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Samsung Galaxy A16 5G in for review
10:21 pm | October 15, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The freshly announced Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has landed at our HQ for review, but before we put it through its paces, let's do a quick unboxing and see what's on offer. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G comes in a white-colored retail box, including some paperwork, a SIM ejector tool, and a charging cable. We've got the blue model, but there are three more colors you can opt for. On the front, we have a 6.7" FullHD+ 90Hz AMOLED screen with a notch for the 13MP selfie camera. However, there's no fingerprint scanner underneath since it's embedded in the power button. Turn the phone...

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G in for review
10:21 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The freshly announced Samsung Galaxy A16 5G has landed at our HQ for review, but before we put it through its paces, let's do a quick unboxing and see what's on offer. The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G comes in a white-colored retail box, including some paperwork, a SIM ejector tool, and a charging cable. We've got the blue model, but there are three more colors you can opt for. On the front, we have a 6.7" FullHD+ 90Hz AMOLED screen with a notch for the 13MP selfie camera. However, there's no fingerprint scanner underneath since it's embedded in the power button. Turn the phone...

Canalys: Global smartphone market grows 5%, Samsung barely keeps the top spot
8:40 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Canalys posted its preliminary report onthe global smartphone market in Q3 2024, and it shows shipments grew sequentially and yearly. According to the analysts, the ongoing replacement cycle was the main driver from July to September as the competition became tighter than ever. Samsung remained on top, but barely kept its first place for Q3, as Apple had the same market share when the percentage was rounded to the whole number. Xiaomi, Oppo, and vivo rounded the Top 5, but all eyes were on Apple, as the US company achieved its highest third-quarter volume. There was a strong demand...

vivo Y19s arrives with a 5,500mAh battery, stereo speakers and a rugged build
7:19 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The vivo Y19s was quietly unveiled earlier today. No, this isn’t a sequel to the Y19 (because that one is from 2019), it is instead a follow-up to the Y17s from late last year. The new model is not a total upgrade, but brings several important improvements – a more rugged design, powerful stereo speakers and a larger 5,500mAh battery. The Y19s grows slightly with a 6.68” LCD. It’s a 90Hz panel that’s decently bright (1,000 nits in high brightness mode), but still offers only HD+ resolution. The selfie camera is now inside a punch hole, but resolution drops to a measly 5MP. The rear...

JLab Go Pop ANC review: some of the best ultra-cheap noise cancelling earbuds on the market
6:46 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

JLab Go Pop ANC: one-minute review

The JLab Go Pop ANC have all the hallmarks of an instant budget favorite. These wireless earbuds pack in plenty of quality in the audio department, with particularly impressive bass and treble, strong active noise cancellation and a tiny, lightweight design.

By covering these core essentials, it's already hard to believe the JLab Go Pop ANC are only $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$69.99. However, JLab has gone beyond the basics by including companion app compatibility, which lets you fully customize touch controls – a great addition for the amount you expend.

Earbuds in this price range don’t often feature ANC and although you won’t get the near-silence that some of the best wireless earbuds might offer, overall quality here is good. It’s certainly enough to keep conversations muted and loud noises dulled when you’re out in public. Similarly, sound quality – although not mind-blowing due to a relatively narrow soundstage – is still up-to-standard, thanks to energetic bass and treble output.

With a great seven hours worth of battery per bud (with ANC on), high-comfort feel and IP55 waterproof rating, you’re getting more than your money’s worth from the JLab Go Pop 4, so don’t be surprised if they appear in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds sometime soon.

JLab Go Pop ANC inside charging case being held in someone's hand

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC review: price and release date

  • $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$69.99
  • Launches on October 15 in the US
  • Expected to launch in Q1 2025 in the UK and Australia

The JLab Go Pop ANC are set to launch on October 15 in the US and although there’s no confirmed release date for the UK and Australia, it seems likely you'll see them on sale sometime in the first quarter of 2025. We’ll keep you updated with full availability info as it comes.

I tested the Black color variant, but if you want to jazz things up a bit, you’ll also be able to grab them in either Fuchsia or Teal. But arguably the main draw of these wireless earbuds is their ultra-low price. They’ll be just $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$69.99 at launch, so you’re going to be hard pressed to find better value ANC buds.

JLab Go Pop ANC review: specs

USB-C cable on JLab Go Pop ANC charging case folded in

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC review: features

  • Solid ANC
  • Companion app compatibility
  • Customizable touch controls

The JLab Go Pop ANC surprised me in that they offer a fairly personalized user experience.

At the core of this is the JLab app, which offers a handful of tasty options. This includes customizable touch controls for each earbud, allowing you to choose between play/pause, volume controls, skip/previous track, voice assistant and EQ controls. I personally love touch controls, but if you find them irritating, fear not – you can deactivate them entirely in the JLab app.

