Introduction

Arriving just one year subsequently its predecessor, the Mavic Air 2, the Air 2S is DJI'south newest mid-range consumer drone. The new model sheds the familiar Mavic branding in favor of a shorter naming scheme, post-obit the lead of DJI'southward Mini 2 model, but receives some significant upgrades in return. Nearly notably, the Air 2S features a photographic camera with a ane"-blazon sensor – something that was previously exclusive to DJI models costing over $1,500.

Whereas the Mavic Air ii emphasized resolution over sensor size, with features like 48MP stills and 8K hyperlapse modes, the Air 2S pivots in the direction of image quality; its larger 20MP sensor hands outperforms the camera on the Mavic Air two and addresses one of the most frequent requests from users.

The downside is that the retail cost of the Air 2S is $200 more than the Mavic Air ii, coming in at $999. The good news is that the Mavic Air 2 will continue to sell alongside the new Air 2S, then consumers can choose the option that best fits their needs – not to mention their budget.

There's also a Fly More than combo that includes ii boosted batteries, a charging hub, a set of 3 ND filters, and a shoulder bag for $1299. The addition of ND filters to the Fly More combo should please a lot of users as they're a common addition buy.

Aircraft| Photo and Video| Flight Modes | What it'southward similar to fly | Conclusion | Samples

Cardinal Features

  • 20MP, 1"-type CMOS sensor
  • 22mm (equiv.) lens with 88º FOV and fixed F2.8 aperture
  • 5.4K/30p, 4K/60p, and 1080p/120p video
  • H.264 and H.265 recording at 150 Mbps
  • ten-scrap D-Log and HDR video capture
  • Raw and JPEG paradigm capture
  • OcuSync 3.0 (O3) image manual (12 km range)
  • Four-fashion obstruction avoidance
  • APAS four.0
  • 'MasterShots' cinematic capture fashion
  • 31-minute flight fourth dimension
  • 595g (ane.3 pounds) total weight

Compared to...

On paper, the Air 2S compares favorably to both the Mavic Air 2 equally well equally the more expensive Mavic ii Pro.

DJI Air 2S Mavic Air 2 Mavic 2 Pro
Toll $999 $799 $1599
Camera

20MP, i"-type sensor

22mm equiv. F2.8 (stock-still)

48MP, ane/two-inch sensor

24mm equiv. F2.8 (stock-still)

20MP, 1"-type sensor

28mm equiv. F2.viii-11
Video transmission OcuSync 3.0 (O3), 4 antennas, 12 km, 1080p OcuSync 2.0, dual antenna, 10 km, 1080p OcuSync 2.0, dual antenna, x km, 1080p
Video resolution 5.4K/30p, 4K/60fps 4K/60p 4K/30p
Video scrap-rate 150 Mbps 120 Mbps 100 Mbps
Log video 10-scrap D-Log, HDR video (10-bit) HDR video (eight-bit) 10-bit D-Log, HDR video (x-chip)
APAS version (Advanced Pilot Assistance System) APAS iv.0 APAS iii.0 APAS one.0
Obstacle avoidance sensors Frontwards, Backward, Downward, Upwards Frontwards, Backward, Downwards Forward, Backward, Downwards, Upwardly, Left, and Right
Flight time 31 minutes 34 minutes 31 minutes
Dimensions 180×97×eighty mm 180x97x84 mm 214×91×84 mm
Weight 595g 570g 907g

There'southward no question the improved camera alone warrants an upgrade. In fact, the Air 2S i-ups the Mavic 2 Pro in an of import surface area. The Mavic 2 Pro could tape 4K video using the full width of its sensor, simply it did so using pixel binning. Every bit a result, the best 4K footage was obtained by shooting from a native crop of the sensor, which besides narrowed the camera's field of view.

In contrast, the Air 2S captures 5.4K video using the full width of the sensor – with no pixel binning – resulting in more detailed video capture. The upgraded sensor appears to put the Air 2S on par with the prosumer Mavic 2 Pro. Or does information technology? Let'due south take a expect at what the Air 2S has to offer and decide if information technology's a must-accept for hobbyists and professionals akin.

