Comparison
DJI Neo vs DJI Air 2S
Would you notice?
Neo vs Air 2S: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice gimbal. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Neo is C0 / 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 |  C0 · 135 g |  unmarked · 595 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 5 Sept 2024 | 15 Apr 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 135 g Ahead | 595 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 | 130 × 157 × 49 mm (guards on) | 180 × 97 × 77 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14 mm | 1-inch CMOS · 20 MP · 22 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 Same | f/2.8 Same |
| Field of view | 117.6° Ahead | 88° |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–12800 / 100–6400 |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log M |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/30 | 5.4K/30, 4K/60 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 60° tilt Ahead | 24° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 18 min | 31 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 18 min | 30 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 4 · 8 m/s | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 57 km/h Sport | 68.4 km/h Sport Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 3 / 2 m/s | 6 / 6 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 2000 m | 5000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Front / back / down Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 6 km CE · O2 / Wi-Fi / phone (10 km FCC) Same | 8 km CE · O3 (12 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 10.5 Wh | 40.4 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 22 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | None — internal only | microSD, up to 256 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 40 °C | 0 to 40 °C |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Neo main: 1/2-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14 mm, 4K/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 Neo in the UK?
Neo is C0, takeoff about 135 g (Palm-sized, propeller guards on.). 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 Neo in the UK?
Neo (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 2S carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Neo 8 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. Neo is 1/2-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?
Neo if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 135 g). Air 2S if you will accept unmarked and 595 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Neo 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): Neo £179, Air 2S —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Neo: First flights, palm takeoff, small sensor. 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.
| Neo as of 2026-08-31 | Air 2S as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £179 Neo (drone only) | — Discontinued as new — Air 2S (not Air 3, not Air 3S) |
| Amazon UK | £119 Neo (drone only) | See Amazon No new Air 2S buy-box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £90–£200 Used drone-only working kits; Fly More is the top of the band | See eBay Used Air 2S kits; Fly More at the top — confirm it is not Air 3 |
| CeX sell | — Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- 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 - 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