DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S 2024: review, specs, features, pros and cons

Not sure if you should get the DJI Mavic 3 or the DJI Air 2S? The purpose of this article is to help. When the DJI Air 2S came out in April 2021, it would be an understatement to say that we were impressed. It is a huge step up from its predecessor, the DJI Mavic Air 2, with new automatic flying features, better object avoidance, better communication with the controller, and a huge improvement in image quality. It’s easy to see why it went straight to the top of our list of the best drones.

Our DJI Air 2S review shows that it’s a great choice for hobbyist aerial photographers and videographers. But at the beginning of November 2021, DJI announced the Mavic 3. It pushed the limits of what we expect from a consumer drone and came with features that will make pro videographers, aerial landscape photographers, and well-off amateurs happy. See our review of the DJI Mavic 3 for more information.

If you’re looking for a high-end unmanned aerial vehicle with advanced technical and visual capabilities, the DJI Mavic 3 and Air 2S are likely to show up on your radar. These two drones have some of the latest technology in the UAV industry, and they work well enough to meet the needs of both professional pilots and advanced amateurs or vloggers.

Price and availability

Here are the prices for the different versions of the two drones on the DJI website at the time this article was written: The DJI Air 2S costs 999€, but the Mavic 3 Classic costs 1599€ for the same package, which includes the drone and the standard RC-N1 remote control without a screen. This is a big difference of 600€.

A small plus for the DJI Mavic 3 Classic is that, unlike the Air 2S, it can be bought for €1499 in a “Drone only” version without a remote control. If you already have a Mini 2 or Mavic Air 2 and one of the three compatible remotes (the DJI RC-N1, RC, or RC Pro), this can be a good option.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Comparison Table

DJI Mavic 3DJI Air 2S
Size347.5×283×107.7 mm347.5×283×107.7 mm
Folded size221×96.3×90.3 mm180x97x77mm
Tilt speed100˚/s180˚/s
Range – FCC15km (9.3 miles)12km (7.4m)
Phone gripiPad mini / PhoneiPad mini / Phone
Live View quality1080/601080/30
Resolution20 MP (5280 x 3956)20 MP (5472×3648)
Sensor size4/3-inch (1/2-inch for tele)4/3-inch (17.3 x 13mm)
ISO Range100-6,400100-12,800

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Design

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S

When it comes to design, the two planes look a lot alike, especially when you look at pictures that aren’t to scale. Both have legs that fold up around a roughly square body that also holds the battery. The battery for the Mavic 3 slides in and out of the back, while the battery for the Air 2S takes up a big chunk of the back.

In both cases, the airframe has dual visual sensors at the front, top, and bottom, as well as on the sides of the Mavic 3, which helps it avoid obstacles well. Because the landing legs are built into the airframe and the camera gimbal is close to the front, the best way to take off and land is on a landing mat (see our guide to the best drone landing mats for more information). This keeps grass and dust from getting into the propellers, motors, and lens.

The Mavic 3 comes with a newer protective case, so instead of clipping an upside-down cup of potentially fragile plastic around the gimbal when your drone is not in use, a whole body protective shell with a much more convincing clip covers the fuselage and protects the attached propellers.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Features

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S

DJI put object sensors on the front, back, up, and down sides of the Air 2S, but not on the sides. This means that if you aren’t careful, you could shimmy sideways into a tree or another drone magnet. The Mavic 3, on the other hand, can see things to its sides, which makes it a little safer in crowded places. However, just like with the Air 2S, you may want to turn off the object detection so you can fly through a small space.

Both drones come with DJI’s Active Track, QuickShots, and MasterShots systems, which give some or all of the control to their smart technology to make smooth video in a variety of situations. These features haven’t been turned on for the Mavic 3 yet (a firmware update is planned for January), but it goes from Active Track 4 in the Air 2S to Active Track 5. This, along with the improved object sensing, should make it easier to track objects and less likely to crash.

Both drones come with the RC231 (also known as the RC-N1) controller from DJI. Both drones use the DJI Fly app on a connected smartphone, so there are no differences here. But the Mavic 3 has a transmission range of 15Km, which is 3Km farther than the Air 2S. That puts the drone way out of the pilot’s line of sight, which needs special permission. However, it should make the Mavic 3’s connection a little more stable when it’s close by.

Both drones come with DJI’s Active Track, QuickShots, and MasterShots systems, which give some or all of the control to their smart technology to make smooth video in a variety of situations. These features haven’t been turned on for the Mavic 3 yet (a firmware update is planned for January), but it goes from Active Track 4 in the Air 2S to Active Track 5. This, along with the improved object sensing, should make it easier to track objects and less likely to crash.

