Table Of Contents
What's New?!
When taking the DJI Air 2S vs Air 2, there are some nice upgrades and a few downgrades. Either way you’re getting one of the best all-in-one camera drones available. Take a look at the new features and the main differences, so you pick the perfect one for your needs:
DJI Air 2s vs Air 2: Key Specs
 DJI Mavic Air 2 |  DJI Mavic Air 2S | |
WEIGHT | 570 g | 595 g |
MAX FLIGHT TIME | 34 min | 31 min |
CMOS SENSOR | 1/2" | 1" |
PHOTO RES | 12 MP (and 48 MP single shot) | 20 MP |
VIDEO RES | 4k Ultra HD (60 fps max) | 5.4k |
LIVE VIEW RES | 1080p | 1080p |
AUTO FLIGHT MODES | QuickShots and FocusTrack | MasterShots, QuickShots, and FocusTrack |
TRANSMISSION DISTANCE | 7.4 miles (12 km) | 7.4 miles (12 km) |
SENSOR SYSTEM | Forward, Backward, and Downward (APAS 3.0) | Forward, Backward, Downward, and Upward (APAS 4.0) |
DJI Mavic Air 2
Pros
- Best-in-class max flight time (34 min)
- 1/2″ CMOS sensor (camera)
- 4K Ultra HD video resolution @ 60 fps max
- JPG + RAW dual image capture
- Special 48 MP Photographic mode
- 8K Hyperlapse mode upgrade
- Great 1080p live stream video quality with low latency
- GPS + GLONASS navigation and mapping
- Great handling and obstacle avoidance with 3-directional sensing (APAS 3.0)
- FocusTrack, Waypoint, and other automated flight modes
- Compact, folding design
- 8GB of internal storage
Cons
- Only 3-directional obstacle sensing (no upward)
- Not good control range in urban areas
- 8K is only available in single-shot and hyperlapse mode
- Only 1/2″ CMOS sensor (camera)
- No MasterShots
- No GALILEO (Only GPS + GLONASS)
DJI Air 2S
Pros
- Best-in-class 5.4K Ultra HD video
- ActiveTrack automated flight mode is greatly improved with the added sensors
- Huge 1″ CMOS 20 MP sensor (camera)
- 4x digital zoom @ 4K resolution
- JPG + RAW dual image capture
- Great 1080p live stream video quality with longer range and low latency (OcuSync 3.0)
- Long max flight time (31 min)
- GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO navigation and mapping
- Great handling and UPGRADED obstacle avoidance with 4-directional sensing (APAS 4.0)
- FocusTrack, Waypoint, and other automated flight modes
- MasterShots with 20+ templates to create cinematic videos ready to share
- Compact, folding design
- 8GB of internal storage
Cons
- Battery life is 3 minutes shorter than the Air 2
- 15 grams heavier than the Air 2
- Not good control range in urban areas
- MasterShots only available in 1080p max
Conclusion:
We Need More Power, Captain!
It was a bummer that they didn’t upgrade the battery, so you get at least the same amount of flight time as the Air 2. The upgraded camera and the additional sensors are mostly to blame for that.
Altogether, you’re only losing about 3 minutes of flight time, so the smarter flying and better camera quality is an easy trade. Also, if you get the Fly More Combo, it’s not as big of a deal because you’ll have 3 batteries total.
Clearer Shots
Besides the added weight and worse max flight time, almost every other change is an upgrade. The CMOS sensor on the camera doubled from 1/2″ to 1″ and the max video resolution got an upgrade from 4k to 5.4K. These changes alone are worth the upgrade if you’re looking to use the DJI Air 2S commercially.
NEW MasterShots
Whether you’re going to use it for business or casual, the new MasterShots feature on the Air 2S makes shooting and sharing as easy as pressing a button. No more waiting to get home to make a finished video with your shots.
MasterShots features 20+ cinematic video templates that you can preview and finalize on the fly. All you do is choose your subject, press start, and the DJI Air 2 auto-pilots through a 10-shot sequence.
After it’s done, the Air 2S returns to its starting position. That’s when it’s time for you to preview the shots in the templates. Once you’ve found the perfect cut, you can even share it right from within the DJI Fly app.
You Can't Go Wrong
The improvements from the first Mavic Air to the Mavic Air 2 were mostly upgrades to the aircraft, and not much on the camera. With the DJI Air 2s, the upgrades are a little of both.
If max flight time is a priority, the camera on the DJI Mavic Air 2 is perfect for any recreational use, and still good enough for light commercial usage. One of the best things is that you can get the Air 2 Fly More Combo for about the same price as the standard Air 2S kit.
If the camera is the main priority, the DJI Air 2S is a no-brainer. The new MasterShots and 5.4K video resolution are unmatched. Plus, the upgraded camera and sensor hardware leave plenty of room for additional improvements by way of software updates.
DJI Smart Controller
The DJI Smart Controller is around the same price the DJI Mavic Air 2S itself, so it may not seem practical. On the other hand, if you have (or plan to have) 2 or more drones that are OcuSync 2.0+ compatible, it’s worth the investment.
Besides the convenience of having a phone-free flying, you’ll also be able to fly all of your compatible drones with this one controller. Plus, there’s plenty of little luxuries, like quick auto-connect, VR goggle compatibility, and detachable control sticks for safe traveling.