For the past few years, the Air series has been the black sheep in DJI’s drone family: it lacked that special something to make it stand out. This year, DJI has given the Air 3 a much-needed makeover of dual cameras that better bridges the gap between the Mini and the Mavic Pro.
Sporting a dual camera setup, the Air 3 is a mashup of the Mini 4 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro, with a 24mm main and a 70mm secondary. Unlike previous models, the Air 3 feels like has earned its place in DJI’s lineup.
What if instead of having to upgrade all the way to the Mavic 3 Pro, there was a cheaper model with two lenses instead of three? Funnily enough, inmy Mavic 3 Pro review, I predicted the possibility of an updated DJI drone with a 24mm main lens and a secondary 70mm, although I thought it would find its place between the Classic and Standard models of the Mavic 3 Pro. DJI seems to be on the same page here and ditched that 166mm super-telephoto lens, which, as incredible as it could be to use, didn’t match the performance of its counterparts, especially after dusk.
The Air 3 is bringing some fresh “air” to its series by being the first to adopt a dual-lens setup. That’s a main 1/1.3-inch 24 mm F/1.7 as seen on the new DJI Mini 4 Pro, paired with a 3x telephoto 70 mm F/2.8, which is carried over from the older Mavic 3 Pro. While the Mavic Pro series boasts a 4/3 Hasselblad f/2.8 sensor for its main 24mm lens with support for more professional formats including Apple ProRes and even 5.1k at up to 50fps, the Air 3 still impresses with its smaller sensor that offers remarkable dynamic range and low-light performance.
The similarities continue over to its upgraded omnidirectional obstacle sensors, which are also found on the Mini 4 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro. Despite weighing almost 240g less, it manages to take the lead over the more expensive Mavic 3 Pro with a ridiculous 46 minutes of flight time and a max flight distance of 32 km, thanks to its upgraded O4 HD Video Transmission.
The Mavic Air series used to be the one you’d skim over because it didn’t seem to have a clear identity. But the Mavic Air 3 is here to change that by bringing one of the Mavic Pro’s prized features–a multi-camera setup–into a more compact and budget-friendly package. While it might not be a game-changer in terms of new hardware, it’s inching closer to the affordability of the Mini series while offering a second lens for just $340 more. That might be exactly what you were looking for.
A Somewhat Forceful Combo Upgrade
My go-to choice for years used to be the Standard Package, priced at $1,099. It includes the drone, the RC-N2 controller (which relies on a smartphone for operation), one battery, and a few basic accessories. Since I got my hands on the upgraded touchscreen with the original DJI RC with my Mavic Mini 3 Pro, I’ve never looked back.
While I hate to say this, working independently and eliminating the need for that clunky phone holder for your video feed really is a game-changer. Unless you plan on flying this drone infrequently, the extra cash you’ll shell out is worth it in the long run.
For those who want more flight time, the Fly More Combo is available at $1,349. This package adds two more batteries, a charging hub, a shoulder bag (that I honestly never use), and extra propellers to the mix, though it keeps the basic RC-N2 controller.
You’ll have to drop $1,549 to upgrade to the Fly More Combo with RC 2 Remote Controller combo. For those who want the best right out of the box, this is the package to consider.
DJI’s pricing strategy here might make you scratch your head. Unlike the Mavic Mini 4 Pro where the RC 2 controller is available in a basic bundle for just $200 more, the Air 3 makes you take a bigger leap to its most expensive bundle to get that same controller. This is likely a marketing choice by DJI to nudge you into spending more on accessories you may not fully utilize. However, given that the RC 2 controller retails for $349 on its own, it’s still a saving if you plan to add two extra batteries to your kit.
Addressing the Smaller Sensor
The Air 3 might seem like it’s downgrading its sensor by switching from the 1-inch fixed aperture sensor in the Air 2S to the smaller 1/1.3-inch sensor we first saw in the DJI Mini 3 Pro. But don’t let that fool you, because as the Mini 3 Pro and its successor, the Mini 4 Pro, have shown, DJI is more than capable of delivering better low-light quality with these smaller sensors, thanks in large part to their faster aperture and of course the improved software magic in the background.
The Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Pro, while impressive in their own right, introduced a unique challenge with their multiple lenses. The main camera had a 4/3 sensor, the medium telephoto a 1/3, and the telephoto a 1/2-inch sensor. It was like juggling different tools for different jobs, and sometimes, it turned into more of a hassle than a help. Editing and matching shots from these lenses could be a real headache.
To simplify things with the Air 3, DJI has gone with the same 12MP/48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor for both the main and medium-telephoto lenses. This move ensures that image quality, features, and functionality remain more consistent as you switch between focal lengths.
Of course, the main F1.7 lens is the better choice in low-light conditions than the F2.8 Medium-Tele. However, during daylight hours, these lenses perform similarly, eliminating the awkward juggle of going back and forth you previously had.
