With regards to deciding between the DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Professional, you’re not simply selecting a drone—you’re defining your priorities as a pilot. These two DJI drones are powerhouses in their very own proper, providing distinct options to cater to totally different wants.
The DJI Air 3S stands out for its portability and flexibility, making it an distinctive journey drone. However, the DJI Mavic 3 Professional is a professional-grade machine designed to ship unmatched picture high quality.
I’ll get straight to the purpose at prime: should you prioritize picture high quality and that alone (that means different components like portability and worth don’t matter as a lot to you), go together with the DJI Mavic 3 Professional. However for a extra well-rounded drone that checks all of the packing containers — good worth, lighter physique, higher impediment avoidance, extra highly effective video transmission, and many others. — then go together with the DJI Air 3S.
However should you’re nonetheless curious to study extra about shopping for the DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Professional, learn on for an in depth breakdown that will help you determine:
DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Professional: fast specs, in contrast
| Characteristic | DJI Air 3S | DJI Mavic 3 Professional | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning Value | $1,099 | $2,199 | Air 3S |
| Weight | 724g | 958g | Air 3S |
| Dimensions (folded, with out propellers) | 214.19×100.63×89.17 mm | 231.1×98×95.4 mm | Air 3S |
| Digital camera System | Twin digital camera (large: 1-inch CMOS, tele: 1/1.3-inch) | Triple digital camera (large: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad, medium tele: 1/1.3-inch, tele: 1/2-inch) | Mavic 3 Professional |
| Flight Time | As much as 46 minutes | As much as 43 minutes | Air 3S |
| Wind Resistance | As much as 12 m/s (26.8 mph) | As much as 12 m/s (26.8 mph) | Tie |
| Impediment Avoidance | Omnidirectional with forward-facing LiDAR | Omnidirectional | Air 3S |
| Inner Storage | 42 GB | 8 GB | Air 3S |
| Video Transmission | O4 | O3+ | Air 3S |
Flight capabilities
Wind resistance: Each drones deal with wind speeds as much as 12 m/s, which is fairly highly effective. Both are able to flying in robust breezes and at larger altitudes — and each are far superior to cheaper DJI drones like these within the DJI Mini line. Although technically the identical by way of specs, my qualitative opinion says that the Mavic 3 Professional has a slight edge in stability throughout high-precision maneuvers, owing to its heavier weight.
Return to house: Each drones supply computerized return to house options. However the newer, DJI Air 3S has a extra superior model dubbed Subsequent-Gen Good RTH (Return-to-House). Assuming sufficient mild exterior, the DJI Air 3S makes use of real-time imaginative and prescient positioning and map development applied sciences to memorize flight paths. Notice that the tech actually solely works greatest when it’s vivid out. However when it’s darkish out, a distinct form of tech kicks in. That’s the forward-facing LiDAR, which might detect obstacles in low-light circumstances.
Watch the Air 3S execute a flight returning to house routinely at 2:44 on this clip:
Winner: Tie.
Measurement and portability
The Air 3S is considerably lighter and extra compact. For that purpose, I usually think about it a greater journey drone versus the DJI Mavic 3 Professional.
Even nonetheless although, the Mavic 3 Professional simply folds for transport. And by some dimensions, it’s really smaller than the DJI Air 3. Nonetheless be aware the dimensions distinction (958 grams for the Mavic 3 Professional vs. 724 grams for the Air 3S). Which may not look like a ton, however it’s 32% heavier, which might weigh on you after touring for some time.
Winner: Air 3S.
Digital camera high quality
Right here’s the place the Mavic 3 Professional actually shines. Its triple-camera system, that includes a 4/3-inch Hasselblad large sensor, supplies unparalleled picture high quality, dynamic vary, and shade accuracy. Moreover, its two telephoto lenses supply versatility for cinematic photographs. In case your No. 1 precedence is picture high quality, go together with the DJI Mavic 3 Professional. It has extra choices and a bigger sensor.
To not point out, the Mavic 3 Professional’s ProRes recording choices and seamless integration with skilled workflows make it a filmmaker’s dream.
Then once more, the DJI Air 3S remains to be spectacular with its dual-camera system and 1-inch CMOS sensor. Even in regular shade mode, Air 3S twin cameras can file 10-bit video utilizing H.265 encoding. Moreover, the drone’s most ISO has been raised to 12,800, versus simply 6,400 on the DJI Mavic 3 Professional. That shouldn’t imply a ton should you’re flying within the day or different vivid circumstances, however it’s vital for flying at low mild. Listed here are some photographs I took on my DJI Air 3S, so you may see what it seems like from a traditional, non-professional photographer:
What’s extra is that — in D-Log M and HLG shade modes — the utmost ISO is raised to three,200. Once more, which means brighter, extra detailed photographs in darker situations. Relying on who you ask, 10-bit and ISO picture high quality on the DJI Air 3S means even crisper particulars than the DJI Mavic 3 Professional.