I touched on EQ options there – and these are very good. There are three presets – JLab Signature (a fairly exciting sound with more of a bass/treble focus), Balanced, and Bass Boost. You can also alter EQ to your personal taste with a Custom option. In a similar vein, there are also Music and Movie modes to choose from, depending on the sort of media you’re consuming.

The main event, though, is ANC. You can adjust the strength of this with an in-app slider or simply switch between Noise Canceling and Be Aware mode – the latter of which lets in more ambient sound. And ANC quality itself is good overall. You’re not going to get the near-silence you'd expect from some of the best noise cancelling earbuds, though. What the Go Pop ANC can do is effectively dull external noise – I was unable to clearly make out conversations when in the office and playing music at medium-high volume. You can’t ask for much better at this price-point.

Finally, you’re getting good battery life out of these buds. They can survive for approximately 24 hours with a fully juiced charging case and you’ll get seven hours out of each earbud with ANC on. When testing this over the course of an entire work-day, I found the seven-hour timeframe to be accurate after listening at medium-high volume.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

JLab Go Pop ANC inside charging case, against a pink background

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC review: sound quality

  • Sparkling treble; impressive bass
  • Mids not so prominent
  • Limited tinniness and distortion

For some super-cheap wireless earbuds, the JLab Go Pop ANC fare well in the audio-quality realm. It’s worth noting upfront, you’re not getting great audio here. The soundstage is pretty narrow and details won’t be fully realized. As you’d anticipate, there’s nothing fancy on offer like ‘lossless’ audio codecs, so if you’re an audiophile, it might be worth looking elsewhere (and perhaps spending a little more too).

But for buds like this, none of that matters all that much. For the most part, I used the default JLab Signature EQ setting and found that bass was surprisingly impactful and treble was sharp enough to add some flair to the overall listening experience.

When listening to I Want You by Moloko, instrumental separation was admittedly quite limited, with the complex mix a little constrained. However, the actual punch of the bass was still satisfying, synths had a cutting, prominent edge and there was little-to-no tinniness, even at high volumes.

I also tried tuning into Black Eye by Allie X. The track’s all-action intro was replicated well; the depth of the drum machine came through nicely and the dynamism of the bouncing bass line – which connects up to the lower-mid range – was responsive. I didn’t sense incredible agility or explosiveness when listening to this track, but for some budget wireless earbuds these replicated the intended energy accurately.

If you’re really into podcasts, these earbuds might not be ideal for you, though. Mids can be pushed a little bit towards the background, so vocal-heavy media doesn’t always sound perfectly clear. Of course, you can make EQ adjustments in the JBL app to partially offset this, but these earbuds are really at their best when leaning into their strengths in the lower and higher-end frequencies.

Audio is decent for calls, however. I made a phone call, Messenger video call and Google Meet video call and the quality was decently clear across the board. The only problem here is that higher-pitched sounds have a bit of a hiss, but this is a pretty common issue, even with a lot of the more expensive wireless earbuds out there.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

JLab Go Pop ANC outside of charging case on a stone surface

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC review: design

  • Pleasingly lightweight
  • Super-small build
  • Admittedly a tad cheap-looking

Something that I instantly loved about the JLab Go Pop ANC was their ultra-lightweight, compact build. These factors combine to give them a truly minimalistic profile – both in terms of feel and aesthetic. I happily kept these buds in across multiple full work days without any irritation or discomfort.

Looks-wise, I have mixed feelings here. Given their price, I wasn’t expecting beautiful quality, but I still wasn’t won over by the plastic JLab logo etched on the outside of each bud. That is me nitpicking, though. Ultimately, these are a little cheap-looking across the board, from bud to charging case, but they aren’t off-putting by any means.

Another design aspect that could be better is the color options. Don’t get me wrong, the fact there are options at all is a nice touch – but both the purple/maroon Fuchsia and the Teal colors didn’t do it for me. They lack vibrancy, but don’t have a mild, classy look either, floating in an awkward middle ground. The classic Black will be perfectly fine for most, however.

Practically speaking though, these are very well designed. The charging case is tiny, perfect for carrying in your pocket. It also has a USB-C cable that's folded inside the base of the case, which is incredibly handy for charging on-the-go (although if you were hoping for a new USB-C to USB-C cable for general use, you'll be disappointed; this one's permanently attached to its product). The buds themselves are also IP55 rated, meaning they’re both sweat and splashproof – ideal for workouts or if, like me, you live in a rainy English city.

