DJI has officially released its latest mid-range drone, the DJI Air 2S. The new model comes with some upgraded features and facilities. This is an all-round drone, and as a drone owner, this is a must-have. It may seem a little pricey than the other DJI drones. But it can deliver you some amazing shots with the latest 20 mp photos, 5k videos, powerful autonomous function, a compact body, weighing less than 600gm, obstacle sensing in four different directions, and whatnot. Let’s dive deep to know more about the latest DJI Air 2S drone.
Key Features
- Weight: 495 gm
- 1 inch CMOS sensor
- The resolution of the camera is 5.4K, and it can record up to 150Mbps
- 20MP photos
- Provides MasterShots
- Increased four-way obstacle avoidance sensor and can detect obstacle better and fast than previous models
- Flight time: 31 minutes
- 12km FHD Transmission
- No WiFi sync for high-speed offloading
- No DJI Goggles V2 or DJI Motion Controller
Price
The DJI Air 2S is $999. At this price, you will get the drone, a remote controller, and one battery. There’s also the Fly More combo. You have to pay $1,299, for which you will get two more batteries, neutral density filters, a charging hub, a shoulder bag to carry the drone.
Features in Details
Outlook
The DJI Air 2S outlook is similar to the Mavic Air 2. It has just some minor differences from each other. The latest drone also has the folding design for which the Mavic series boasts of. The front arms of the drones swing out, and the other rear arms rotate down. The Air 2S is small when folded, 180×97×80mm and 183×253×77mm when unfolded. The drone doesn’t have much difference compared to its predecessor, but it makes the drone 4mm shorter than the Mavic Air 2 folded. The weight of the drone is 595 gm. The increased weight of the new model can be considered because of the large camera.
Controller
The controller is also similar to Mavic Air 2. Compared to the Mavic Air, it connected to the controller faster. But this model doesn’t show the screen showing basic flight and camera information.
The drone provides you a compact and foldable design. Without folding, the phone attaches to the top of the controller. The controllers are easy to use, but it is heavier than the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom’s controller.
Obstacle Sensing in Four Directions
DJI has improved its obstacle avoidance detection, which improves the collision avoidance system. APAS 4.0 – the latest autopilot system that automatically avoids and flies around while sensing the obstacles. There is also a light on the bottom of the aircraft, which helps to take off and land safely in low lights. The four directions obstacle sensing helps when you’re flying at a very high speed.
- Forward: Detect objects in front of the drone, up to 48m ahead of it
- Rearwards: Detect objects behind the drone if flying backward
- Downwards: Detect the ground primarily when it is flying close to the ground
- Partially Upwards (updated): Detect both semi-upwards and semi-forwards flying when the drone is at its highest speed.
Flight Modes
The drone has three flight modes –
- Cine Mode: this mode is best for slow and steady flying. The mode dampers all your moves
- Normal mode: Normal flying/shooting up to 54KPH.
- Sports mode: You will get an extra speed of about 68KPH. But this mode has gimbal stability issues.
Flying the DJI Air 2S is easy and safe. No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, flight modes such as automated video modes, collision avoidance, and manual flight control will help you as long as you fly the drone.
The Air 2S provides you with a new automated flight mode- SmartShots. When you activate it, the drone will start capturing pre-programmed videos. It also has options like wide shots, tight circular shots, top-down shots, and many more. It records up to five to ten, and the app automatically does a short edit. This option is very reliable for newbie pilots.
The drone is an excellent option for beginner photographers who want to capture a high-quality image but lack proper skills. This helps to capture more visual details of every picture, even in low lighting conditions. This allows beginner photographers more possibilities to get the look they want. You can also edit the photo as you wish.
Photos
The Mavic Air 2S’s camera sensor is the same size as the Mavic 2 Pro. But the new model’s sensor is much larger than the previous one. So, technically the Air 2S should shoot good photos and better video than the Mavic 2 Pro. The video resolution is 5.4K. The Air 2S’s 4K video is higher compared to 150Mbps compared to 100Mbps. However, the 4K video also has a higher frame rate.
The Air 2S provides all the camera functions you would love to have, and that includes- Single Shot, Timed Photo, AEB, HDR, Panoramas, and Hyperlapses. The new sensor can capture 5.4K video at 30 frames per second. You can crop the video but still get high-quality clips. Filming at 4K at 60 fps is smoother compared to other modes. With a 5.4K video, DJI Air 2S provides the drone pilots with authentic color tones in every frame for footage that will blow your mind.
The drone is designed with a 1-inch image sensor and large 2.4μm pixels to capture every stunning detail. SmartPhoto mode uses photography technology that is similar to smartphones. This mode automatically gives you an image using one of the following methods, depending on the light:
- HDR photos: Captures seven different exposures and combines them for a greater dynamic image.
- Hyperlight: In low-light conditions, images become grainy and noisy. In the Hyperlight, the drone takes multiple photos and merges them, and provides a clearer picture.
- Scene recognition: in this mode, you can capture some fantastic photos of- sunsets, blue skies, grass, snow, and trees. It will maximize tone, clarity, and colors and will give you a perfect shot.
Automated Video Mode
MasterShots is an advanced intelligent feature that will give you the best shot with one tap. First, select your subject, and it will automatically calculate flight paths for various types of images. Keep your subject the main focus and make a short video using this mode. Rocket, Circle, Dronie, Helix, and Asteroid are the other methods. They are the best options for beginners looking to shoot a pro-looking video with less effort quickly. But it may not always work well. There is a change in hyperlapse mode in this model. You won’t get an 8K hyperlapse like you used to get on the Mavic Air 2.
DJI Air 2S Vs. Mavic Air 2: Should You Upgrade?
The Air 2S is identical to Mavic Air 2. Both of the drones use the same battery. However, as per the similarities, the new model has many changes too. The Air 2S upgraded the object detection that improves the drone’s overall collision system. DJI Air 2S is also heavier than Mavic Air 2, which does not sound like an improvement, but the Air 2S performs better than the Mavic Air in windy conditions.
One of the biggest differences is the camera sensor. The Mavic Air camera’s sensor is 1/2″ CMOS while the DJI Air 2S camera sensor is 1″ CMOS which is the double. The updated sensor means you can capture more detailed photos and videos. The Mavic Pro helps shooting in bright daylight, but considering the size and price, the Air 2S’s sensor is unbeatable.
The Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) of the new model uses a broader view to detect obstacles. So you can fly very high and worry less about the drone. The Air 2S also provides DJI’s O3 flight system, which was called OcuSync before. The Air 2S flight time is 31 minutes, while the Mavic Air’s flight time is 34 minutes. Another notable update of the Air 2S is MasterShots mode.
Conclusion
In many ways, the DJI Air 2S may seem similar to the DJI Mavic Air. But there are many upgrades to the new model. This model overall can be the best option for drone pilots. If you are thinking of buying the product, please know the details and features of the drone. It is an ideal solution for travel and content creation.
Feature Image By t3.com