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Aircraft and controller

At 180x97x80 mm folded downward, the DJI Air 2S has a frame that's almost identical to the Mavic Air two and can fit in the palm of your hand. What's noticeably dissimilar is that the 2S has obstacle abstention sensors placed on pinnacle of the drone.

The Air 2S (50) and Mavic Air two (R) side-past-side. The Air 2S boasts a camera with a larger i"-type sensor plus upwards obstacle abstention sensors.

In fact, DJI has equipped the Air 2S with four-fashion obstacle abstention detection and APAS iv.0 – the latest iteration of an autopilot system that automatically avoids, and volition fly around, obstacles it encounters, when recording upward to 4K/30p footage. At that place is also an auxiliary light on the bottom of the aircraft to aid in takeoff and landing during low-lite situations.

The Air 2S uses the aforementioned remote equally the Mavic Air ii.

DJI has opted to utilize the same remote that powers the Mavic Air 2 and Mini 2. It doesn't accept external antennas, and it can still exist a challenge to attach a smartphone. However, it's comfy to hold and includes everything you need to operate, including a gimbal bike plus buttons to instantly start and stop taking photos and video. It's easy to switch between Cine, Normal, and Sport Modes while the Return to Abode feature is instantly attainable.

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Photos and video

The camera on the Air 2S has a 20MP, 1"-type CMOS sensor, mounted on a 3-axis gimbal. It has a 22mm (equiv.) fixed-aperture F2.8 lens with an 88º FOV.

Until now, getting a 1"-type sensor on a DJI drone required you lot to buy a much more expensive model like the Mavic 2 Pro or Phantom 4 series. So the fact that it's now available on a model costing under $1,000 is notable. Where the camera on the Air 2S differs from the Mavic ii Pro is that the Hasselblad color profile is not included.

The camera on the Air 2S uses a 1"-type CMOS sensor capable of 20MP photos and up to 5.4K/30p video.

Like its predecessor, the Air 2S is powered by the DJI Wing app. The pared down, intuitive menu showcases all the photo modes on the same screen. Single, SmartPhoto, AEB (in brackets of iii and 5 images), and Burst mode tin be hands accessed. The shutter allows upwardly to an 8-second exposure, making depression-light, night time, and motion blur photos possible.

The shutter allows up to an 8-second exposure, making low-lite, night time, and motion blur photos possible.

SmartPhoto mode, which uses computational photography applied science like to smartphones, automatically gives you an platonic image using one of the following methods, depending on lighting conditions:

  • HDR photos: The camera automatically captures seven unlike exposures and combines them for greater dynamic image.
  • Hyperlight: Images taken in low-light weather tend to be grainy and contain noise. Hyperlight takes multiple photos and merges them for a clearer image.
  • Scene recognition: This manner allows the drone to recognize five major components of a photo – sunsets, blueish skies, grass, snowfall, and copse. It will analyze these objects and maximize tone, clarity, and colors.

ISO 200 | 6 sec | F2.eight

The Air 2S allows you to tape video at resolutions up to five.4K/30p, 4K/60p, and 1080p/120p at 150Mbps with either the H.264 or H.265 codec. Y'all can also zoom upward to 4X at 4K/30p, 6X at 2.7K/30p, 4X at ii.7K/60p, 6X at 1080p/60p and 8X at 1080p/30p. That's an upgrade from the Mavic Air 2, which maxed out at 4K/60p and 120 Mbps (which is notwithstanding impressive in its own right).

This video shows an case of 5K/30p video captured on the Air 2S.

One area where the in that location's a big difference between the Air 2S and Mavic Air 2 is support for HDR and Log video. The Mavic Air 2 could capture HDR video simply was limited to 8-bit, and it didn't include a Log gamma contour. In contrast, the Air 2S includes 10-bit D-Log and x-bit HLG capture in addition to the Normal (8-bit) color profile for video. That's a substantial upgrade for serious video shooters.

Besides, as noted to a higher place, the Air 2S captures five.4K video using the full width of its sensor, with no pixel binning, for detailed video capture. That's a step up from the Mavic two Pro which could record 4K video using the full width of its sensor, merely did so using pixel binning. As a result, the best 4K footage on that model was obtained by shooting from a native crop of the sensor, which as well narrowed the camera'southward field of view.