  • Design score: 4/5

USB-C cable on JLab Go Pop ANC charging case folded out

(Image credit: Future)

JLab Go Pop ANC review: value

  • Incredibly cheap wireless earbuds
  • Very impressive sound quality at this level
  • ANC at this price-point a rarity

OK, spoiler alert, these get full marks in the value department, but honestly, reader, I expect you saw that coming. ANC, app compatibility and solid audio quality all for less than $30 / £30 / AU$70 – that’s truly exceptional.

ANC especially is a massive win for wireless earbuds in this price range. It’s quite unusual to find this feature for so little – not to mention that the actual ANC quality is admirable. In the context of its cost, the sound quality is strong here too. Sure, it’s nothing mind-blowing and audiophiles will likely find a few faults – but their exciting sound signature is still very much enjoyable.

  • Value score: 5/5

JLab Go Pop ANC outside of charging case on a stone surface

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the JLab Go Pop ANC?

Buy them if...

You’re on a budget but want ANC
Active noise cancellation at $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$69.99? Go on then. There aren’t too many competitors offering ANC for this little and given the actual quality is good here too, these buds are an absolute steal.

You want some small, lightweight buds
These buds are absolutely tiny – even their case is as diminutive as it gets. On top of that they feel about as heavy as a feather, which combined with their high-comfort fit makes them ideal if you want to lock in for a long listening session.

Don't buy them if...

You’re an audiophile
Right, so as much as the sound quality here is great for the price, it’s still not going to be enough to impress audiophiles. There are no fancy Bluetooth codecs here like LDAC and the soundstage is a tad narrow. As a result, audiophiles, you’ll almost certainly have to splash a bit more cash to get the rich sound quality you crave.

You’re a fashionista first, listener second
For all their perks, I can’t lie, these buds haven’t won me over looks-wise. The plastic JLab logo on the buds isn’t the easiest on the eye and the color options weren’t my thing either. If you want to look a bit more stylish, it may be worth looking at another strong budget option, like the (still) amazing Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW.

JLab Go Pop ANC: Also consider

EarFun Air Pro 3
The EarFun Air Pro 3 are probably the closest competitor to the JLab Go Pop ANC when it comes to pound-for-pound value. With solid ANC and sound quality, Bluetooth LE Audio support and a lightweight design they hit all of the right notes. Their stem-like look might not be for everyone, so weigh up whether that more out-of-the-box appearance is for you before picking them over these brilliant JLab buds. Read our full EarFun Air Pro 3 review.

Sony WF-C700N
Right, these are admittedly a fair step-up over the JLab Go Pop ANC price-wise. However, I’ve seen these go on sale for as little as $98 / £67 on Amazon UK and US respectively – that’s great value. I personally own these buds and you get impressive, customizable sound, plenty of fun features and perfect comfort levels. The ANC here is very competent too, so given that these are budget earbuds, you’re not sacrificing much at all on quality. Read our full Sony WF-C700N review.

JLab Go Pop ANC review: How I tested

  • Tested over the course of one week
  • Used in the office, at home and while on walks
  • Predominantly tested using Spotify on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I tested the JLab Go Pop ANC over an intense week-long period, keeping the buds in for the majority of my work days. I used them at the office, while at home and when on walks to grasp the competency of ANC in multiple environments.

Although I predominantly tested these wireless earbuds using Spotify on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, I did also try using them while using both Tidal and YouTube. When listening to music, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres but also tuned in to hours worth of bangers from my personal library.

Where appropriate, I compared these to my Sony WF-C700N earbuds on metrics such as comfort, audio quality, ANC capabilities and features.

JLab Go Pop ANC in-ear

(Image credit: Future)
  • First reviewed: October 2024
  • Read more about how we test
YouTube launches sleep timer for everyone, adds fine-tuning for playback speed
6:28 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

YouTube is gaining some new improvements apparently based on user feedback. First off, fine-tunable playback speed will let you change it in 0.05 increments (as opposed to 0.25 now). The maximum is still 2x, by the way. YouTube is also expanding its sleep timer to all users, which works just as you'd expect. You can set the timer to stop playback in 10, 15, 20, 30, or 45 minutes, in one hour, or when the current video ends. This has previously been available for Premium users. Browsing in landscape mode will be improved on iOS later this year, and the in-app miniplayer is now...

Until Dawn review: the horror classic gets a scary-good visual and technical update
5:50 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off
Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC
Release date: October 4, 2024 

Until Dawn has leaped from the shadows to reacquaint fans with yet another creepy horror game classic. But while this new version of Sony and Supermassive Games' playable slasher flick spawned from the 2015 PlayStation 4 original, it's not being billed as a ‘remaster’ or ‘remake.’

