Comparison
DJI Mini SE vs DJI Mini 3
Would you notice?
Mini SE vs Mini 3: 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 1/1.3-inch CMOS) in evening light; you would notice gimbal travel if you shoot vertical or roll; you would notice endurance on a two-battery outing, not a single park lap. You would not really notice max video, wind. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Mini SE is unmarked / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mini 3 is C0 / sub-250 g (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 |  C0 · 248 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 11 Jun 2021 | 13 Dec 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Same | 248 g Same |
| UK class / IDs | unmarked · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID | C0 · sub-250 g (C1 with Plus pack) · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Same | A1 Over People Same |
| 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. Same | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. Same |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 138 × 81 × 58 mm | 148 × 90 × 62 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.7 |
| Field of view | 83° Same | 82.1° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–3200 / 100–3200 Same | 100–3200 / 100–3200 Same |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal Same | Rec. 709 / normal Same |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 2.7K/30 | 4K/30 HDR |
| Gimbal / vertical | 20° tilt | 90° tilt · true vertical Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 30 min | 38 min (51 with Plus) Ahead |
| Hover time | — | 33 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 46.8 km/h Sport | 57.6 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 4 / 3 m/s Same | 5 / 3.5 m/s Same |
| Max takeoff altitude | 3000 m | 4000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward Same | Downward Same |
| 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 Same | 18.1 Wh (28.4 Wh Plus) Same |
| Internal storage | Card only Same | Card only 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 | −10 to 40 °C |
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. Mini 3 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/30 HDR. 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 Mini 3 in the UK?
Mini 3 is C0, takeoff about 248 g (Under 249 g.). 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).
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 Mini 3 in the UK?
Mini 3 (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).
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 at dusk?
Mini 3 on paper. Mini SE is 1/2.3-inch CMOS with Downward; Mini 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Downward. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Mini 3 if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 248 g). Mini SE if you will accept unmarked and 249 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 —, Mini 3 £319. 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. Mini 3: C0, 1/1.3-inch CMOS.
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 | Mini 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | — Discontinued as new — Mini SE (not Mini 2, not Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K) | £319 Mini 3 with DJI RC (C0) |
| Amazon UK | See Amazon No new Mini SE buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Mini 2 SE | £339 Mini 3 (RC-N1) |
| eBay UK band | See eBay Used Mini SE kits — confirm it is not Mini 2 or Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K | £210–£360 Used Mini 3 + RC working kits |
| CeX sell | — CeX search — no SKU invented | — Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented | See CeX Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 |
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 Mini 3 vs DJI Mini 3 Pro
1/1.3 shared class, 12 MP vs 48 MP, downward vs tri-directional sensing, price
Heliguy · 2022-12-14 - DJI Mini 3 review: a spendy, sophisticated entry-level drone
True vertical Mini without 4K/60, obstacle avoidance or subject tracking
DPReview · 2022-12-09 - The DJI Mini 3 is the best first drone to buy, period
First-drone flying, 4K/30, 1/1.3 sensor, endurance without Pro flight modes
Videomaker · 2023-01-15