New 5.4k video drone from DJI, the Air 2S

19/4/2021

DJI has just announced the successor to its popular Mavic Air 2—with some significant camera upgrades. Like the Mini 2, DJI has seemingly decided to forgo the “Mavic” branding, opting for a shorter, to-the-point name.

But naming style aside, there are a number of improvements here, including a larger 20MP 1″ CMOS with 2.4μm pixels; in comparison, the Mavic Air 2 has a 1/2″ 48MP sensor. Meanwhile, DJI has also added obstacle sensors on the Air 2S to improve autonomous flying, and the new sensor can even capture video at 5.4K resolution. This resolution is only supported at 24, 25, and 30fps, although you can still shoot video at 60fps at 4K resolution. Additionally, the Air 2S also supports 4X digital zoom at 4K 30fps, 6X at 1080p 60fps, and 8X at 1080p 30fps, while video is now captured at an improved 150Mbps.

Something worth noting is that there is now 8GB of onboard storage, while the Air 2S is now slightly heavier than its predecessor—with a reduced maximum flight time of 31 minutes. This is a marginal difference, which is perhaps influenced by the increased weight (probably due to the upgraded components), but again, something to note. But you still get obstacle avoidance from four sides (forwards, backwards, downwards, upwards), although there are no sensors here for left/right directions.

As expected, we’re also seeing DJI’s three-axis mechanical gimbal for stabilisation here, and you can choose to record in H264 or H265 format. Three colour profiles are available: Normal (8-bit), D-Log (10-bit), and HLG (10-bit)—depending on your needs/wants. On the software side of things, DJI has included a SmartPhoto mode that supposedly uses deep learning to choose the best profile and settings for you, including HDR, Hyperlight, and Scene Recognition.

Four antennas, combined with DJI’s OcuSync transmission technology, offer a max distance of 12km—and the company says that this estimate is accurate even in areas with interference. APAS 4.0 has also been improved to offer a wider field-of-view to help avoid potential collisions, and the DJI Air 2S’ AirSense system also sends you a warning if there are nearby airplanes or helicopters. Other safety features such as the Return-to-Home functionality are available, while there is the GEO 2.0 geofencing system to help you avoid restricted locations (such as airports).

So, what do you think? The DJI Air 2S is already available now globally, although we have yet to receive local availability details for the Singapore market. However, official pricing is as follows: