DJI Air 2s? Let me break down all the differences between the Air 3 and Air 2s and help you decide if you need to upgrade or if you are buying your first drone which one should you purchase.
Both of these drones have great video features and photo quality but one of them definitely wins depending on what you use the drone for.
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Check out the Air 2s here: geni.us/cfIA3p
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Jake Sloan
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00:00 Intro
00:21 DJI Air 2s specs and performance
02:14 DJI Air 3 specs and performance
05:34 The C1 label and Noise rating for drone pilots in Europe
06:05 The DJI Air 2s vs Air 3 Video Specs
07:06 Low light video
07:57 Slow motion
08:40 Air 3 vs Air 2s Photo specs
10:22 Air 2s vs Air 3 speed and flight performance
11:46 Flight time and battery performance
13:06 The DJI Air 3 70mm 3x camera
13:20 Air 2s vs Air 3 gimbal uptilt
14:08 Sound differences
15:00 Price differences
16:45 Outro

[@joeychm]

Excellent honest review. Jake, you're one of the few people out there that can be trusted for truly independent opinions. Thank you for your great content.

[@JakeSloan]

I appreciate that!

[@leodelgado208]

Thanks for your honest review. I won't upgrade my Dji air 2s. It satisfies all my needs by now.

[@atomicdronez]

Best review on the Air 3 yet! Non biased, no DJI B.S. influencer hype, a straight up solid this is what this drone does review. Thank you. It is much easier to make an educated guess on whether we need this or any new drone that comes out without the embargo videos being released at once with a flood of OMG best DRONE EVVVVVVVER videos 😂

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you very much!

[@SoundPeke]

What a fine, balanced review. And some of those flying shots are stellar!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@NicholasPaulFranks]

I would if I could but I can’t! Thank you for your work…I’ll keep my air 2S and be grateful that I have one at all!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@jeffrey8601]

AWSOME channel. Very direct to the point no sales no gimmick. Ty my man. 👍

[@JakeSloan]

I appreciate that!

[@SkyTouch08]

As always you content is premium. Your comparison was solid and I really enjoyed it.

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@Thedarkshadow08]

Jake you are becoming my favorite reviewer. Well done👏

[@JakeSloan]

Appreciate that

[@steveborghardt]

Nice to see an honest review about the camera quality comparison between the 2 drones - Too many you-tubers out there seem to be trying to get folks to buy the latest products. As a photographer first the sensor size on the Air 3 turned me off to it - I haven't used a 12mp sensor since I sold my original Mavic Pro. I'm still keeping my Air 2s, and will keep flying that along with my Evo 2 Pro V1 for at least a few years to come. Thanks again for being real - you're one of the few out there I can trust to give an honest opinion.

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you so much

[@ottosun12]

Awesome. Thanks for the thorough comparison/review!

[@JakeSloan]

My pleasure!

[@chrisignacio1791]

Highly Detailed & Honest Review Jake 👍🏽

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks! 👍

[@mhmphotography400]

Jake, Excellent review as always, Can’t wait to see your video on the Air 3 VS Mavic 3 Pro ….. Thank you for Keeping it real. I just returned the Air 3 today. I have all I need with the Mavic 3 Pro, Air 2S and the Mini 3 Pro.

[@JakeSloan]

I will have that video out next week

[@denzilmurphy5760]

Excellent review Video. Thank you from the UK. 👍👍👍

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks for watching!

[@RobertMacCready]

One of several "tipping points" for me to buy the Air 3 was the waypoints. Used Litchi for many years and now the Air 3 has something similar. I think this will be a great tool for many people.

[@JakeSloan]

waypoints is HUGE and a feature i use a ton now

[@waynegreene6405]

I use Litchi waypoints more so than DJI Fly mate. Can you pre do waypoints on the Air 3 the same as you can on the computer for Litchi?

[@karn3094]

Hi Jake, I really enjoy your videos, and this was no exception! I checked in this morning to see if you released this comparison video, and it popped up while I was looking. I’ll try to keep my story this brief. I bought the mini 2 about a year and a half ago or so, and then the Air 2s popped up when I was still within my return period for the mini 2. That sensor and the obstacle avoidance did it for me. The mini 2 was my first drone ever. Fast forward to now, I simply haven’t used my Air 2s much to justify owning it. I started taking it out and practicing with it again last June. Then the Air 3 came out. After looking at features I realized I missed the small size and convenience of the mini, so I grabbed a refurbished mini 3 pro. If I really get into this I’ll keep both, and maybe in the future pick up a mavic with multiple lenses. For the next year I’ll keep what I have and see if my small collection earns its keep! Then maybe consider an upgrade. THANK YOU again for another inspiring video!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you and it looks like you have a solid line up of drones!