Perhaps that's because Until Dawn brings a bit from both camps. Like most remakes, it's been rebuilt from the ground up – a fact that's showcased in every frame of its stunning, Unreal Engine 5-fueled visual presentation. But save for a few other tweaks and additions, the rest of the experience will feel very familiar to anyone who braved Blackwood Mountain nearly ten years ago.

The result is a definitive, director's cut-like offering that retains the appeal of its predecessor, while also making it a whole lot prettier. It’s potentially one of the best PS5 games right now, but that's not to say Until Dawn is perfect. Even more changes, extra content, and a cheaper price tag would've been appreciated. 

 Mostly familiar frights

A character exploring a basement in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)

Until Dawn's core gameplay, story, and characters (including strong performances from Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, and Peter Stormare) mostly remain unchanged from the original. Once again, players are put in the quaking boots of eight young adults who've reunited one year after a tragic, mysterious event put two of their friends – twin sisters – on "Missing Person" posters. Hoping to honor their pals, and also put the painful past behind them, the group meet at the same remote mountain estate where the girls were lost.

Unsurprisingly, things go south before the friends can crack their first beer, leading the player to navigate them through a living nightmare that lasts, well, until dawn. As the scared crew begins to splinter – like typical horror movie victims – players take control of the individual characters on their separate paths. What differentiates Until Dawn from most games though, is the fact that any of the protagonists can die. Depending on how you steer the story, you may reach the credits with everyone still breathing – or all eight in body bags.

Whether or not they survive or die largely depends on a few things, most notably your dialog choices along the way and how well you perform quick-time events. It's a unique, risky formula that Supermassive pretty much nailed, and new developer Ballistic Moon has smartly not messed with. The result is a highly cinematic, character-driven, story-focused – but not narratively linear – experience that essentially makes you feel like you're playing a horror movie.

Cinematic slasher 

The environment in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)

While its gameplay loop is largely unchanged, Until Dawn's visual presentation has received a scary-good makeover. Entirely rebuilt in Unreal 5, the game has been brought up to speed with – and sometimes surpasses – PlayStation 5's prettiest first-party stunners. 

In fact, the first thing that hits you when you fire up the game isn't the business end of a psychopath's blade, but the striking character close-ups. The incredibly realistic models sport the sort of nuanced details – from facial stubble and pores to birthmarks, blemishes, and, of course, blood – usually reserved for live actors. 

But while I spent an embarrassing amount of time studying the imperfections on Peter Stormare's face, it was the lighting work that regularly had me pining for a photo mode (which is unfortunately not included). The varied, specific effects that came from different sources, including moonlight, lanterns, lighters, flashlights, smartphones, and more literally stopped me in my tracks on several occasions. 

Of course, the presentation is at its breathtaking best when all these enhancements combine to deliver something truly eye-popping. Fairly early in the 8 or so-hour story, for example, you'll find yourself clutching a lighter as you navigate a narrow, dark hallway. You'll immediately spy the slick effects cast on the walls and items surrounding you, but you'll also want to stop and stare at your bespectacled character's face. On top of the aforementioned facial details being realistically lit by the tiny, dancing flame, you can see its flicker reflected in his glasses while its glow illuminates the individual hairs on his parka's fur hood. 

A definitive edition, with a scary price 

The environment in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)
Best bit

The environment in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)

Having played the original multiple times, I found myself enjoying the remake more for its stunning visuals than its jump scares. The best moments were any that saw its graphical upgrades – from the enhanced lighting work to the richly detailed character models – firing on all cylinders. 

The lighting and character models steal the show, but they're not the only upgrades the game has received. Adding to the nerve-fraying atmosphere is the DualSense Wireless Controller's adaptive trigger, haptic feedback, and other immersion-ratcheting features. Like the lighting work, these inclusions never settle for a ‘one size fits all’ approach, but are rather nuanced and situational. 

So while you probably expect the feel of your footsteps to change organically when you proceed from a snow-covered dirt path to an icy wooden bridge, you might be surprised when the rumble of a power generator delivers a different sensation than a reverberating boiler. A less subtle, but no less effective trick, includes the DualSense mimicking your pounding pulse while you're tasked with keeping the controller completely still.

Until Dawn has also stripped out its predecessor's fixed camera for a closer, over-the-shoulder view that offers far more freedom. In a game that's often controlled with quick-time events, it feels good to have a bit more leeway when simply exploring, taking in the sights, or searching for collectibles. And on the topic of shiny trinkets, this updated take has also added more hidden totems, and creepy wood carvings that trigger deadly premonitions when interacted with.

A character walking into the woods in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)

Until Dawn's most notable enhancements undoubtedly deliver a more cinematic, immersive experience, ensuring the game is back in my regular nightmare rotation. Still, I would've liked to see these updates complemented with some fresh content or new features that better justify its $60 price tag. 