Both drones come with the RC231 (also known as the RC-N1) controller from DJI. Both drones use the DJI Fly app on a connected smartphone, so there are no differences here. But the Mavic 3 has a transmission range of 15Km, which is 3Km farther than the Air 2S. That puts the drone way out of the pilot’s line of sight, which needs special permission. However, it should make the Mavic 3’s connection a little more stable when it’s close by.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Security

Both models have Airsense ADS-B, which lets the pilot know when there are other planes nearby, and APAS, which helps the pilot avoid obstacles. However, the Mavic 3 has the latest version (5.0) of this system, which is an advantage.

But the Mavic 3 Classic really shines when it comes to seeing obstacles. It does have sensors that can detect obstacles in all directions, whereas the Air 2S only has sensors in the front, back, under, and above, but not on the sides. This point goes to the Mavic 3 Classic.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Video Quality

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S

There’s a very expensive elephant in the room, so let’s talk about it first: the Mavic 3 comes in two versions. The standard version can record standard.mp4 and.mp5 video at up to 200bps, while the Mavic 3 Cine, which costs more than twice as much, can also record Apple ProRes 422 HQ video onto a built-in 1TB of SSD storage.

This is kind of like Raw for video, in that it lets you change the tones a lot when you edit it. However, it has the huge advantage of being easy to edit right out of the drone. Yes, it’s a big file, but once you get it into Final Cut Pro, you won’t have time for a “rendering” cup of tea (or whatever you use to get creative, we won’t judge).

The standard Mavic 3 could still make slightly better videos than the Air 2S, since it has a bitrate of up to 200 Mbps and the Air 2S only has 150 Mbps. However, if you look at two similar 4K shots, you’d be hard-pressed to tell any difference in how the compression handles even small details like trees. When shooting in D-Log, the Air 2S seems to have a little more contrast.

The 12MP sensor in the Mavic 3’s tele camera can only send back 4K at 30fps or 1080p, but the 162mm equivalent focal length still gives you a different view. Still, it’s hard to understand why at least 24fps and, ideally, 50fps or 60fps aren’t planned.

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S Battery life

DJI Mavic 3 vs Air 2S

Some people say that the 3,500 or 3,750 mAh 3-cell battery that comes with the Air 2S doesn’t last as long or have as much power as the 5,000 mAh 4-cell battery that comes with the Mavic 3. This difference is only a few volts, but it gives the plane more potential thrust for faster acceleration and, more importantly for most pilots, a hovering time of close to three-quarters of an hour.

It’s important to remember, though, that 30 minutes is still a long time to be in charge of an aeroplane. Many pilots might be much happier if they could land a little more often to check their shot list and change the batteries. Once the battery life is over half an hour, it’s not as important as all that unless you’re shooting a lot of “Hyperlapse” (time-lapse) effects or other things where a few extra minutes in the air could make a big difference. With both versions of the Fly More kit, you can get a multi-charger, which is a great thing to do if you can.

DJI Mavic 3 Pros and Cons

Pros

  • 5.1K50 and 4K120 video
  • 20MP Raw or JPG stills
  • All-around obstacle avoidance
  • Long flight times

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Base model offers only 8GB of storage
  • Telephoto camera underwhelms
  • Falls shy of 46-minute battery estimate

Air 2S Pros and Cons

Pros

  • 1-inch 20 MP sensor
  • Great image quality
  • Small and lightweight

Cons

  • Controller isn’t foldable
  • Image edges slightly soft
  • No adjustable aperture

Which one should you consider?

Your budget will help you decide. If you can afford the Mavic 3 and think it will make you money, buy it. It is clearly the better of the two. If you’re on a tighter budget and would have to bite your tongue to get the Mavic 3, or if you’re posting videos on YouTube or social media, get the Air 2s instead. Most people won’t notice the difference in image quality.

FAQs

Is the Mavic 3 Classic better than Air 2S?

The Mavic 3 Classic can go up to 21 m/s, which is about 75 km/h, which is a little faster than the Air 2S. But it’s important to know that in the European Union, this speed is limited to 19 m/s (about 68 km/h), which is the maximum speed of Air 2S.

Is Mavic 3 a professional drone?

The DJI Mavic 3 is their top-of-the-line drone with a 3-axis gimbal and two cameras, which is a big step forward for professional-quality aerial photography. Hasselblad makes a 20MP wide-angle camera with a 4/3″ CMOS and a 12MP telephoto camera with a 1/2″ CMOS, 4K video, and a 28x hybrid zoom.

Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams, a prominent content writer at Bollyinside, renowned for his expertise in hardware products. Specializing in list-based articles, Jonathan simplifies intricate tech details about laptops, phones, tablets, and accessories, making them accessible to readers. Off-duty, he indulges his passion for fiction and tech sci-fi, exploring new realms of creativity.

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