DJI Air 3S vs Mavic 4 Pro: what $1,600 extra actually buys you

The DJI Air 3S and Mavic 4 Pro are the two most capable consumer camera drones DJI currently makes. Both share significant technology: forward-facing LiDAR for nighttime obstacle avoidance, omnidirectional sensing, large main sensors, dual cameras, 10-bit colour profiles, and USB-C charging. Both are aimed at serious content creators rather than casual flyers. Both are genuinely excellent drones.

The difference between them is not really about which is better. It is about how much you need and how much you are prepared to spend.

Camera Systems

The Air 3S carries a dual-camera system. The primary wide-angle camera uses a 1-inch CMOS sensor capturing 50MP stills with a 24mm equivalent focal length. The second camera is a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capturing 48MP stills at a 70mm equivalent focal length, giving a 3x optical zoom. Both cameras record 4K/60fps HDR video with 14 stops of dynamic range, and the wide-angle camera adds 4K/120fps slow-motion capability.

The Mavic 4 Pro carries a triple-camera system mounted on its signature Infinity Gimbal. The primary wide-angle camera is a co-developed Hasselblad Micro Four Thirds sensor capturing 100MP stills at a 28mm equivalent focal length with an adjustable aperture from f/2.0 to f/11. This camera records 6K/60fps HDR video with up to 16 stops of dynamic range, a genuinely significant improvement over the Air 3S.

The second camera is a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor at 48MP with a 70mm equivalent focal length, recording 4K/60fps and 4K/120fps HDR video with 14 stops of dynamic range. The third camera is a 1/1.5-inch CMOS sensor at 50MP with a 168mm equivalent focal length, recording 4K/60fps and 4K/100fps HDR video with 13 stops of dynamic range.

The total zoom range of the Mavic 4 Pro runs from 1x to 24x across its three cameras. The Air 3S runs from 1x to 9x using optical and digital zoom across its two cameras. For photographers who need reach, the 168mm telephoto on the Mavic 4 Pro is in a different class entirely. For most travel and landscape creators, the 24mm and 70mm combination of the Air 3S covers the vast majority of real-world shooting situations.

All three cameras on the Mavic 4 Pro record 10-bit D-Log M and HLG colour profiles, as do both cameras on the Air 3S. RAW photo capture is available on both. The Mavic 4 Pro adds RAW burst stacking of up to five frames for improved image quality in challenging situations.

The Infinity Gimbal

The most visually distinctive feature of the Mavic 4 Pro is its ball-mounted 360-degree Infinity Gimbal, replacing the traditional hanging gimbal used in every previous Mavic. The gimbal rotates a full 360 degrees and tilts up to 70 degrees upward, enabling shots that would be impossible with a conventional three-axis gimbal: straight up at a cliff face or building, sideways through a canyon, or in true vertical orientation for social media without compromising image quality or stability.

The Air 3S uses a conventional three-axis mechanical gimbal with the standard operating range of its class. It is a well-engineered implementation that delivers stable, smooth footage under normal flying conditions, but it cannot match the creative flexibility of the Mavic 4 Pro’s spherical design.

For creators who shoot primarily horizontal landscape and cinematic footage, the conventional gimbal of the Air 3S is entirely adequate. For those who want to explore unconventional angles, shoot vertical content at full quality, or film architecture from below, the Infinity Gimbal is a genuinely new capability rather than an incremental improvement.

Obstacle Avoidance

Both drones feature forward-facing LiDAR sensors for nighttime obstacle detection, omnidirectional vision sensing, and Smart RTH (Return to Home) that memorises the flight path in well-lit conditions for safe return even without GPS. This shared capability is one of the most significant advances in the Air 3S over its predecessor and remains a meaningful advantage over drones in lower price tiers.

The Mavic 4 Pro extends this with six high-performance low-light fisheye sensors providing 0.1-lux sensitivity and dual processors, enabling omnidirectional obstacle avoidance at speeds up to 40mph in low-light conditions. It can detect objects as small as 2cm and continues obstacle avoidance below 0.1 lux using its forward LiDAR alone. For pilots who fly frequently at night or in challenging environments, the Mavic 4 Pro’s sensing system is more capable.

The Air 3S uses an omnidirectional binocular vision system supplemented by forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensor, with effective sensing at flight speeds up to 33mph. For daytime flying and modest nighttime use, its obstacle avoidance is very capable. For extended nighttime flights in complex environments, the Mavic 4 Pro has the edge.

Flight Time and Transmission

The Air 3S achieves up to 45 minutes of flight time, with a maximum hovering time of 41 minutes. Video transmission uses DJI O4 technology delivering 1080p/60fps at up to 20km range.

The Mavic 4 Pro achieves up to 51 minutes of flight time and uses DJI O4+ transmission, delivering 10-bit HDR video at up to 30km range. The O4+ system also includes improved anti-interference algorithms for urban environments and multi-drone operation optimisation. Both the transmission range and the live feed quality represent a meaningful upgrade over the Air 3S for operators who push the boundaries of distance or need high-quality live monitoring.

Weight and Portability

The Air 3S weighs 724 grams, comfortably within the range where it folds to a compact package suitable for travel in a small camera bag or dedicated case. It is regulated as a sub-1kg drone in most markets, which carries implications for where it can be flown under current regulations.

