Comparison
DJI Air 3S vs DJI FPV
Would you notice?
Air 3S 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 3S 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 · 724 g |  unmarked · 795 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Oct 2024 | 2 Mar 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly | DJI Fly / Goggles V2 |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 724 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 | 214.19 × 100.63 × 89.17 mm | 178 × 232 × 127 mm (without propellers) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm Ahead | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14.66 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.8 |
| Field of view | 84° | 150° Ahead |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–12800 | 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/120 | 4K/60 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt Ahead | 58° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 45 min Ahead | 20 min |
| Hover time | 41 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 | Omni + nightscape 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 | 62.5 Wh Ahead | 44.4 Wh |
| Internal storage | 42 GB Ahead | Card only |
| 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 3S main: 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120. 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 3S — 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 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 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 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 in wind?
DJI FPV carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3S 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 3S on paper. Air 3S is 1-inch CMOS with Omni + nightscape; 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 3S if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C1, 724 g). DJI FPV if you will accept unmarked and 795 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Air 3S 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 3S £959, DJI FPV —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Air 3S: 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 3S as of 2026-08-31 | DJI FPV as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £959 Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) — not Air 3 | — Discontinued as new — DJI FPV (not Avata, not Avata 2) |
| Amazon UK | £859 Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 (third-party / Amazon listings) | See Amazon No new DJI FPV buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Avata |
| eBay UK band | £750–£1,150 Used Air 3S (standard + Fly More; not Air 3) | See eBay Used DJI FPV combos — confirm goggles are V2, not Avata 2 Goggles 3 |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- Mini 5 Pro vs Mavic 4 Pro vs Air 3S
Camera systems, gimbal rotation, weight class and who each airframe is for
Heliguy · 2025-10-01 - Best DJI drone 2026: Neo 2 vs Flip vs Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S vs Mavic 4 Pro vs Avata 2
UK running costs, legality vs weather, Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S as a complementary pair
Gadget Scout · 2026-01-15 - Best DJI drone (2026): Mini 5 Pro to Mavic 4 Pro
Sub-250 argument, Mini 5 Pro 1-inch sensor, Air 3S telephoto vs Mini 5 Pro
DroneXL · 2026-03-01 - 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