DJI Air 3S Drone Fly More Combo review

Have we ever noticed how certain gadgets make us feel both wildly competent and mildly ridiculous at the same time?

Why We Chose the DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo

We wanted a drone that could tag along on our trips without feeling like we’d adopted a small helicopter, and we wanted image quality that wouldn’t leave us apologizing in the captions. The DJI Air 3S Drone Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2 Screen Remote hit us with a checklist that felt suspiciously designed for our particular brand of optimism: dual cameras for different focal lengths, 48MP stills, 4K/60 HDR video, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and an advertised 46-minute maximum flight time. And then the bundle tossed in a waterproof backpack, a landing pad, a 128 GB Micro SD card, and a USB 3.0 card reader, as if daring us to run out of excuses.

We’ll say it up front: we’re smitten. Not because the drone turns us into instant professionals—it doesn’t—but because it makes the learning curve feel like a road trip with snacks. Everything needed to fly, shoot, and get our footage off the drone and into an edit is here. It’s the rare bundle that actually feels complete.

What’s in the “Massive Bundle” and Why It Matters

We’ve learned that drones are a lot like houseplants: the main thing is gorgeous, but the accessories are what keep it alive. This Fly More Combo gives us three batteries, a charging hub, spare props, cables, and the DJI RC 2 remote with the built-in screen. The expanded bundle layers on the 128 GB Micro SD card, a USB 3.0 card reader, a waterproof backpack, and a landing pad. It’s as if someone at DJI looked into our trunk and realized we’re the kind of people who would forget a card and try to land on gravel.

The landing pad is shockingly useful. It’s a little stage that tells the world, yes, this is intentional, and no, we’re not taking off from your flower bed. The backpack looks like it moonlights as a canoe—waterproof, organized, and reassuring when the sky threatens drama. We appreciate that the card and reader are included, too, because there’s nothing quite like composing a shot in our heads and then discovering we’re about to film on an empty stomach.

Setup and First Flight: Our Unvarnished Impressions

We’re generally allergic to setup. Give us anything with firmware and we will find a way to misunderstand it. That said, the Air 3S and the RC 2 remote made us feel like achievers. Charge the batteries in the hub, slot the microSD card, power up, and connect to Wi‑Fi for any firmware updates. The RC 2’s built-in screen means we’re not juggling phones, adapters, and unsettling Bluetooth negotiations in public. We turned everything on, did the obligatory update, and were airborne in minutes.

First liftoff gave us that odd little stomach plunge—a blend of anxiety and awe—because the drone slides into a hover with eerie composure. Controls are responsive but not twitchy. If we stop pushing a stick, it doesn’t panic. It just hangs there, like a zen hummingbird waiting for us to sort our feelings.

Our First “Oops” and What We Learned

We almost launched from a patch of crumbly dirt. The landing pad saved the day by preventing the gimbal from eating dust and the props from flinging pebbles into tomorrow. We also discovered the value of checking return‑to‑home altitude, especially near trees or a cliff. The omnidirectional obstacle sensing is excellent, but it’s not a mind reader; give it the right parameters and it behaves like a guardian angel instead of a confused cousin.

Dual Cameras and 48MP Still Photos: Where the Magic Starts

The Air 3 family’s signature trick is its dual-camera setup: a wide lens and a medium telephoto, roughly equivalent to 24mm and 70mm in full-frame terms. We love this. The wide lens captures sweeping landscapes; switch to the tele and suddenly we’re composing frames with a tighter, cinematic perspective—without flying dangerously close to that lighthouse we promised not to bother.

Stills at 48MP feel like a flex we don’t have to apologize for. We can crop in post without our images turning into impressionist paintings. Quick snaps taken mid‑walk now let us extract a story from the background, a little detail we didn’t realize we caught while trying not to step on our shoelace.