The Mavic 4 Pro weighs approximately 1,063 grams. The additional weight comes from the larger sensors, the Infinity Gimbal mechanism, the additional camera, and the more capable battery. It is not a dramatically larger drone physically but it tips into the over-1kg regulatory bracket in most jurisdictions, which typically means more restrictive operating conditions, additional registration requirements, or mandatory pilot licensing depending on the market.

For pilots who prioritise portability and lighter regulatory burden, the Air 3S’s weight advantage is a practical consideration beyond simple convenience.

Subject Tracking

Both drones support DJI’s subject tracking system, but the Mavic 4 Pro’s implementation is significantly more advanced. The Air 3S supports standard ActiveTrack for person and subject tracking.

The Mavic 4 Pro includes ActiveTrack 360, an updated system that makes autonomous navigation decisions rather than simply following a programmed subject. It maintains tracking even when the lower half of a subject is partially obscured, and detects vehicles from up to 200 metres, enabling automotive cinematography at speeds up to 40mph. For creators who film moving subjects, the improvement in tracking reliability and vehicle detection range is one of the most practically useful advances in the Mavic 4 Pro.

Comparison Table

Feature	DJI Air 3S	DJI Mavic 4 Pro
US availability	Yes	No (currently)
Weight	724 g	1,063 g
Primary sensor	1-inch CMOS, 50MP	4/3-inch Hasselblad CMOS, 100MP
Primary focal length	24mm	28mm
Primary aperture	Fixed f/1.7	Variable f/2.0-f/11
Primary video	4K/120fps, 14 stops dynamic range	6K/60fps, 16 stops dynamic range
Secondary camera	1/1.3-inch, 48MP, 70mm, 4K/60fps	1/1.3-inch, 48MP, 70mm, 4K/120fps
Third camera	None	1/1.5-inch, 50MP, 168mm, 4K/100fps
Gimbal	3-axis mechanical	360-degree Infinity Gimbal
Upward tilt	Standard	Up to 70 degrees
LiDAR	Forward-facing	Forward-facing
Low-light sensing	Omnidirectional	0.1-lux omnidirectional + dual processors
Night obstacle speed	33 mph	40 mph
Flight time	45 min	51 min
Transmission	O4, 20 km, 1080p/60fps	O4+, 30 km, 10-bit HDR
Subject tracking	ActiveTrack	ActiveTrack 360
Vehicle detection	Standard	Up to 200 m

Pros and Cons

DJI Air 3S — Pros

• Available in the United States and all global markets
• Significantly lower price across all kit configurations
• Lighter weight with simpler regulatory implications in most markets
• 1-inch main sensor with excellent image quality and 14 stops dynamic range
• Forward-facing LiDAR for nighttime obstacle avoidance
• 45 minutes flight time
• 4K/120fps slow-motion capability on main camera
• Excellent portability for travel

DJI Air 3S — Cons

• Dual camera only, no long telephoto
• Conventional three-axis gimbal, no upward tilt beyond standard range
• O4 transmission limited to 1080p/60fps live feed
• 4K maximum video resolution on primary camera
• Standard ActiveTrack without 360-degree autonomous tracking
• 20km maximum transmission range

DJI Mavic 4 Pro — Pros

• Triple camera system with 28mm, 70mm, and 168mm coverage
• 100MP Hasselblad main sensor with 16 stops dynamic range
• 6K/60fps HDR video
• 360-degree Infinity Gimbal with 70-degree upward tilt
• 0.1-lux omnidirectional obstacle avoidance at higher speeds
• 51 minutes flight time
• O4+ transmission up to 30km with 10-bit HDR live feed
• ActiveTrack 360 with autonomous navigation decisions
• Vehicle tracking up to 200 metres

DJI Mavic 4 Pro — Cons

• Not currently sold in the United States
• Significantly higher price at every kit level
• Heavier, with implications for regulatory classification
• More complex to carry and travel with
• Substantially larger investment to replace or insure

Who Should Buy Which

The DJI Air 3S is the right choice for the majority of serious drone operators. At roughly half the price of the Mavic 4 Pro, it delivers image quality that is genuinely excellent for landscape photography, travel content, documentary work, and real estate. The 1-inch main sensor is a substantial step up from smaller-sensored drones in lower price tiers, the LiDAR-equipped night flying capability is genuinely useful, and the dual camera system with 24mm and 70mm coverage handles most real-world shooting situations. For US-based buyers it is currently the only choice of the two. For international buyers who do not need a third telephoto camera or the Infinity Gimbal’s creative flexibility, it is the smarter value proposition.

The Mavic 4 Pro is the right choice for creators who are genuinely limited by what the Air 3S can do. If you need 6K video for large-format delivery or cinema-grade post-production workflows, the Mavic 4 Pro’s primary camera is meaningfully better. If you regularly film architecture, rock faces, or tall subjects that require upward-tilting shots, the Infinity Gimbal opens creative possibilities that no other folding consumer drone currently offers. If you do automotive cinematography or fast-moving subject work, the improved ActiveTrack 360 and vehicle detection range are practical rather than theoretical advantages. If you are outside the United States and can buy one, and the budget is available, it is a significant step forward in the category.

For most buyers, most of the time, the Air 3S does the job extremely well at half the price. The Mavic 4 Pro is a remarkable drone, but the Air 3S is the more rational purchase for the vast majority of use cases.