The DJI Air 2S is more than just a minor upgrade. While this drone is very similar to the Mavic Air 2, it is different in the one aspect that matters most, the camera. The camera on of the 2S is better and in some ways the best camera you can get on a DJI drone. If you are into comparing specs then get the full breakdown on how it compares to other DJI drones here.
Better Camera on the DJI Air 2S
The DJI Mavic Air 2 camera is excellent. It was the first Mavic that is capable of shooting 4K at 6o fps. The Quad Bayer sensor upped the 12 MP photos to 48 MP. In short, the Quad Bayer sensor multiplies the number of pixels by 4. While this sounds great it still falls a little short of the Mavic 2 Pro 20 MP camera with its 1″ sensor. There are also more zoom options on the Air 2S with digital zoom up to 8x available in 1080p.
The good news is the DJI Air 2S has a 1-inch, 20 MP sensor just like the Mavic 2 Pro. It isn’t Hasselblad branded but it will certainly be an upgrade over the DJI Mavic Air 2 camera. This camera is capable of shooting 5.4K video. That most certainly is an upgrade and is the first DJI consumer drone capable of more than 4K video. It also has the fastest bit rate at 150 Mbps. The addition of 10-bit color makes color grading even easier. The Mavic 2 Pro still has it beat with its variable aperture, however. Take a look at the chart below for a full breakdown on these cameras.
Air 2S Occusync 3.0
The DJI FPV drone had some excellent technology inside of it, whether or not you were a fan. The most significant of these is the Occusync 3.o transmission system. With 4 antennas on the 2S you can expect a better overall feed, in fact the range on the Air2S is now 12,000 meters. That is over 7 miles! Occusync 3 gave the DJI FPV drone almost zero lag and incredible control and precision. We are excited to see that tech carry over to the Air 2S.
Introduction of MasterShots on the Air 2S
The Air 2S now has MasterShots. You can think of it as the evolution of quickshots. You choose a subject and the 2S will fly some QuickShots patterns then automatically create the video for you. Looking like a professional just got easier.
Other DJI Air 2S upgrades
With the addition of two more sensors the Air 2S now has four-way obstacle avoidance. With that DJI has also upgraded its tracking and following software. The new 2S has APAS 4.0, Active Track 4.0 and Point of Interest 3.o. While it may not be quite on par with Skydio it is most definitely better.
In addition to that, we see DJI has incorporated ADS-B receivers. Much like the FPV drone, we can get alerts when other aircraft are in the area. This is a great safety feature.
Air 2S Cons
The Air 2S didn’t get an improvement in flight time. In fact, its flight time of 31 minutes is 3 minutes less than the Mavic Air 2. This is likely due to its slightly heavier weight and more processing power. The lack of variable aperture or mechanical shutter is a bit disappointing but DJI is likely reserving those two features for the Mavic 3 Pro.
Future Improvements
In addition to the Occysync 3.0 we expect to see a few other things from the DJI FPV drone. The first is that it should work with the DJI Goggles V2. People have been asking for compatible goggles and it makes sense for the Air 2S to comply with that. We have heard that DJI is working to make both the Goggles and the Motion Controller compatible with the 2S. This will likely come in the future with a firmware update.
Should you order the DJI Air 2S?
The Air 2S is undoubtedly a fantastic drone. It is hands-down the best drone you can get for less than $1000. However, you will have to decide if it is the drone for you. If you do get the 2S we recommend the Fly More Package. You’ll get three batteries, ND filters, and a carrying case with some extra goodies.
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