Comparison
DJI Air 3 vs DJI Mavic 3 Classic
Air 3 spec · Mavic 3 Classic spec · Upgrade from Air 3 · Upgrade from Mavic 3 Classic · All compares
Would you notice?
Air 3 vs Mavic 3 Classic: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice the sensor (1/1.3-inch CMOS vs 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad) in evening light; you would notice a real telephoto (optical, not a crop); you would notice max video only if you slow-mo or grade HDR. 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 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 27 Jul 2023 | 2 Nov 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 720 g Ahead | 895 g |
| 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 | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 82° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Ahead | Single camera |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Ahead | 5.1K/50 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt Same | 90° tilt Same |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 46 min Same | 46 min Same |
| Hover time | 42 min Same | 40 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 km/h FCC Same |
| Climb / descent | 10 / 10 m/s Ahead | 8 / 6 m/s |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Same | 6000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional Same | Omnidirectional Same |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 62.6 Wh | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 8 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB |
| 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. 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. Optical telephoto is only on Air 3 — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
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).
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).
Which is better in wind?
Mavic 3 Classic carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3 12 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 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional; 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 3 if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C1, 720 g). Mavic 3 Classic if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Air 3 batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC / RC Pro (O3+). You cannot take: DJI RC-N2; DJI RC 2; Air 3 series Intelligent Flight Battery; Air 3 / Air 3S ND set. 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 3 £869, Mavic 3 Classic £1,119 — £250 more for the Mavic 3 Classic. 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. 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 3 as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 Classic as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S | £1,119 Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only | See Amazon No new Classic buy box — search only; ignore Mavic 4 Pro hits |
| eBay UK band | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) | £650–£1,050 Used Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | — Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | See CeX Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
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 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
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.