[@mcnaughtsontour]

Great video Jake. Think I will plan an upgrade to the Air 3!

[@JakeSloan]

I think it's a solid upgrade overall

[@yuriyuri703]

Absolutely great comparison!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@enfrentecomigo]

Thanks 👏👏 I needed this review

[@JakeSloan]

Awesome

[@waynegreene6405]

Beaut video mate. I not long ago bought the Air 2S, more than happy with the range and video images. Loved Alaska when we were there a few years backs. Regards from Sydney Australia.

[@JakeSloan]

Glad you enjoyed it and glad you had a good time up here!

[@BobCaseyAerial]

I really like it. You mentioned most everything I noticed as well. Air3 is a smooth flyer I love it.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks Bob!

[@Cpt_Tony]

Really nice review! I got my Air 3 as my first drone like two weeks ago und I as a landscape photographer really love it even though the image quality does not quite hold up the Air 2S or the Mavic 3 Classic. I really enjoy and prefer the versatility of having two really good cameras with different focal lengths up in the air over just one great camera.

[@JakeSloan]

thank you

[@haomingyang3245]

For still photo 2S is better, but video quality air 3 is better. Don'e be cheated by the higher resolution or larger sensor.

[@wescat2]

I found your channel today Jake. My first drone is on it's way. Got a great deal on a used Air 2S w/Fly More. This should be a good starter drone for me. I love taking pictures so I think this is a pretty good start.

[@JakeSloan]

thats a great start

[@PaulFeinberg]

Great breakdown!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks Paul!

[@jeffreyrichardson185]

Great video Jake.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@EmeraldCoastCommercialIm-cd6ew]

Always my favorite drone reviewer. Been waiting for you to drop stuff on the Air 3 before deciding if I'd order one. I'll be buying one here fairly soon over the 2s I currently have. Waypoints for some of the commercial work I do for construction will be a game changer as well as the zoom camera. Other features I'm sure I'll take advantage of too like battery life for longer Time-lapses on roof work and whatnot. Love doing photography personally, but the slight drop in overall image quality won't make a big difference to my personal landscape stuff.

[@JakeSloan]

Awesome and thanks for the kind words! The 3x camera really will help with inspections or detail shots too

[@broctabor6640]

Thanks for vid👍🏻 and review

[@JakeSloan]

You bet

[@redzeppelinuk]

Thanks for addressing the stills side of the camera comparison so comprehensively - so many early reviewers didn't. As mainly a stills shooter, I was concerned when I heard of the lack of 1 inch sensor on the Air 3, having loved it on my Air 2S since launch. I was fully primed to be upgrading, but for my use cases, I don't see the Air 3 as an upgrade. I'll keep enjoying my Air 2S and my expensive, yet seemingly imminently redundant RC Pro for a while yet 👍

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks and glad to hear it helped! I don't know why more people don't cover the photo side of drones

[@LivinginDurangoColorado]

Great video! Thank you!!

[@JakeSloan]

glad you enjoyed it

[@user-ih2vh6xw6z]

Excellent review! Still love my Air 2S...no need upgrade soon. Wating for Air 3S or Air 4 news

[@JakeSloan]

Good choice!

[@thatbme8736]

I respect your honest reviews and it one that will definitely help me in my decision to either keep my Air 2s, or upgrade to the Air 3. I'm not a professional and have only been flying for a little over a year. I've gotten much better and my goal is to get my Part 107 and improve my skills. Fortunately I purchased the Care Refresh coverage, because I am on my second replacement. I like to capture images and video at a close range. Too many times my issue is with flying sideways and not having the omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. I really like the footage my Air 2s is able to capture just not sure if the upgrade will help me with what I want to accomplish skill wise, or if I should hold on to my Air 2s and learn with less intelligent features.

[@JakeSloan]

Awesome and thanks for the kind words!

[@grindene]

Jake, great video again. You Are not a comercial😊

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@jakenotfromstatefarm]

Wow Jake! Best review on the Air 3 I've seen! Thank you. Sounds like I'll be making the upgrade soon. I need to sell my skydio 2 and Air 2s first I think.

