I found the DJI Air 2S on sale for around $699-750. Now that the Air 3 is out, is the Air 2S still a good buy or is it too outdated? I mostly shoot landscape photography and some travel video. Is the 1-inch sensor still competitive?
The DJI Air 2S is absolutely still worth buying in 2024 at $699-750. The 1-inch CMOS sensor produces excellent images with 20 megapixels and 12.6 stops of dynamic range -- that sensor quality hasn't changed. 5.4K/30fps video is more resolution than most people actually use.
What the Air 3 adds: 70mm telephoto camera (the biggest upgrade), 4K/100fps, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, better low-light on the wide camera, and 46-minute flight time vs 31 minutes.
If telephoto is important to your work, the Air 3 at $1,099 is worth the premium. If you mainly shoot landscape and wide aerial footage, the Air 2S 1-inch sensor is still one of the best in its price range and image quality won't hold you back. At $699-750 it's genuinely excellent value.
Check DJI Air 2S on Amazon
I did a side-by-side comparison between the Air 2S and Air 3 for landscape photography. In good light, the difference is subtle -- the Air 3 has slightly better highlight recovery and marginally improved shadow detail. In challenging light (golden hour, overcast), the Air 3 is noticeably better.
For video in D-Log M, the Air 3 is cleaner at ISO 800+. But at $699 vs $1,099, the Air 2S gives you about 85% of the Air 3's image quality for 63% of the price. If budget is a factor, the Air 2S is a genuinely strong choice that will not limit your photography in most real-world conditions.
The 4-direction obstacle avoidance on the Air 2S does not have upward-facing sensors and has no rear avoidance in some configurations. The Air 3 has true omnidirectional. This matters most in ActiveTrack scenarios and complex autonomous modes where the drone might back up or descend into an obstacle.
For manual flying where you're in control, the Air 2S avoidance is sufficient for the vast majority of situations. For heavily automated QuickShots and subject tracking, the Air 3's omnidirectional is noticeably safer. If you fly primarily in manual mode and stay aware of your surroundings, the Air 2S is fine.
One practical issue with buying the Air 2S in 2024: DJI has started deprioritizing software updates for it. The Air 3 gets new QuickShots, new Master Shots templates, and firmware features faster. In 2-3 years the Air 2S may stop receiving updates entirely while the Air 3 continues.
This isn't urgent today, but if you plan to keep a drone for 5+ years, the Air 3's longer expected support window matters. The Air 2S is still a great drone right now -- just go into the purchase knowing its software trajectory is declining rather than growing.
For travel specifically: the Air 2S weighs 595g vs the Air 3's 720g -- both require FAA registration in the US and both are in the same regulatory category internationally. However, the 125g weight difference is noticeable when packing for a long trip.
The Air 2S is also slightly more compact when folded. Neither drone is as travel-friendly as the Mini 4 Pro at 249g, but the Air 2S is meaningfully lighter than the Air 3 for trips where packing volume and weight matter. The Air 2S's transmission range (12km OcuSync 3.0) is also excellent for open landscape shooting.
As a commercial real estate and landscape photographer: buy the Air 2S if you find it under $750, buy the Air 3 if you regularly shoot moving subjects or need telephoto range. The Air 2S's 1-inch sensor still wins commercial jobs against smaller-sensor drones -- clients notice the photo quality even if they can't articulate why.
For the specific landscape vs action photography trade-off in the $700-1,100 price range, see our detailed breakdown of the DJI Air 3 -- is it worth the price -- it directly addresses the Air 2S vs Air 3 upgrade question with real-world shooting scenarios.