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Deal.ai › Compare

DJI Air 3S vs DJI Mavic 4 Pro

The Mavic 4 Pro is the better drone for serious photographers and videographers: a 4/3 Hasselblad main camera, three focal lengths, 360° gimbal and 51 minutes of flight. The Air 3S is the smarter pick for most hobbyists: lighter at 724 g, easier to carry and fly, with a 1-inch main sensor, LiDAR-assisted sensing and 45 minutes. Owners rate the Mavic 4 Pro higher (4.7 from 402 ratings vs 4.2 from 28), but it weighs 1,063 g and is a bigger, more demanding aircraft.

  • Choose the DJI Air 3S if you want a lighter, simpler drone with a 1-inch main camera, dual lenses and long flight time for travel and everyday aerial shots.
  • Choose the DJI Mavic 4 Pro if image quality and lens range matter most and you will use the 4/3 Hasselblad sensor, 168mm tele and 360° gimbal for photo or video work.

Prices

  • DJI Air 3S: $1,039.00 at DrDrone.ca (last seen Nov 7)
  • DJI Mavic 4 Pro: $1,580.00 at King of Hobby Deals (last seen Oct 31)
  • Difference: the DJI Air 3S is $541.00 cheaper than the DJI Mavic 4 Pro at the latest prices (Oct 31 and Nov 7)
DJI
DJI Air 3S

DJI Air 3S
4.2(28 ratings)
$1,039.00at DrDrone.caChecked Nov 7
See all prices and details
Visit DrDrone.ca
Pros
  • Light enough to carry on hikes and trips
  • 1-inch main sensor with 50MP stills
  • Dual cameras cover wide and medium tele
  • Up to 45 minutes per battery
  • Forward LiDAR helps in low light
Cons
  • No long telephoto lens
  • 4K video ceiling, no 6K
  • Fewer owner ratings to judge from
  • Smartphone controller means using your phone as the screen
DJI
DJI Mavic 4 Pro

DJI Mavic 4 Pro

4.7(402 ratings)
$1,580.00at King of Hobby DealsChecked Oct 31
See all prices and details
Visit King of Hobby Deals
Pros
  • 4/3 Hasselblad sensor with 100MP stills and 15.5 stops dynamic range
  • Three lenses from 28mm to 168mm
  • 360° gimbal with upward tilt for creative angles
  • Up to 51 minutes of flight
  • 512GB onboard plus microSD to 1TB
Cons
  • Heavier at 1,063 g, so less casual to carry
  • Bigger body and higher demands on the pilot
  • More aircraft than most hobbyists need

What separates them

DJI Air 3SDJI Mavic 4 Pro
Main camera sensor50MP 1-inch CMOS100MP 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad
Lens rangeTwo cameras: wide plus 48MP medium teleThree cameras: wide, 70mm medium tele and 168mm tele
Top video4K/120p, 4K/60p HDR6K/60p HDR, 4K/120p on the main camera
Gimbal3-axis with vertical shooting360° Infinity gimbal, tilts up to 70°
Flight timeUp to 45 minutesUp to 51 minutes
Takeoff weight724 g1,063 g
Obstacle sensingOmnidirectional vision plus forward LiDAROmnidirectional sensing with 0.1-lux Nightscape
Controller and storageSmartphone controller (RC-N3), microSD up to 512GB7-inch Mini-LED screen controller, 512GB onboard, microSD up to 1TB

Price history

$2,502.90$1,039.00
Oct 29Nov 14
  • DJI Air 3S: lowest $1,039.00 on Nov 7 at DrDrone.ca; $1,099.00 on Nov 14.
  • DJI Mavic 4 Pro: lowest $1,580.00 on Oct 31 at King of Hobby Deals; $2,059.00 on Nov 14.

Prices at every store

DJI Air 3S

  • DrDrone.caNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,039.00Checked Nov 7
    Visit DrDrone.ca
  • Unmanned CanadaNew

    Availability unknownMade for another market

    $1,052.00Checked Nov 13
    Visit Unmanned Canada
  • heliguy.comNew

    Availability unknownShips from abroad · duties may apply

    $1,092.20Checked Nov 7
    Visit heliguy.com
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $1,099.00Free shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit Amazon

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • PayMore AlgonquinCheck price at PayMore Algonquin

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All 18 stores and price history →

DJI Mavic 4 Pro

  • bhphotovideo.comNew

    In stock

    $2,059.00Free shippingChecked 1 h ago
    Visit bhphotovideo.com
  • King of Hobby DealsNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,580.00Checked Oct 31
    Visit King of Hobby Deals
  • Infinit Drones CorpNew

