DJI Air

Product brand

DJI Air is DJI’s compact foldable camera-drone series, developed for portable aerial photography and videography across consumer and commercial use cases.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

DJI Air is a family of compact, foldable quadcopter drones made by the Chinese technology company DJI. The series occupies a middle position within DJI’s consumer camera-drone portfolio: it is more capable and camera-focused than the lightweight Mini range, while generally being more portable and less specialized than higher-end Mavic models. Its primary uses include travel photography, landscape and architectural imaging, social-media video production, documentary work, inspection, and other personal or commercial aerial-content applications. The line began as the DJI Mavic Air, announced in January 2018 as a smaller and more portable development of the original DJI Mavic concept. Its design used arms and propellers that folded flush against the sides of the aircraft, helping create a compact package. The first Mavic Air weighed approximately 430 grams and combined a three-axis stabilized camera, 4K video recording, panorama capture, obstacle sensing, gesture-based SmartCapture controls, and a claimed maximum flight time of 21 minutes. This combination made the product accessible to users who wanted more imaging capability than a very small selfie drone but did not want to carry a larger professional aircraft. DJI substantially redesigned the series with the Mavic Air 2 in April 2020. The aircraft adopted a larger body inspired by the Mavic 2 family, replaced the original Wi-Fi transmission arrangement with OcuSync 2.0, and increased its claimed flight time to 34 minutes. Its camera supported raw photography, a high-resolution 48-megapixel shooting mode, HDR video, and Hyperlapse features. The aircraft also introduced APAS 3.0 obstacle-avoidance assistance. An ADS-B-based aircraft-awareness feature was planned for the model, although availability varied by market because of supply-chain disruptions during the COVID-19 period. In April 2021, DJI dropped the Mavic name from the next generation and introduced the DJI Air 2S. The Air 2S moved to a one-inch 20-megapixel camera sensor, supported 5.4K video and 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, and upgraded transmission to DJI’s O3 system. It also introduced or emphasized computational photography and automated creation features such as SmartPhoto, Hyperlapse, and MasterShots. APAS 4.0 and an expanded obstacle-sensing arrangement improved the model’s autonomous flight assistance, while ADS-B aircraft warnings were included as a standard safety feature for the product. The Air 3, released in July 2023, marked another major expansion of the series. It introduced a dual-camera gimbal comprising a wide-angle camera and a three-times telephoto camera. Both cameras used 48-megapixel, 1/1.3-inch stacked CMOS sensors. The aircraft became heavier than the Air 2S, but the larger battery increased the claimed maximum flight time to 46 minutes. DJI also introduced its O4 video-transmission system, with a claimed transmission distance of up to 20 kilometers under specified conditions. The Air 3 therefore broadened the series from a single-camera travel drone into a more flexible imaging platform capable of wide scenic views, compressed-perspective shots, portraits, and vehicle or architectural subjects. DJI announced the Air 3S on October 15, 2024. It retained the dual-camera concept but upgraded the primary wide-angle camera to a one-inch CMOS sensor and paired it with a 70 mm-equivalent medium telephoto camera using a 1/1.3-inch sensor. DJI positioned the Air 3S specifically for travel photography and nighttime imaging, adding nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, improved Smart Return to Home functionality, Free Panorama capture, and enhanced video and image processing. The aircraft weighs approximately 724 grams, offers a claimed 45-minute maximum flight time, and supports up to 20 kilometers of video transmission under DJI’s stated test conditions. The DJI Air brand is therefore defined by portability, stabilized aerial imaging, automated flight assistance, and progressi…

