Comparison
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mavic 3
Would you notice?
Mini 5 Pro 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 wind, obstacle sensing, internal storage. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini 5 Pro 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 · 249.9 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 17 Sept 2025 | 9 Nov 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249.9 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 (C0 pack) Ahead | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID on both packs. Plus battery is C1 — still A1 until 31 Dec 2027. Weigh it. 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 | 157 × 95 × 68 mm | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 84° Same | 84° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–12800 | 100–6400 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M / HLG | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 162 mm 1/2-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120 Ahead | 5.1K/50 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 225° tilt · true vertical Ahead | 90° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 36 min (52 with Plus) | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 31 min | 40 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 54 km/h EU · 65 km/h FCC | 68 km/h EU · 75 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 5 m/s | 8 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 6000 m Same | 6000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Omni + nightscape Ahead | Omnidirectional |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 10 km CE · O4+ (20 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 19.5 Wh (33.5 Wh Plus) | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 42 GB Ahead | 8 GB |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 3, up to 512 GB | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 3, up to 512 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou Same | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou Same |
| 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 5 Pro main: 1-inch CMOS · 50 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/120. 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 5 Pro in the UK?
Mini 5 Pro is C0, takeoff about 249.9 g (DJI publishes 249.9 g ± 4 g. Fly More Combo is C0; Fly More Combo Plus is C1. The Plus battery takes a C0 airframe over the C0/UK0 MTOM.). 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 5 Pro in the UK?
Mini 5 Pro (C0): A1 Over People (C0 pack). May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID on both packs. Plus battery is C1 — still A1 until 31 Dec 2027. Weigh it. 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 5 Pro 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 5 Pro is 1-inch CMOS with Omni + nightscape; 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 5 Pro if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 249.9 g). Mavic 3 if you will accept C1 and 895 g for the extra camera.
Can I keep my Mini 5 Pro 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 5 Pro £619, Mavic 3 —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini 5 Pro: Travel and parks; stay in the Mini class on purpose. 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 5 Pro as of 2026-08-31 | Mavic 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £619 Mini 5 Pro (RC-N3, 1× Intelligent Flight Battery, C0) | — Discontinued as new — Mavic 3 (not Cine, not Classic, not Pro) |
| Amazon UK | £619 Mini 5 Pro with RC-N3 (new, 1-battery C0 kit) | See Amazon No new Mavic 3 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| eBay UK band | £550–£820 Used Mini 5 Pro + Fly More Combo (C0 and Plus mixed — check the battery) | See eBay Used Mavic 3 kits — confirm it is not Classic, Pro or Cine |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no Mini 5 Pro SKU priced on 31 Aug 2026 | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no Mini 5 Pro SKU priced on 31 Aug 2026 | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- Mini 5 Pro vs Mavic 4 Pro vs Air 3S
Camera systems, gimbal rotation, weight class and who each airframe is for
Heliguy · 2025-10-01 - Best DJI drone 2026: Neo 2 vs Flip vs Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S vs Mavic 4 Pro vs Avata 2
UK running costs, legality vs weather, Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S as a complementary pair
Gadget Scout · 2026-01-15 - 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