Color, Contrast, and Reality

Colors are lively without being cartoonish. HDR video at up to 4K/60 has that polished depth, where bright skies and shadowed ground can coexist in a frame without staging a fight. If we want a flatter, more gradable look, profiles like D-Log M and HLG are available, and suddenly we’re speaking in sentences we once only used while eavesdropping on editors. The Air 3S footage takes color correction well, so we can nudge it warm for sunsets or lean into cooler tones when we’re being contemplative next to a cold river.

Low Light: Reasonable with a Dash of Truth

Low light is where the Air 3S does a thoughtful job, though physics sets the terms. The smaller sensors do fine around twilight; later than that, we use a light touch with our expectations. Noise creeps in, but not in a way that ruins the story—more like background chatter at a party we’re still glad we attended.

Video Quality: 4K HDR at 60 fps and Footage That Behaves

The 4K/60 HDR video is the sweet spot for us. Motion is steady, pans look graceful, and the extra frames tame fast movement without turning everything into mush. The gimbal is as smooth as a good lie, and the footage is stable even in wind that makes our jacket flap. If we want slow motion, we drop to other settings, but 4K/60 with HDR gives us enough headroom to grade it to taste while keeping details intact.

We did notice that pressure changes and quick altitude shifts can make the gimbal do a little micro-adjustment dance, which is normal. Calibration cures most quirks. And while it’s not the drone for pitch-black night scenes, it’s more than capable of handling late golden hour, city twilight, and those cloudy days we keep pretending don’t look good on camera.

Flight Time: The “46-Minute” Promise in Real Life

Battery life is where this package earns its applause. Advertised at up to 46 minutes, we get something between 32 and 40 minutes in the real world, depending on wind and how aggressively we play director. We’ve trained ourselves to head home around the 25–30 minute mark, because the last thing we want is a dramatic ending. Three batteries in the Fly More Combo effectively mean an afternoon of flying, even if we’re prone to “just one more shot” behavior.

The Charging Hub That Actually Helps

The hub smart-charges the most full battery first, so we’re never standing around waiting to get from 14% to 15%. It rotates charge intelligently, and with a modest power bank we can extend an outing without locating an outlet that isn’t guarded by someone’s laptop and a passive-aggressive note.

Obstacle Sensing and Safety: We Try Not to Test It, But We Did

Omnidirectional obstacle sensing sounds like something a supercar would brag about, and it’s comforting when we’re threading through trees, skirting buildings, or backing away from a cliff like we’ve just remembered gravity. The Air 3S sees in all directions and applies avoidance that feels confident rather than panicked. It doesn’t lurch; it eases. That difference matters when our heart is already doing cardio.

The return‑to‑home logic is sound, too. We set a proper RTH altitude for the environment—higher for forests and urban spots—and the drone returns like a conscientious roommate who knows which door we forgot to lock. We still keep visual line of sight and follow local regulations, because the thrill of a perfect shot is fleeting, but fines are forever.

O4 HD Transmission: Clear, Strong, and Surprisingly Zen

The O4 transmission system, with its six-antenna array, gives us a stable 1080p/60fps live feed that’s crisp enough to actually evaluate focus and exposure rather than squinting and hoping. Range claims reach up to 20 km under ideal, interference-free conditions, though we keep flights within safe, legal limits and line of sight. The real win is resilience in noisy airspace—our feed stays clean even in places where Wi‑Fi networks multiply like rabbits.

The RC 2 Screen Remote: Why We Won’t Go Back

We’ve flown with phone-based remotes, and they’re fine. But the DJI RC 2 with its bright built-in screen is the moment we decided we like ourselves. There’s no fumbling with cables, no notifications, no low‑battery warnings from the wrong device. The RC 2 feels balanced in hand, the sticks are precise, and battery life typically carries us through multiple flights. The screen stays readable under sun that makes us reconsider SPF choices.

QuickShots, MasterShots, and Waypoints: The One‑Tap Confidence Boost

The “we meant to do that” features are plentiful. QuickShots automate cinematic moves—circles, orbits, dronies—so we can look cooler than our skill level justifies. MasterShots composes sequences that would otherwise involve asking a friend to hold our water while we make a spreadsheet. Waypoints let us program repeatable routes, which is ideal for time-lapses or return visits to the same scene across seasons. We use these tools less as crutches and more as baselines; they give us a known-good starting point, and then we add our peculiarities.

