– Silvus Technologies, a Motorola Solutions company and a global provider of advanced wireless networking solutions, has unveiled the StreamCaster NEXUS, a next-generation, chest-mounted tactical networking system that delivers mission-critical connectivity and data access for real-time situational awareness. Optimized for size, weight and power (SWaP) to reduce the load an operator carries, the networking system […]
It’s unfortunate to learn that Altitude Angel has entered administration. The company played a pivotal role in the UK drone ecosystem, providing an accessible, centralised platform for UAS operators to review airspace restrictions and obtain digital flight authorisations within controlled zones. On 7 October 2025, FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators, drawing a line under a decade in […]
The words chainsaw, drone, automation and safety don’t immediately conjure up a vision of safety, but a group of researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand have developed an AI-driven chainsaw drone that offers a safer alternative for humans needing to work in high-risk arborist situations such as near powerlines. Leader of the […]
The police-tech giant Flock Safety is now selling its drones to the private sector to track shoplifters. Keith Kauffman, a former police chief who now leads Flock’s drone efforts, described the ideal scenario: A security team at a Home Depot, say, launches a drone from the roof that follows shoplifting suspects to their car. The […]
June 27, 1950. Seoul has fallen. At Suwon Airfield, American civilians are trapped as North Korean fighters strafe the runway, destroying transports one by one. Enemy armor is twenty miles away and closing. North Korean radar picks up five unidentified contacts approaching from the sea. The flight leader squints through his La-7 canopy. Whatever these […]
Russian air defense units are now equipped with Chinese radar systems designed to detect and track unmanned aerial vehicles. The technology is being integrated into counter-drone units to enhance targeting and guidance of FPV interceptors used against Ukrainian drones. Russian forces have acquired FSTH-LD02 and FSTH-LD03 radar systems manufactured by Zhejiang Fanshuang Technology. These compact, […]
Orkid has announced a new variant of its ORKID 260 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, bringing together four of the most advanced aerial data capture technologies into one integrated, NDAA-compliant system. The ORKID 260VTOL integrated drone combines LiDAR, photogrammetry, GNSS, and Starlink satellite connectivity onboard, allowing all systems to operate simultaneously. The drone features […]
New Louisiana operation underscores the growing importance of domestic drone production as U.S. demand for defense and industrial platforms accelerates DMR Technologies announced plans to invest $1.4 million to establish its first full-scale U.S. manufacturing facility in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, where the company will produce and deploy its flagship Field Ranger X50 unmanned aerial systems […]
Censys Technologies and STRIXDRONES USA have announced a strategic partnership that combines a long-endurance, fixed-wing drone built for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations with a fully autonomous docking station. The collaboration aims to enable continuous, remote inspection of power infrastructure across the United States. America’s utilities face mounting challenges from wildfire risk, vegetation […]
Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about the DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Pro. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I’m debating buying the DJI Mini 4 Pro or the DJI Flip. I sadly crashed my DJI Mini 3 Pro and I’m having trouble repairing it or finding someone who can repair it. I may just upgrade it instead.
I want a drone that’s good for pictures and videos, is easy to carry around, and can ideally fly out of the box (like the Mini 3 Pro). I saw the Mini 5 Pro just came out but it’s not being sold inside the US. What would you recommend I replace my Mini 3 Pro with?
Sorry to hear about your Mini 3 Pro! Losing a reliable drone is always tough, especially when you’re used to how well it performs. Let me help you figure out which replacement makes the most sense for your needs.
I’d lean toward the DJI Flip for most users in your situation, but the Mini 4 Pro has some advantages worth considering. Here’s why.
DJI Flip: The newer, more compact option
Sally French, The Drone Girl, reviews the DJI Flip. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
The Flip is DJI’s newest compact drone and brings some genuinely useful upgrades:
Portability: The Flip is incredibly pocket-friendly with its flip-phone-style folding design. If “easy to carry around” is a priority, this is as good as it gets. It’s smaller and lighter than the Mini 4 Pro when folded.
