DJI Air 3: A Best in the Air Series

When the DJI Mini 3 Pro was launched, most thought the Air series was over. But DJI has launched a brand new DJI Air 3 and bought back the game again. 

DJI has packed it with full of features, which we’ll be going through in this article. When we first saw the specs on paper, we thought it couldn’t be right. 

 New Camera Setup 

First, let's talk about the new cameras. The DJI Air 2S had a one-inch sensor with a single lens. Now, the Air 3 has a dual camera setup with a wide 24mm lens and a telephoto lens equivalent to 70mm. Both lenses have the same sensor size (1/1.3 inch) and 48 megapixels. The wide lens has an f/1.7 fixed aperture, while the telephoto lens has an f/2.8 fixed aperture.

The wide lens quality is similar to the Mini 3 Pro, allowing plenty of light in thanks to its f/1.7 aperture, making low-light and night time videos look great. During the day, you might need ND filters to reduce the light intake, but the daytime shots are equally fantastic. The DJI Air 3 can shoot 4K 60 HDR and slow-motion 4K 100. Both lenses support three color profiles: Normal, HLG, and D-Log M, with the latter two being 10-bit for the best quality.

 Telephoto Lens Advantage

The 70mm telephoto lens is a standout feature, providing significant advantages like compression. It allows you to zoom in and get close to the action, making the background look phenomenal. You can easily switch from a wide shot to a three-time zoom for fantastic looking shots, whether in videos, photos, master shots, active track, or waypoints.

 Waypoints Feature

Speaking of waypoints, this drone has it. This long-desired feature allows you to plot your flight plan, specifying the drone’s path, height, gimbal tilt, and actions like taking photos or videos. The drone handles everything, freeing you from manual control. You can even plot waypoints without the drone being airborne, and the three-time zoom works with waypoints too.

 Vertical Shooting Mode

The new vertical shooting mode doesn’t rotate the camera like the Mini 3 Pro. Instead, it crops into the video, producing a 2.7K vertical video from a 4K source. Although limited to video and not available for photos, the results are impressive, and it’s a useful addition.

 Enhanced Battery Life

In terms of battery life, the Air 3 has seen a significant improvement with 48% more battery life than the Air 2S, boasting up to 46 minutes of flight time. This isn't just on paper; real-world testing in strong winds and challenging conditions yielded a minimum of 30-35 minutes per battery (in Bangalore). The combo package includes three batteries, ensuring you have ample flight time.

 Advanced Active Track

The DJI Air 3 features the same active track technology as the Mavic 3 Pro, offering an on-screen 360-degree display. You can now specify the exact angle from which the drone tracks you, whether from the top right, bottom right, side, or front. This flexibility, combined with the three-time zoom and vertical shooting mode in active track, makes it a versatile tool for capturing dynamic shots.

 Omnidirectional Sensing

Safety is paramount, and the Air 3 includes omnidirectional sensing, similar to the Mavic 3 Pro. It detects objects in all directions, providing full 360-degree coverage. This system enhances confidence when flying, especially compared to the Mini 3 Pro, which has tri-directional sensing.

 Cruise Control and Controller Upgrades

The Air 3 also inherits cruise control from the Mavic 3 Pro. This feature allows you to set a path and let the drone maintain it automatically. The new DJI RC2 controller enhances the experience with external antennas for improved signal performance and the new OcuSync 4 technology, offering a more stable and cleaner transmission.

 Weight and Wind Performance

Despite being slightly heavier than the Air 2S, the Air 3 benefits from better wind performance due to its weight. It remains under 900 grams, ensuring compliance with C1 labelling for flight restrictions in various countries, incase you are taking it out of India. Look out for Mini 4 Pro too, if you are too concerned about weight restrictions. 

Overall, the DJI Air 3 packs many features from the Mavic 3 Pro into a smaller and more affordable package. It sits between the Mini 3 Pro and the Mavic 3 Pro in terms of price and features, making it an attractive option for many users. With its new cameras, waypoints, advanced tracking, enhanced battery life, and omnidirectional sensing, the DJI Air 3 is a good choice.