    Availability unknown

    $2,038.57Checked Oct 31
    Visit Infinit Drones Corp
  • AdoramaNew

    Availability unknown

    $2,059.00Checked 7 h ago
    Visit Adorama

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • eBayCheck price at eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 41 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecDJI Air 3SDJI Mavic 4 Pro
With CameraYesYes
ColorBlack, GrayBlack
Weight724 g takeoff weight1,063 g takeoff weight
Videoup to 4K/120p, 4K/60p HDRup to 6K/60p HDR, 4K/120p on the main camera
Gimbal3-axis mechanical, with vertical shootingInfinity gimbal, 360-degree rotation, tilts up …
Flight timeup to 45 minutes51-Min Flight Time
Obstacle sensingomnidirectional vision with forward LiDAR0.1-Lux Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sen…
Battery TechnologyLi-IonLi-Ion
Capacity Memory Card (max) (GB)5121000
Video FeaturesSlow Motion, Video RecordingVideo Recording
FPS Video (max)120.060.0
Megapixels (MP)50.0100.0
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecDJI Air 3SDJI Mavic 4 Pro
Charge TypeUSB, Mains Built-in BatteryMains Built-in Battery
Storage FormatmicroSD, microSDXCmicroSDXC
Flight Time (max) (min)45.051.0
FeaturesUSB Connector, CameraMemory Card Reader, Camera
Battery Capacity (mAh)42766654
No. of Propellers (pcs)64
Max Resolution (Video Recording)3840x2160, 1920x10803840x2160
CommunicationGPS, Bluetooth, Wi-FiWi-Fi
Controller TypeSmartphone—

What reviewers say

DJI Air 3S

  • 4.2 / 528 ratings

Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 28 ratings. Owners treat the dual cameras and long flight time as the main reasons to buy, while the weight and registration rules come up as the trade-off.

What people mention
  • Image qualityPraisedOwners say the 1-inch main camera holds detail well and beats the Air 3 in low light.
  • Tele cameraPraisedThe second camera is called genuinely useful for compressing landscapes and framing people from a distance.
  • BatteryPraisedFlyers report getting close to the claimed 45 minutes in calm conditions.
  • WeightCriticisedAt 724 g it crosses the 250 g line, so buyers note registration and licensing requirements.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro

  • 4.7 / 5402 ratings

Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 402 ratings, the Mavic 4 Pro is widely regarded as the best camera drone for photographers. Owners praise the image quality and flight time; the main complaints are price and weight.

What people mention
  • Image qualityPraisedOwners say the 100MP Hasselblad camera delivers detail and dynamic range well beyond earlier Mavic models.
  • Flight timePraisedPilots report getting close to the claimed 51 minutes in calm conditions.
  • Triple cameraPraisedThe 70mm and 168mm cameras are seen as genuinely useful, not gimmicks.
  • PriceCriticised
Reviews
  • DJI Air 3S Review: One of the Best Drones You Can Still Buy in the US - DJI Air 3S Review: One of the Best Drones You Can Still Buy in the U

Questions and answers

Which is better for low-light photos?
The Mavic 4 Pro. Its 4/3 sensor is larger than the Air 3S's 1-inch sensor, and it adds 0.1-lux Nightscape sensing for dark scenes.
Do I need the Mavic 4 Pro's extra tele camera?
Only if you shoot distant subjects, portraits or compressed landscapes. The Air 3S's medium tele covers most everyday zoom shots.
Which is easier to travel with?
The Air 3S. At 724 g it is about 340 g lighter and folds smaller, so it fits carry-on bags more easily.
Is the Mavic 4 Pro worth stepping up to?
Yes if you sell photos or video, or want the 4/3 sensor, three lenses and 360° gimbal. For casual flying, the Air 3S covers the basics well.
Which flies longer?
The Mavic 4 Pro, at up to 51 minutes versus 45 minutes for the Air 3S. Real times are lower in wind or cold.
Does either need a phone to fly?
The Air 3S with the RC-N3 uses your smartphone as the screen. The Mavic 4 Pro's controller has a built-in 7-inch Mini-LED display.

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Buying guides that pick them

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actual_colorAir 3S Fly More Combo (RC 2)—
Intelligent Flight ModesActiveTrack, Altitude Mode, Waypoints, Obstacle…—
Voltage (V)17.2—
Manual Camera SettingsShutter, ISO, Focus, Aperture—
Camera FeaturesHDR, Single Shot—
Max Resolution (Video Streaming)1080p—
Speed Limit (max) (mph)30.2—
Width (")12.8—
Weight (oz)25.5—
Height (")4.2—
Length (")10.5—
Maximum transmission range1 ft—
Video streaming quality4K—
BrandDJI—
Is foldableN—
Field of view0 º—
Assembled product weight6.1 lb—
Data storage512 GB—
Memory card typeMicro SDHC, Micro SDXC—
Buyers call it expensive, even at discounted prices.