This sub-250g folding quadcopter is an ideal starter model for curious pilots
With strong camera performance , whippy ascendency pick and a generous amount of flying time on a full direction , DJI ’s latest ultralight drone is yet another tempting prospect for first - timer , daily users and anyone interested in enter the Earth of aeriform photography and videography without accept to spend too much money .
This trailer ’s cagey folding design , palm take - off / landing capability and ability to fly without a dedicated controller make it the perfect fellow for last - moment route trips or days out .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Weighing under 250 g and close up down to a small size despite its mix propellor guard , the Flip is the latest ingress - level camera drone from global market leader DJI .
Coming in somewhere between the extremist - affordable , radical - simpleDJI Neoand the modest yet hugely capableDJI Mini 4 Pro , the lightweight Flip offer 4 K picture and 48MP photography , subject tracking , obstruction dodging and up to 31 minutes of flight of steps prison term on a individual battery . This is all while skylark a new fold design that allow for the monotone to gain from the added protection of prop precaution .
I ’ve spend a few day flying the Flip , so understand on to find out if this is the best new entry - level drone on the food market .
Price and availability
The DJI Flip is uncommitted in three dissimilar packages which are all uncommitted to enjoin from the release engagement of 14 January 2025 .
The drone can be purchased unaccompanied ( i.e. with no controller and a individual battery ) for $ 439/£369/€439 / A$699 , or in one of two bundles . The first bundle include a DJI RC 2 duplicate - stick touchscreen outside controller and a single shelling and costs $ 639/£549/€639 / A$949 , while the deluxe ‘ aviate More Combo ’ packet come with the RC 2 , three batteries , a battery charge hub and a carrying bag with elbow room for everything . This software program ( which is the one I was sent for the purposes of this critique ) costs $ 779/£659/€779 / A$1159 .
Design and build quality
The vital thing to sleep together about the DJI Flip ’s design , especially for UK - based would - be drone pilots , is that it fits in the ultralight category .
Under UK practice of law , a drone under 250 g ( this one press 249 g ) can be flown in public places and within 50 MB of uninvolved people by anybody who has passed a basic online test and paid for an hustler ID ( presently £ 11.13 per year ) . Heavier bourdon are subject to far more restrictions , almost to the point where I ’d send word any ‘ nonchalant ’ drug user against buying one in this land .
To get the Flip ’s weight down , DJI has employed some clever design tricks . The folding design , where all four airplane propeller motors end up pile on top of each other , is one I have n’t seen before ; I suspect I ’ll see it a lot in the futurity though , ingenious as it is . It ’s allowed the pilotless aircraft width to be greater than most ultralight models , all while incorporate property guards into the invention . These foreclose the propellers from colliding with objects ( or people ) and make the Flip suitable for indoor flight , all without add significant weight .
Despite its lightweight build though , the Flip feel well made . The wheel spoke on the prop safety gadget are made from carbon fibre , for model , while the credit card that mould the bulk of the build is befittingly tough .
Like many consumer droning , there ’s a camera situate at the nose ( here mounted on a 3 - axis gimbal to help keep it level ) , while the removable assault and battery securely fixes to the back . A USB - C port on one side allows for reload and data transfer , and a microSD notice time slot allows users to bolster the slightly stingy 2 GB of built - in storage space . On the opposite side of the Flip is the power button and battery life bar , providing a visual denotation of the continue ability via four greenish dots .
For those who purchase the RC 2 or Fly More Combo , the additional items are also of good quality . The RC 2 controller is n’t raw , having been usable with previous DJI drones , and is an excellent twin - reefer touchscreen accountant that feels keen in the hands and give a crisp , brilliant view via its concealment .
The barrage fire charging hub houses up to four bombardment , level them one after the other via USB - C ( when using a 48W connection , it can recharge an empty battery in around 45 minute ) , while the comport bag accommodates all the Fly More Combo element snugly and safely while leaving a bit of supererogatory elbow room for cable system , spare propellor and other accouterment .
Flight performance
I ’m glad ( but not surprised ) to report that the Flip is promiscuous and safe to fly , and despite its size of it and weight , it extend impressive battery life sentence .
On a full charge , the laggard can stay in the air for up to 31 second , although my real - world exam indicate the lawful figure ( once you ’ve factored in malarkey speed , manoeuvres , photographic camera use and the like ) is closer to 20 minutes . That ’s still very respectable in my view , and the extra two batteries provided by the Fly More Combo means you may get a good hour of flight of stairs in before needing to hunt down a bulwark socket or power bank .
