Comparison
DJI Mini 4K vs DJI Air 2S
Would you notice?
Mini 4K vs Air 2S: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice gimbal. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 4K is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Air 2S 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 · 246 g |  unmarked · 595 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 1 Nov 2023 | 15 Apr 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 246 g Ahead | 595 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g · 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 | 138 × 81 × 58 mm | 180 × 97 × 77 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm | 1-inch CMOS · 20 MP · 22 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 Same | f/2.8 Same |
| Field of view | 83° Same | 88° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–3200 / 100–3200 | 100–12800 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log M |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/30 | 5.4K/30, 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 0° tilt | 24° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 31 min Same | 31 min Same |
| Hover time | 28 min Same | 30 min Same |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Same | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Same |
| Max speed | 57.6 km/h Sport | 68.4 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 3.5 m/s | 6 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| 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 | 8 km CE · O3 (12 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 17.3 Wh | 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 Same | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo Same |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 °C Same | 0 to 40 °C Same |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Mini 4K main: 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm, 4K/30. Air 2S main: 1-inch CMOS · 20 MP · 22 mm, 5.4K/30, 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 2S in the UK?
Air 2S is unmarked, takeoff about 595 g (595 g with battery. No class mark.). 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 4K in the UK?
Mini 4K is C0, takeoff about 246 g (DJI Mini 4K / Mini 2 SE family: 246 g with standard battery. Mini SE (2021, 2.7K Wi-Fi) is a different 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).
How far from people can I fly the Air 2S in the UK?
Air 2S (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 4K in the UK?
Mini 4K (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 2S carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini 4K 10.7 m/s, Air 2S 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?
Air 2S on paper. Mini 4K is 1/2.3-inch CMOS with Downward; Air 2S is 1-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 4K if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 246 g). Air 2S if you will accept unmarked and 595 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Mini 4K batteries, controller or ND filters?
You can keep: DJI RC-N1. You cannot take: Mini 2 / Mini 4K 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 4K £259, Air 2S —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini 4K: C0, 1/2.3-inch CMOS. Air 2S: 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 4K as of 2026-08-31 | Air 2S as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £259 Mini 4K (typical drone + RC) | — Discontinued as new — Air 2S (not Air 3, not Air 3S) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No clean Mini 4K buy-box (old ASIN now Lito 1) | See Amazon No new Air 2S buy-box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £160–£250 Used Mini 4K + RC working kits; Fly More at the top | See eBay Used Air 2S kits; Fly More at the top — confirm it is not Air 3 |
| CeX sell | £270 Mini 4K Fly More Combo, grade C EAN 6941565980397 | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | £167 / £194 Mini 4K Fly More Combo, grade C EAN 6941565980397 | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- 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 - Review: DJI's Air 2S is the ultimate consumer drone
1-inch 20 MP, 5.4K/30, 4K/60, 10-bit D-Log, 595 g
DPReview · 2021-04-17 - 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