Source: Treasure Marine

Unknowingly, DJI’s Air series has now reached the Air 3s.

My first drone also came from DJI’s Air series. However, I didn’t know much about aerial drones at the time, and my shooting skills were quite raw. As a result, my DJI Air 2s sat in a moisture-proof box for over a year. It wasn’t until I recently tested the DJI Neo aerial drone that my interest was reignited. But due to its product positioning, the DJI Neo couldn’t fully meet all my aerial photography needs.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

Now, after trying out the all-new DJI Air 3s, I feel like I finally have an aerial drone that can serve as my main travel photography companion.

A Quasi-Flagship Drone for Travel Photography

There’s not much to say in terms of design. The overall design language continues the foldable structure that has been used since the Mavic series, greatly enhancing its portability.

 

The most prominent feature is undoubtedly the dual-camera setup on the front of the body, which includes a 24mm equivalent wide-angle lens and a 70mm equivalent 3x telephoto zoom lens. The wide-angle lens uses a 1-inch 50MP sensor. The large sensor size not only provides better dynamic range, but also improves resolution and image quality. DJI claims it even supports 4K 60fps HDR and 4K 120fps video recording, as well as 10bit D-LogM color mode. We’ll explore the actual performance in detail later.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

The medium telephoto lens uses a 1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor and also supports all the video formats and image modes available to the wide-angle lens. Both lenses support 14 stops of dynamic range, giving the DJI Air 3S a natural advantage when shooting in low light.

As for image quality differences between the two lenses, I did a quick test. At least to the naked eye, the image quality is very similar. Whether it’s image detail, color, or overall presentation, there’s no sense of disconnect. You can even think of them as one ultra-high-quality lens, allowing you to zoom in 3x without loss when needed.

(Image source: Treasure Marine, wide-angle lens)

(Image source: Treasure Marine, telephoto lens)

The dual main camera system allows users to shoot material more flexibly. It’s not just about capturing, but about discovering, focusing, telling a story, and creating. The high-quality 3x medium telephoto lens also brings a better sense of compression, making it great for close-up scenery and portraits. Therefore, the DJI Air 3S is a near-flagship drone well-suited for portrait photography.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

More than image quality, I actually care more about the obstacle avoidance capabilities of aerial drones. After all, unlike cameras, drones face many uncontrollable factors. If a drone doesn’t have smart enough obstacle avoidance, it could crash and be completely destroyed after only a few flights—even if it costs several thousand yuan.

(Image Source: Treasure Marine)

DJI, known for its aerial photography drones, clearly understands users’ needs. The DJI Air 3S is equipped with an omnidirectional binocular vision system, a bottom infrared sensor, and a rear visual sensor. It also features forward-facing LiDAR, achieving nearly 360° obstacle avoidance with no blind spots. This significantly enhances safety while reducing user operational costs.

(Image Source: Leikeji Production)

In the remote controller menu, the Air 3S offers two obstacle avoidance options: brake or bypass. You can dynamically switch between these modes based on the environment. If you have a bit of flight experience, you can try the more aggressive mode—faster flying with reduced obstacle avoidance. But if you’re a beginner, it’s best not to attempt this right away.

 

In real-world testing under good daylight, it can accurately detect obstacles in its flight path—such as utility poles, trees, and streetlights. In auto mode, it will even proactively navigate around them.

(Image Source: Treasure Marine)

At night or in low-light environments, the Air 3S adjusts its behavior based on surroundings. If the system determines that obstacle avoidance may be compromised, it alerts the user through the remote and hovers in place.

Of course, if you’re a beginner like me, I’d recommend getting DJI’s “Care Refresh” package. One crash could lead to a repair bill that’ll really hurt your wallet.

That said, being such a fully loaded drone, the DJI Air 3S weighs in at 498g. With the battery, the weight increases to 743g. It’s still within an acceptable range, but if you’re planning to carry two extra batteries and a controller, portability does take a slight hit. If you just want something super lightweight and quick to capture a clip, DJI’s new Neo might suit you better. But if you want image quality, the Air 3S is a solid choice.

Moreover, since the Air 3S uses DJI’s O4 video transmission system, it comes with the DJI RC-N3 remote controller that features a touchscreen. The fully functional interface means it can be used independently without a smartphone, which is a big plus.

