Comparison
DJI Mini 3 Pro vs DJI Air 3
Mini 3 Pro spec · Air 3 spec · Upgrade from Mini 3 Pro · Upgrade from Air 3 · All compares
Would you notice?
Mini 3 Pro 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, obstacle sensing. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 3 Pro 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 | 10 May 2022 | 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 (C1 with Plus pack) · 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 | 145 × 90 × 62 mm | 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-Cinelike | D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt · true vertical | 90° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 34 min (47 with Plus) | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 30 min | 42 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 57.6 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 | 4000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Front / back / down | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 8 km CE · O3 (12 km FCC) Same | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 18.1 Wh (28.4 Wh Plus) | 62.6 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 1.3 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, 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?
Mini 3 Pro main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR. 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 Mini 3 Pro in the UK?
Mini 3 Pro is C0, takeoff about 249 g (Under 249 g with standard battery.). 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. A Plus battery can take this out of C0 — weigh the pack you fly. 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 Mini 3 Pro in the UK?
Mini 3 Pro (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 (Mini 3 Pro 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?
Mini 3 Pro and Air 3 are in the same sensor band on paper. Mini 3 Pro is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Front / back / 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?
Mini 3 Pro 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 Mini 3 Pro 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): Mini 3 Pro —, Air 3 £869. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini 3 Pro: C0, 1/1.3-inch CMOS. 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.
| Mini 3 Pro as of 2026-08-31 | Air 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Amazon drone+RC buy-box | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £260–£420 Used RC-N1 kits; Fly More + screen RC at the top | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) |
| CeX sell | £460 Mini 3 Pro Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | £285 / £331 Mini 3 Pro Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
Reviews that put these together
- DJI Mini 3 Pro review: DJI's most compact model finally goes 'pro'
1/1.3 sensor, 4K/60, true vertical, tri-directional sensing, Plus battery over 250 g
DPReview · 2022-05-10 - DJI Mini 3 Pro review
Sub-249 g A1 flying, rotating gimbal, 4K/60, 34-minute pack, tri-directional sensing
Heliguy · 2022-05-10 - DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 3 Pro
1/1.3 shared class, 12 MP vs 48 MP, downward vs tri-directional sensing, price
Heliguy · 2022-12-14 - 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.