How Long is the DJI Mavic Air 2S Battery Life?

Last Updated on November 28, 2023 by Jaxon Mike

Drones have become incredibly popular in recent years for both hobby and professional use. One of the most popular consumer drone models on the market is the DJI Mavic Air 2S. This folding camera drone combines portability and high-end features into an affordable package.

One of the most important considerations for any drone is battery life and flight time. For aerial photographers and videographers, maximizing air time is crucial to getting great shots. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the DJI Mavic Air 2S battery life.

The DJI Mavic Air 2S was released in April 2021 as an upgrade over the original Mavic Air 2 model. It packs a 1-inch CMOS sensor camera capable of 5.4K video recording and 20MP still photos.

This makes it DJI’s first consumer drone to feature a one-inch camera sensor. The Mavic Air 2S has a maximum video transmission range of 12km and can withstand level 5 winds. For positioning, it uses GPS along with forward, backward and downward dual-vision sensors.

When it comes to battery life, the runtime is a critical factor that determines how long you can stay airborne before needing to land and recharge. Short flight times limit the drone’s usefulness for aerial photography and videography. The Mavic Air 2S flight time is rated at up to 34 minutes according to DJI.

However, real-world results are often less. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the Mavic Air 2S Intelligent Flight Battery capacity, real-world flight times you can expect, charging options, and tips for extending your air time.

Mavic Air 2S Intelligent Flight Battery

The DJI Mavic Air 2S uses a new Intelligent Flight Battery that is rated for 3,500 mAh capacity with a voltage of 15.4V. It weighs 198 grams and has smart charging functionality.

This battery is not interchangeable with previous Mavic Air series drones, so you cannot use Mavic Air or Mavic Air 2 batteries in the Air 2S.

Here are some key specs and features of the Mavic Air 2S Intelligent Flight Battery:

• Rated capacity: 3,500 mAh
• Voltage: 15.4V
• Battery weight: 198g
• Maximum flight time: 34 minutes (tested in ideal conditions with no wind)
• Hover time: 30 minutes (tested at sea level in calm conditions)
• Charging port: USB-C
• Supports quick charging
• Advanced diagnostics and battery management

The maximum flight time rating of 34 minutes is based on DJI’s internal testing in ideal conditions with no wind and a constant 15.5 mph flight speed. This flight time is achievable in real-world conditions only if you are flying in calm winds at lower elevations and moderate, consistent speeds.

However, most pilots will experience less than the rated 34 minute flight time. As we’ll discuss next, a number of environmental and use factors determine your real-world flight times.

Real-World Flight Time Testing

In real-world use, Mavic Air 2S flight times are usually 20-30% less than DJI’s 34-minute rating. There are several factors that impact the real-world battery life you can expect:

Wind – Flying in windy conditions creates extra resistance which drains more battery power and lowers flight time. Light winds of 5-10 mph can reduce times by several minutes, and stronger winds have an even greater impact.

Speed – Flying at full speed of 42 mph will drain the battery much faster than maintaining an optimal cruising speed around 24 mph. High-speed flights may get only 50% of the maximum flight time.

Elevation – Flying at high elevations where the air is thinner will reduce lift efficiency and flight times compared to sea-level flights. Expect 5-10 minutes less air time at elevations above 3000 feet.

Temperature – Colder temperatures below 50°F will reduce battery capacity and lower flight times. Heat above 90°F can also degrade battery performance over time. Ideal flight temp is 60-80°F.

Payload – Mounting heavy payloads like larger cameras will create more drone power drain and reduce flight times. The Mavic Air 2S Fly More combo package adds 105g.

Flight Style – Aggressive maneuvers like ascents, descents, turns, and complex camera movements will all consume more battery life compared to smooth, moderate speed cruising.

Video Transmission – Use of the remote controller’s built-in screen or transmitting video to a phone or tablet consumes battery life. Not using video transmission can add a few minutes of flight time.

Propellers – Damaged props with bent or broken blades will reduce flight efficiency and times. Replace damaged props.