The story's prologue has been, er, fleshed out a bit more, and new post-credits scenes do offer some fun surprises. But these inclusions, while welcome, generally feel like director's cut extras rather than significant additions. All that said, if you've never played the original or you're a super-fan looking to have your pants scared off all over again Until Dawn's got you covered like a blood-soaked sweater. 

Accessibility

Keeping in line with Sony's more recent first-party releases, Until Dawn features far more accessibility options than its predecessor. Before starting the game, it offers multiple selections for subtitles and a screen reader. Once inside the game, you can dig deeper into these specific features by going into the settings menu. Various other adjustments, from content censoring and camera movement to gameplay difficulty and even the ability to disable the game's "don't move" challenges, can also be tweaked in the settings menu. 

Should I play Until Dawn?

A character walking around in Until Dawn.

(Image credit: Sony)

Play it if…

You're a horror fan seeking your next fix
Until Dawn is as close as you'll come to a playable slasher movie. It's also incredibly accessible, so even if you're not much of a gamer – but love the idea of interacting with a horror movie – you’ll be able to dive right in. 

You loved the game, but haven't returned to Blackwood Mountain since
Until Dawn is the same game you remember, but with significantly better visuals and other presentational upgrades that complement its cinematic qualities. It's the definitive version of the horror classic. 

Don’t play it if…

You remember the original well
While Until Dawn looks a whole lot prettier and benefits from a few other tweaks, its story and core gameplay are unchanged. If the original was a one-and-done for you, the remake won't convince you to come back.

How I reviewed Until Dawn

I spent about fifteen hours playing Until Dawn, completing its eight or so-hour campaign before replaying some portions to test out the choice-driven dialog systems and other features – like keeping characters alive – that encourage replayability. 

I paid particular attention to the various graphical upgrades, as well as the new DualSense integration. I also fired up the original version to compare both the visual and the new over-the-shoulder camera.

I played on my PlayStation 5, using a DualSense Wireless Controller, on a budget model TCL 4K display with HDR. I primarily tested with the television's stereo audio but also played for a few hours with PlayStation's Pulse Explore earbuds. I also paired the latter with PlayStation Portal, which made for some especially spooky sessions while tucked into bed.

First reviewed October 2024.

Apple refreshes iPad mini with A17 Pro chip, double the base storage and Wi-Fi 6E
5:02 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Apple announced its new iPad mini (2024) with a simple press release. It’s one of the most minor updates in iPad history with the main addition being the Apple A17 Pro chip which made its debut on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. It replaces the iPad mini (2021) which launched back in 2021 and will be in line to receive Apple Intelligence when it begins its gradual rollout with iPadOS 18.1 later this month. Apart from the more modern chip, the new mini features 128GB base storage (up from 64GB) and updated connectivity with support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and a faster USB...

Galaxy AI can create slow-mo clips from any video or punch up your photos with generated images
4:49 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

A few weeks ago, Samsung demonstrated how Galaxy AI features can be used to increase your productivity. Now the company is focusing more on the fun side of AI and is showing off a few ways to enhance your vacation photos and videos before sharing them with friends. Galaxy AI is available on a variety of high-end Galaxy phones, but Samsung is focusing on the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6. Have you ever looked at a video you recorded and thought “this would have looked awesome in slow motion”? While you can’t go back and re-record the moment, you can use the Instant Slow-Mo feature of...

DJI Air 3S review: soaring closer to camera-drone perfection
4:02 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Drones Gadgets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

DJI Air 3S: one-minute review

The Air 3S is the latest flagship model in DJI’s mid-range Air series of consumer camera drones, supplanting the July 2023-launched DJI Air 3. Like the Air 3, the Air 3S’s main draw is its two-camera setup: instead of a single camera for aerial photos and video, its camera module pairs wide-angle and medium-telephoto cameras, mounted on a three-axis gimbal on the drone’s nose.

In many ways – physical design, specifications, battery life, and pricing – the Air 3S and Air 3 are close, if not virtually indistinguishable. That being said, the Air 3S does offer a couple of notable improvements over its predecessor: a larger image sensor on one of its cameras, and a more effective omnidirectional object-sensing system to help it avoid mid-air collisions with obstacles. With the front-facing sensors now powered by LiDAR rather than standard vision tech, DJI says the Air 3S is better at navigating tricky terrain at night. It’s also packed with technology that makes it easy to fly, including automatic take-off and landing, advanced return-to-home flight, and super-stable video transmission courtesy of DJI’s O4 system. The battery life is very impressive too, with a full charge providing up to 45 minutes of flight time.

