The DJI Air 3S is the only drone I’d buy with my own money – here’s why it brings me unbridled joy

They say money can’t buy happiness, but it… Maybe buy one of best drones and it’s close enough. 2024 was full of new technology announcements, and DJI It was also a busy year. DJI Neo And DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro have been a big hit here at Tom’s Guide, and I recently had the opportunity to review the new DJI Air 3S.

The Air 3S is as close to perfect as a drone can get. Offers 4K video at 60 fps or 4K slow-motion video at 120 fps, plus the ability to record 10-bit D-Log M video, capture crystal clear, detailed photos with a dual camera system, and conquer obstacles with next-gen . Smart obstacle avoidance, there’s just too much to love about the Air 3S.

Flying DJI’s latest creation was so much fun that when I’m feeling down now, I take to the skies and it helps me a lot. If you’ve been thinking about buying a drone, you need the Air 3S—and here’s why.

Bird’s eye view

Dark gray DJI Air 3S drone.

(Image credit: Future)

Being able to see the world from above is a wonderful feeling. If you want to get a little more existential, you realize how tiny you are compared to everything else around you. We’re just on a rock floating in space. But on the other hand, it puts your problems into perspective, and sometimes it helps to take a step back, reevaluate, and tackle whatever you’re facing with fresh eyes. This is how I feel when I fly the DJI Air 3S.

DJI Air 3S: overhead shots – YouTube

Imagine seeing the world from the same perspective as a bird. It’s liberating, humbling, but also exhilarating. Considering how easy it is to control the Air 3S with the RC-2 controller, I was able to hold it in one place, press the right stick, and zoom out to the 120-meter altitude limit. You can be surprised in the frames above. The clips were shot in 4K at 60fps and I love how smooth they are. The Air 3S’s three-axis mechanical stabilizer ensures stability in all footage – it’s the secret weapon of aircraft operators so they can feel confident and fly with confidence.

Take your creativity to new heights

Panoramic image of Avoncliffe, UK, taken using a DJI Air 3S drone.

(Image credit: Nikita Achanta/Future)

Drones can allow you to unleash your creativity in ways you never thought possible, and the DJI Air 3S has tons of creative potential. You get two cameras: a 12MP/50MP wide-angle camera and a 48MP medium telephoto camera. Whatever shot you want, you’ll get it. You can shoot photos in RAW format for more creative freedom in post-processing, but even JPEG files created straight out of the camera are detailed and crystal clear. But you know the Air 3S photo mode that I like the most? Panorama.

The Air 3S shoots panoramas by stitching together 21 frames. All you need to do is position the drone in the sky and use the RC-2’s touch screen to toggle the panorama option. The drone will then start taking photos and you can see the progress on the controller. And, damn, the panoramas are detailed too. If you enlarge the photo above you will still see a lot of detail. The Air 3S captured the entire village of Avoncliffe in the UK and it’s some of the best photography I’ve ever taken – on any device.

DJI Air 3S: D Log M and Color Correction – YouTube

Aerial videographers will also appreciate the fact that you can shoot with 10-bit D-Log M or HLG profiles to preserve wide dynamic range, as the Air 3S is capable of shooting up to 14 stops of dynamic range. 10-bit video also means it can capture 1.07 billion individual colors. I love shooting in D-Log M because it means I can get creative with color grading in Adobe Premiere Pro, as you can see above. It’s also a fantastic creative outlet for hobbyists, and I’ve definitely noticed that I feel happier doing it.

Get on board!

Dark gray DJI Air 3S drone.

(Image credit: Future)

So you want to buy DJI Air 3S? Before you buy one, you need to do one very important thing: get your drone pilot’s license. Air 3S weighs 724g/25.5oz. Generally, drones weighing less than 249g/8.7oz can be flown without a license – depending on local laws – but different rules apply for heavier drones. For example, in the UK I had to take an online test to get Flyer ID and Operator ID from CAA before flying on the Air 3S and it cost me £11 (about $14). In the USA you will have to register with the FAAand with CASA in Australia. European countries will have their own laws too, so be sure to check online for an official source before you head out.

I also recommend downloading the DJI Fly app on Android or iOS Receive up-to-date information on local laws, no-fly zones and other flight restrictions.

I see green trees…

DJI Air 3S: Sample Video – YouTube

Of course, all this comes at a price. DJI Air 3S is not the cheapest and not the most expensive drone – it is the golden mean. It starts at US$1099 / £959 / AUD 1699 and goes until the very end US$1599 / £1439 / AUD 2429 for the Fly More combination. Personally? There is no other drone I would rather buy for my money.

Being in nature calms me, and being able to see our beautiful world from above makes me appreciate it even more. It’s also quite grounding and makes me want to see us care more about our planet. Seeing the trees sway, the water flow, and the swans watching their signets from such a unique perspective is powerful enough to move me to tears.

I was very lucky to be able to see the world around me in all its glory with the Air 3S. It has set the bar very high and truly is the new gold standard for drones.