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!!

[@dronepilotcontractors4094]

Great Review! I fly both a Mavic 2 Pro and Air 2s professionally. I will be taking a look at a replacement for the Pro in the next few months so I am looking forward to your other comparisons!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks! more coming soon

[@jimanderson4865]

Hi Jake. Good video. I still use the 2S. The one thing for me if I were to upgrade would be the battery. It be more of a want than a need.

[@JakeSloan]

good to know, the new batteries and flight time are definitely huge on the Air 3 but not needed in all cases

[@rushrucker1785]

Great review Jake! I have the Air 2S and although the Air 3 is an excellent drone, I'm going to wait to see what improvements are going to be made. DJI might decide to put a 1 inch sensor on this drone and call it the Air 3S or the Air 3 Pro in the next 6 months. You never know with these guys.

[@JakeSloan]

You are totally correct lol

[@marcus5865]

After watching this and being in debate between the air2s and air3 I might settle for the air2s while it’s on a back to school sale

[@MikeyColon]

Good job - very thorough.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@homesteadfilm3870]

I was perfectly content with my Air 2S until I purchased the bigger battery for my Mini 3 pro. The extended flight time impressed me so much I was drawn to the Air 3. Luckily I found a preowned Air 3 locally for a great price. First flights have been very enjoyable. Good review here. I appreciate the info coming straight forward without a lot of distraction.

[@JakeSloan]

NICE

[@DigitalAce444]

Great review! I just picked up the Mavic 3 Pro last month and already have an Air 2S so I will be skipping the Air 3. The gimbal uptilt is impressive on the Air 3 I must say. Hadn't seen that in any of the other reviews so thanks for pointing that out. On another note, I find the Alaska environment fascinating that you can have Ice, Lush Green Grass, and Flying Insects all at the same time. ❄☀🤷‍♂

[@JakeSloan]

hahahahaha it's definitely a land of extremes!

[@cmtdrones]

Nice review 👌🏼 I'll continue with my Air2s with 4 batteries for my workflow, and I'll waiting for news the next year about a new Dji.

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!!

[@Braddeman]

I upgraded. Love the telephoto lens. I’ll buy the 3s probably too. Love the waypoints. Can’t really tell much of a difference due to the stacked sensor. So get both cameras without sacrificing much. Now I can shoot better parallax shots with the at telephoto lens.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!

[@legganty]

Great review, thanks for sharing. I currently own the 2S and am thinking about upgrading. I particularly appreciated the sound test. The db on Air 3 may be a bit more but it seems to have a lower frequency which is not as irritating from my perspective.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed

[@fonsos13]

Jake, I definitely appreciate Your reviews. They're more objective and non promoting a new product when compared to a number of other reviewers. I have the Air 2S and will be ordering a few more batteries this week. Current ones starting to swell. The Air 3 isn't for me based on the specs and my needs.

[@JakeSloan]

thank you for the kind words and I'm glad to put out helpful content like this

[@alamin-lw4lo]

Best Review 😍🚁❤

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks ✌️

[@thomasmorse1226]

Great video, Jake. Im keeping my Air2s& Mavic 3classic… but yes if DJI up’s the camera?.. I’m going with it…

[@JakeSloan]

who knows lol

[@maximumdrone5334]

Thanks you so much for this in-depth review and comparison. I have the Air 2S and I will sell it to get the Air 3 mainly for the flight time and the night mode :)

[@JakeSloan]

nice!

[@jay-dt3zq]

I enjoyed your very detailed comparison I upgraded to the air3 best decision I ever made the battery life is absolutely amazing I love the zoom camera paired with night mode and you're right the flight characteristics are better and the 04 transmission astonishing the air3 is future proof

[@JakeSloan]

You're welcome

[@BMacksAerialVisuals]

This, by far, is one of the more sane reviews on the Air 3 I've seen yet. The Air 3's flight time and Tracking feature are the biggest assets that get me excited about getting it. Maybe. At some point in the future. Right now, the Air 2S is still killing it for me. I love the 5.4k video as well as the 20 mp photos. And I do take lots of photos (8:40) with it. I'm hoping DJI does as it has been doing with all it's other recent drones (Mavic 3, Mini 3) comes out with a version of the Air 3 that has a camera closer to the Air2S.

