Comparison
DJI Air 3S vs DJI Mavic 4 Pro
Air 3S spec · Mavic 4 Pro spec · Upgrade from Air 3S · Upgrade from Mavic 4 Pro · All compares
Would you notice?
Air 3S vs Mavic 4 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, internal storage. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Air 3S is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 4 Pro is C2 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
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| Spec |  C1 · 724 g |  C2 · 1063 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Oct 2024 | 1 May 2025 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 724 g Ahead | 1063 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 | 214.19 × 100.63 × 89.17 mm | 257.6 × 124.8 × 106.6 mm (folded, with props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 100 MP · 28 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.0–f/11 |
| Field of view | 84° Ahead | 72° |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–12800 Same | 100–6400 / 100–12800 Same |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG Same | D-Log M / HLG Same |
| Other cameras | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS + 168 mm 1/1.5-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120 Ahead | 6K/60 HDR |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt | 360° tilt · true vertical Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 45 min | 51 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 41 min | 45 min Ahead |
| 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 | 90 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 10 / 10 m/s Same | 10 / 10 m/s Same |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Same | 6000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omni + nightscape Same | Omni + nightscape Same |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same | 15 km CE · O4+ (30 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 62.5 Wh | 95.3 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 42 GB | 64 GB Ahead |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB | microSD up to 1 TB, U3/V30/A2 |
| 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 4 Pro main: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 100 MP · 28 mm, 6K/60 HDR. 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 4 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 4 Pro is C2, takeoff about 1063 g (Approx. 1063 g. Product weight varies by batch.). 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 Mavic 4 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 4 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 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?
Mavic 4 Pro carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Air 3S 12 m/s, Mavic 4 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 4 Pro on paper. Air 3S is 1-inch CMOS with Omni + nightscape; Mavic 4 Pro is 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad with Omni + nightscape. 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 4 Pro if you will accept C2 and 1063 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Air 3S batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC 2. You cannot take: DJI RC-N3; Air 3 series Intelligent Flight Battery; Air 3 / Air 3S ND set. Screen controller across O4 Minis, Air 3/3S and Mavic 4 Pro. Firmware on the RC must support the aircraft. Not the Mavic 3 RC.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Air 3S £959, Mavic 4 Pro £1,879 — £920 more for the Mavic 4 Pro. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Air 3S: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1. Mavic 4 Pro: The job pays, or the Hasselblad is the point.
Does Mavic 4 Pro replace Air 3S for travel?
No. Mavic 4 Pro is a 1063 g C2-class flagship with a 4/3 Hasselblad, 168 mm tele and a 51-minute battery. Air 3S is the bag drone with two cameras. If the job invoices 6K Hasselblad stills, buy the Mavic. If the job is a coastal walk and a 70 mm portrait, Air 3S already did it.
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 4 Pro as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £959 Air 3S (DJI RC-N3) — not Air 3 | £1,879 Mavic 4 Pro (DJI RC 2) — not Mavic 3 Pro |
| Amazon UK | £859 Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 (third-party / Amazon listings) | £1,879 Mavic 4 Pro with DJI RC 2 (dp B0DS2HDF1M) — not the Creator Combo |
| eBay UK band | £750–£1,150 Used Air 3S (standard + Fly More; not Air 3) | £1,450–£2,000 Used Mavic 4 Pro (standard + Creator Combo; not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory | — CeX search — no Mavic 4 Pro SKU priced on 31 Aug 2026 |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no Air 3S SKU priced; ignore DJI Air 3S lens accessory | See CeX CeX search — no Mavic 4 Pro SKU priced on 31 Aug 2026 |
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Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.