Comparison
DJI Mavic 3 vs DJI Avata 2
Would you notice?
Mavic 3 vs Avata 2: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice the sensor (4/3 CMOS Hasselblad vs 1/1.3-inch CMOS) in evening light; you would notice a real telephoto (optical, not a crop). You would not really notice gimbal, wind, 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 · 895 g |  C1 · 377 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 9 Nov 2021 | 11 Apr 2024 |
| App | DJI Fly | DJI Fly / Goggles 3 |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 895 g | 377 g Ahead |
| 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 | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) | 185 × 212 × 64 mm (with guards) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 12 mm |
| Aperture | f/2.8–f/11 | f/2.8 |
| Field of view | 84° | 155° Ahead |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–25600 / 100–25600 |
| Colour / log | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG | D-Log M |
| Other cameras | 162 mm 1/2-inch CMOS Ahead | FPV super-wide (no tele) |
| Max video | 5.1K/50 | 4K/60, 4K/100 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt | 165° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 46 min Ahead | 23 min |
| Hover time | 40 min Ahead | 21 min |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s |
| Max speed | 68 km/h EU · 75 km/h FCC Same | 68 km/h EU · 97 km/h FCC Same |
| Climb / descent | 8 / 6 m/s | 9 / 9 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Ahead | 5000 m |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional Ahead | Downward |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same | 10 km CE · O4 (13 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 77 Wh Ahead | 31.7 Wh |
| Internal storage | 8 GB | 46 GB Ahead |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB Same | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB Same |
| 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?
Mavic 3 main: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm, 5.1K/50. Avata 2 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 12 mm, 4K/60, 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 Mavic 3 — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
Do I need to register the Avata 2 in the UK?
Avata 2 is C1, takeoff about 377 g (With built-in propeller guards.). 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 Avata 2 in the UK?
Avata 2 (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 (Mavic 3 12 m/s, Avata 2 10.7 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. Mavic 3 is 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad with Omnidirectional; Avata 2 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Downward. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Avata 2 if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C1, 377 g). Mavic 3 if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Mavic 3 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): Mavic 3 —, Avata 2 £539. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mavic 3: The job pays, or the Hasselblad is the point. Avata 2: 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.
| Mavic 3 as of 2026-08-31 | Avata 2 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new — Mavic 3 (not Cine, not Classic, not Pro) | £539 Avata 2 Fly More Combo (1 battery) — not original Avata, not 360 |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine | £685 Avata 2 Fly Smart Combo, 3 batteries (dp B0FS18CVHG) |
| eBay UK band | See eBay Used Mavic 3 kits — confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine | £450–£800 Used Avata 2 Fly More / Fly Smart (not original Avata, not 360) |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no SKU invented | £580 Avata 2 Fly More Combo (A) — product id 6941565980083A EAN 6941565980083 |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented | £255 / £365 Avata 2 Fly More Combo (A) — product id 6941565980083A EAN 6941565980083 |
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 Avata 360 vs DJI Avata 2
8K 360 dual 1/1.1 vs single-lens 4K/100 FPV, omni sensing only in 360 mode
Heliguy · 2026-03-15