[@JakeSloan]

I wish they had kept the 1" sensor on the main camera and just added the 3x camera. I still love the image quality out of the Air 2s. it's just so good

[@stevenrast4261]

Intro Air 3s. That’s I’m waiting for. I love the Air 2s’ 1”/5.4K and I’m not really interested in stepping down

[@EarthwithTom]

This was a helpful video! I am currently in this exact position. I think I will upgrade because my Air2s is at the end of its life

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!

[@jeffreyrichardson185]

Absolutely love my A2s!! Will not be upgrading anytime soon.

[@JakeSloan]

it's still such a solid drone

[@Procharged32]

Great footage

[@JakeSloan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stefanpetersen9249]

always good reviews Jake , but I have sold my air 2s and ordered the air 3 , I suppose to get it next week. and the main reason is that the batteries on the air 2s start to swelling after 50 charges due to the hot temperature here 30-43 c year around and is a huge expense with $100 per battery. Hopefully it will be cheaper with the new one . Regardless A2S is a fantastic drone, keep up your fantastic work an cheers from Thailand as usual. Stefan

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you so much!

[@stevencarey5407]

Great comparison review. As usual you do an excellent job with your content. I have an Air 2S and am very pleased with it. I do a lot of 360 videos so I bought the Insta360 sphere camera that works with the Air2S. Looking at the Air 3 it seems clear that the sphere would not fit on this drone. I would love to have the 3x lens of the Air 3 but I also own a Mavic 3 with the 7x lens. Difficult for me to justify buying the Air 3 just for the 3x lens. If Insta 360 came out with a Sphere camera for the Air 3 I might consider upgrading the whole kit.

[@JakeSloan]

yeah the insta360 360 camera and air 2s combo is a great one

[@RaisedinAlaska]

Thank you for the information: I love the backdrop at Independence Mine.:-)

[@JakeSloan]

You are so welcome and me too! such a beautiful area and one of my favorite places to go

[@johnrobertson8445]

Good info. Thanks. Poor depth of field at F1.7 is noticable in you videos. The side by side quickshot you did highlights this.

[@JakeSloan]

yeah I agree, the images out of the Air 2s have better color and depth still...

[@06wattsie06]

One thing not mentioned in the video is that the Air 2S can be C1 compliant (useful for European users) - You just have to upgrade the firmware to the latest version and then apply to DJI via the app for the relevant stickers. Just waiting on mine to arrive :D. I feel like this could also help influence some peoples decision on whether it's worth the upgrade to the Air 3. Got my Air 2S for under half the price of an Air 3 so it was a no brainer for me here in the UK. Great video, thanks!

[@JakeSloan]

great point!

[@BrantAerials]

My Air2S (refresh) arrives this afternoon. Other than side obstacle avoidance, I see no need to upgrade.

[@JakeSloan]

I think you have a great drone with incredible image quality!

[@RonaldBrown59]

Great comparison, they both are very good drones. I agree with you about the raw photos from the Air 2s being superior. But I prefer the JPEGS from the Air 3. But overall I feel the Air 3 is solid upgrade over the Air 2. Thanks for sharing Jake.

[@JakeSloan]

Totally agree and thanks!

[@CacouMcG]

Thanks Jake, this is the honest comparison I was waiting for, great videos as usual. I've been flying DJI drones since the Inspire1, and when I got the Air2S, I finally found the picture quality I had been looking for: sharp image with lots of detail, good dynamic range and great color rendition out of the box. All of the features of the new Air3 appeal to me (DJI doesn't seem to have compromised much with this one), and I want to pull the trigger, but I'm afraid I'll lose that awesome picture quality. What do you think? Purely on image quality, setting aside the zoom capability, is the Air3 equal or better than the Air2S?

[@JakeSloan]

I still think the Air 2s has better image quality in 90% of conditions except maybe very low light

[@dronepilot918]

Great video! Where did you get the cool orange jacket?

[@JakeSloan]

It's from Arcteryx and it was expensive but considering how much I am outdoors it was worth it!

[@chriswedgworth]

Sticking with the air2s

[@JakeSloan]

great choice

[@timelapsebylkunl72]

Great honest review. I still see some noise and oversharpen on Air3 footage. I think DJI will release Air3s with 1" sensor and adjustable aperture soon.

[@JakeSloan]

I doubt that will happen however you can adjust the sharpening in the app now so that is a good thing, for this comparison I didn't change any of the default values, I will in my upcoming Air 3 review to show the difference

[@timelapsebylkunl72]

@JakeSloan Thank you for info. I want this adjust sharpen on my Mavic 3!

