DJI · Updated June 2026
DJI Air 3: price, specs & release date
DJI Air 3, released 2023-07. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: dji.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The DJI Air 3 is listed at $999 on dji.com as of 2026-06-27, #11 cheapest of 18 camera drones (median $759); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 41/100 pay-blind standing, #11 of 19 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Dual primary cameras (24mm wide + 70mm 3x tele) with matched specs open new creative and framing options; Image quality is excellent for its class; DC Rainmaker rates it on par with the pricier Mavic 3 Pro (Engadget caveats it can trail the Mavic 3 Pro for pros).
- Skip if Fixed aperture on both lenses forces frequent ND-filter swaps for video is a dealbreaker.
Is the DJI Air 3 a good buy?
At $999, the DJI Air 3 is #12 cheapest of the 18 camera drones we track, where the median is $719. On the spec sheet, its obstacle sensing of 6-dir is the highest of the 13, its weight of 720 g is above the median of the 17, and its flight min of 46 is above the median of the 19.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 2
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 3
- Outlets on record2 tested · 1 mention-only
- 3
Two independent labs measured this product across 3 physical metrics — battery, range and real-world flight time. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the DJI Air 3
All three whitelisted hands-on reviews (TechRadar, DC Rainmaker, Engadget) of the 2023 DJI Air 3 survived verification. Every quote and measured value in the draft was confirmed as a literal match to the fetched source text, so no source was dropped. All three praise the dual 24mm/70mm matched-spec cameras, excellent image quality, the first-in-Air-series omnidirectional obstacle avoidance (APAS 5.0), and the O4 transmission's improved range. Recurring gripes are the fixed aperture forcing ND-filter swaps for video and cautious/hesitant tracking in dense trees. Real-world flight time of roughly 30-35 minutes (DC Rainmaker and Engadget) fell short of DJI's 46-minute claim, though TechRadar found that figure roughly accurate in calm conditions.
Based on 3 reviews · 2 lab-tested · 2023-07-25–2023-07-26
Tested by TechRadar, DC Rainmaker, Engadget
Consistently praised
- Dual primary cameras (24mm wide + 70mm 3x tele) with matched specs open new creative and framing options · 3 sources
- Image quality is excellent for its class; DC Rainmaker rates it on par with the pricier Mavic 3 Pro (Engadget caveats it can trail the Mavic 3 Pro for pros) · 3 sources
- First-in-Air-series omnidirectional obstacle avoidance (APAS 5.0) is a headline safety upgrade · 3 sources
- O4 transmission greatly improves range and signal reliability, aided by the RC 2's external antennas · 3 sources
- Improved battery life and wind resistance over the Air 2S predecessor · 3 sources
Commonly flagged
- Fixed aperture on both lenses forces frequent ND-filter swaps for video · 2 sources
- Real-world flight time (~30-35 min) falls short of the claimed 46 minutes · 2 sources
- ActiveTrack / obstacle avoidance is too hesitant or lags in dense trees · 2 sources
- No rotating gimbal for true vertical video (2.7K vertical is just a crop)
Where reviewers disagree Flight time is the main split: DC Rainmaker (30-35 min) and Engadget (~35 min) both fell well short of DJI's 46-minute claim in real use, whereas TechRadar said the 46-minute figure 'proven to be fairly accurate, provided you're cruising slowly on a windless day.'
The sources (3)
The image quality is nothing short of world leading for a drone
It's advertised at just under 27mph, and I've flown it in 35mph winds and captured stable footage
Fixed aperture is bad news for ND filter users
Real-world flight time (video recording), before forced landing around 10% battery: 30-35 min · RC-N2 controller low-signal onset range, clear/open conditions: 1,500-1,600 m
The imagery coming off the unit is incredibly good, and on par with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro in almost all my shots (and even better in a handful) – even if at lower than 5K resolutions.
The DJI Air 3 is simply far too conservative/hesitant around trees, and when it got within a few meters of any trees (or the ground), it would slow to the speed of a walk.
