Comparison
DJI Air 3 vs DJI Air 3S
Air 3 spec · Air 3S spec · Upgrade from Air 3 · Upgrade from Air 3S · All compares
Would you notice?
Air 3 vs Air 3S: You would notice the sensor (1/1.3-inch CMOS vs 1-inch CMOS) in evening light. You would not really notice max video, obstacle sensing, internal storage. UK: C1 on every one of these. Flyer ID and Operator ID apply from 100 g with a camera — that is every drone here.
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 |  C1 · 720 g |  C1 · 724 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 27 Jul 2023 | 15 Oct 2024 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 720 g Same | 724 g Same |
| UK class / IDs | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) Same | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) Same |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. Same | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. Same |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm | 214.19 × 100.63 × 89.17 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm | 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.8 |
| Field of view | 82° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–6400 / 100–12800 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG Same | D-Log M / HLG Same |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Same | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Same |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt Same | 90° tilt Same |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 46 min Same | 45 min Same |
| Hover time | 42 min Same | 41 min Same |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 12 m/s Same | Level 5 · 12 m/s Same |
| Max speed | 68 km/h EU · 75.6 km/h FCC Same | 68 km/h EU · 75.6 km/h FCC Same |
| Climb / descent | 10 / 10 m/s Same | 10 / 10 m/s Same |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Same | 6000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional | Omni + nightscape Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 62.6 Wh Same | 62.5 Wh Same |
| Internal storage | 8 GB | 42 GB Ahead |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB Same | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB Same |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou Same | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou Same |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 40 °C Same | −10 to 40 °C Same |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Air 3 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100. Air 3S main: 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120. 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 Air 3S in the UK?
Air 3S is C1, takeoff about 724 g (C1. About 724 g takeoff.). 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 Air 3S in the UK?
Air 3S (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).
Which is better at dusk?
Air 3S on paper. Air 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional; Air 3S is 1-inch CMOS with Omni + nightscape. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Air 3 if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C1, 720 g). Air 3S if you will accept C1 and 724 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Air 3 batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC 2; Air 3 series Intelligent Flight Battery; Air 3 / Air 3S ND set. You cannot take: DJI RC-N2; DJI RC / RC Pro (O3+). Screen controller across O4 Minis, Air 3/3S and Mavic 4 Pro. Firmware on the RC must support the aircraft. Not the Mavic 3 RC.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Air 3 £869, Air 3S £959 — £90 more for the Air 3S. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Air 3: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1. Air 3S: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1.
Is Air 3S worth it if I already have Air 3?
You would notice the 1-inch wide (Air 3 is 1/1.3 on both cameras) and nightscape sensing. You would not notice another 70 mm — you already have one. Batteries and the charging hub are in the same family; confirm the pack label. If your Air 3 work is daylight telephoto, sit tight unless dusk is the job.
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 3 as of 2026-08-31 | Air 3S as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S | £959 Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) — not Air 3 |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only | £859 Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 (third-party / Amazon listings) |
| eBay UK band | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) | £750–£1,150 Used Air 3S (standard + Fly More; not Air 3) |
| CeX sell | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | — CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | See CeX CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory |
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Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.