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DJI Air 3 Review and Drone Comparison

DJI’s Air Series are all-rounder consumer drones with a camera, with features which enable creators to capture aerial content using an easy-to-transport compact and foldable aircraft. On 25th July 2023 DJI Air 3 was released, following the huge success of the DJI Mavic Air (2018), DJI Mavic Air 2 (2020) and DJI Air 2S (2021). It brings a host of upgrades and new features such as dual cameras, longer flight times and enhanced safety, which have been added to the Air series for the first time.

Our DJI Air 3 Review and Drone Comparison highlights key Air 3 features, upgrades and imaging capabilities, comparing Combos and other models from the line-up, to help you decide which is the best drone from market leading DJI for your aerial content.

What are DJ Air 3 key features?

With two cameras, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing and O4 video transmission, DJI has introduced a number of upgrades and additional features to Air 3, which make it more versatile and safer to fly, for longer flight times. DJI Air 3 key features include:

• 46 minute maximum flight time
• 24mm wide angle and 70mm medium tele dual cameras (48 Megapixel Photos)
• 4K at 24/25/30/48/50/60fps (16:9)
• 1080p at24/25/30/48/50/60fps (16:9)
• 4K/100fps (16:9) and 1080p@100/200fps (16:9)
• Supports 10-bit D-Log M/HLG video recording
• 2.7K vertical shooting (9:16)
• Night Mode (both cameras)
• Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing with APAS 5.0
• Advanced RTH automatic home point route planning
• O4 Video Transmission
• 8 GB built-in storage and microSD card slot
• Intelligent imaging and flight features

Imaging features for aerial content creation

DJI is an industry leader in designing intelligent imaging technology to accompany intelligent flight features, and Air 3 helps you to create compelling aerial photos and videos, which will captivate your audience. Regardless of whether you’re new to aerial content creation or have plenty of piloting experience under your belt, automated features can fly, create, and even edit your video footage into finished movies, which can be shared with ease.

Tried and tested imaging technology includes MasterShots and QuickShots, with MasterShots enabling the drone to automatically shoot multiple video clips with different camera movements, edit the clips, and even add music to generate cinematic and shareable videos.

QuickShots has been added to the medium tele camera as well as the wide angle, with Rocket, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Boomerang and Asteroid (although Asteroid is not supported with the medium tele camera).

Photo features support the capture of Single Shot, Burst Shooting, AEB and Timed Shots and you can capture Sphere, 180°, Wide Angle, and Vertical Panoramas, at up to 13000 x 6500 pixels (which has increased 2.5x from the 8192 x 4096 of DJI Air 2S).

Both cameras support 4K horizontal timelapse video and 2.7K vertical timelapse video, while Hyperlapse provides multiple modes such as Free, Course Lock, Circle and Waypoint.

The addition of Waypoint offers a distinct advantage, with the ability to plan flight routes and shooting in advance, as well as create long-duration sequences using pre-planned repeatable routes. For example, Waypoint allows you to capture a building being made, changes in seasons or length of day shots, which are taken on the same route over a year.

RC 2 touchscreen

Air 3 safety features

The idea of piloting a drone can be daunting to newcomers, and DJI has upgraded Air 3’s safety features to make it one of the safest foldable consumer drones on the market. To begin with a pair of fisheye lenses support forward, backward, left, right and upward sensing, while the bottom of the aircraft is equipped with binocular lenses and a 3D infrared sensor. This achieves powerful omnidirectional obstacle sensing to reduce the chance of accidental impact, even during RTH.

Omnidirectional obstacle sensing is enhanced by APAS 5.0, which enables Air 3 to smoothly bypasses obstacles during flight, and Air 3 now includes DJI’s latest long-range transmission 04 technology (OCUSYNC 4.0). Upgraded hardware includes six antennas, which significantly improves video transmission performance and support for 04 video transmission.

If the drone needs to return to its home point it can do so worry-free, using Advanced return to home. This allows Air 3 to plan a flight route back and implement Advanced RTH, combining all of its safety features and safely avoid obstacles while on-route.

Charging hub and batteries in DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (RC 2)

What’s included with the DJI Air 3 Combo?

DJI launched the Air 3 (RC-N2), DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (RC-N2) and DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (RC 2) simultaneously, along with drone accessories made specifically for this latest model. The table below lists included accessories, with the Combos additional high-capacity Intelligent flight batteries and an intelligent Charging Hub.

If you fly regularly and for longer the Combos are the way to go. The charging hub also adds a clever feature, with the ability to intelligently draw power from lower charged batteries to the one with most remaining charge, in order to get you back into the air more quickly and finish your shots.

Dual cameras for the first time in Air Series drones

Which DJI Drone to choose?

DJI has three consumer-level all-rounder drones, which all offer distinct capabilities for aerial content creators. The newest Air 3 sits in the middle of the range and benefits from the longest flight time and most recent O4 transmission, for clearer, more stable video feeds.

DJI RC 2 Vs RC-N2

The key difference between the two DJI RC 2 Vs RC-N2 controllers, is that RC 2 includes a built-in 5.5” touchscreen (1920x1080), whereas the RC-N2 requires your mobile phone to be connected. Both controllers support 04 video transmission with Air 3, which provides more stable footage over longer distances.

DJI RC 2 features

• Supports 04 video transmission with Air 3
• Transmits up to 1080p 60fps HD live view
• 12.4 miles max. transmission range
• Up to 3 hour operating time (approx. 1 hour charging time)
• DJI Fly App pre-installed
• Detachable control sticks

DJI RC-N2 features

• Max Supported Mobile Device 180 x 86 x 10mm
• ransmits up to 1080p 60fps HD live view
• Supported Port Types include Lightning, USB-C, Micro-USB
• 6 hours max operating time without charging a mobile (3.5 hours when charging)
• Charging Time 2.5 hours
• Battery Capacity 5200 mAh
• Dimensions 104.2 x 149.95 x 45.25 mm

Choosing between them depends on your needs, with some pilots preferring to have less weight and the longer battery power of the RC-N2, whereas others prefer the fast start-up times and cleaner interface of the RC 2’s built-in screen. Both utilise the DJI Fly App (preinstalled on RC 2), which is intuitive and easy to use.

DJI fly and LightCut Apps

Whether you choose the Combo with DJI RC 2, or RC 2, DJI’s Fly App will help to control the aircraft and edit your images. It comes with a flight academy which provides on-location help with tutorials, drone manuals and flight tips, and you can also share locations and previews with fellow drone pilots through the app.

Once you’ve captured footage, the LightCut App offers advanced, intelligent and fully automatic editing capabilities, to create finished videos using built-in templates based on composition and flight path.

This really does provide a simple way to capture and share captivating movies, and you don’t even have to clog up your phone, as it does it all without needing to by download clips to your device.

The 4th variation Series Air 3 offers a combination of greater safety, 48% longer flights, more advanced imaging capabilities, and includes two cameras for the first time on an Air Series aircraft. Safer flights are made possible through Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, O4 video transmission and advanced RTH and Waypoint adds planning of flight paths and repeatable routes.

With all of these and many more upgrades, it’s easier than ever for creators to capture compelling aerial content, whilst harnessing some of the most advanced technology available in a consumer-level drone. Choose between the DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) or Combos – DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (RC-N2) and DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (RC 2), which include additional batteries, multi battery hub and extras.

If you’re upgrading from a previous model, or simply want to sell camera gear that you no longer use, why not grab a free quote and use our easy service to offset the cost.

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By Nick Dautlich on 25/07/2023