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The DJI Fly app and flight modes

The Air 2S uses the DJI Fly app, which was showtime introduced with the Mavic Mini. Unlike the DJI GO 4 app, which is more than fully-featured and suitable for prosumer drones, they Fly app was created with newer pilots in mind. It's like shooting fish in a barrel to navigate and basically every photo and video setting you need is right on the same screen.

When switching out of Automobile style and into Manual, or Pro mode, in this instance, the bottom-right-hand corner gives you sliders that allow you to conform white balance, ISO, shutter speed, and choose JPG or Raw+JPG imagery. Resolution can exist adapted on the video end.

DJI's Wing app is pared down, simple, intuitive, and like shooting fish in a barrel to navigate.

Three dots on the upper-correct-manus corner of the app will allow you become deeper into the main settings. This is where you can select which video color profile you'd like, whether you lot wish to restriction in front end of or bypass obstacles, which codec you lot adopt, and how high an distance or far a distance you'd prefer the drone to fly.

A new characteristic called MasterShots has been introduced equally a way for pilots to generate professional-grade footage that's prepare to share on social past just selecting a few parameters, such as proximity and portrait or landscape orientation. DJI has equipped the Air 2S with ActiveTrack 4.0 and Point of Interest 3.0 for increased accuracy in tracking subjects during automated flights. The usual QuickShots, including Dronie, Circumvolve, Helix, Rocket Asteroid and Boomerang are included.

This is an case of a completed MasterShots sequence, consummate with title and music, that was automatically edited together using the DJI Wing app.

I tried the MasterShots feature and take mixed feelings about it. Upon launching it, a notification to 'watch out for obstacles' immediately appears. The drone then autonomously launches into a series of pre-programmed shots including Dronie, Rocket, and Boomerang along with some other sweeping movements. It's all-time to focus on a static object versus a moving one as the Air 2S will lose track of the latter.

I paused the flight ii separate times while a MasterShot was in progress because I was agape it was going to fly into the side of a mountain I was close to, and over moving traffic in another location. Anyone wanting to exam out this feature should make sure they're at a high enough altitude that the drone won't encounter a tree or building every bit the Air 2S tends to pitch downwards at i point during the recording.

I aborted this MasterShots sequence to avert having the drone fly over a highway with vehicles, but information technology information technology illustrates how MasterShots runs the drone through a series of pre-programmed shots.

MasterShots was made with the casual consumer and first pilot in heed. Select shots are stitched into a final clip and music is automatically added in for something that tin be instantly shareable on social channels from the DJI Wing app. This is non probable to be something a professional person with access to Adobe Premiere Pro, Last Cutting Pro, or similar software will be interested in using, just they're also not the market place DJI is targeting with this new feature. Finally, it only works in Auto manner which makes for some potentially awkward lighting switches.

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What's information technology like to fly?

The first matter anyone will detect when operating the Air 2S is that the drone is incredibly quiet. It's articulate that DJI has updated the electronic speed controllers and continues to create more aerodynamic propellers for a noticeably more than pleasant experience. Information technology maneuvers well too. Unfortunately, information technology doesn't hold upward in moderate to loftier winds. In depression winds, however, it'south steady.

What impressed me most was the improved APAS 4.0, the latest version of DJI's Avant-garde Pilot Assistance System, which maneuvers the drone to a higher place, beneath, or to the side of an obstacle. With the Mavic Air two, I felt that APAS was a scrap lacking. This version of the technology worked seamlessly. In the example beneath, information technology flew above a tree and then to the side, missing every branch. Keep in mind, this feature works on 4K/30p video and below.

This clip shows APAS iv.0, DJI'due south Advanced Pilot Assist System, in action as the drone navigates around the tree. APAS 4.0 is noticeably improved over previous versions.

Overall, everything feels vastly improved and more than more than reliable. Hyperlapse, especially, looks much cleaner and more stable on a ane"-blazon sensor. I was impressed with how easy it was to get smoothen footage on a mildly windy solar day.