[@zimbaliestate]

Hi Jake. Great comparison, thank you. Something else that is worth considering is that the Air 2S supports 3rd party apps such as Litchi and DroneLink, whereas the Air 3 does not at this stage because the SDK has not been released to developers. Also, the Air 2S works with the RC Pro, whereas the Air 3 does not. Air 2S is end of life and stock is slowly disappearing - there is no guarantee from DJI that an SDK will be released for the Air 3 any time soon so anybody wanting to use 3rd party apps might be wise to pick up an Air 2S whilst they are still available.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!

[@sharkster1021]

Agree on all points including the photo quality from the Air2S being better. I just got my Air 3 and have used an Air2S for over 2 years. I am going to sell the Air2S cos the Air 3 is so much better overall that I'm willing to sacrifice on photo quality slightly. What a fantastic upgrade IMO

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@12vibaba]

and it does not mean that the photo's on the air 3 are bad. I think they are fantastic.

[@2tiredtim]

Great vid as per usual. Would be really interested in your thoughts on the New Air 3 vs Mavic 3 Pro. Ignoring the 166mm tele lens, is the larger senor, ProRes, D-log worth the extra?

[@JakeSloan]

That video is coming next week!

[@MrNategates]

Thanks Jake.. best review & comparison out there (as per usual). Is there any control for sharpness on the Air 3 ? There isn't on the Air 2s, but I feel the footage has just about the right amount of sharpening.. Air 3 footage you are showing appears more 'digitally' sharp to me (although I might be imagining that).

[@JakeSloan]

There is and it does definitely help, I have a video coming in the next couple days comparing the mavic 3 and air 3 and in it I will talk about the sharpening

[@DJIMAVICAIR-nc7jx]

It think Mavic 3 Classic is a greater choise. Very good quality for video and photo. Good price. Very nice work and great comparision. Great and onest work! Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@JakeSloan]

The mavic 3 classic is a fantastic drone and I will have a comparison with the Mavic 3 coming

[@DJIMAVICAIR-nc7jx]

Great ideea!

[@stealthshinobi3310]

I have both air 3 and air 2s,i shoot mainly night time Cityscape photography and i think air2s is better because it have more glossy feel and air 3 is somewhat have matte feel with night cityscape photography

[@JakeSloan]

yeah I definitely agree, the Air 2s just has a quality in it's footage that is really hard to beat

[@joshualaird5303]

I think the color difference between the two is huge... I didn't like the green tone the Air 2s gave and I think the photos and video are punchier with the Air 3. I made the switch and am not looking back. Great vid as always :)

[@JakeSloan]

nice!

[@russellbenson2543]

Great review. I have the Air 2 S and really happy with it so won't be upgrading. I also have the Mavic 3 Pro. So feel l have all bases covered for what l do with these drones..

[@JakeSloan]

oh that definitely covers everything at the moment

[@user-no6dw3sp5k]

Great unbiased video. For me the Air3's image looks way too sharpened and digital compared to the Air2S. Most people watching on their phones or who aren't professionals working with cameras every day won't see it. The Air2S has a beautiful softness to it that looks natural 8:26, that shot was awesome. Everything else is way better on the new Air3 but the camera is what is keeping me from upgrading. Again, it has an action camera look to it...

[@JakeSloan]

agreed, I need to mess with the sharpness settings on the Air 3 and see what I can make it look like, The air 2s is still so dang good

[@skrotfiske]

i'm guessing Jake used the pre release firmware which didn't have noise reduction/sharpening settings like on the Mini 3 Pro which uses the same sensor and lens. Now (maybe not today but soon at least) you're supposed to be able to control that in the app and reducing the sharpness/noise reduction giving you a more organic look. But small drones with small sensors always look too sharp and digital, so does the Air 2S as well imo. Even the Mavic 3 Pro looks digital but all that can ofc be fixed in post.

[@stefanbernhard2710]

Great review. Air 3 is packed with great features, but the camera seems inferior to the Air2s. Hopefully dji releases an air 3 pro with a larger sensor

[@JakeSloan]

agreed

[@markf6202]

I have been trying to make my decision between these drones as well. I used to have the Air2S. I don't currently own a drone at the moment, so starting off fresh I was A. Looking into buying a new drone. Air 3. 2. I was looking at possibly buying another air 2s since I was familiar with it. The one area that I really am thinking hard about is photo quality. I like how the air2s has 20mp with a 22mm lens. That 2mm difference between the air 3 and air2s really is substantial. Id have to buy a wide angle filter for the air 3 to make up for it. I dont really buy the fact that a 12mp sensor can produce 48mp without some quality drop off. All the other features of the Air 3 seems to be a worthy upgrade. Still on the fence.