From its multiple cameras to its refined build quality, the DJI Air 3S is an all-around powerhouse. It balances portability with pro-level imaging, making it a great choice for most consumers’ first drone.

By the way, the shoulder bag that comes with the Air 3S is actually really good. It can fit the drone, controller, battery hub, and some accessories. No need to spend extra on storage bags.

The Ultimate Drone for Aerial Photography Enthusiasts

Now that we’ve covered everything—it’s time to fly.

My first flight scene was by the seaside. Initially, I was worried strong sea winds would affect the Air 3S’s flight stability. But clearly, I was overthinking it. Whether manually piloting or using its smart follow features, the drone flew smoothly and recorded stable footage throughout.

Thanks to dual 4K 60fps HDR-capable lenses, switching between cameras doesn’t cause screen tearing. Combined with D-Log M/HLG formats, post-production color grading is easier, giving creators more flexibility in achieving a professional result.

Source: Treasure Marine

Unknowingly, DJI’s Air series has already reached the Air 3s.

My first drone also came from DJI’s Air series. However, at the time, I didn’t know much about aerial drones, and I was unfamiliar with various shooting techniques. As a result, my DJI Air 2s sat unused in a moisture-proof case for over a year. It wasn’t until I recently tested the DJI Neo aerial drone that my interest in aerial drones was reignited. But due to its product positioning, the DJI Neo still couldn’t fully meet my expectations for a travel drone.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

Now, after experiencing this brand-new DJI Air 3s, I feel like I finally have a drone that can truly serve as my main travel companion.

Quasi-Flagship Travel Aerial Drone

In terms of appearance, there’s not much to say — the overall design language continues the folding structure used since the Mavic, which greatly improves its portability.

 

The same goes for the shooting process. With DJI’s rich features and capabilities, I can quickly capture photo and video results that I’m satisfied with. Thanks to its intelligent editing and special effects functions, I can also save a lot of time in post-production.
So much so that during the time I’ve been using it, I’ve constantly taken it out on bike rides, capturing scenes everywhere — feeling a kind of excitement and freshness like when I first got my very first DSLR camera.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

Finally, the DJI Air 3S is equipped with DJI’s most advanced O4 video transmission technology, offering a maximum quality of 1080p/60fps and an incredible transmission distance of up to 20 kilometers. This means we no longer need to worry about the drone losing connection or location when flying far away, and it’s easier to determine the drone’s position to avoid crashes.

Its simplified controls, rich shooting functions, and professional obstacle avoidance technology make the DJI Air 3S an ideal first aerial drone for many beginners.

(Image source: Treasure Marine)

But to say the DJI Air 3S is flawless would be untrue. I did encounter one issue that affected my experience: DJI’s QuickTransfer feature, which they proudly promote, is almost unusable. I kept receiving “connection timeout” messages. In the end, I had to download the footage to the remote controller first, then transfer it to my phone via Wi-Fi — time-consuming and inconvenient.

However, I suspect this is likely a minor bug between the engineering test unit and the internal beta app. Hopefully, DJI will resolve this issue before the product officially hits the market.

Summary:

A Quasi-Flagship Drone More Suitable for Creative Work, Portraits, and Travel

As usual, here is a summary of my experience with the DJI Air 3S following the Leitech review template:

Pros:

1. Easy to operate and get started with, supports fully automatic video shooting;

2. Both cameras deliver excellent image quality with consistent performance;

3. Exceptional obstacle avoidance — truly “DJI-grade” technology;

Cons:

1. The full equipment setup is not lightweight — needs to be considered in advance;

2. Current app performance is average — needs improvement via OTA updates;

In terms of pricing: DJI Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) is priced at ¥6988; DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (DJI RC-N3) is ¥8788; DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) is ¥9988 — all within expectations.

DJI’s product lineup for aerial drones is now very clear — the flagship Mavic series, the quasi-flagship Air series, the well-rounded Mini series, and the entry-level Neo.
As I mentioned when reviewing the DJI Neo, it’s not that I’m uninterested in drones. I just need a product that is well-rounded and ideally reduces my post-editing time.

The DJI Neo is indeed a great choice, but it simply doesn’t meet my usage scenarios. The Air 3S, on the other hand, is a true all-rounder. It meets virtually all of my needs.
If you’re an everyday user who enjoys aerial photography and wants to explore more possibilities, the Air 3S will be a great guide into the world of drone filming.

End