DJI Air 2S - Better than the Mavic 3 Classic?

Is the Air2S dead with the Mavic 3 Classic just coming out? Well, check for yourselves, specs, photo comparison, and video comparison. The most standardized and accurate comparison test you will see!

00:00 Introduction
00:22 Specs & Camera
05:42 Price
06:52 Photo Comparison
10:23 Video Comparison

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The Mavic 3 Class vs the Air 2S… Which should you get?

Let’s first talk about the kits and pricing. Mavic 3 Classic is available in a number of kits, including without a controller, with the RC-N1, and the DJI RC. Prices vary for each kit, starting out at 1469 for the drone only, 1599 for the RC-N1 kit, and 1749 for the DJI RC Kit. The fly more kit also comes in two varieties, one with a shoulder bag and one with the backpack. These kits will put you back 599 and 649 respectively.

The Air 2S comes in two combos, the base aircraft combo and the fly more kit. The base kit is 999 on DJI’s website, while the fly more combo runs 1299.

So the Mavic 3 classic is more expensive but is it worth it?

Let’s talk about specs! The Mavic 3 classic has micro 4/3 sensor, variable aperture f/2.8-f/11, is capable of 20 MP photos, 5.1K50P video, uses O3+, and has a 46 minute flight time. The Air 2S has a 1” sensor, fixed aperture at f/2.8, is capable of 20 MP photos, 5.4K30P video, uses O3, and has a max flight time of 31 minutes.

A quick note about O3 and O3+… O3 transmits 1080P 30fps, while O3+ is 1080P 60 fps.

Let’s look at some comparative images from our camera chart.
So which is right for you? The Air2S is less expensive, but has a smaller camera and has a shorter flight time. For entry level into the drone world, the Air 2S is hard to beat. It’s pretty cheap, still packs a good punch, great sensor size, and awesome utility. The Mavic 3 Classic could be an excellent upgrade or addition to your fleet if you’ve already got an Air 2S or are looking to start a business.

As for the camera comparison, we can’t make that decision for you. Which do you like more? Let us know in the comments and we’ll see you in the next video.

[KeyPointProductionsVA]

I appreciate that you wanted to compare the apertures the same because of the fixed on air 2s, but the air 2s has been configured for its best aperture which happens to be 2.8, if the Mavic 3 classic is optimal at 5.6 or 6, then you should compare at its best aperture as well. Just a thought I have

[DronePsyche]

The difference in video quality over the last 3-4 years is so negligible that I can't justify spending thousands more for the latest and greatest. The incremental improvements from companies like DJI and Apple are pitiful money grabs. Send a message to DJI and the likes that you want more improvements for your dollar by not running out and buying a new drone every 6 months. Save your money for when video quality and features are leaps and bounds above what currently exists. As it stands, they aren't leaps and bounds. Fly what you have and more importantly, learn how to fly better and how to get the best out of your existing cameras.

[konfuzed]

An interesting comparison would be “best” results possible on the M3C vs best on Air2S…rather than matching aperture

[gcarmichael]

I think a test showing the best video and best photo each can do given the tools each has built into them might be a better representation of their capabilities.

[fabelhaftesweinlandpfalz]

I have both drones, and both are great! For me, the m3c is better due to the variable aperture, which makes a big difference shooting sunrise or sunset, because you get the most beautiful sun starburst seen on a drone. The bigger sensor (as shown in the comparison) will give you less noise in the blue hour on top. So if you´re a landscape photographer, the m3c will be the better choice, regardless if you take photos and/or video.

[kevenspargo]

I appreciate the apples to apples photo comparison showing both drones at the same aperture f/2.8. I would love to see another apples to apples comparison: the sharpest each one can be, showing the Air 2S at its only available aperture and the Mavic 3 at one of it sharpest apertures, around f/5.6. The video briefly mentions that the Mavic 3 can be sharper in that aperture range but doesn’t show examples to compare.