[@JakeSloan]

Consider the Mavic 3 classic too if you like great photo quality

[@awakeintravel1325]

Hey Jake, first thanks for great reviews, just watched 2 of your videos, you already helped me a lot but I have additional question to you: I have been using mavic pro with goggles for a last 3 years and I love it but I need to upgrade and thought about air2s. I do a lot of nature, landscapes, hikes, cinematographic videos and I wonder which one you would recommend between air2s or air3? I have to admit that I love to fly with goggles and that is the reason (and budget too) why I could not upgrade earlier because I do not want to give up goggles experience. I like 5.4k on air2s but battery and flying speed on air3 is also tempting . The thing is that I do not know both of those drones and upgrading from mavic pro to ...? What your suggestion on this? Regards from Peru. Pawel

[@JakeSloan]

Currently the only other drone that is compatible with goggles (from what I understand) is the mavic 3 series but it will also depend on what goggles you have. Definitely do some research first before buying to make sure!

[@Enselladus]

The Air 2S has been the drone I have most been wanting to upgrade to from my Parrot Anafi, which was and still is a great drone but because it had such a small sensor, it had quite a noisy image in anything other than bright sunshine and the Air 2S with its 1-inch sensor has such beautiful clean image. So after years of holding out I bought an Air 2S about a month ago on the release day of the Air 3 because the Air 2S was heavily discounted and having quickly checked the specs of the new Air 3 and seeing it had a smaller 1/1.3 sensor I thought “no, not interested”, as the image sensor size was the most important thing why I wanted to upgrade but not realising it had a different stacked sensor. Since then I’ve been regretting making that snap decision based purely on a glance of the spec sheet, although the image quality of Air 2S is as beautiful as I expected one thing that wasn’t as good as I expected was the flight time, I’ve done over 30 flights with it I just about get 20 minutes out of it but most of the time it tends to be a bit under which is exactly the same as my old Parrot. The other thing that is more of an issue than I thought it might be is the lack of side sensors, I’ve not had any accidents but I have had some very close calls. The more videos I've watched about the Air 3 the more I’ve been thinking I made the wrong choice so I've ordered an Air 3 Fly More Combo RC2 and it should arrive tomorrow. Although in comparisons of 4K video quality with the Air 3 24mm lens vs the Air 2S 22mm lens, I do think the image of the Air 2S looks fractionally better but having that extra 70mm lens, a good 10 -15 minutes longer flight time, all round obstacle avoidance and being faster in every direction as well multiple other minor improvements/features I think I’ll be much more contempt with the Air 3 as my sole drone for the next few years.

[@JakeSloan]

awesome! I think both are great but it does sound like the Air 3 might be better for you

[@jesserik2000]

How did you experience the upgrade? I'm kinds in the same situation and very curious!

[@Enselladus]

@@jesserik2000 Well, I'm in two minds about it really. I'm glad I changed because the Air 3 is better in so many ways but the one thing that the Air 2S without a doubt has over the Air 3 is the 4K video quality and that is one of, if not THE most important thing to me. When I first saw my own footage I was a bit shocked at how much worse the 24mm lens on the Air 3 is compared to the Air 2S's 22mm, I had to double check I was recording in 4K or wasn't zoomed in. I knew to expect it to be not quite as good because of the comparison in this video and also FlytPath's comparison video but it seems to be an even bigger difference with the raw footage and I'm shocked because everyone seems to just gloss over this or not mention it all. It's not terrible quality, it's just an easily noticeable step backwards. The 70mm telephoto lens, however, is incredible, I didn't realise how much I needed that additional lens until I tried it and the video quality on that lens seems better than the 24mm which is odd because the only difference is the aperture. The other major advantage the Air 3 is flight time, I could barely get 20 minutes out of the Air 2S but I can easily get over 30 minutes out of the Air 3, that is especially impressive when you also consider the Air 3 is quite a bit faster. There are numerous other significant advantages the Air 3 has but could be here all day listing everything but basically its an amazing drone and I love it, I just can't help but be a bit disappointed with that main camera.

