Comparison
DJI Mini SE vs DJI Air 2S
Would you notice?
Mini SE vs Air 2S: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice the sensor (1/2.3-inch CMOS vs 1-inch CMOS) in evening light. You would not really notice wind, transmission range. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini SE is unmarked / 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 |  unmarked · 249 g |  unmarked · 595 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 11 Jun 2021 Same | 15 Apr 2021 Same |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Ahead | 595 g |
| UK class / IDs | unmarked · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same | unmarked · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A3 Far from People |
| From uninvolved people | No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. 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 | 2.7K/30 | 5.4K/30, 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 20° tilt Same | 24° tilt Same |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 30 min Same | 31 min Same |
| Hover time | — | 30 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 46.8 km/h Sport | 68.4 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 4 / 3 m/s | 6 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 3000 m | 5000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Front / back / down Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 2 km CE · Enhanced Wi-Fi (4 km FCC) | 8 km CE · O3 (12 km FCC) Ahead |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 17.3 Wh | 40.4 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | Card only Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | microSD, UHS-I Speed Class 3 | microSD, up to 256 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo |
| 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 SE main: 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm, 2.7K/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 SE in the UK?
Mini SE is unmarked, takeoff about 249 g (DJI publishes takeoff under 249 g. Not Mini 2 SE (that is the Mini 4K shell).). 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 SE in the UK?
Mini SE (unmarked): A1 Over People. No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. 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 SE 10.5 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 SE 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 SE if the constraint is a bag and UK class (unmarked, 249 g). Air 2S if you will accept unmarked and 595 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Mini SE 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 SE —, Air 2S —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Mini SE: unmarked, 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 SE as of 2026-08-31 | Air 2S as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new — Mini SE (not Mini 2, not Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K) | — Discontinued as new — Air 2S (not Air 3, not Air 3S) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Mini SE buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Mini 2 SE | See Amazon No new Air 2S buy-box — search only |
| eBay UK band | See eBay Used Mini SE kits — confirm it is not Mini 2 or Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K | See eBay Used Air 2S kits; Fly More at the top — confirm it is not Air 3 |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no SKU invented | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- Review: the DJI Mini 2 is the perfect drone for beginners
4K/30, RAW stills, OcuSync 2.0, sub-250 g, no obstacle avoidance
DPReview · 2020-11-05 - 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