In most of my tests I was getting about 30-35 minutes of battery time before a forced landing around 10% battery remaining.
Real-world flight time, until return-to-home warning: ~35 min
DJI has another winner with the Air 3 thanks to the dual cameras.
In real-world use, we saw flight times of around 35 minutes before the return-to-home warning went off, depending on flying style and winds.
if you're chasing a mountain biker through the trees, it can lag a bit and the tracking can switch off without warning.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $999 US launch MSRP for DJI Air 3 with RC-N2 controller |
|---|---|
| Brand | DJI |
| Released | 2023-07 |
| Weight (g) | 720 |
| Camera (MP) | 48 |
| Max video | 4K@60fps |
| Flight min | 46 |
| Range km | 20 |
| Obstacle sensing | 6-dir |
| Sub250g | No |
Source: dji.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by pilotinstitute.com. DJI official specs page: weight 720 g, dual camera (1/1.3" CMOS 48 MP wide + 1/1.3" 12 MP tele); primary camera 48 MP. 4K/60fps max video. 46 min max flight, 20 km FCC (O4). 6-direction omnidirectional obstacle sensing. Released July 2023 at $999 US. The Air 3S (2024) is successor but the Air 3 remains widely sold and compared.
Is the DJI Air 3 worth it vs cheaper camera drones?
DJI Air 3 against its closest cheaper and pricier camera drones on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 18 ranked
| Product | Price | Weight (g) | Camera (MP) | Max video | Flight min | Range km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Air 3 this | $999 | 720 | 48 | 4K@60fps | 46 | 20 |
| DJI Mini 4 Pro | $759 | 249 | 48 | 4K@100fps | 34 | 20 |
| DJI Air 3S | $1099 | 724 | 50 | 4K@120fps | 45 | 20 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the DJI Air 3?
All three whitelisted hands-on reviews (TechRadar, DC Rainmaker, Engadget) of the 2023 DJI Air 3 survived verification. Every quote and measured value in the draft was confirmed as a literal match to the fetched source text, so no source was dropped. All three praise the dual 24mm/70mm matched-spec cameras, excellent image quality, the first-in-Air-series omnidirectional obstacle avoidance (APAS 5.0), and the O4 transmission's improved range. Recurring gripes are the fixed aperture forcing ND-filter swaps for video and cautious/hesitant tracking in dense trees. Real-world flight time of roughly 30-35 minutes (DC Rainmaker and Engadget) fell short of DJI's 46-minute claim, though TechRadar found that figure roughly accurate in calm conditions. Praised: Dual primary cameras (24mm wide + 70mm 3x tele) with matched specs open new creative and framing options; Image quality is excellent for its class; DC Rainmaker rates it on par with the pricier Mavic 3 Pro (Engadget caveats it can trail the Mavic 3 Pro for pros); First-in-Air-series omnidirectional obstacle avoidance (APAS 5.0) is a headline safety upgrade; O4 transmission greatly improves range and signal reliability, aided by the RC 2's external antennas; Improved battery life and wind resistance over the Air 2S predecessor. Flagged: Fixed aperture on both lenses forces frequent ND-filter swaps for video; Real-world flight time (~30-35 min) falls short of the claimed 46 minutes; ActiveTrack / obstacle avoidance is too hesitant or lags in dense trees; No rotating gimbal for true vertical video (2.7K vertical is just a crop); C1 European classification brings more flight restrictions than sub-250g minis. (From 3 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the DJI Air 3 cost?
The DJI Air 3 has a US price of $999 (US launch MSRP for DJI Air 3 with RC-N2 controller), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the DJI Air 3 compare on price?
At $999, the DJI Air 3 is #12 cheapest of the 18 camera drones we track, where the median is $719.
When was the DJI Air 3 released?
The DJI Air 3 was released 2023-07.
What are the DJI Air 3's key specs?
DJI Air 3 (DJI): weight g 720, camera mp 48, max video 4K@60fps, flight min 46, range km 20. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $999 at dji.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See DJI Air 3 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar camera drones
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