The cameras are both excellent, able to shoot raw photos and 10-bit 4K video at 60fps (120fps in slow-motion mode) with HLG or D-Log M color profiles that allow more flexibility in post-production. Users can expect up to 14 stops of dynamic range, plus superb stability in footage thanks to the three-axis gimbal. The new larger sensor on the wide-angle camera, meanwhile, gives the Air 3S a distinct advantage over the Air 3 when it comes to shooting in lower-light conditions.

DJI Air 3S camera drone photographed from above

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI suggests that the Air 3S’s compact size and camera arrangement make it ideal for travel photography and video, but potential buyers should note that its take-off weight puts it in a class of drone that requires much more regulatory and administrative hoop-jumping than an ultra-lightweight model like the DJI Mini 4 Pro. EU- and UK-based users will need to have completed a paid competency course and passed an exam in order to fly it in almost any public space or built-up area, and US-based users will have to register the drone and pass an exam.

If you can live with the paperwork and revision, however, the DJI Air 3S is a truly fantastic mid-range camera drone that’s safe and easy to fly, capable of capturing gorgeous photos and videos, and only a little more expensive than the Air 3. If you already own the latter, we’d suggest you stick with it for now, but for anyone upgrading from an entry-level drone, the Air 3S represents a logical progression.

DJI Air 3S: release date and price

  • Released October 15 2024
  • Base kit costs $1,099 / £959 / AU$1,699
  • Fly More Combo bundles from $1,399 / £1,239 / AU$2,129

The DJI Air 3S is available to buy from the day it was announced to the world: October 15 2024.

At launch, it’s available in three different configurations. The base kit, which consists of the drone, a single battery and an RC-N3 controller, costs $1,099 / £959 / AU$1,699, and there are also two Fly More Combo bundles available. These include the drone, three batteries, a battery charging hub, an ND filter set and a shoulder bag, in addition to a controller. The Fly More Combo with an RC N3 controller costs $1,399 / £1,239 / AU$2,129, and the Fly More Combo with an RC N2 controller costs $1,599 / £1,439 / AU$2,429.

This makes the Air 3S slightly more expensive than the Air 3, as you’d expect, slightly cheaper than the larger Mavic 3 Classic and significantly cheaper than the Mavic 3 Pro.

  • Price score: 4.5/5

DJI Air 3S: specs

DJI Air 3S: design and handling

  • Compact folding design
  • Weight puts it in UK A2 subcategory
  • Level 6 wind resistance (up to 12m/s or 26mph)
  • 42GB of internal storage plus microSD card slot

The Air 3S sports a folding design that’ll be familiar to anyone who’s encountered a DJI Mini, Air or Mavic drone before: a blocky main body with a gimbal-mounted camera at the nose and space for a battery at the back, plus four fold-out arms holding the motors and rotors that keep the drone airborne.

When fully folded it’s compact and lightweight enough to carry around in a small bag – although with extras like a controller and spare batteries you’ll probably want to carry it in something with a bit of room and extra protection. I found that the shoulder bag that comes with the Fly More Combo bundles does the job perfectly, as it features padded partitions to keep all the elements snugly and safely in place, plus a zip-up pocket for cables, spare propellers, ND filters and the like. DJI also supplies the Air 3S with a hard plastic cover to keep the delicate camera and gimbal protected during transport.

Image 1 of 4

DJI Air 3S camera drone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 2 of 4

DJI Air 3S camera drone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Air 3S camera drone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Air 3S camera drone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

At 724g take-off weight, the Air 3S is subject to more restrictions on its use than a sub-250g drone like the DJI Mini 4K. In the US, for instance, recreational Air 3S users will need to register their drone with the FAA and have passed the TRUST exam. In the UK, recreational users, in addition to getting a flyer ID and passing the CAA’s free online theory test, will also need to fly the Air 3S at least 50m away from people and 150m from ‘residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas', with the latter including parks, beaches and the like. UK pilots who take and pass the A2 CofC course (which costs around £100 and requires taking a 90-minute invigilated exam) will be able to fly their drone in the above areas, provided it remains at least 50m from people.

So, the Air 3S’s weight does present an issue that sub-250g drones do not. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means – anyone willing to put in a bit of time, effort and money into learning how drones work can have a lot of legal fun with this thing – but I think it’s enough to put off casual users. They should just get a Mini or DJI Neo instead.

I found the Air 3S to be a solidly constructed piece of equipment and, while I’ll talk about its flight capabilities in the next section of this review, its sturdiness and motor power mean it can stand up to pretty strong winds, hovering in place in gusts of up to 12m/s or 26mph.