Here are some example real-world flight times from Mavic Air 2S users:

• 20-22 minutes flying fast with sport mode enabled and some wind
• 25 minutes at moderate pace with light wind
• 30 minutes moving slowly for camera shots in calm winds

As you can see, real-world flight times are highly variable based on conditions, but you can expect between 20-30 minutes on most flights. Next, let’s go over some tips to maximize your battery life and flight times.

Tips for Maximizing Flight Time

To get the most air time possible from each battery charge, follow these tips:

• Fly in calm winds under 10 mph
• Maintain an optimal cruising speed of 24 mph
• Fly at lower elevations below 3000 feet
• Fly in temperature range of 60°-80° F
• Use smooth control stick movements
• Don’t carry heavy camera payloads
• Disable video transmission when unneeded
• Replace damaged propellers
• Keep batteries warm before flying in cold weather
• Limit high-speed sport mode flying
• Maintain batteries per storage guidelines

Flying smoothly and at moderate speeds will have the biggest impact on maximizing flight times. You can also purchase additional Intelligent Flight Batteries to hot swap when one runs low.

Most pilots recommend having 3-4 batteries on hand during trips to avoid downtime recharging a single battery.

Charging the Battery

The Mavic Air 2S battery uses a USB-C port for charging. There are several options for charging the Intelligent Flight Batteries:

AC Charger – The included charger plugs into AC wall power and charges a single battery in around 1 hour 15 minutes.

Car Charger – An optional car charger is available to charge from your vehicle’s 12V socket in 1 hour 30 minutes.

Multiple Battery Charging Hub – DJI sells a charging hub that can charge up to 4 batteries simultaneously from AC power in 70 minutes each.

Quick Charger – Using DJI’s 65W portable quick charger, a battery can be charged to around 90% in just 55 minutes.

When charging, batteries should not be left unattended or charged overnight. Store batteries between 15% and 65% charge if not used for 7 days or more. Allow batteries to warm gradually to room temperature before charging in cold weather. Avoid leaving batteries in hot cars or direct sunlight. Extremes of cold or heat can degrade battery lifespan.

With a few Intelligent Flight Batteries, the Mavic Air 2S provides excellent flight times for aerial photography and videography. By understanding the rated versus actual real-world battery life and utilizing charging solutions, you can stay airborne longer.

Following proper storage and charging guidelines will also maximize battery lifespan. With up to 30 minutes per battery, the Mavic Air 2S gives you ample air time to capture stunning visual perspectives.

Battery Care and Maintenance

Taking proper care of your Mavic Air 2S Intelligent Flight Batteries is crucial to maximizing both battery life during flights and overall lifespan over time. Here are some best practices for battery maintenance:

Storage Temperature – Batteries are best stored at room temperature between 65°-75°F. Storing in extreme cold or hot temperatures can degrade battery cells over time.

Storage Charge Level – For storage longer than 7 days, maintain battery charge between 15%-65%. Storing at full 100% charge can accelerate capacity loss.

Avoid Full Discharge – Never fully discharge batteries below 10% charge, as this damages internal cells. Land drone before hitting critical battery level.

Limit Fast Charging Cycles – Use fast charging only when needed, as it can degrade batteries faster than slow standard charging.

Cool Before Charging – Allow hot batteries after flight to cool to room temp before recharging. Heat also degrades battery life.

Lifespan Monitoring – Check battery health metrics in DJI Fly app to identify any with lower capacity for replacement.

Firmware Updates – Install new DJI battery firmware updates when available to optimize performance.

Protect From Impacts – Avoid dropping batteries or exposing to collision impacts which can damage cells.

Pre-Flight Inspection – Visually inspect batteries before each flight for any puffing, leaks or damage.

Balance Usage – Rotate through all your batteries evenly to maintain balanced discharge/charge cycles on all.

By following these battery care guidelines, you can expect around 500 complete charge cycles before noticing significantly reduced capacity.

With moderate flying of 20-30 minutes per session, that equates to over 10 hours of total flight time. Lifespans closer to 300-400 cycles are common if best practices are not strictly followed.

