DJI Air 2S
Announced April 15, 2021
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The DJI Air 2S is a highly capable, portable drone featuring a one-inch sensor that delivers impressive image quality and 5.4K video. While it lacks side obstacle avoidance and an adjustable aperture, its combination of stable flight performance, intelligent tracking, and user-friendly controls makes it an excellent choice for both enthusiasts and professionals.
Weighted from 43 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent image quality and low-light performance from the 1-inch sensor
- Compact, foldable, and lightweight design for easy portability
- Stable and responsive flight performance with reliable controls
- Advanced obstacle avoidance and intelligent tracking features
- High-quality 5.4K video recording with 10-bit color support
Cons
- Fixed aperture limits exposure control and flexibility
- Lacks side obstacle avoidance sensors
- Higher price point compared to previous models
- Significant image cropping in 4K/60fps or high-resolution modes
- Limited internal storage capacity
- Launch price $999 (USD)
- Max flight time 31min
- Weight 595g
- Battery capacity 3500 mAh
- Dimensions 183 x 77 x 253 mm (7.20 x 3.03 x 9.96 in) (unfolded) / 180 x 77 x 97 mm (7.09 x 3.03 x 3.82 in) (folded)
What the Reviewers Say
All 43 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8.5/10
The DJI Air 2S impressed me in all the ways I would actually put the drone to use in my own shooting.
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Only a year after the launch of the Air 2, the new Air 2S doesn’t just swap out the camera and make some tweaks to the software, which would have been enough to stay top of the pack in this size and weight category.
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As a result, the DJI Air 2S finds itself the best drone for almost anyone looking to get serious about aerial photography and videography.
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The Air 2S is both fun and rewarding to fly and while not matching a good DSLR or mirrorless camera, its results are beyond those of an action cam whether you’re shooting stills or video.
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Flying in at less than 600 g and a 1 inch CMOS sensor, the DJI Mavic Air 2S is an amalgamation of its predecessors’ greatest features and an intricate upgrade.
- The Verge 8/10
Despite some odd limitations in its features, the Mavic Air 2S is still a fantastic drone, especially for beginners who want something more capable than a DJI Mini 2.
- WIRED 9/10
A better image sensor and more AI-powered video smarts make this one of the best drones you can buy.
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The user-friendliness, compact size and image quality of the Air 2S make it one of the most appealing drones around, particularly to those who need a camera that can perform in lower light conditions.
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The DJI Air 2S drone is an amazing achievement, bringing a great camera into a compact airframe and combining it with AI systems which are useful and surprisingly accessible.
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[T]he larger camera sensor and 5.4K recording are worthwhile upgrades for professional photographers and videographers alike, though we think most pilots starting out with a drone will be just as happy with the Mavic Air 2 [...]
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The DJI Air 2S is no longer new, but it remains one of the best all-round drones you can buy.
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[T]he DJI Air 2S was great to fly and we really were happy with its image.
- Digital Trends 9/10
Yes, you won’t find a better drone for the money. All of the upgrades make it a standout model in the world of drones by balancing performance, safety features, usability, and price.
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The challenge is, my main focus in testing drones is for tracking of moving objects – namely, cyclists, runners, and the sort. And despite being excited about the new additional sensors to avoid crashing, I’ve never crashed more with a DJI drone than with the Air 2S.
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Aside from the additional obstacle avoidance sensors around its body, DJI has kept the design of Air 2S very similar to the Mavic Air 2 and it's every bit as easy to fly.
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In my opinion, the Air 2S is one of the best consumer drones DJI has made to date. Compact, user-friendly, and extremely versatile, the AIR 2S also has excellent image quality, solid low-light performance, and impressive battery life.
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The DJI Air 2S is a compact, lightweight camera drone that sits above the Mavic 3 Mini Pro, and below the flagship Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Classic.
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The Air 2S is the perfect combination of size, weight and features, making it ideal for people who like to take a drone with them on days out.
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The DJI Air 2S has a lot of fantastic specs and capabilities built into a neat, compact body that's small enough to fit in your hand when it's folded up. On the whole, it's a fantastic drone.
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The new DJI Air 2S is a sensational camera drone in every respect, from the quality of its ungraded camera to the plethora of advanced in-flight features.
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A fantastic camera, consistent and responsive flight controls and impressive object avoidance and tracking make this DJI’s best consumer drone to date.
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I think the Air 2S may be DJI’s best drone yet – an almost perfect balance of portability, performance and price that delivers stunning.
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DJI has once again delivered a great drone with the Air 2S. The drone flies very accurately and stable, the image quality is amazing for such a compact drone, and the drone is even more versatile than the Mavic Air 2.
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For me, this has become probably the ideal drone that I'm going to be taking with me everywhere because of what the functionality of the photos and the 10-bit color give me along with the flight time and the strength.
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Now I really think that DJI did a really good job with the 2S. And actually, if I could only have one of them, it would probably be the 2S, because it has a lot of the capability that the Pro has, but it still has more of the convenience factors of some of these smaller ones.
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Combines impressive image quality with intelligent flight features and compact portability, offering both enthusiasts and professionals an exceptional aerial photography experience at an affordable price.
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Put simply: if you care about eking out those last drops in video quality and know what you’re doing, the Air 2S is the obvious choice.
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In the end, DJI Air 2S is the drone that has it all; it's the one drone you need.
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That's something that, that has given me a few concerns, but overall, I believe that if you're shooting, if you're traveling light, if you're out there hiking, this is probably a better drone to get than the Mavic 2 Pro. It's really, really excellent.
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Buying a drone for more than the combined price of a PS5 and Xbox Series X is a lot, especially now with ever-increasing regulations against drones. But if you’re in the market for a drone that can do it all and is just the right size, you really can’t beat the DJI Air 2S.
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For content creators or if this is your first drone and you want the best quality video out of the gate, the Air 2S is a drone worth checking out.
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While the price is a commitment, we find this aircraft to be the perfect option for the advanced, general user.
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From the price of the drone to the build quality, to the specs, the Air 2S is quite a capable drone that is easy for a beginner to pick up while having enough pro features that it can be used professionally.
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In my opinion, dollar for dollar, this is still the best drone on the market that you can buy. [...] This drone has been absolutely incredible.
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The Air 2S is my absolute workhorse. [...] It is my absolute favorite drone.
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[I]t's when you hit the record button that the magic happens and you see how much better this drone is than its predecessor. The details and the color accuracy that this camera provides is quite impressive [...]
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After using the DJI Air 2S for a couple of days and re-watching and editing the footage, I'm just blown, the quality delivered is much better than I expected.
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Now, if you take away my complaints about the price and just look at the drone itself, well then, my god, this is the best drone on the market by DJI.
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All in all, the DJI Air 2S drone is what ambitious aerial videographers and photographers and Content creators have been waiting for the drone. [...] This is the drone I have personally been waiting for, my absolute favorite in 2021.
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The firmware update has saved this drone, honestly.
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The Air 2S is exactly what most people are looking for in a drone. It’s easy to fly, it can be fast or cinematic, the 5.4K video is excellent and looks amazing, and it’s a portable drone to take with you on adventures, or out to your nearby park.
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These MasterShots are absolutely brilliant for some fast and easy content for social media.
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I would say they look pretty identical other than the fact that you're getting that crop. [...] Really, this is the best drone you can get if you want to do aerial photography from DJI.