It’s flown with a remote controller. For this review, I used the touchscreen-equipped, 420g RC 2 controller, which is also solidly built and comfortable in the hand. It has a bright 5.5-inch Full HD screen, 32GB of storage capacity, and controls for both flight and camera functions. It connects to the drone in seconds, and it’s just excellent all-round, and I much prefer it to having to mess around with my iPhone and a smaller controller.

The drone’s connectivity is nice and simple. At the back there's a USB-C port which can be used to charge the battery or transfer data, plus a microSD slot for storing videos and photos. However, you may not need to use the latter, as DJI has added 42GB of on-board storage here – room enough for about one hour of 4K/60p footage, 2.5 hours of FHD/60p footage, over 2,200 raw photos or 5,400 JPEGs.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

DJI Min 4K: features and performance

  • Up to 45 minutes flying time per battery
  • Automatic return-to-home feature
  • Omnidirectional obstacle sensing including forward-facing LiDAR
  • Up to 20km transmission distance

When it comes to flight performance and safety, the Air 3S improves even on the strong showing of previous Air and Mavic drones.

The battery life is roughly the same as the Air 3’s, lasting an impressive 45 minutes in ideal conditions. In reality, due to wind speed and other factors, you’ll get significantly less, but I never felt any major anxiety over the battery running low while flying due to the strong starting point. I also had two additional batteries to use as I was sent the Fly More Combo for testing, so I could land the drone, quickly swap out a flagging battery for a fresh one and get back in the air, all within a minute or so.

Batteries can be charged on the go ‘in-drone’ using the USB-C port, but the Fly More Combo’s charging hub does things much better. Not only can it accommodate three batteries at once, charging them in sequence; it can also consolidate the remaining battery power from two half-spent batteries into a third. Charging speed varies depending on the power adapter used, but a DJI 100W adapter will refill an empty battery in about one hour.

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DJI Air 3S camera drone battery charging hub

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Air 3S camera drone RC 2 controller

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Flying itself is about as simple as it gets. The controller’s flight app takes care of a lot of the busy work (you press a button on the touchscreen to take off, for instance), and GPS means the drone can be brought back to its home point at any time for a safe landing; it’ll also return to home automatically in the event of the signal being lost or the battery reaching low levels. As with most DJI drones there are three flight modes: Normal, Cine (which slows things down to help you get smooth video), and Sport, which turns off safety features and increases the top speed to around 21m/s (or about 50mph).

The twin stick controls are easy to learn, and the Air 3S flies much like any other quadcopter – as someone who’s been flying them for over a decade now, very little has changed except for battery life and the level of safety features, both of which just keep getting better. The Air 3S has omnidirectional object sensing, allowing it to avoid crashing into trees, lampposts and the like (either by braking automatically or re-routing itself around them), and is DJI’s first drone to use LiDAR for the front-facing sensors. DJI claims that this helps to make the obstacle detection far more effective at night, where traditional vision-based sensors can fail to spot objects.

Due to UK restrictions about flying in public parks or built-up places, I wasn’t able to test the Air 3S’s obstacle-dodging capabilities as rigorously as I would have liked, but even during some dusk-time flying I noticed the directional sensor indicators blinking on the controller’s screen when I was taking off and landing the drone. I would say, though, that the front-facing LiDAR isn’t going to help object sensing with obstacles to the side or rear of the drone at night. These sensors still use vision to detect things, and in low light they don’t work as well. So you'll still need to exercise caution at night.

DJI’s O4 video transmission system (the same as used on the Air 3) is robust and slick, beaming a low-latency FHD/60fps image live from the Air 3S’s camera to the RC 2’s screen. I never had it cut out or even stutter during the week I was testing the drone. That said, even though the transmission’s theoretical range is up to 20km I never flew the Air 3S further than a few hundred meters from me due to UK drone laws dictating that drones must remain in visual range of the operator.

In terms of special flight modes, the Air 3S features ActiveTrack 360º, which debuted on the DJI Mini 4 Pro and was later added to the Air 3 via firmware update. This feature allows you to drag a box around a subject on the touchscreen and have the drone perform movements around it while keeping it centered in the shot, all while using its obstacle detection system to avoid crashing. The idea is that you can walk, run, ride a bike, ski or skateboard and the drone will automatically follow along, effortlessly dodging potential obstacles while moving around you and creating cinematic shots.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

DJI Air 3S: image and video quality

  • Dual-camera setup (wide-angle and medium-tele)
  • 1-inch (wide-angle) and 1/1.3-inch (medium-tele) sensors
  • 4K video at up to 120fps and 2.7K vertical shooting
  • DNG raw and JPEG still photos

Folded DJI Air 3S drone with camera

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Air 3 has a dual-camera array, with wide-angle (equivalent to 24mm on a standard 35mm camera) and medium-telephoto (equivalent to 70mm) options to switch between. The Air 3S has practically the same setup but better, thanks to DJI upping the physical size of the wide-angle camera’s CMOS sensor from 1/1.3-inch to 1-inch. The tele camera keeps the same 1/1.3-inch CMOS as the Air 3’s. Both cameras’ lenses are fixed-aperture, so videographers will probably want to ensure they get hold of DJI’s ND filter set in order to use slower shutter speeds on sunny days.

