Comparison
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Mini 3 spec · Mavic 3 Pro spec · Upgrade from Mini 3 · Upgrade from Mavic 3 Pro · All compares
Would you notice?
Mini 3 vs Mavic 3 Pro: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice max video, flight time, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 3 is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 3 Pro is C2 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
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| Spec |  C0 · 248 g |  C2 · 958 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 13 Dec 2022 | 27 Apr 2023 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 248 g Ahead | 958 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g (C1 with Plus pack) · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead | C2 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A2 (A2 CofC) or A3 |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. 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 | 148 × 90 × 62 mm | 231.1 × 98 × 95.4 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 (ProRes on Cine only) |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS + 166 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) | 43 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 33 min | 37 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 |
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Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Mini 3 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/30 HDR. Mavic 3 Pro 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 Pro — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
Do I need to register the Mavic 3 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 3 Pro is C2, takeoff about 958 g (Over 900 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).
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 Pro in the UK?
Mavic 3 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 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 Pro carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini 3 10.7 m/s, Mavic 3 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 3 Pro on paper. Mini 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Downward; Mavic 3 Pro 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 Pro if you will accept C2 and 958 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Mini 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): Mini 3 £319, Mavic 3 Pro £1,689 — £1,370 more for the Mavic 3 Pro. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Mini 3: C0, 1/1.3-inch CMOS. Mavic 3 Pro: 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 Pro as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £319 Mini 3 with DJI RC (C0) | £1,689 Mavic 3 Pro (DJI RC) — not Cine, not Classic, not Mavic 4 Pro |
| Amazon UK | £339 Mini 3 (RC-N1) | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 Pro (not 4 Pro) buy box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £210–£360 Used Mini 3 + RC working kits | £1,200–£1,600 Used Mavic 3 Pro (not Classic, not Cine, not Mavic 4 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 | — CeX search — no Mavic 3 Pro (not Cine) SKU priced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 | See CeX CeX search — no Mavic 3 Pro (not Cine) SKU priced |
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 - DJI Mavic 3 Pro review
Triple camera: 4/3 Hasselblad 24 mm, 70 mm medium tele, 166 mm tele
Heliguy · 2023-04-27
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.