For flight , you’re able to practice the RC 2 controller ( which offers a theoretical range of up to 8 km via its O4 transmission system ) , your smartphone running the DJI Fly app ( up to 50 m range via Wi - Fi ) or , as with the DJI Neo , by using simple paw gestures in lieu of a controller . The latter method acting is n’t much fun in my experience , due to the deficiency of control it gives you , but in its defence , it enables you to capture spry shots in a jot without needing to pack the RC 2 or even pull out your telephone set .
As with the Neo , the Flip can also take off from your hand and , thanks to its downward sensors , land safely back on an upturned palm . That ’s very handy when launching it in a tricky location without 2-dimensional , level surfaces .
While you ’ll have to go up the DJI range of mountains for full omnidirectional object sensing ( the only ultralight manikin that features it is the DJI Mini 4 Pro ) , the Flip does have a forward - face sensor that allows it to notice objects in front and motorcar - brake the droning to forbid collisions . I tested it and found it would n’t let me fly into a hedge – and I opine , while obviously not as fool - proof as a right all - direction avoidance system , when paired with the prop guards it makes for a secure , mostly emphasis - free flying experience .
I did acknowledge a couple of things with my recapitulation sample that I was n’t entirely happy with , though .
At one point the Flip , which DJI claims is spirit level 5 wind resistant , almost got carried away by the coastal blows near my domicile , only reelect to an gentle - to - control state when I bring it closer to the ground . I can likely chalk this up to unco secure winter winds , though – and remember any lightweight drone would sputter in similar conditions .
The 2nd black mark was some very casual but very threatening tilting of the camera during sideways movement to about 45º. I ’ve never detect this on other DJI drones with 3 - axis gimbal , so it could be a pre - release glitch in the flight organization that will be ironed out via microcode update . Further , more extensive testing is command here , but it ’s something to take over in mind .
The sensing element also enables the ‘ AI - assist ’ dependent tracking , which works in much the same way as the Neo ’s . It ’s basically aim at content Jehovah who want to create quick shots of themselves for social media or vlogs , and not as reliable or cagey as the obstruction - dodging pathing arrangement used by DJI ’s pricier drones . However , it does work well for the shooting modes corroborate .
Camera performance
Anyone intimate with DJI ’s recent Mini radio-controlled aircraft will distinguish the camera performance here .
I believe the Flip uses the same 4:3 view 1/1.3 - column inch CMOS sensor as the DJI Mini 4 Pro , allowing it to capture 4 kB HDR video at up to 60fps ( or 100fps when record for the purposes of tedious - move playback ) , 2.7 G upright video recording at photos at a resolution of 12MP or 48MP .
I record the above footage in the D - Log M colour visibility , vividness correcting and grading the footage in post - output using DaVinci Resolve . Photos , meanwhile , can be captured in JPEG and/or DNG RAW . The sample distribution you see below were captured in RAW , and then processed using Adobe Lightroom .
While the camera on a recent premium drone like theDJI Air 3Sdelivers far superior results , I ’m more than glad with the Flip ’s photo and TV execution . This is a modest , lightweight drone that sit in the same free weight year as literal toys , but it make splendid footage and photos in the correct conditions . You do necessitate respectable inflammation to get good termination , it ’s on-key , and the lack of an optic zoom does limit your constitution option – but these have always been issues with minuscule , more affordable lagger , and it would be unfair to expect the Flip to furbish up them .
The Flip also come with the usual particular shooting modes you ’d expect from a DJI drone . There ’s the aforesaid slow - motion video , as well as Hyperlapse video , panoramic photos and , via the MasterShots option , some piquant camera moves that create instantly shareable video clips for social medium .
Should you buy it?
The DJI Neo was full of limit , but the Flip does n’t find that manner thanks to better escape and tv camera performance .
If you ’re appear for the salutary consumer drone camera timbre and low - illumination performance , you ’ll have to look at bulkier models like the DJI Air 3S.
Final Thoughts
The DJI Flip baby-sit comfortably between the Neo and Mini 4 Pro in DJI ’s orbit , offering much of the pick - up - and - playact user - friendliness of the former along with similar camera performance to the latter – all while hitting that all - important sub-250 g bull’s eye .
It unquestionably does n’t tucker out the Mini 4 professional , due to its want of omnidirectional aim detection , but for people who need an affordable jackanapes drone for snap up quick shot while on holiday or for vlogging intention , the Flip makes a heap of sense .
Do n’t draw a blank to bring down our scout to thebest dronesfor more great options for pip aerial picture taking .
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FAQs
Yes , the DJI Flip weighs 249 g. This means it falls under few limitation than drones over 250 g in the UK .
The DJI Flip have a 1/1.3 - inch image sensing element and a 24 mm tantamount lens .
Full Specifications
Full Specs