History

The DJI Air family developed from DJI’s effort to bring the portability of its folding Mavic aircraft to a broader group of aerial photographers and videographers. The first model, introduced as the DJI Mavic Air in January 2018, was conceived as a more compact alternative to the original Mavic. Its arms and propellers folded close to the aircraft body, reducing the space required for transport. At approximately 430 grams, it was substantially lighter than the Mavic Pro and combined a 12-megapixel camera, three-axis gimbal stabilization, 4K video, panorama capture, obstacle sensing, and gesture control. The product’s design and feature set emphasized convenience and approachability rather than professional cinema specialization. DJI’s second generation, the Mavic Air 2, was announced on April 27, 2020. It received a larger, more aerodynamic body with a folding arrangement visually related to the Mavic 2 Pro. The camera platform added raw-image support, a 48-megapixel high-resolution mode, HDR video, Hyperlapse, and slow-motion capabilities. DJI also increased battery capacity and claimed flight endurance to 34 minutes. The replacement of the original model’s Wi-Fi transmission system with OcuSync 2.0 was an important technical change, improving resistance to interference and extending the claimed transmission range. APAS 3.0 provided automated assistance around detected obstacles. Aircraft-awareness through ADS-B was associated with the model, but regional availability was inconsistent during the pandemic-related supply-chain disruption. On April 15, 2021, DJI introduced the Air 2S, a revision that removed the Mavic designation from the product name. The model’s most important change was its one-inch 20-megapixel camera sensor, which improved the series’ image-quality positioning and enabled up to 5.4K video recording. DJI also upgraded transmission to O3 and enhanced flight-assistance capabilities through APAS 4.0. The Air 2S added software-driven imaging modes including SmartPhoto, Hyperlapse, and MasterShots, reflecting the growing importance of computational photography and automated content creation in consumer drones. Its claimed maximum flight time was 31 minutes, slightly lower than the Mavic Air 2, largely as a tradeoff for the camera and systems package. The Air 3, introduced in July 2023, represented a broader redesign and a new imaging strategy. Instead of relying on a single camera, DJI placed two cameras on the gimbal: a wide-angle unit and a three-times telephoto unit. Both used 48-megapixel 1/1.3-inch stacked CMOS sensors. The telephoto camera gave users a different perspective for portraits, vehicles, buildings, and distant subjects without requiring the aircraft to fly as close to them. The Air 3 weighed 720 grams, heavier than the Air 2S, but its 4,241 mAh battery supported a claimed 46-minute flight time. O4 transmission increased the claimed range to 20 kilometers in suitable conditions. The design also moved visually closer to DJI’s Mavic 3 Pro generation. DJI announced the Air 3S on October 15, 2024. The new aircraft preserved the Air 3’s dual-camera approach while upgrading its primary camera to a one-inch CMOS sensor and using a 70 mm medium tele camera for the second lens. DJI described the aircraft as a travel-photography platform and added features aimed at challenging lighting and navigation conditions. These included nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, improved Smart Return to Home behavior, Free Panorama capture, and image-processing improvements. The Air 3S weighs about 724 grams and has a claimed maximum flight time of 45 minutes. DJI’s official materials specify 4K/60 HDR video, up to 14 stops of dynamic range for supported imaging modes, and up to 20 kilometers of video transmission under controlled conditions. The product family has also had a licensed derivative: Cogito Tech has been reported as producing the Specta Air in Malaysia. This derivative is associated with the Air 3 design and is distinct from the DJI-branded product itself. Across its generations, the Air series has moved from a small single-camera folding drone toward a more sophisticated dual-camera aircraft while retaining its central identity as a portable, general-purpose aerial imaging platform. The series remains in production as of the latest available reference material, with the Air 3S serving as its newest identified generation.

2024
Air 3S launched
[4]DJI Air 3S Product Announcementdji.com
The Air 3S upgraded the main camera to a one-inch sensor and added nightscape obstacle sensing, Free Panorama, and enhanced return-to-home functions.
2023
Air 3 introduces dual cameras
[2]DJI Air 3 Specificationsdji.com
The Air 3 added wide-angle and three-times telephoto cameras, O4 transmission, and a claimed 46-minute flight time.
2021
Air 2S replaces the Mavic Air naming
[10]Air 2S replaces the Mavic Air namingdji.com
DJI launched the Air 2S with a one-inch camera, 5.4K video, O3 transmission, APAS 4.0, and MasterShots.
2020
Mavic Air 2 introduced
[1]DJI Airen.wikipedia.org
The Mavic Air 2 brought a redesigned body, OcuSync 2.0, a 48-megapixel shooting mode, APAS 3.0, and a claimed 34-minute flight time.
2018
Mavic Air announced
[1]DJI Airen.wikipedia.org
DJI announced the first Mavic Air as a compact, foldable development of the Mavic camera-drone platform.

Products and positioning

Portable mid-range and upper-mid-range camera drones combining foldable designs, stabilized imaging, automated flight features, obstacle sensing, and long-range digital video transmission for travel, creative, and light commercial use.

