Comparison
DJI Mini 3 vs DJI Mavic Air 2
Would you notice?
Mini 3 vs Air 2: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice flight time, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 3 is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Air 2 is unmarked (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 |  unmarked · 570 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 13 Dec 2022 | 27 Apr 2020 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 248 g Ahead | 570 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g (C1 with Plus pack) · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead | unmarked · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A3 Far from People |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. Ahead | No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: 50 m from uninvolved people; 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. A2 only with an A2 CofC. Flyer ID + Operator ID. |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 148 × 90 × 62 mm | 180 × 97 × 84 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Ahead | 1/2-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2.8 |
| 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-Cinelike |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/30 HDR | 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt · true vertical Ahead | 24° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 38 min (51 with Plus) Ahead | 34 min |
| Hover time | 33 min Same | 33 min Same |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s |
| Max speed | 57.6 km/h Sport | 68.4 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 3.5 m/s Same | 4 / 3 m/s Same |
| Max takeoff altitude | 4000 m | 5000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Front / back / down Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 6 km CE · O2 (10 km FCC) Same | 6 km CE · O2 (10 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 18.1 Wh (28.4 Wh Plus) | 40.4 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | Card only Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, up to 256 GB Same | microSD, up to 256 GB Same |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo | GPS + GLONASS |
| 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. Air 2 main: 1/2-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60. You would notice sensor class in low light; you would not notice the word 4K if both already do it.
Do I need to register the Air 2 in the UK?
Air 2 is unmarked, takeoff about 570 g (570 g with battery. No class mark. Not Air 2S.). 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 Air 2 in the UK?
Air 2 (unmarked): A3 Far from People. No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: 50 m from uninvolved people; 150 m from built-up areas. No overflight. A2 only with an A2 CofC. Flyer ID + Operator ID. 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?
Air 2 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini 3 10.7 m/s, Air 2 10.5 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 on paper. Mini 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Downward; Air 2 is 1/2-inch CMOS with Front / back / down. 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). Air 2 if you will accept unmarked and 570 g for the bigger airframe.
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, Air 2 —. 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. Air 2: 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 as of 2026-08-31 | Air 2 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £319 Mini 3 with DJI RC (C0) | — Discontinued as new — Mavic Air 2 (not Air 2S, not Air 3) |
| Amazon UK | £339 Mini 3 (RC-N1) | See Amazon No new Air 2 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Air 2S |
| eBay UK band | £210–£360 Used Mini 3 + RC working kits | See eBay Used Air 2 kits — confirm it is not Air 2S |
| 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 - DJI Air 2S vs Mavic Air 2 vs DJI Mavic 2 Pro
1-inch vs Air 2, 5.4K, no class mark, front/back/up/down sensing
Heliguy · 2021-04-15