Image quality: The Flip features a 1/1.3-inch sensor (same as Mini 4 Pro) with 48MP photos and 4K/60fps video with 10-bit D-Log M. For pictures and videos, it’s excellent and matches the Mini 4 Pro’s capabilities.
Ready to fly: Like your Mini 3 Pro, the Flip is designed to fly right out of the box. Setup is straightforward, and it’s under 249 grams, so no FAA registration required for recreational flying in the US.
Modern features: It’s got subject tracking, obstacle avoidance, and all the intelligent flight modes you’d expect from a current DJI drone.
Price: I always have to factor in the cost difference. Especially given you’re buying an entirely new drone rather than go the repair route, you can at least save some money as the DJI Flip is generally more affordable than the Mini 4 Pro, which is a nice bonus.
The image quality on the two drones are essentially identical, with the same sensor size and capabilities. If your only goal is the camera itself, go with the cheaper Flip. But the Mini 4 Pro is a more powerful aircraft, which gives it some key strengths versus the DJI Flip that may be worth the upgrade.:
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance: This is the big one. The Mini 4 Pro has obstacle sensors in all directions, while the Flip has forward and backward only. If you’re flying in complex environments or still building confidence after your crash, this extra safety net matters.
Slightly better flight time: The Mini 4 Pro edges out the Flip with up to 34 minutes versus 31 minutes. This is truly not huge, but it may be noticeable if you’re doing longer shoots.
ActiveTrack 360: This one has more advanced tracking capabilities compared to the Flip’s subject tracking, which can 1. make flying (without crashing) easier, and just get generally better video angles.
You’re right that DJI announced the Mini 5 Pro, but it’s currently not available from DJI’s shop for shipment in the U.S. What’s more, there’s no confirmed US release date yet. While it’s tempting to wait, you could be waiting months, and you need a drone now. (Though you may have luck finding the DJI Mini 5 Pro from third-party retailers).
I haven’t flown the DJI Mini 5 Pro myself given the lack of U.S. availability, but it does look to be the best of the bunch. Still, the Mini 4 Pro and Flip are both excellent current-generation options that won’t feel outdated anytime soon.
My recommendation when choosing the DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Pro
Choose the DJI Flip if: You prioritize portability above all else and typically fly in open environments where omnidirectional obstacle avoidance isn’t critical. It’s also the better value.
Choose the Mini 4 Pro if: You want maximum obstacle avoidance after your crash, prefer a slightly more proven platform or frequently fly in tight spaces with obstacles coming from multiple directions.
Both drones will give you excellent image quality and that “fly out of the box” experience you loved with your Mini 3 Pro. You honestly can’t go wrong with either choice – it really comes down to whether portability or obstacle avoidance is more important to you.
Repairing your Mini 3 Pro: is it worth it?
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is among the drones that weighs under 250 grams.
You mentioned having trouble finding someone who could repair the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Given the low cost of the DJI Mini 3 Pro already (and the relatively affordable cost of recommended upgrades like the Flip and Mini 4 Pro), it likely doesn’t make sense to repair your DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Repairs tend to make sense for higher-end drones like the Mavic line. But the cost of labor and shipping on something like the DJI Mini 3 Pro hardly makes sense.
If you must go the repair route, I recommend Drone Nerds as the best drone repair service, as they are embedded in drones and are more familiar with their earnings than a general camera or electronics repair shop would be.
But even Drone Nerds has explicitly told me that a repair in a scenario like yours wouldn’t make sense. Their rule of thumb? If the repair (and that includes adjacent expenses like shipping) will cost more than 66% of the amount of just buying a new drone outright, you should almost always skip the repair. But even that estimate is high. Account for the depreciation of having an older drone, too.
Whatever you choose, happy flying and may your new drone have a long, crash-free life!
– Silvus Technologies, a Motorola Solutions company and a global provider of advanced wireless networking solutions, has unveiled the StreamCaster NEXUS, a next-generation, chest-mounted tactical networking system that delivers mission-critical connectivity and data access for real-time situational awareness. Optimized for size, weight and power (SWaP) to reduce the load an operator carries, the networking system […]
