Autel EVO II Pro V3 vs DJI Air 3S

This comparison is built from Autel’s and DJI’s published specifications, not from flight tests. A reader asked for it through our comparison request form.

Both drones use a 1-inch main sensor, so the difference is in what surrounds it. The Autel EVO II Pro V3 has a single 20 MP camera with an adjustable aperture from f/2.8 to f/11. That lets you control shutter speed and depth of field in bright light without stacking ND filters as often, which matters for video. The DJI Air 3S pairs a 50 MP 1-inch wide camera at a fixed f/1.8 with a 70 mm medium tele camera at f/2.8, which gives you a second, tighter framing that the Autel can only imitate with digital zoom.

On video, the Autel goes higher in resolution: 5472×3076 at up to 30 fps, plus 4K at 60 fps, at up to 120 Mbps. The Air 3S stops at 4K but records it at up to 120 fps for slow motion and at up to 130 Mbps. If you crop or reframe in post, the Autel’s extra pixels help; if you want slow motion or a tele look, the Air 3S is the better tool.

The Air 3S weighs 724 g and the EVO II Pro V3 1191 g, so the DJI is far easier to carry, and both are over the 250 g line, which means FAA registration and Remote ID in the US. See our drone registration guide for the rules by country.

DJI rates the Air 3S at 45 minutes and the Autel at 39 minutes, both measured in still air, so expect less in practice. Autel lists 12 m/s wind resistance in cruise and 10.7 m/s for takeoff and landing; DJI lists 12 m/s. The Autel’s battery is much bigger, 7100 mAh and 82 Wh, but it is also carrying around 470 g more aircraft.

Autel specifies vision sensors in six directions, with forward sensing from 0.5 to 18 m at speeds below 12 m/s and side sensing that only works below 5 m/s. The Air 3S adds a forward-facing LiDAR to omnidirectional vision, which helps in low light where camera-based sensing struggles. Neither replaces a clear line of sight, but the DJI system is the newer and more capable of the two on paper.

Both brands are on the FCC’s Covered List, and Autel is named individually. Models that held FCC authorization before December 2025 can still be sold, which covers the Air 3S and, as an older model, the EVO II Pro V3. What neither company can do is get a new model authorized, so treat both as the last of their line in the US. Check current stock and who is selling before you buy; our US drone ban checker explains how to confirm a drone’s status.

For most people, the DJI Air 3S. It is lighter, flies longer on paper, has better obstacle sensing and gives you a second focal length, all in a drone that is easier to take anywhere. Choose the Autel EVO II Pro V3 if an adjustable aperture and 5.5K video matter more to you than weight, or if you already own Autel batteries and accessories. If you want to compare the Air 3S with other DJI options, see Air 3S vs Mavic 3 Classic.