Compact foldable camera drone · 2018
DJI Mavic Air
The original Air-series aircraft, announced in January 2018. It used a compact flush-folding design, a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS camera on a three-axis gimbal, Wi-Fi transmission, obstacle sensing, gesture-based SmartCapture, and a claimed maximum flight time of 21 minutes. It was positioned as a highly portable alternative to larger Mavic models.
Foldable camera drone · 2020
DJI Mavic Air 2
Introduced in April 2020, the Mavic Air 2 used a larger redesign, a 48-megapixel 1/2-inch camera platform, raw-photo support, HDR and Hyperlapse modes, OcuSync 2.0 transmission, APAS 3.0 obstacle assistance, and a 3,500 mAh battery with a claimed 34-minute maximum flight time. ADS-B availability varied by region.
Advanced compact camera drone · 2021
DJI Air 2S
The Air 2S was announced in April 2021 as the successor to the Mavic Air 2 and the first major Air model without the Mavic name. It featured a 20-megapixel one-inch CMOS camera, up to 5.4K video, O3 transmission, APAS 4.0, aircraft-awareness through ADS-B, SmartPhoto, Hyperlapse, and MasterShots. Its claimed maximum flight time was 31 minutes.
Dual-camera foldable drone · 2023
DJI Air 3
Released in July 2023, the Air 3 introduced the series’ dual-camera architecture. Its wide-angle and three-times telephoto cameras each used a 48-megapixel 1/1.3-inch stacked CMOS sensor. The aircraft adopted O4 video transmission, a larger 4,241 mAh battery, and a claimed maximum flight time of 46 minutes. It broadened the line’s creative uses by offering both expansive and compressed-perspective imaging.
Dual-camera travel-photography drone · 2024
DJI Air 3S
Announced on October 15, 2024, the Air 3S is the latest identified Air-series generation. It combines a one-inch CMOS primary wide-angle camera with a 70 mm medium tele camera, supports 4K/60 HDR video, and adds nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, Free Panorama, enhanced Smart Return to Home, and improved low-light imaging. DJI specifies a 724-gram takeoff weight and a claimed maximum flight time of 45 minutes.
Licensed derivative of Air 3 · 2024
Specta Air
Specta Air is a licensed derivative associated with the Air 3 and produced in Malaysia by Cogito Tech. Reference material describes substantial similarities to the DJI Air 3 in hardware, software, performance, and video transmission, although the product is marketed under the Specta name rather than DJI.

Controversies

Licensed Specta Air copy raises questions over DJI technology
Source

2024Air 3S: Chase the View
Global
The Air 3S campaign positioned the drone as a travel-photography tool capable of capturing landscapes, portraits, architecture, and nighttime scenes using a one-inch primary camera, a medium tele camera, Free Panorama, and nightscape sensing.
Outcome. Presented the Air 3S as the most camera-advanced and low-light-capable Air-series model identified in the source material.
Source
2023Air 3 launch campaign
Global
DJI presented the Air 3 as a dual-primary-camera drone, highlighting the creative flexibility of wide-angle and three-times telephoto perspectives together with longer endurance and O4 transmission.
Outcome. Expanded the series from a single-camera travel drone into a more versatile two-camera imaging platform.
Source
2021Air 2S launch campaign
Global
The Air 2S launch emphasized the combination of a one-inch camera sensor, high-resolution video, intelligent shooting modes, and upgraded obstacle sensing.
Outcome. Repositioned the renamed Air series toward higher image quality and more automated creation tools.
Source
2018Mavic Air launch campaign
Global
DJI launched the Mavic Air around the proposition of bringing foldable, stabilized aerial photography into a smaller and more travel-friendly form factor.
Outcome. Established the Air family as DJI’s compact middle-tier camera-drone line.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Upgrade the Air 3S primary camera and night-flight assistanceGeneration change
Background
DJI’s next Air generation focused on improving image quality, dynamic range, low-light performance, and operational awareness while retaining the dual-camera concept.
Action taken
Launched the Air 3S with a one-inch primary camera, a 70 mm medium tele camera, nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, Free Panorama, and enhanced Smart Return to Home.
Aftermath
Positioned the Air 3S as a travel-oriented advanced camera drone and the newest identified generation of the Air family.
Source
2023
Adopt a dual-camera system for Air 3Generation change
Background
DJI aimed to give a portable drone more compositional flexibility without requiring users to choose between separate aircraft or interchangeable lenses.
Action taken
Introduced wide-angle and three-times telephoto cameras, O4 transmission, and a larger battery in the Air 3.
Aftermath
The Air series gained a broader creative and commercial use case, including portrait, vehicle, architecture, and distant-subject imaging.
Source
2021
Drop the Mavic name and emphasize the Air identityStrategy
Background
DJI used the Air 2S generation to distinguish the series from the broader Mavic naming structure while upgrading its imaging and sensing systems.
Action taken
Released the Air 2S with a one-inch sensor, O3 transmission, APAS 4.0, and automated imaging modes.
Aftermath
The Air name became the primary identity for subsequent generations, including Air 3 and Air 3S.
Source
2020
Redesign the Mavic Air as Mavic Air 2Generation change
Background
The first-generation aircraft prioritized extreme compactness, while DJI sought greater imaging performance, endurance, and transmission reliability in the next generation.
Action taken
Introduced a larger redesigned aircraft with OcuSync 2.0, a higher-resolution camera platform, APAS 3.0, and a larger battery.
Aftermath
Moved the Air line closer to the capabilities and visual language of DJI’s larger Mavic products.
Source
2018
Launch a smaller Mavic-derived camera droneProduct launch
Background
DJI sought to make the Mavic concept more portable while retaining stabilized aerial photography, foldability, and intelligent flight features.
Action taken
Introduced the Mavic Air with a compact flush-folding design, three-axis gimbal, obstacle sensing, and gesture control.
Aftermath
Created the Air family as a distinct compact camera-drone line within DJI’s consumer portfolio.
Source

Sources11 sources

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