Different concerns whereas filming
Moreover the precise digital camera high quality, the filming expertise is barely totally different on the 2 drones — and the Air 3S is healthier. For starters, the Air 3S has 42 GB of inner storage, versus simply 8 GB on the Mavic 3 Professional. 8 GB is an effective quantity, however clearly 42 GB is much better. You can run hours of flights on 8GB.
Plus, the DJI Air 3S employs a extra superior video encoding compression algorithm that reduces video file sizes by extra 30%. That helps you save much more cupboard space.
Winner: The DJI Air 3S has compelling qualities like extra inner storage, however in the end this goes to the Mavic 3 Professional.
Battery life
The Air 3S provides 45 minutes of flight time, barely edging out the Mavic 3 Professional, which maxes out at 43 minutes. Each drones supply distinctive endurance, however the Air 3S supplies a minor benefit for prolonged flights. I wouldn’t sweat over the three minutes of distinction right here, however technically the Air 3S wins.
Winner: Air 3S.
Associated learn: DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Air 3S: is it well worth the improve?
Clever Flight Options
Each drones excel in impediment avoidance, however the Air 3S takes it a step additional with its LiDAR-assisted impediment sensing. That principally means it’s higher at detecting obstacles, particularly in low-light circumstances. And sure, the Air 3S is the primary DJI drone to characteristic forward-facing LiDAR.
So far as computerized flight modes, each drones have a robust set of good options, together with the flexibility to pre-program waypoints that the drone can routinely fly to. Different good flight modes on each drones embrace:
- FocusTrack: Gives steady monitoring photographs in a number of instructions through ActiveTrack 5.0, Highlight, and Level of Curiosity (solely accessible on the Hasselblad digital camera and the medium tele digital camera)
- MasterShots: With one faucet, the drone routinely shoots, edits and provides soundtracks to routinely generate cinematic footage. (solely accessible on the Hasselblad digital camera
- QuickShots: Permits the drones to fly in angles like Dronie, Rocket, Circle, and Helix (solely accessible on the Hasselblad digital camera)
Making Panoramas in your drone
Now the Hasselblad digital camera on the DJI Mavic 3 Professional has one thing known as Panorama mode, which composes a 100MP lossless panorama photograph. That was distinctive to only the Mavic 3 Professional on the time.
However now with the DJI Air 3S, now we have an analogous characteristic known as Free Panorama mode. The Air 3S now captures panoramic photographs by stitching collectively a number of pictures with a manually chosen topic or space. This mode is offered in each DJI Air 3S cameras, each with barely totally different kinds. The wide-angle digital camera provides a broader Discipline of Imaginative and prescient, which is an effectivity play. I sometimes go together with the medium tele digital camera when making panoramas, because it has much less picture distortion.
Monitoring topics
I think about the DJI Air 3S a barely higher follow-me drone than the Mavic 3 Professional (although each are wonderful). The Air 3S earns its edge by two new options known as ActiveTrack 360° and Topic Focusing. ActiveTrack 360° retains any topic optimally within the body by routinely planning a flight path and adjusting framing. Topic Focusing characteristic retains your topic in focus even throughout handbook flight or when the topic strikes off-center.
Winner: DJI Air 3S
Value
At $1,099, the Air 3S is sort of half the worth of the Mavic 3 Professional, which begins at $2,199. For vacationers or hobbyists, the Air 3S provides excellent worth. And by many metrics, its specs are higher anyway.
The one spec the Air 3S can’t compete on? That triple digital camera, together with the Hasselblad. Provided that, professionals in search of the very best in imaging and options will discover the Mavic 3 Professional well worth the funding in the event that they’re being judged extremely on picture high quality.
For most individuals although, I don’t suppose they need to fall for the “dearer is healthier” entice. The DJI Air 3S is an excellent piece of kit.
Winner: Air 3S for budget-conscious patrons.
DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Professional: who’s every drone greatest for?
- Select the DJI Air 3S if…
You’re a journey fanatic or hobbyist who values portability, wonderful efficiency, and affordability. It’s an ideal all-rounder for informal pilots and photographers.
Learn my full DJI Air 3S evaluation.
- Select the DJI Mavic 3 Professional if…
You’re knowledgeable filmmaker or photographer who calls for the very best in digital camera know-how and superior flight options. Its capabilities are unmatched for creating cinematic content material.
Learn my full information to the DJI Mavic 3 Professional.
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