Not as Compact
Since the release of the 249g Mini, DJI has allowed the Air to continue to put on some mass, giving it some important advantages that its previously restrictive size didn’t permit. This gives the Air 3 more resilience in challenging weather conditions, ensuring a stable flight—and they managed to squeeze in a larger 4241mAh battery, delivering a respectable 30–35 minutes of real-world flight time before you hear the low battery warning and need to head back home.
The Air 3 maintains its familiar dark gray airframe with a folding design. When folded, it measures 8.1 x 3.9 x 3.6 inches (207 × 100.5 × 91.1mm); it unfolds to 10.2 x 12.8 x 4.2 inches (259 × 326 × 106mm). While the Air 3 is still more compact and lighter than the Mavic 3 models, the difference between the models has shrunk dramatically, and it doesn’t feel as dramatic of an advantage compared to the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro.
If you’re used to the incredible portability of the Mini drones that can easily slip into a small camera pocket, the Air 3 will have you reconsider how you pack up—it requires a dedicated bag or a larger compartment. This might make you pause and think twice about bringing it along. Even with its identical controller, the Mini’s small and lightweight nature made it a no-brainer to take with you. So, it’s a trade-off between portability or the secondary medium-tele lens and better flying characteristics of the Air 3.
Image Quality
Given that we’ve already experienced both of the Air 3’s lenses before, there were no surprises with its performance. The Air 3 is essentially identical with both the Mini 3 Pro, and now the Mini 4 Pro’s primary lens, as well as the Mavic 3 Pro’s medium-tele. Each lens is backed by a Type 1/1.3 Quad Bayer sensor, enabling you to capture up to 4K100 video with 10-bit color in various profiles like D-Log, HLG, or standard.
For stills, you can snap 8-bit JPG or 12-bit DNG photos at 12MP or 48MP. Going for the higher resolution of 48MP yields larger files with more pixels, but in many cases, we found the down-sampled 12MP to be sharper and the better choice.
With its initial announcement, many users were concerned that the Air 3 would be a downgrade. With the main sensor sporting a larger f/1.7 aperture lens, it performs notably better in low-light conditions compared to its predecessors, the Air 2 and Air 2S. When night falls over the cityscape, the drone offers a new 4K30 Night Mode that adjusts video settings for optimal results. Given how much digital manipulation is at play here, I still don’t like using this mode; however, if you’re in a pinch or just want to get a “nice looking” shot at the sacrifice of manual controls, it gets the job done.
Both lenses have a fixed aperture, meaning you can’t adjust them to control the depth of field. For videographers, you may want to pick up its ND filters to maintain proper shutter angles when shooting during the day, though you can get by just fine if you minimize your drone’s motion. On the plus side, the Air 3 introduces a second 3x telephoto lens, which is identical to the one found in the Mavic 3 Pro.
In my own tests with the 3 Pro, I found myself frequently using this medium-tele lens because of its versatility to get closer to your subject without physically flying in, and adds more depth to your shots.
Moreover, the Air 3 comes with APAS 5.0, which takes obstacle avoidance and tracking to the next level. It upgrades the Air’s capabilities to 360-degree obstacle avoidance and enhances tracking. This makes it incredibly easy to capture parallax and follow shots of spontaneous subjects. Although, like other DJI drones we’ve tested, it sometimes struggles to recognize people as people, especially from higher altitudes.
However, tracking other subjects like vehicles and buildings works relatively flawlessly. During our trip to the Outer Banks, I had the chance to track 4-wheelers, boats, and people running, and the Air 3 had no trouble keeping up, even at full speed, thanks to its 3x lens.
Matching its main lens so well, the only real limitation of the 70mm lens is after dusk when I found myself switching back to the 24mm lens for better low-light performance.
Vertical Content, With a Caveat
One advantage of the smaller Mini series is that they natively support vertical captures. The Air 3 offers support for vertical video as well, but only in a limited way.
The 9:16 footage is limited to 2.7K or 1080p, but it’s still a handy option, especially for social media content. However, the Mini 3 Pro outshines in this regard as its camera can physically rotate between landscape and portrait orientation, allowing you to switch between both types of footage without a drop in resolution.
Aside from the second lens, for many trying to decide between the Mini Pro 4 and the Air 3, native vertical recording may be the tiebreaker.
The Air 3 Has Found Its Place
The 24mm wide-angle view that we’ve been accustomed to for the past few years, while reliable, has started to feel a bit uninspiring. But with the addition of the 70mm lens, DJI has opened up a new world of possibilities for getting closer to your subject, telling more engaging stories, and capturing intricate details. This means we now have fresh creative avenues to explore with our drones. And when you pair this with the upgraded tracking and obstacle avoidance systems, you can effortlessly capture breathtaking shots with minimal effort. Be it parallax shots or following subjects on the move, the Air 3’s tracking capabilities are top-notch. Even when tracking speedy four-wheelers, boats, or people in motion, the Air 3 easily handles it, thanks to that 3x lens.
For many users, having that second medium telephoto lens on a more budget-friendly drone is precisely what they’ve been seeking. While the Air 3 may not be as compact as it once was, the cost savings it offers compared to upgrading to the Mavic 3 Pro might just tip the scales in its favor.