I think it would also be good to compare how clean twilight video is with each drone. With its new Night Mode, the Mavic 3 is cleaner by far.

[nedcook]

As a Mavic Air 2 owner I was seriously tempted to upgrade to the Mavic 3 Classic but in the end couldn’t justify the price and opted for a refurbished Air 2S to tide me over until the Mavic Air 3 releases. Not only is the drone itself higher, but the batteries are double the price, as is the DJI Refresh.

[davidgautier]

The difference is not negligible, but the viewer does not have a comparison view (in details furthermore) when he is watching to a video.
Save your money and improve your competence in realisations and post production, you will have better results than if you expect better result just by buying a mavic 3 😉

[itsthehumidityyall]

I have an Air 2 and a 3 Classic. I love them both. Each has a purpose.

[Bluzin]

NOPE! Air 2S reigns supreme! Best bang for the buck. I think a lot of the shots looked better with the Air 2S but that aside, it's more about the price vs quality. The Mavic 3 Classic is just not that much better but quite a bit higher in price. Not to mention the batteries are a lot more expensive, care refresh is a lot more expensive. At that point if I wanted better than the Air 2S then I would buy a much more expensive one that's worth the extra money.

[camilocheryl]

I have both the air2s and mavic 3 classic. The Classic has tons of features vs my air2s.. worth every penny👍 its a no brainer to me..if you don’t own or had never tested a mavic 3 classic then your missing a lot i mean a lot of features that the air 2s lacks..just the long flight time alone is just awesome..i just got another battery and skipped the fly more to save money..

[thepoorboychannel]

I love my Air2s. If I was to go with a larger drone, I’d probably shoot for the Mavic Cine pro…not the classic. I think the price point for the air2 is spot on for a drone with a 1” camera sensor, so the mavic classic wouldn’t really be a big upgrade for me.
Now compare the Mavic Cine pro to the Mavic classic, and people would see what spending a little more could get you. Great video BTW.

[cliff.allister]

I think a fair comparison should also include what is the BEST quality each drone can produce and compare those! Here you compare the Air 2S in its best setting with the Mavic 3 Classic in "shackles". If you use each and every option the Mavic 3 offers in its settings I am sure the Air 2S can´t keep up in quality.

[russshanks]

Love my Air2S! Love your comprehensive review! Love your Part 107 course! Keep up the good work. I'm keeping my Air2S as my workhorse for now. Cost for a small operator are important.

[GKid]

Very well-done comparison! I would also love to see a comparison (when doing the resolution comparisons with the line charts) of what the Mavic 3 could have produced if the aperture was stopped all the way down. I know the ISO's might need to be tweaked to get it to work, but I'd love to see what's possible with the Mavic 3 that's not possible with the Air 2s?

[krissutherland]

I have the mini 3 pro which I like a lot, the quality of this drone is insane. The only downside is that it is more fragile and more sensitive for heavy wheater conditions. Therefore I decided to buy me a second drone, a bigger one. First I was looking for the mavic 3 classic, but at the end I took the Air 2S. The reason for this is that in my opinion the mavic 3 Classic is to big to carry it with you. And if I compare them, the Air 2S does it's job very well compared with the Mavic 3 classic.

[davidolmsted]

Not dead at all!
Air2s is the best bang for sure.

[colinmclean]

Air2s is very much alive. In the days of M2 Pro and Zoom, I used mainly my Mini 2 and i have both the Mavic 2 drones. Now I use my Air2s and Mini3 Pro and because I hardly used my M2 drones, I have not considered the M3.

[gdh]

Variable aperture IS a big deal. By shooting both at f2.8 you are dumbing down the Classic 3 and while that may be "apples to apples" it doesn't show the Classic 3 at it's best.

[BetterBizTech]

The new price on the air 2s plus the cost of the fly more combo along with being able to use 3rd party software makes me lean towards the Air 2S for now.