Comparison
DJI Mini SE vs DJI Mavic Air 2
Would you notice?
Mini SE vs Air 2: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice max video only if you slow-mo or grade HDR. You would not really notice sensor, flight time. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini SE is unmarked / 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 |  unmarked · 249 g |  unmarked · 570 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 11 Jun 2021 | 27 Apr 2020 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Ahead | 570 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 × 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 | 2.7K/30 | 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 20° tilt Same | 24° tilt Same |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 30 min | 34 min Ahead |
| Hover time | — | 33 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s Same | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s Same |
| Max speed | 46.8 km/h Sport | 68.4 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 4 / 3 m/s Same | 4 / 3 m/s Same |
| 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) 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, UHS-I Speed Class 3 | microSD, up to 256 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + GLONASS Same | GPS + GLONASS Same |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 °C | −10 to 40 °C |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
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 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 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 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 2 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Mini SE 10.5 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 SE 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 SE if the constraint is a bag and UK class (unmarked, 249 g). Air 2 if you will accept unmarked and 570 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 2 —. 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 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 SE as of 2026-08-31 | Air 2 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 — Mavic Air 2 (not Air 2S, not Air 3) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Mini SE buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Mini 2 SE | See Amazon No new Air 2 buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Air 2S |
| 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 2 kits — confirm it is not Air 2S |
| 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 - 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