The Bundle Accessories: How Each Piece Earned Its Keep

We were ready to ignore half the accessories and then apologize later, but the kit has range:

• 128 GB Micro SD card: Fast enough for 4K/60 HDR without stuttering. We still format in-camera before each session.
• USB 3.0 card reader: Not glamorous, but it saves us time, and time is value when fingers are cold.
• Waterproof backpack: Compartmentalized, tough, and less awkward than it looks. It keeps moisture out and dignity in.
• Landing pad: Makes grass, gravel, and sand workable launch sites. Also tells passersby we are not launching from their dog’s favorite spot.
• Spare props: Sooner or later, a prop will meet something unfriendly. Knowing we can fix and go is oddly relaxing.

Quick Reference: Key Specs and Real‑World Notes

Because our brains like neat boxes, here’s a simple breakdown.

Feature	What the Drone Offers	How It Felt in Use	Our Tip
Cameras	Dual lenses (~24mm wide, ~70mm medium tele)	Framing options without risky flying	Assign a custom button to switch lenses fast
Stills	48MP photos	Crop‑friendly, detailed images	Shoot RAW+JPEG for flexibility
Video	Up to 4K/60 HDR	Smooth motion, great color headroom	Use D-Log M or HLG for grading latitude
Flight Time	Up to 46 minutes (advertised)	~32–40 minutes typical	Return at 25–30 minutes to be safe
Obstacle Sensing	Omnidirectional sensing	Confident avoidance; great in trees	Set RTH altitude before each flight
Transmission	O4 1080p/60 live feed	Stable in urban environments	Aim antennas; avoid standing behind metal
Remote	DJI RC 2 w/ integrated screen	No phone needed; bright and responsive	Keep screen brightness high in sun
Accessories	Backpack, pad, 128GB card, reader	Everything felt intentional and useful	Keep the pad in an outer pocket for speed

Image Quality, Examined With a Gentle Magnifying Glass

We’ve learned to judge image quality less by pixel-peeping and more by whether the footage makes us feel like lacing up and going again. On that front, the Air 3S gives us confidence. Edges are clean, the tele lens maintains sharpness without the softening we used to dread, and the color science is pleasing. Skin tones look human, skies aren’t electric blue unless we ask them to be, and foliage doesn’t turn into a watercolor when we pan.

Cropping the 48MP Stills

The 48MP mode is perfect for those times we get timid mid-flight and resist pushing closer. We shoot wide, then crop a second frame in post. It’s not exactly having a third lens, but it’s close enough that we keep finding new compositions after the fact—like discovering a second dessert hidden behind the first.

HDR Video That Behaves in Post

With HDR on, highlights remain civilized, and midtones hold texture. Grading is a joy, and we can push a look without the footage collapsing into banding or noise. For quick turnarounds, we use the standard profile and call it a day; for pieces we care about, we flip to D-Log M and put on our serious editing face.

Flight Characteristics: Smooth, Predictable, and a Little Brave

Stability in the air is excellent. Hovering feels locked. We’ve flown in wind that made our hats reconsider their relationship with our heads, and the drone maintained composure. It will drift, because physics insists, but the gimbal smooths the motion into something digestible. Fast stops are tidy, yaw is predictable, and the entire flight experience encourages a lighter touch on the sticks.

Noise and Etiquette

We try to be good neighbors. The Air 3S is not silent, but it is less obnoxious than older models. We launch away from crowds, keep an eye on wildlife, and try not to be the soundtrack for someone else’s picnic. The landing pad helps here—there’s something about a designated takeoff zone that signals we are responsible adults, even if we’re wearing mismatched socks.

