DroneIQ

Comparison

DJI Mini 4K vs DJI Mavic Air 2

Would you notice?

Mini 4K 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 sensor, gimbal, flight time. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 4K 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
DJI Mini 4K hovering outdoors
Photo: ZLEA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mini 4K
C0 · 246 g
DJI Mavic Air 2, official product still
Product image: DJI Store UK
Air 2
unmarked · 570 g
Identity
Released
1 Nov 2023
27 Apr 2020
App
DJI Fly
Same
DJI Fly
Same
Weight & UK law
Takeoff weight
246 g
Ahead
570 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 × 84 mm
Camera
Main sensor
1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm
1/2-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm
Ahead
Aperture
f/2.8
Same
f/2.8
Same
Field of view
83°
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
4K/60
Ahead
Gimbal / vertical
0° tilt
24° tilt
Ahead
Flight
Lab flight time
31 min
34 min
Ahead
Hover time
28 min
33 min
Ahead
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
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
GPS + GLONASS
Operating temperature
0 to 40 °C
−10 to 40 °C

The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.

UK Open category, IDs and Remote ID

Questions

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 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 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 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 2 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini 4K 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?

Air 2 on paper. Mini 4K is 1/2.3-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 4K if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 246 g). Air 2 if you will accept unmarked and 570 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 2 —. 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 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 4K
as of 2026-08-31
Air 2
as of 2026-08-31
DJI Store UK RRP£259
Mini 4K (typical drone + RC)
Discontinued as new — Mavic Air 2 (not Air 2S, not Air 3)
Amazon UKSee Amazon
No clean Mini 4K buy-box (old ASIN now Lito 1)
See Amazon
No new Air 2 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Air 2S
eBay UK band£160–£250
Used Mini 4K + RC working kits; Fly More at the top
See eBay
Used Air 2 kits — confirm it is not Air 2S
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

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