Hyperlapse sequence captured on the Air 2S.

Odds and ends

Equipped with OcuSync 3.0 (O3) transmission technology, the Air 2S can fly at a distance upwards to 12 km (7.45 miles) when free of obstacles or interference. Similar its predecessor, it supports both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands. The maximum flying fourth dimension clocks in at 31 minutes in ideal conditions, on par with the Mavic 2 Pro but less than the 34 minutes the Mavic Air 2 offers. Information technology can travel up to 68.iv km/h (42.5 mph) in Sport mode.

The Air 2S supports retentiveness cards upwardly to 256GB and also has 8GB of onboard internal storage should y'all forget a card or run out of space. Equipped with ADS-B, pilots are warned when manned aircraft are nearby. One feature I appreciated was the fact that the Air 2S automatically returned to habitation after losing its connection, even as the remote screen remained dark.

The Air 2S Fly More combo includes a ready of ND filters that assist create ameliorate videos and hyperlapses. A simple twist attaches them to the camera.

I would also recommend considering the Fly More than philharmonic – particularly since information technology now includes ND filters, which are very helpful for shooting video and hyperlapses.

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Who'south it for?

DJI has created a meridian-of-the-line consumer-course drone with the Air 2S. To have access to a camera with a 1"-type sensor that is capable of capturing 20MP imagery and video up to five.4K/30p, for under $1,000, is truly remarkable. While the photographic camera doesn't include the vibrant Hasselblad color profile of the Mavic 2 Pro, it still produces decent colour. Imagery feels cleaner and crisper compared to past models, overall.

The Mavic two Pro (correct) is slightly larger and heavier than the Air 2S. It tin can fly in more turbulent conditions, and at higher altitudes, only costs significantly more as well.

With that context, what does information technology mean for the Mavic 2 Pro, DJI's other foldable drone with a ane"-type sensor? Professionals shouldn't write off the Mavic 2 Pro simply yet. Slightly larger, heavier, and sturdier, it tin withstand high winds like its larger peer, the Phantom four Pro. It also has obstacle avoidance sensors on each side making information technology more than suitable for inspections and other high risk gigs that crave maneuvering in tight or treacherous areas. Allow's not forget the adaptable discontinuity either.

The Air 2S would be a terrific drone for a professional to take to a wedding ceremony, for example, especially with its quieter props. Withal I wouldn't dream of taking it with me to shoot around a high rise building, where winds go stronger the higher you ascend, or to a boat race where it would be whipped effectually. The Air 2S is built for more casual situations.

The Air 2S would exist a terrific drone for a professional person to accept to a wedding, for example, specially with its quieter props.

With its fixed aperture and user-friendly features, the Air 2S is still targeted more towards everyday consumers and those who want a solid pick to get into drone imaging. DJI isn't going to cannibalize its professional person and prosumer lines of drones by allowing information technology to operate in the same manner. MasterShots and some of the QuickShots features were created for travelers and content creators who want to capture impressive imagery and share it instantly. The Fly app has even been updated to make adding a soundtrack and subtitles easy for anyone.

Final thoughts

The release of the Air 2S is a strong indication that side by side Mavic Pro (or even Phantom or Inspire) volition encounter significant bumps in features and capabilities. As well, with Remote ID finalized, DJI has a lot of incentive to first rolling out some new models that both hobbyists and professionals have been wanting for the past few years.

I tested DJI'southward Wing More combo, which includes two additional batteries plus a set of ND filters, and was thrilled to be able to comport the entire ready around in a bag the size of a modest handbag. I can imagine a professional commercial airplane pilot wanting one of these for fun or impromptu shoots, specially now that it includes a 1"-blazon sensor. This really is an ideal solution for travel and on-the-go content creation.

What we like

  • 1"-blazon CMOS censor
  • v.4K/30p video with ten-bit D-Log and HLG support
  • Quiet flight
  • Improved APAS 4.0 performance
  • Power to shoot long exposures

What we don't

  • Fixed discontinuity lens
  • Can be unsteady in windy conditions
  • 1080p recording in Quick and MasterShots modes

Sample gallery

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