Comparison
DJI Air 3S vs DJI Mavic 3
Would you notice?
Air 3S vs Mavic 3: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice the sensor (1-inch CMOS vs 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad) in evening light; you would notice max video only if you slow-mo or grade HDR. You would not really notice second / third camera, 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 · 724 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Oct 2024 | 9 Nov 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 724 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 | 214.19 × 100.63 × 89.17 mm | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 84° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–12800 | 100–6400 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 162 mm 1/2-inch CMOS |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120 Ahead | 5.1K/50 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt Same | 90° tilt Same |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 45 min Same | 46 min Same |
| Hover time | 41 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 | Omni + nightscape Ahead | Omnidirectional |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 62.5 Wh | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 42 GB Ahead | 8 GB |
| 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 3S main: 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120. Mavic 3 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 in the UK?
Mavic 3 is C1, takeoff about 895 g (895 g standard. Cine is 899 g — this row is the non-Cine airframe.). 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 in the UK?
Mavic 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 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3S 12 m/s, Mavic 3 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 on paper. Air 3S is 1-inch CMOS with Omni + nightscape; Mavic 3 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 3S if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C1, 724 g). Mavic 3 if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the extra camera.
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, Mavic 3 —. 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. Mavic 3: 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 3S as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £959 Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) — not Air 3 | — Discontinued as new — Mavic 3 (not Cine, not Classic, not Pro) |
| Amazon UK | £859 Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 (third-party / Amazon listings) | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| eBay UK band | £750–£1,150 Used Air 3S (standard + Fly More; not Air 3) | See eBay Used Mavic 3 kits — confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| 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