Battery Optimization Tips

In addition to proper storage and handling, there are some usage tips that can help optimize battery capacity:

• Fly in moderate 60-80°F temps
• Limit high-drain sport mode bursts
• Maintain smooth, steady stick inputs
• Reduce high-speed descents
• Disable Hyperlapse mode for max duration
• Turn off rear and bottom LEDs in Settings
• Keep propellers clean and undamaged
• Fly at optimum 150 meter altitude
• Pre-heat battery indoors in cold weather

Getting the most performance from each battery charge requires using good piloting techniques and avoiding taxing flight modes when maximum air time is the priority.

Monitoring Battery Health

The DJI Fly app has built-in tools to monitor battery health status and performance over time. Key metrics to keep an eye on include:

Capacity – Shows total mAh capacity which declines gradually over charge cycles. Replace when below 80% original capacity.

Voltage – Checks cell voltage balance. Should show equal voltage across 6S battery sections within 0.05V.

Resistance – Measures internal resistance. Values above 300 mOhm indicate aging batteries.

Discharge Rate – Monitors discharge performance. Excessive voltage drops under load indicate wear.

Charging Times – Charge times exceeding 90 minutes signal reduced battery capacity due to aging.

Reviewing these metrics periodically lets you identify batteries reaching end of lifespan for replacement. Also replace any batteries showing severe imbalance or fault codes.

Buying Extra Batteries

Most Mavic Air 2S pilots will want to purchase at least 1 or 2 extra Intelligent Flight Batteries. This allows you to hot swap batteries in the field for extended flying before needing to recharge. Some tips when buying spares:

• Purchase from reputable major retailers to avoid counterfeits.
• Check production date codes and purchase newly manufactured batteries.
• Avoid unknown 3rd party or knock-off brands which are untested.
• Buy batteries during sales/promotions to save on costs.
• Bundle batteries with multiple battery charger for convenience.
• Have enough batteries to fly for anticipated shoot lengths.
• Keep receipt for warranty purposes.

Having multiple genuine DJI batteries provides peace of mind you can complete those long aerial captures without interruption. Most pilots feel 3 4 extra batteries beyond the included one provide adequate flying time for a full day of shooting.

Summary of Key Battery Life Tips

To wrap up, here are the most important things to remember about maximizing your DJI Mavic Air 2S Intelligent Flight Battery performance and lifespan:

• Store batteries properly between flights at 65°-75°F and 15%-65% charge.
• Maintain batteries by avoiding damage, balancing usage cycles, installing firmware updates.
• Fly conservatively in optimum conditions for maximum flight times per charge.
• Utilize battery health metrics in DJI app to identify aging batteries needing replacement.
• Purchase extra batteries from reputable sources to stay airborne longer between charges.
• Follow all usage, charging and storage guidelines in user manual for best battery health.

FAQs

What is the max flight time of the Mavic Air 2S?

The maximum flight time is 34 minutes in ideal conditions according to DJI. Real-world times are typically 20-30 minutes depending on flight factors.

How can I get the max flight time?

Fly in calm winds under 10mph at a moderate speed of 24mph, in temps between 60-80°F, at lower elevations, and with smooth control movements.

How long does the Mavic Air 2S battery last?

With proper maintenance you can expect around 500 charge cycles. Real-world lifespan depends heavily on storage, charging, and usage habits.

How many extra batteries should I buy?

Most pilots recommend at least 2-3 extra batteries to allow extended flying time before recharging.

Can I use Mavic Air 2 batteries in the Air 2S?

No, the Mavic Air 2S uses a new proprietary battery that is not cross compatible with other Mavic models.

Conclusion

Maximizing flight time is critical to getting the most out of your DJI Mavic Air 2S drone. By understanding the battery specs, real-world flight duration, care guidelines, and usage tips covered in this article, you can optimize both battery lifespan and your time spent airborne.

Investing in extra genuine batteries will give you the flexibility to fly longer without interruption. Follow these best practices and your Mavic Air 2S will provide many hours of incredible aerial footage and photography.