Comparison
DJI Neo vs DJI Mavic 3 Classic
Neo spec · Mavic 3 Classic spec · Upgrade from Neo · Upgrade from Mavic 3 Classic · All compares
Would you notice?
Neo vs Mavic 3 Classic: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people. You would not really notice max video, gimbal. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Neo is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mavic 3 Classic is C1 (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
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| Spec |  C0 · 135 g |  C1 · 895 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 5 Sept 2024 | 2 Nov 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 135 g Ahead | 895 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) | 221 × 96.3 × 90.3 mm (folded, no props) |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/2-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 14 mm | 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm Ahead |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8–f/11 |
| Field of view | 117.6° Ahead | 84° |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same | 100–6400 / 100–6400 Same |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal | D-Log / D-Log M / HLG |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/30 | 5.1K/50 Ahead |
| Gimbal / vertical | 60° tilt | 90° tilt Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 18 min | 46 min Ahead |
| Hover time | 18 min | 40 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 km/h FCC Ahead |
| Climb / descent | 3 / 2 m/s | 8 / 6 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 | 8 km CE · O3+ (15 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 10.5 Wh | 77 Wh Ahead |
| Internal storage | 22 GB Same | 8 GB Same |
| microSD | None — internal only | microSD UHS-I Speed Grade 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. Mavic 3 Classic main: 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad · 20 MP · 24 mm, 5.1K/50. 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 Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic is C1, takeoff about 895 g (Just under 900 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. 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 Mavic 3 Classic in the UK?
Mavic 3 Classic (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?
Mavic 3 Classic carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Neo 8 m/s, Mavic 3 Classic 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?
Mavic 3 Classic on paper. Neo is 1/2-inch CMOS with Downward; Mavic 3 Classic is 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad 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). Mavic 3 Classic if you will accept C1 and 895 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, Mavic 3 Classic £1,119 — £940 more for the Mavic 3 Classic. Street, eBay bands and CeX trade-in are on the board; they move.
Who should buy which?
Neo: First flights, palm takeoff, small sensor. Mavic 3 Classic: The job pays, or the Hasselblad is the point.
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 | Mavic 3 Classic as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £179 Neo (drone only) | £1,119 Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| Amazon UK | £119 Neo (drone only) | See Amazon No new Classic buy box — search only; ignore Mavic 4 Pro hits |
| eBay UK band | £90–£200 Used drone-only working kits; Fly More is the top of the band | £650–£1,050 Used Mavic 3 Classic (standard, not Cine, not Mavic 3 Pro) |
| CeX sell | — Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | — Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — unpriced |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | See CeX Mavic 3 Classic (DJI RC), SKU SROBDJIMAV3CLARCA — 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 Mavic 3 Classic review: a more affordable entry into the Mavic world
4/3 Hasselblad without the telephoto, 5.1K, as a cheaper Mavic 3
DPReview · 2022-11-02
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.