[@marc8136]

Where there any updates that improved the main camera or is youre opinion about it changed ? Im about to order one of these 2 but doubting alot.

[@Enselladus]

@@marc8136 No nothing that improves the image quality of the main camera, it has though had some nice additional features in recent updates such as improved tracking options and the ability to view what the obstacle avoidance camera's see which can be very useful when flying sideways or backwards. One thing I would say is the Air 3's camera is a good camera, seen in isolation (i.e. without having an Air 2S) you would likely think the image quality is absolutely fine and it is, it's just not quite as good as the Air 2S, however, everything else is better on the Air 3.

[@jasonthompson6809]

I think I will wait till the Air 3s comes out!

[@JakeSloan]

maybe in 2024? Hopefully

[@joel.wuestehube]

Sold my air2s a few months ago for a mini 3pro which definitely hits the quality minimum for me. Thinking about getting a mavic 3 or mavic 3 pro for the situations the weight isn't as crucial

[@JakeSloan]

definitely a big step in quality from the mini 3 to the Mavic 3 series

[@thomastessier4529]

Got a question for you Jake. What are your gimbal settings for Cine mode? Yaw, pitch, etc.

[@JakeSloan]

I have settings videos for each of these drones where I go through everything I have setup and why: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4nOoH-Bprlpl6s

[@thomastessier4529]

@@JakeSloan Appreciate the video, thanks.

[@leonardoglesby1730]

Everything I have heard has worked on me, I caved and bought the Air 3 fly more combo yesterday. My work horse Air 2S will be relegated to spare status.

[@JakeSloan]

LOL I hope you are happy with it

[@dex4748]

I was wondering if it is more worth it to get the air 2s fly more combo or just the bare air 3 (they're both around 1k USD).

[@JakeSloan]

I hope this helped you decide!

[@jeremiahis]

Great review! I presume you’d say get the MavPro3 if you’re wanting to print large format landscape photos, no question? Or is the Air 3 still workable for that? Thanks!

[@JakeSloan]

for any serious photo work and especially for printing the Mavic 3 for sure

[@jeremiahis]

@@JakeSloan Thanks for the reply! 51Drones said pretty much the same thing. Not exactly the answer I wanted but the one I expected. Thanks!

[@jeffhudson1744]

right now, the only reason I would move to the air 3 from my air 2s is flight time. for what I do, fly for fun, the cost is not feasible for me. there are things I like on the air 3 but not I just can't justify it. great review.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks and definitely the Air 2s still is a solid fantastic drone

[@hdemetri]

If I did not already have an Air 2s already and had to decide between either drone, I'd get the Air 3 mainly for flight time and having another camera. I do not think those things are worth selling my Air 2s or upgrading. I also notice on all footage comparisons, that the Air 3 has a very distinct digitally sharp and saturated look. The Air 2s is softer but looks more natural. This could possibly look better with the use of ND filters which can add some motion blur. In any case, no reviewers mention this.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed, unfortunately I haven't been able to get ND filters yet, and on the sharpening you can adjust that now in the app, I didn't for this review

[@xtAqHNpFg]

Just purchased Air 2s flymore combo for $840.. although I shoot video now I would have to utilize its photo capabilities to be on par with slightly more advanced fresh models ^). I really would appreciate low noise. Do U know any way to decrease it? Maybe there are any low noise props there?

[@JakeSloan]

Nice!! Keep your iso as low as possible to get the cleanest image

[@discob61350]

I'd also like to add that the Mavic Air 2s has an SDK. This allows you to use 3rd party automation apps. I'm still upset DJI refuses to release the SDK for the consumer M3 series.

[@JakeSloan]

that's an excellent point I hadn't considered

[@66cotter]

Happy with my Air 2S for what I do with it. Air 3 is tempting... but not yet.

[@JakeSloan]

Excellent!

[@westvillefireman]

I have the Air2 and I am seriously looking at the air3 the air 2 has been a great drone and I love it just wish it was better at night time with pictures and videos but all and all it’s been a great experience with it I want to see just how much difference there is with the Air 3

[@JakeSloan]

You will see a big improvement in flight time and control. As well as image quality of course

[@sprucedude]

Thanks for the EU info! Most other reviewers neglect to mention us over the pond

[@JakeSloan]

I know! I don’t know a lot about eu rules and regs but I definitely want to mention what I do know to help you out!

