Comparison
DJI Air 3 vs DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Air 3 spec · Mavic 3 Pro spec · Upgrade from Air 3 · Upgrade from Mavic 3 Pro · All compares
Would you notice?
Air 3 vs Mavic 3 Pro: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice second / third camera, flight time. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Air 3 is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 3 Pro is C2 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
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| Spec |  C1 · 720 g |  C2 · 958 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 27 Jul 2023 Same | 27 Apr 2023 Same |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 720 g Ahead | 958 g |
| UK class / IDs | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID | C2 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) Ahead | A2 (A2 CofC) or A3 |
| 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 | A2: 30 m from uninvolved people (5 m low-speed). Without CofC, A3: 50 m and 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C2 as UK2). |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm | 231.1 × 98 × 95.4 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 (ProRes on Cine only) |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS + 166 mm 1/2-inch CMOS Ahead |
| 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 Ahead | 43 min |
| Hover time | 42 min Ahead | 37 min |
| 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 Pro 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 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 3 Pro is C2, takeoff about 958 g (Over 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 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 Mavic 3 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 3 Pro (C2): A2 (A2 CofC) or A3. A2: 30 m from uninvolved people (5 m low-speed). Without CofC, A3: 50 m and 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C2 as UK2). 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?
Mavic 3 Pro carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3 12 m/s, Mavic 3 Pro 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 Pro on paper. Air 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional; Mavic 3 Pro 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 Pro if you will accept C2 and 958 g for the extra camera.
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 Pro £1,689 — £820 more for the Mavic 3 Pro. 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 Pro: 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 Pro as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S | £1,689 Mavic 3 Pro (DJI RC) — not Cine, not Classic, not Mavic 4 Pro |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 Pro (not 4 Pro) buy box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) | £1,200–£1,600 Used Mavic 3 Pro (not Classic, not Cine, not Mavic 4 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | — CeX search — no Mavic 3 Pro (not Cine) SKU priced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced | See CeX CeX search — no Mavic 3 Pro (not Cine) SKU priced |
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 Pro review
Triple camera: 4/3 Hasselblad 24 mm, 70 mm medium tele, 166 mm tele
Heliguy · 2023-04-27
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.