Comparison
DJI Neo vs DJI Mini 3
Neo spec · Mini 3 spec · Upgrade from Neo · Upgrade from Mini 3 · All compares
Would you notice?
Neo 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-inch CMOS vs 1/1.3-inch CMOS) in evening light; you would notice gimbal travel if you shoot vertical or roll. You would not really notice max video, internal storage. UK: C0, stays under 250 g on every one of these. Flyer ID and Operator ID apply from 100 g with a camera — that is every drone here.
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 |  C0 · 248 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 5 Sept 2024 | 13 Dec 2022 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 135 g Ahead | 248 g |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same | C0 · sub-250 g (C1 with Plus pack) · Operator ID + Flyer ID Same |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Same | A1 Over People Same |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. 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 | 130 × 157 × 49 mm (guards on) | 148 × 90 × 62 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 | 82.1° |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–3200 / 100–3200 |
| Colour / log | Rec. 709 / normal Same | Rec. 709 / normal Same |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/30 | 4K/30 HDR |
| Gimbal / vertical | 60° tilt | 90° tilt · true vertical Ahead |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 18 min | 38 min (51 with Plus) Ahead |
| Hover time | 18 min | 33 min Ahead |
| Wind resistance | Level 4 · 8 m/s | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead |
| Max speed | 57 km/h Sport Same | 57.6 km/h Sport Same |
| Climb / descent | 3 / 2 m/s | 5 / 3.5 m/s Ahead |
| Max takeoff altitude | 2000 m | 4000 m Ahead |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Downward Same | Downward Same |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 6 km CE · O2 / Wi-Fi / phone (10 km FCC) Same | 6 km CE · O2 (10 km FCC) Same |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 10.5 Wh Same | 18.1 Wh (28.4 Wh Plus) Same |
| Internal storage | 22 GB Ahead | Card only |
| microSD | None — internal only | microSD, up to 256 GB |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou | GPS + GLONASS + Galileo |
| 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. 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).
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).
Which is better in wind?
Mini 3 carries more mass into DJI’s published wind figure (Neo 8 m/s, Mini 3 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?
Mini 3 on paper. Neo is 1/2-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?
Neo if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 135 g). Mini 3 if you will accept C0 and 248 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, Mini 3 £319 — £140 more for the Mini 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. 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.
| Neo as of 2026-08-31 | Mini 3 as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £179 Neo (drone only) | £319 Mini 3 with DJI RC (C0) |
| Amazon UK | £119 Neo (drone only) | £339 Mini 3 (RC-N1) |
| eBay UK band | £90–£200 Used drone-only working kits; Fly More is the top of the band | £210–£360 Used Mini 3 + RC working kits |
| CeX sell | — Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | — Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Neo A, SKU SROBDJINEONRA (unpriced today) | See CeX Mini 3 Fly More Combo + DJI RC, grade B (unpriced today) EAN 6941565949912 |
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 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
Adjacent comparisons
Same-line alternatives for each side. The rest of the grid is on the drone pages and the compare hub.