[@robertjustice7911]

I would like to upgrade to the 3!

[@JakeSloan]

it's a really solid drone!

[@ChuckD05]

12:15 the air 3 looked much much better during those master shots .. did they shoot in different resolution or settings ? The rest of the footage was not that different. 🤔

[@JakeSloan]

I think that was mostly a matter of the air 3 got better lighting when I flew it for the master shots 😂

[@26punu]

Hey Jake that was a damn good review and comparison, I owned fimi x8se and sold it few months back. Now I am bit confused which one to go for I am from India and here the dji drone sell out 30-40k (INR)more then usual. Air2s vs Air3 I am confused and need your guidance which one to go for as I only shoot videos on weekends of nearby places or when I go somewhere for trips. Please provide your guidance thank you 😊

[@JakeSloan]

I would consider the air 2s in your case

[@26punu]

@@JakeSloan Thank you Jake, one more thing as air2s is 2years old means 2year old tech and other things , should this be considered as well I can try going for air3 but that will be a deep hole in my pocket😂

[@joeamericauavfordav1096]

Since I'm still loving it I have to stick with the Air 2S. The Air 3 Flight time is very impressive but for 99% of us the Air 2S still does everything we need.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!

[@popeyerubi1981]

I must have missed it but did you talk about wind resistance between the two?

[@JakeSloan]

The Air 3 can handle more but it's shocking how much the Air 2s can handle as well

[@ronjoseph7973]

I’ll wait for the Air 3S/Pro in a year to 14 months. I suspect DJI will bring back the 20mp, 1” sensor improved main camera. The 48mp mode was first introduced in the Air 2 and has very limited, if any use. Also, the Air 3 is not compatible with the RC Pro controller which was the deal breaker for me. I suspect with the next iteration of the Air 3, DJI will remedy that limitation.

[@JakeSloan]

you might be right... just look at the mavic 3 series launches lol

[@Avoletta-qs6nf]

Excellent review. Just two remarks form EU owner perspective: 1) Starting from Jan 24, unmarked drones above 250g like Air2s will face huge restrictions, so big their operability will be significantly compromised (251 grams is equal to 25kg…). Because of this the Air 3 is a mandatory upgrade. 2) In CE mode transmission sucks no matter the O4 technology. Is a bit better than a Mini3, but nothing significant (I own both and tested in the same scenarios one after the other with minimal gains).

[@JakeSloan]

agreed and that is why I had just a very short section specifically for those of you in the EU

[@Avoletta-qs6nf]

@@JakeSloan yes, seen it and this is why I added some details as: - in my opinion the marking shall be stressed more since is a real go or no go - you said the O4 transmission is an improvement as well for European user but sadly this is only in DJI press releases. Range increase is negligible at best.

[@12vibaba]

it is still good enough@@Avoletta-qs6nf

[@np_production]

Very nice drone Air 3👌

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@palmcrazysg]

Can we use the batteries from A2S for A3? are they interchangeable?

[@JakeSloan]

no they are not unfortunately

[@KellDogg1965]

I have the Air2s and I rarely fly the drone with the crash sensors on and haven’t used any of the smart flights it can do since I bought the drone. The waypoints interests me, but I suspect I’ll use it a few times and that’ll be it. Plus, at least for the time being, I wouldn’t be able to use my RC pro with it! I’ll be waiting to buy another DJI drone until after I find out how restricted my flying will be after all the new drone laws take place next month in the US. I’ll stick to building my own drones that not be tracked by gps for the meantime

[@JakeSloan]

lol I rarely fly with sensors on anymore too... waiting a bit is a good plan on all the new laws coming into place

[@mlwz1082]

Hows that controller in direct sunlight?

[@JakeSloan]

it's ok about as good as a phone

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

Seems like a really solid drone.

[@JakeSloan]

it is but i was surprised how well the air 2s still holds up and in some cases even beats the air 3

[@BoReynolds]

Jake, it SOUNDS like the air2s has BETTER video/photo quality than the newer air3????

[@JakeSloan]

it kinda does lol, the thing the air 3 has going for it is the 3x camera...

[@BoReynolds]

@@JakeSloan THREE? I only see 2.

[@reflexfilms]

The 5.4k on the air2s is so great for post effects- insane crops and digital zooms. A real let down that the air 3 is only 4k- if the air 3 had 5.4 k it would be an essential upgrade.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed