Comparison
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mavic 3
Would you notice?
Mini 3 vs Mavic 3: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice max video, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 3 is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 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 · 248 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 13 Dec 2022 | 9 Nov 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 248 g Ahead | 895 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 | 148 × 90 × 62 mm | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 82.1° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–3200 / 100–3200 | 100–6400 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 162 mm 1/2-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/30 HDR | 5.1K/50 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt · true vertical | 90° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 38 min (51 with Plus) | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 33 min | 40 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 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 3.5 m/s | 8 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 4000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 6 km CE · O2 (10 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 18.1 Wh (28.4 Wh Plus) | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | Card only Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, up to 256 GB | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou |
| 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 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/30 HDR. 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. Optical telephoto is only on Mavic 3 — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
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).
Do I need to register the Mini 3 in the UK?
Mini 3 is C0, takeoff about 248 g (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. 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 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).
How far from people can I fly the Mini 3 in the UK?
Mini 3 (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?
Mavic 3 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini 3 10.7 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. Mini 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Downward; 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?
Mini 3 if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 248 g). Mavic 3 if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Mini 3 batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC-N1. You cannot take: Mini 3 series Intelligent Flight Battery. Phone clamp for Mini 2, Mini 4K, Mini 3 family, Air 2, Air 2S and original Mavic 3. Does not fly Mini SE (Wi-Fi stick), Mini 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Flip or Air 3.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Mini 3 £319, Mavic 3 —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini 3: C0, 1/1.3-inch CMOS. 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.
| Mini 3 as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £319 Mini 3 with DJI RC (C0) | — Discontinued as new — Mavic 3 (not Cine, not Classic, not Pro) |
| Amazon UK | £339 Mini 3 (RC-N1) | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| eBay UK band | £210–£360 Used Mini 3 + RC working kits | See eBay Used Mavic 3 kits — confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| CeX sell | — Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- 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 Mini 3 review: a spendy, sophisticated entry-level drone
True vertical Mini without 4K/60, obstacle avoidance or subject tracking
DPReview · 2022-12-09 - The DJI Mini 3 is the best first drone to buy, period
First-drone flying, 4K/30, 1/1.3 sensor, endurance without Pro flight modes
Videomaker · 2023-01-15