Workflow: From Air to Edit Without the Tears

We’ve had gear that shot beautiful footage and then held it hostage. This kit is kinder. The 128 GB card is big enough for a day, the USB 3.0 reader is quick, and files transfer without drama. In the DJI app (on the RC 2), we can review clips, set basic parameters, and check histograms before we commit to a shot. Back at a laptop, we label folders, sip something warm, and pretend our organization was not invented five minutes ago.

We gravitate toward a simple sequence:

1. Format the card in-camera.
2. Shoot with consistent settings across a session.
3. Log our battery cycles in a note (we do this about 60% of the time; the other 40% we rely on a loving universe).
4. Transfer footage with the card reader.
5. Back up to a second drive, because we have learned the hard way.
6. Grade in D‑Log M when we want the extra depth, otherwise stick to HDR standard.

Comparison: Where the Air 3S Sits in DJI’s World

We like context, as long as it comes without snobbery. Here’s a quick, friendly comparison with peers we’ve used.

Model	Cameras	Stills	Video	Flight Time	Sensing	Who It Fits
DJI Air 2S	Single 1″ sensor, wide lens	20MP	Up to 5.4K/30	Up to ~31 min	Forward/back/down	Budget‑savvy creators who value the 1″ sensor look
DJI Air 3/3S	Dual (~24mm + ~70mm)	48MP	Up to 4K/60 HDR	Up to ~46 min	Omnidirectional	Travelers and filmmakers who want flexibility and long flights
DJI Mavic 3 Classic	4/3″ wide lens	20MP	Up to 5.1K/50	Up to ~46 min	Omnidirectional	Pros prioritizing maximum latitude and large sensor depth

We reach for the Air 3S when we want variety in framing, long flight times, and a smaller footprint. The Mavic 3 Classic remains our “serious piece” for ultimate image latitude, while the Air 2S is the stalwart if budget is the decider. The Air 3S wins on versatility per pound.

Real‑World Use Cases That Made Us Grin

• Travel vlogging: Wide lens for establishing shots, tele for details like a statue’s face without pretending we’re a pigeon.
• Real estate exteriors: Elevated angles and gentle orbits that sell sunshine even on ambivalent days.
• Outdoor sports: 4K/60 HDR keeps motion smooth; avoidance sensors keep us from memorializing a collision.
• Nature documentary aspirations: Tele lens lets us keep respectful distance while still making a turtle look like a celebrity.
• Timelapses and repeats: Waypoints let us recreate the same shot across seasons or times of day, and suddenly we’re very patient artists.

The RC 2 Screen Remote: Small Screen, Big Improvement

There’s something liberating about not having to wrangle a phone into a clamp. The RC 2’s integrated display is bright, responsive, and mercifully single‑purpose. No email pinging mid‑shot, no surprise software updates claiming our attention. The weight balance feels right in the hands, and the sticks have that tuned spring tension that lets us trace arcs without angular jerkiness. We appreciate the simple niceties, like customizable buttons and a layout that doesn’t require finger yoga.

Safety, Legality, and Our Agreement with Gravity

We read the guidelines. We follow local regulations, maintain visual line of sight, and register as required. We also scout our locations: wind, line-of-sight obstacles, and people who might prefer not to be in our footage. The omnidirectional sensing is powerful, but it’s a safety net, not an invitation to fly blind.

We habitually:

• Set RTH altitude based on our immediate environment.
• Calibrate compass and IMU when prompted, but not obsessively.
• Check prop integrity and battery latches before takeoff.
• Avoid pushing range in interference-heavy areas, regardless of what O4 can handle.
• Keep spares and a microfiber cloth handy, because dust loves a gimbal.

Common Questions We Asked Ourselves Before Spending Money

• Is 48MP a gimmick? No. It’s useful, especially for cropping travel shots into poster‑worthy frames.
• Do we need dual cameras? If we tell stories in varied spaces—cities, coasts, forests—it’s a genuine upgrade over single-lens drones.
• Is 46 minutes real? It’s “ideal conditions real.” Our flights comfortably stretch, and the combo’s extra batteries make time feel ample.
• Does the RC 2 screen matter? Every single flight. We won’t go back to plugging in a phone for primary flying.
• Is the backpack too much? Not for variable weather. Dry gear is happy gear.

