Comparison
DJI Flip vs DJI Air 3
Flip spec · Air 3 spec · Upgrade from Flip · Upgrade from Air 3 · All compares
Would you notice?
Flip vs Air 3: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Flip is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Air 3 is C1 (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 |  C0 · 249 g |  C1 · 720 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Jan 2025 | 27 Jul 2023 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Ahead | 720 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. Ahead | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID. Remote ID on from 1 Jan 2026 (C1 as UK1). Towns OK in A1. |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 136 × 62 × 165 mm (guards on) | 207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Same | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Same |
| Aperture | f/1.7 Same | f/1.7 Same |
| Field of view | 82.1° Same | 82° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same |
| Colour / log | D-Log M | D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Same | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Same |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt · true vertical | 90° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 31 min | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 28 min | 42 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 43 km/h Sport | 68 km/h EU · 75.6 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 5 m/s | 10 / 10 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 3000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Forward + down | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 8 km CE · O4 (13 km FCC) Same | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 22.3 Wh | 62.6 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 2 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I, up to 256 GB | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 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?
Flip main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100. Air 3 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100. 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 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).
Do I need to register the Flip in the UK?
Flip is C0, takeoff about 249 g (Full-coverage guards, still claimed under 249 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 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).
How far from people can I fly the Flip in the UK?
Flip (C0): A1 Over People. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. 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?
Air 3 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Flip 10.7 m/s, Air 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?
Flip and Air 3 are in the same sensor band on paper. Flip is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Forward + down; Air 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Flip if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 249 g). Air 3 if you will accept C1 and 720 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Flip batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC 2. You cannot take: DJI RC-N3; Flip Intelligent Flight Battery. 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): Flip £295, Air 3 £869 — £574 more for the Air 3. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Flip: Guarded vlog Mini with a real 1/1.3-inch camera. Air 3: Dual camera and wind; you accepted C1.
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.
| Flip as of 2026-08-31 | Air 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £295 Flip (RC-N3, 1 battery) | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S |
| Amazon UK | £369 Flip (RC-N3, 1 battery) | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £220–£400 Used drone-only floor; Fly More / RC 2 is the ceiling | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) |
| CeX sell | — Flip with RC-N3, grade B (unpriced today) | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Flip with RC-N3, grade B (unpriced today) | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
Reviews that put these together
- 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 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
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.