Comparison
DJI Neo vs DJI Air 3
Neo spec · Air 3 spec · Upgrade from Neo · Upgrade from Air 3 · All compares
Would you notice?
Neo vs Air 3: 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 3 is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
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| Spec |  C0 · 135 g |  C1 · 720 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 5 Sept 2024 | 27 Jul 2023 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 135 g Ahead | 720 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead | C1 · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Ahead | A1 Over People (C1 until 31 Dec 2027) |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. 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 | 130 × 157 × 49 mm (guards on) | 207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14 mm | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.7 |
| Field of view | 117.6° Ahead | 82° |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera | 70 mm 1/1.3-inch CMOS Ahead |
| Max video | 4K/30 | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 60° tilt | 90° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 18 min | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 18 min | 42 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 4 · 8 m/s | Level 5 · 12 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 57 km/h Sport | 68 km/h EU · 75.6 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 3 / 2 m/s | 10 / 10 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 2000 m | 6000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward | Omnidirectional Ahead |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 6 km CE · O2 / Wi-Fi / phone (10 km FCC) Same | 10 km CE · O4 (20 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 10.5 Wh | 62.6 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 22 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | None — internal only | microSD UHS-I Speed Class 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?
Neo main: 1/2-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14 mm, 4K/30. Air 3 main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100. 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 Air 3 — that is a different picture, not a sharper crop.
Do I need to register the Air 3 in the UK?
Air 3 is C1, takeoff about 720 g (C1. Flyer ID required.). 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 3 in the UK?
Air 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 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 3 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Neo 8 m/s, Air 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?
Air 3 on paper. Neo is 1/2-inch CMOS with Downward; Air 3 is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Omnidirectional. 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 3 if you will accept C1 and 720 g for the extra camera.
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 3 £869 — £690 more for the Air 3. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Neo: First flights, palm takeoff, small sensor. Air 3: 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 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £179 Neo (drone only) | £869 Air 3 (DJI RC-N2) — not Air 3S |
| Amazon UK | £119 Neo (drone only) | See Amazon No new Air 3 (not 3S) buy box — search only |
| eBay UK band | £90–£200 Used drone-only working kits; Fly More is the top of the band | £600–£850 Used Air 3 Fly More Combo (not Air 3S) |
| CeX sell | — Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | — Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | See CeX Air 3 (RC-N2) Fly More Combo, SKU SROBDJIA3RCN2FMA — unpriced |
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 - DJI Air 3 vs Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
Dual 1/1.3 + 70 mm tele and wind vs sub-250 g Mini 4 Pro legality and size
DPReview · 2023-10-10
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.