Small Quirks We Noticed and How We Live With Them

• Telephoto in low light: We switch back to wide or bump ISO carefully with noise reduction in post.
• HDR + fast pans: We keep our pans slower to avoid banding or exposure shifts, especially with complex scenes.
• Gimbal micro‑adjustments in wind: A quick gimbal calibration after a temperature swing helps.
• Obstacle avoidance tone: We’ve learned to enjoy the little beeps; they’re our drone’s way of staying in therapy.

Maintenance That Pays Off

Drones reward routine. We’ve made peace with the fact that a few minutes of care replaces an hour of regret.

Our checklist:

• After flights: Remove the card, wipe the drone, let batteries cool before charging.
• Weekly: Update firmware if needed, check prop screws, clean the gimbal with a blower.
• Monthly: Deep clean case and pads, verify battery cycle counts, retire a prop if it’s been a drama magnet.

Value for Money: Does the Bundle Justify the Extra?

We’ve bought cheaper bundles and spent months Frankensteining the missing pieces. This one hands us a workable system for day one. Three batteries extend our creative window, the RC 2 frees us from phone dependency, and the backpack means rainy days aren’t an immediate no. The landing pad turns sketchy terrain into “acceptable,” and the card plus reader close the loop between shooting and editing. We’d pay more for fewer headaches, and in this case, we’re paying less for fewer headaches, which feels like a glitch in the matrix.

Situations Where We’d Pick Something Else

• Night‑centric filmmakers: A larger sensor system (like Mavic 3 Classic) wins when darkness is a leading character.
• Absolute budget constraint: The Air 2S remains formidable and less costly, especially used.
• Heavy payload needs: If we want interchangeable filters beyond standard ND sets or specialty payloads, we might jump up a tier.

Tips That Saved Us From Ourselves

• Assign the Fn button to toggle between cameras. It makes us look slick and keeps the rhythm going.
• Use the histogram, not just your eyes on the RC 2 screen. Sunlight lies.
• For water shots, set RTH over land and come home with at least 30% battery. We like drama in movies, not in retrieval plans.
• Practice in an open field, even if we think we’re above it. Our thumbs will loosen up, and we’ll stop over‑correcting.
• Keep ND filters in mind for bright days. They’re not a requirement, but they help with consistent shutter speeds for cinematic motion blur.

Traveling With the Air 3S: Airports, Cars, and Footpaths

The kit plays nicely with airport security. We carry batteries in a fire‑resistant bag in our carry‑on, tell the agent we have a drone, and smile like we’ve never been late for a flight. The waterproof backpack has enough room for personal items, but we typically keep it camera‑only to avoid fishing past snacks to reach the charging hub. For hikes, we pack the landing pad at the top and sling the backpack high, because nothing says “cinematic” like our chiropractor knowing us by first name.

Confidence Features We Grew to Love

• Cruise control style speed settings make smooth tracking shots easier to maintain.
• FocusTrack keeps subjects framed while we pretend to be better pilots than we are.
• Smart RTH that routes around obstacles makes homecoming calm rather than dramatic.
• The six-antenna O4 array dealing with interference without scolding us is pure grace.

A Practical Shooting Routine We Keep Coming Back To

• Location scout with feet first; identify obstacles and people.
• Set video to 4K/60 HDR, D‑Log M if we plan to grade.
• ISO locked low; shutter angle approximated with ND if needed.
• Use the wide lens for establishing shots, then swap to tele for cutaways.
• Shoot in small sequences, not endless takes; it saves us in the edit.
• Land on the pad, swap batteries, and do a quick prop check before lift 2.

The Good, The Not‑So‑Good, and The Mostly Great

Here’s where we get brutally honest, the way we talk to ourselves after three coffees.

