Comparison
DJI Air 2S vs DJI Mavic 3 Classic
Would you notice?
Air 2S vs Mavic 3 Classic: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice gimbal, wind, obstacle sensing. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Air 2S is unmarked (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 3 Classic is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
Set I fly on the home bench to see net upgrade cost from your airframe (CeX cash vs used / RRP). It stays in this browser.
| Spec |  unmarked · 595 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Apr 2021 | 2 Nov 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 595 g Ahead | 895 g |
| UK class / IDs | unmarked · Operator ID + Flyer ID | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A3 Far from People | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) Ahead |
| From uninvolved people | No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: 50 m from uninvolved people; 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. A2 only with an A2 CofC. Flyer ID + Operator ID. | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. Ahead |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 180 × 97 × 77 mm | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1-inch CMOS · 20 MP · 22 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 88° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–12800 / 100–6400 | 100–6400 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 5.4K/30, 4K/60 Ahead | 5.1K/50 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 24° tilt | 90° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 31 min | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 30 min | 40 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 68.4 km/h Sport Same | 68 km/h EU · 75 km/h FCC Same |
| Climb / descent | 6 / 6 m/s | 8 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 5000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Front / back / down | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 8 km CE · O3 (12 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 40.4 Wh | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 8 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, up to 256 GB | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 °C | −10 to 40 °C |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Air 2S main: 1-inch CMOS · 20 MP · 22 mm, 5.4K/30, 4K/60. Mavic 3 Classic main: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm, 5.1K/50. You would notice sensor class in low light; you would not notice the word 4K if both already do it.
Do I need to register the Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic is C1, takeoff about 895 g (Just under 900 g.). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Do I need to register the Air 2S in the UK?
Air 2S is unmarked, takeoff about 595 g (595 g with battery. No class mark.). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic (C1): A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027). May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Air 2S in the UK?
Air 2S (unmarked): A3 Far from People. No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: 50 m from uninvolved people; 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. A2 only with an A2 CofC. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Which is better in wind?
Mavic 3 Classic carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 2S 10.7 m/s, Mavic 3 Classic 12 m/s). On a UK headland that is often the whole decision. Lab Level numbers that match can still feel different because weight is not in the level name.
Which is better at dusk?
Mavic 3 Classic on paper. Air 2S is 1-inch CMOS with Front / back / down; Mavic 3 Classic is 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad with Omnidirectional. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Air 2S if the constraint is a bag and UK class (unmarked, 595 g). Mavic 3 Classic if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Air 2S batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC / RC Pro (O3+). You cannot take: DJI RC-N1; Air 2S Intelligent Flight Battery. Mavic 3-era screen controllers. DJI lists DJI RC for Air 2S and original Mavic 3; Air 3 can use them. Not RC 2, not a Mini 5 Pro stick.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Air 2S —, Mavic 3 Classic £1,119. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Air 2S: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1. Mavic 3 Classic: The job pays, or the Hasselblad is the point.
Price board
UK pounds, dated snapshots. Each cell names the box that figure is for. EAN is the barcode on that carton when a UK listing cited one; otherwise we leave it blank rather than guess. Not live APIs. Buying used checklist.
| Air 2S as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 Classic as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new — Air 2S (not Air 3, not Air 3S) | £1,119 Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Air 2S buy-box — search only | See Amazon No new Classic buy box — search only; ignore Mavic 4 Pro hits |
| eBay UK band | See eBay Used Air 2S kits; Fly More at the top — confirm it is not Air 3 | £650–£1,050 Used Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no SKU invented | — Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented | See CeX Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
Reviews that put these together
- Review: DJI's Air 2S is the ultimate consumer drone
1-inch 20 MP, 5.4K/30, 4K/60, 10-bit D-Log, 595 g
DPReview · 2021-04-17 - DJI Air 2S vs Mavic Air 2 vs DJI Mavic 2 Pro
1-inch vs Air 2, 5.4K, no class mark, front/back/up/down sensing
Heliguy · 2021-04-15 - DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: a more affordable entry into the Mavic world
4/3 Hasselblad without the telephoto, 5.1K, as a cheaper Mavic 3
DPReview · 2022-11-02