Comparison
DJI Air 3 vs DJI FPV
Would you notice?
Air 3 vs DJI FPV: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice max video, gimbal, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Air 3 is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID); DJI FPV is unmarked (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 |  C1 · 720 g |  unmarked · 795 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 27 Jul 2023 | 2 Mar 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly | DJI Fly / Goggles V2 |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 720 g Ahead | 795 g |
| UK class / IDs | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID | unmarked · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) Ahead | A3 Far from People |
| 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. Ahead | 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. |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm | 178 × 232 × 127 mm (without propellers) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Ahead | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14.66 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2.8 |
| Field of view | 82° | 150° Ahead |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–12800 / 100–12800 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG | D-Cinelike |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Ahead | FPV super-wide (no tele) |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 | 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt Ahead | 58° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 46 min Ahead | 20 min |
| Hover time | 42 min Ahead | 16 min |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 12 m/s | Level 6 · 13.8 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 68 km/h EU · 75.6 km/h FCC | 97 km/h EU · 140 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 10 / 10 m/s | 15 / 10 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Same | 6000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional Ahead | Forward + down |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same | 6 km CE · O3 (10 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 62.6 Wh Ahead | 44.4 Wh |
| Internal storage | 8 GB Same | Card only Same |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB | microSD, up to 256 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo |
| 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. DJI FPV main: 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14.66 mm, 4K/60. You would notice sensor class in low light; you would not notice the word 4K if both already do it. Optical telephoto is only on Air 3 — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
Do I need to register the DJI FPV in the UK?
DJI FPV is unmarked, takeoff about 795 g (Approx. 795 g. Exposed props — not a cinewhoop. 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).
Do I need to register the Air 3 in the UK?
Air 3 is C1, takeoff about 720 g (C1. Flyer ID required.). 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 DJI FPV in the UK?
DJI FPV (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).
How far from people can I fly the Air 3 in the UK?
Air 3 (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 in wind?
DJI FPV carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3 12 m/s, DJI FPV 13.8 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?
Air 3 on paper. Air 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional; DJI FPV is 1/2.3-inch CMOS with Forward + down. 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). DJI FPV if you will accept unmarked and 795 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Air 3 batteries, controller or ND filters?
These do not share a battery family. Plan to buy packs, and check ND thread and RC protocol — Mini 4 Pro filters and batteries do not sit on a Mini 5 Pro.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Air 3 £869, DJI FPV —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Air 3: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1. DJI FPV: Goggle flying, not a travel stills drone.
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 | DJI FPV as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S | — Discontinued as new — DJI FPV (not Avata, not Avata 2) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only | See Amazon No new DJI FPV buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Avata |
| eBay UK band | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) | See eBay Used DJI FPV combos — confirm goggles are V2, not Avata 2 Goggles 3 |
| CeX sell | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- DJI Air 3 vs Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
Dual 1/1.3 + 70 mm tele and wind vs sub-250 g Mini 4 Pro legality and size
DPReview · 2023-10-10 - DJI Avata vs. DJI FPV—Which One Is Right for You?
Cinewhoop vs exposed-prop FPV, speed, goggles, motion vs sticks
UAV Coach · 2022-08-31