• What we love:

  • Dual cameras that give us variety without anxiety.
  • 46-min max flight time translating to really long, practical sessions.
  • Omnidirectional obstacle sensing that feels proactive.
  • O4 transmission with a 1080p/60 live feed that doesn’t break a sweat.
  • RC 2 remote with built‑in screen—no more cable shenanigans.
  • Bundle essentials that aren’t just filler.

• What we accept:

  • Low light performance is good for its class, not magic.
  • HDR can be sensitive to fast pans and complex lighting; we adapt our moves.
  • Telephoto lends itself best to good light; keep expectations friendly after sunset.

• What we’d change:

  • Include an ND filter set in the bundle; we’d use it on day one.
  • A slightly louder “battery latch not fully clicked” warning, because we are human.

Who This Drone Is Perfect For

• Travelers who want a serious camera in the sky without hauling a flagship rig.
• Content creators who value a reliable, self‑contained setup.
• Solo filmmakers who appreciate one‑tap moves that don’t look canned.
• Hobbyists with taste—people who want better than “good enough,” minus the backache.

Gentle Reality Check: Range and Rules

We’re charmed by the “up to 20 km” claim for transmission. In the same way our car could theoretically reach its top speed on an empty salt flat, the drone’s range assumes perfect conditions. We fly within legal boundaries, keep line of sight, and remember that every shot we get today is an argument for flying again tomorrow. The best practice remains: keep it close, keep it safe, and keep your story intact.

The Intangibles: How It Made Us Feel

We’ll confess that the Air 3S makes us a little bolder. Not reckless, just bolder. The sensors have our back, the feed looks clean, and the framing options multiply without flipping a lens cap on the ground. That confidence shows up in our footage. It’s in the smoother orbits, the steadier reveals, and the way we stop worrying about tap‑to‑focus and start thinking in shots again.

Final Notes on the Bundle Extras

We didn’t know we’d appreciate the card reader until a crowded café gifted us exactly one power outlet, and the reader didn’t ask for any of it. We didn’t know how much we’d love the backpack until a drizzle turned into a downpour and our gear stayed dry, cocky even. We didn’t know the landing pad would become our ritual—a small, orange assurance pad that makes every launch feel deliberate.

Our Verdict: A Travel‑Friendly Powerhouse That Earned Our Loyalty

The DJI Air 3S Drone Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2 Screen Remote—and this particular bundle—has become our default drone for trips, projects, and the “let’s get out of the house” flights we pretend are for exercise. The image quality is reliably beautiful, 4K/60 HDR gives us editorial headroom, the 48MP stills are worth printing, and the dual cameras make us better storytellers without asking us to be better pilots. Add the long flight time, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, O4 transmission, and a remote that doesn’t need our phone, and we’re left with the feeling that the drone wants us to succeed.

Is it perfect? No, but it’s perfectly ours. And that’s the bit we keep returning to: this is the rare piece of gear that makes us look forward to the next attempt. It nudges us out the door, keeps us safe in the air, and brings back footage that looks the way our memory felt. Which, for a camera that flies, is about as much as we could ask.

A Compact Buyer’s Checklist Before We Commit

• We want dual cameras (wide + tele) for storytelling variety.
• We need long flight time that’s actually long, not theoretical.
• We prefer a screen remote to reduce setup friction.
• We care about omnidirectional sensing for complex environments.
• We value a bundle with real accessories we’ll use on day one.

If we nodded at most of those, this combo is a fit.

Parting Tips So We Keep Loving It a Year From Now

• Keep at least two sets of spare props in the backpack. They’re light, and future-us is forgetful.
• Label batteries 1, 2, 3 and rotate usage; our inner accountant will purr.
• Clean the landing pad occasionally. It’s the spa for our gimbal.
• For HDR grades, expose for highlights and lift shadows in post—this drone tolerates that approach with grace.
• Don’t chase birds, sunsets, or strangers. The best shot is the one that still lets us sleep at night.

We bought this combo for reliable performance and thoughtful extras; we stayed for the way it reshaped our shooting days into something calmer, cleaner, and yes, a little more joyful.

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