Short version: the Mavic Air 2 and Mavic Air we compared are long replaced. DJI’s current Air drone is the Air 3S (October 2024). It added a 1-inch main camera and forward LiDAR to the Air 3. Buy the Air 3S for the best photos in its class. In the US, note the FCC rules below: already-authorized models like the Air 3S can still be sold and flown, but new DJI models can’t get approval.
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The Air series is DJI’s sweet spot: more camera than the tiny Mini drones, less money and bulk than the Mavic Pro line. The Mavic Air 2 made it famous in 2020. Two generations later, the cameras and obstacle sensing have changed a lot. Here’s the comparison, based on DJI’s spec pages (we didn’t test them hands-on).
DJI Air 3S vs Air 3: what changed
| Spec | DJI Air 3 (2023) | DJI Air 3S (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Main (wide) camera | 1/1.3-inch, 48MP | 1-inch CMOS, 50MP |
| Tele camera | 1/1.3-inch, 48MP (70mm equivalent) | 1/1.3-inch, 48MP |
| Video | 4K/60 (4K/100 slow motion) | 4K/120, vertical 2.7K |
| Max flight time | 46 min | 45 min |
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional vision, infrared below | Omnidirectional vision, forward LiDAR, infrared below |
| Transmission | O4, up to 20 km (FCC) | O4, up to 20 km (FCC) |
| Weight | 720 g | 724 g |
Specs from DJI’s Air 3 specs, DJI’s Air 3S specs. Checked October 2026.
Coming from the Mavic Air 2: it had a single 48MP camera and up to 34 minutes of flight time, so either Air 3 model is a big step up in camera and battery.
A note on DJI in the US
On December 22, 2025, the FCC added foreign-made drones, including DJI, to its Covered List. New models can’t get the FCC authorization they need to be sold in the US. Previously authorized models aren’t banned, and owners can keep flying them (Drone U’s explainer). DJI is challenging the rule in court. Buy from a seller with a clear return policy, and register any drone over 250 g with the FAA.
What matters in real use
- The 1-inch sensor is the upgrade. Better low-light shots at sunrise and sunset, which is when drone photos look best.
- Flight time is the same. Don’t upgrade from an Air 3 for battery.
- LiDAR helps at night and near obstacles. Forward sensing is more reliable in dim light.
- Get the Fly More combo. Extra batteries matter more than any spec for a day out.
Who should buy which
- Buy the DJI Air 3S for travel photographers and anyone stepping up from a phone or a Mini drone. The Fly More Combo adds batteries and a screen remote.
- Keep your Air 3 if you mostly shoot in daylight.
- Want something smaller? See our best drones under 250 grams.
Gift it to: the traveler with a great Instagram, the real estate side-hustler, or the dad who will narrate every flight like a nature documentary.
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