Previous updates to DJI's Air series drones have been a mixed bag. The Air 2S boasted a one-inch wide-angle main camera, but the subsequent Air 3 reverted to a smaller sensor. While the Air 3's 1/1.3-inch dual-camera setup offered new aerial photography options, many users likely wished for the best of both worlds: a one-inch sensor and dual cameras. Well, DJI has listened – introducing the Air 3S.

The Air 3S delivers. It brings back the one-inch sensor for its 24mm wide-angle main camera, but that's not all. Image quality has also seen a significant upgrade, with a jump from 20MP on the Air 2S to a whopping 50MP. It supports 4K/60fps HDR video, 4K/120fps footage, and introduces a 10-bit D-log M color mode with 14 stops of dynamic range, expanding post-production possibilities.

Here are some daylight samples from the wide-angle main camera:

And here are some low-light samples from the same camera:

With the main camera delivering such impressive results, the telephoto camera can't be left behind. While it uses a smaller 1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor, it still matches the video specifications and dynamic range of the main camera, ensuring no compromise in image quality.

Here are some samples from the telephoto camera:

And here are some low-light samples from the telephoto camera:

During shooting, the main camera supports 1-2.9x digital zoom, while the telephoto camera supports 3-9x zoom. Double-tapping on the main camera's focal length in the app toggles between 1x and 2x zoom, and the same for the telephoto camera between 3x, 6x, and 9x, with smooth transitions. However, there's currently no direct switch between cameras during zoom, which is a minor drawback.

In terms of shooting functions, the Air 3S introduces a new Free Panorama mode, allowing both cameras to capture panoramic photos with customizable start and end points. This expands creative possibilities for aerial photography.

Panoramic sample from the main camera

Panoramic sample from the telephoto camera

Beyond camera upgrades, the Air 3S stands out with its forward-facing LiDAR. Combined with downward-facing infrared ToF sensors and three pairs of visual sensors, it enables advanced obstacle avoidance even in low-light conditions (down to 1-5 lux). This means safe flying even under dimly lit skies.

The forward-facing LiDAR isn't just for night flying. It enhances obstacle avoidance, particularly for challenging surfaces like glass facades and solid-colored walls that might confuse visual sensors.

The Air 3S also boasts improved Return-to-Home (RTH) capabilities, supporting RTH in environments with no satellite signals or low light (down to 10 lux). It can safely return based on its pre-flight map, even in GPS-challenged urban areas, reducing RTH time.

The Air 3S also delivers with a 45-minute flight time and 20km transmission range, comparable to DJI's Mavic series.

It comes equipped with three ND filters for shooting in bright outdoor conditions, enabling normal exposure or slow shutter speeds.

In summary, the DJI Air 3S returns to the one-inch sensor while enhancing image quality, panoramic shooting, and obstacle avoidance. This dual-camera flagship drone is a must-try for aerial photography enthusiasts.