I think having more than one camera on a drone is a brilliant asset. The tele lens really expands the Air 3S’s creative options, both by allowing it to get ‘closer’ to subjects while staying physically far away and by giving it the ability to compress perspective to give a scene a different look. There’s a digital zoom option for both cameras, but it does noticeably soften the video quality, and I tried to avoid using it in order to keep my videos and photos as sharp and crisp as possible.

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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with wide-angle camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Night-time aerial photo of harbour taken with DJI Air 3S drone

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with wide-angle camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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Aerial photographs taken using the DJI Air 3S drone

DJI Air 3S shot with medium tele camera (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI has packed a lot of video and photo options into the Air 3S, albeit nothing that really surpasses the range of options that comes with the original Air 3. Both the wide-angle and tele camera can capture 4K video at 24/25/30/48/50/60/120fps (with 120 reserved for slow-motion footage), FHD video at the same frame rates plus 240fps (again, with 120 and 240fps reserved for slow-motion), and TikTok-friendly 2.7K vertical 9:16 video at 24/25/30/48/50/60fps. Video can be captured in normal, HLG and D-Log M color modes, with 8-bit and 10-bit options for normal (HLG and D-Log M are always 10-bit) encoded in H.264 or H.265.

Photos can be capturing in DNG raw format and/or JPEG. The wide-angle camera takes photos at 12MP or 50MP resolution, while the medium tele takes them at 12MP or 48MP resolution.

The major difference between the cameras here and on the original Air 3 is the larger sensor on the wide-angle camera, which boosts its performance, particularly in low-light situations.

As you can see from the photo and video samples above, image quality is generally excellent – including in those tricky dusk and night-time conditions. I thought the Air 3 was a fine performer in this regard already, but the Air 3S’s larger sensor bumps the wide-angle camera’s low-light capabilities; these images look clean, clear and noise-free in situations where smaller sensor 4K cameras, like the one on the DJI Mini 4 Pro, would struggle.

I had a blast color-correcting and grading the footage shot in 10-bit D-Log M. I used DaVinci Resolve Studio 19 for this, which already includes some DJI LUTs for converting D-Log M footage. There was plenty of scope for grading here, and aerial videographers who want to create great-looking footage and have maximum control over the end results will love what the Air 3S’s cameras can do.

  • Image quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Air 3S sample video 4K

DJI Air 3S: testing scorecard

DJI Air 3S drone hovering in flight

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Should I buy the DJI Air 3S?

Buy it if...

You need a two-camera drone
The Air 3S’s dual-camera setup opens up a world of new shooting possibilities. If you’re used to wide-angle only, having the extra camera feels like a breath of fresh air.

The Mavic 3 Pro is too expensive
The triple-camera Mavic 3 Pro is still the pinnacle of DJI’s consumer range – and still pricey. If you want something approaching its capabilities at a much cheaper price, the Air 3S is ideal.

You want great battery life
Up to 45 minutes from a full battery takes much of the time-related anxiety out of flying. And you'll get three times that with the Fly More Combo bundle.

Don't buy it if...

You want a casual camera drone
The price and weight class of the Air 3S makes it more suited to drone experts than beginners. If you’re starting out, a cheaper sub-250g drone like the DJI Mini or Neo is a much better choice.

You already own a DJI Air 3
The Air 3S is an improvement on its predecessor, but not enough of one to warrant an expensive upgrade – unless you’re really picky about low-light video performance.

DJI Air 3S: also consider

How I tested the DJI Air 3S

DJI Air 3S drone landed on deck

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
  • One week of use
  • Flown with the DJI RC 2 Controller
  • Camera tested in sunny, cloudy, windy and low-light conditions

I’ve been testing the DJI Air 3S for a week using pre-launch firmware and the Fly More Combo, which meant I had a couple of extra batteries and the RC 2 touchscreen controller, plus the ND filter set and a nice sturdy bag to carry everything around in.

I flew the drone in a variety of locations near my home on the English coast, including in potentially tricky windy and low-light conditions, although legal restrictions meant I couldn’t fly it close to buildings or in public parks, which did make testing out the drone’s obstacle avoidance system quite hard.

I captured photos and videos in a wide variety of formats, editing and adjusting my images and clips using Adobe Lightroom and DaVinci Resolve 19 on my computer.

First reviewed October 2024

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