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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1384448
New, But Not Too Different Aside from the Mavic-Pro-size camera hanging from the gimbal in front, there are enough physical changes to easily tell it apart from its predecessor. The vision system has added two upward-angled sensors in the front, improving the coverage in forward climbs and giving the drone something of a 60s sports car look. Having the vision sensors in horizontal pairs gives the drone a binocular sense of depth perception for obstacle avoidance. There are still no side sensors, so pilots need to keep that in mind (and the drone in sight) for sideways maneuvers. Not visible are the two additional antenna, providing better reception and smoother monitoring. The props now sport bright orange tips, but are otherwise nearly identical, though the 2S seems a bit louder in flight than its immediate predecessor, but still much quieter than the original Air, probably because of its 0.8 oz. weight gain. That extra weight also decreases the flight time by a barely-noticeable two minutes, bringing down to 31. (At that point, the pilot usually needs a break as much as the aircraft.) There is a good deal that did not change, some of which may be good news to Air 2 owners who’ve invested in accessories. The controller is, at least, physically identical, so expansion arms for using iPads will still work. And, the 2S uses the same batteries and charger as the Air 2. The wonderfully compact, travel-friendly case included in the 2S Fly More Kit hasn’t grown a millimeter. Even the Air 2 propeller guards fit the 2S and the control settings in the updated DJI Fly app can now accommodate them in the drone’s flight characteristics. The Air 2S landed just a few months after the FAA finalized and published a new set of rules for UASs that allow flight at night and over people for licensed pilots as well as eventually requiring remote ID electronics. It’s understandable that the Air 2S doesn’t have the hardware changes to meet those needs, but you’ll have until September of 2023 to either get a new drone or the add-ons you’ll need. With the one-inch sensor on the Air 2S, you’ll probably want to try some after-dark photography before then. For that, we recommend the light, inexpensive, and removable anti-collision strobe from Lume cube that meets the FAA’s three-mile visibility requirements. The 2S does have an ADS-B receiver to keep you posted on the whereabouts of local air traffic, occasionally to an annoying degree, given the distance and altitude of aircraft that prompt the alerts.