DJI Flip The Best of Lightweight Drones for $439
Discover the DJI Flip, a lightweight and innovative drone that combines advanced features from DJI's top models. With a 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K video, obstacle detection, and a compact design, the Flip offers impressive performance at an affordable price starting at $439.

DJI continues its streak of innovation with the launch of the Flip, a lightweight, people-safe drone that introduces a unique foldable design — folding downward to accommodate its large, shrouded propellers. This new model is designed to appeal to both beginners and experienced users, featuring a large sensor, 4K 100p video, a three-axis gimbal, enhanced safety features, and an affordable price point.
The company describes the Flip as blending the simplicity of the DJI Neo with the impressive photo capabilities of the DJI Mini. In many respects, it surpasses both. The Flip incorporates a LiDAR system from the Air 3S for advanced obstacle detection, and its propellers are fully protected, significantly reducing the risk of injury. DJI claims the guard structure is made from carbon fiber string, which is 1/60th the weight of polycarbonate but equally strong. This innovation enables the drone to stay under 249 grams, allowing users to fly it without a permit in most countries.
For beginners, the Flip offers a similar experience to the Neo, allowing users to simply hold the drone in their hand and choose from six intelligent flight modes, such as Dronie or Boomerang. Once selected, the drone will automatically take off and execute the chosen mode, capturing high-quality video at up to 4K 60p while using the LiDAR sensor to avoid obstacles. This makes it an ideal tool for novice drone operators to quickly capture dynamic aerial footage with ease and safety.
More experienced users can opt to fly the Flip with a controller, either the RC 2 (with a screen) or the RC-N3 (without one). This offers full manual control and unlocks DJI's FocusTrack technology, which includes ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0, enabling automatic subject tracking. Additionally, the Flip uses its LiDAR sensor to avoid forward obstacles and its 3D infrared system to detect objects below. However, the Flip does not track obstacles behind it, so users should exercise caution when flying in reverse.
For those hoping to use the Flip as an FPV drone, it won't be possible. Unlike the Neo, the Flip does not support the Goggles N3 and Motion 3 controller combination, and there is no indication that this feature will be available in the future.
The Flip can reach speeds of up to 26 MPH in sport mode (with object detection disabled), which is impressive for such a compact drone. However, due to its lightweight build and large surface area when unfolded, it may struggle in high winds. On the plus side, the large propellers make the Flip much quieter than the Neo, making it a more practical choice for events like weddings or concerts where noise is a concern.
The batteries are incredibly light at just 83.5 grams, yet pack a 3,110 mAh capacity, allowing the Flip to stay airborne for up to 34 minutes (about 28 minutes in real-world conditions). They can be charged directly on the drone or more efficiently using the four-battery charger included in the Fly More kit, which can charge two batteries in just 70 minutes with 65W of power. To keep the weight down, the Flip does not have built-in internal storage, so users will need to provide a high-speed microSD card.
The Flip supports DJI's O4 transmission system, delivering live video up to 1080p at 60fps, with a maximum range of 8 miles in the US and 5 miles in Europe—impressive for such a compact drone. Like the Neo, the Flip can also be controlled via a smartphone using WiFi, but its range is limited to 50 meters.
Equipped with the same 1/1.3-inch sensor as the Mini 4 Pro, the Flip offers excellent video and photo quality. It supports 4K at up to 60fps or 4K at 100fps in slow-motion mode, with options for regular, HDR, or D-LogM quality. However, unlike the Mini 4 Pro, the camera does not rotate sideways for full-resolution vertical shooting, limiting this feature to 2.7K — a slight disappointment for TikTok or Instagram creators.
DJI's latest drone seems to be partly a response to its competitor, HoverAir, which also produces lightweight drones with shrouded propellers and palm takeoff capabilities. However, the Flip stands out with larger propellers and double the flight time.
One minor downside I noticed is that the Flip's propellers don't offer much ground clearance, which can cause them to snag on short grass during takeoff. As a result, it's best to take off from a flat, smooth surface or your hand. For a more in-depth review, stay tuned for my full Engadget review, coming soon.
Otherwise, the Flip appears to be another strong offering from DJI, providing more advantages than the Neo (including significantly less noise) for just over $200 more. The Flip is available for $439 with the RC-N3 controller, $639 with the RC 2 screen controller, or $779 in the Fly More kit, which includes the RC 2 screen controller, a charging hub, a carrying case, and two extra batteries.
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