The DJI Flip launched in January 2025, marking a game-changing addition to the world of compact drones. It’s design is a huge departure from any sort of drone we’ve seen before, representing something like four massive wheels surrounding a camera. The DJI Flip drone is best for vloggers, beginners and travel enthusiasts — offering something of a mix between the ultra-low cost DJI Neo (which launched in late 2025) and the DJI Mini lineup.
With its foldable, full-coverage propeller guards, advanced safety features and a robust camera system, the DJI Flip is palm-sized drone that blend’s Neo’s ease of use with camera quality that’s closer to professional grade (aerial shots are the same quality as the Mini 4 Pro). I spent the past month testing out this neat little drone to put together my DJI Flip review. So with that, here’s a deep dive into its features, strengths and weaknesses — plus an analysis of how it stacks up against other DJI drones.
Its starting price? It comes in under $500, at $439 to be exact. Upgraded models include the DJI Flip with the upgraded RC 2 rather than the standard RC-N3($639) and the Fly More Combo with RC 2 ($779).
- Order the DJI Flip drone from Amazon, starting at $439
- Order the DJI Flip drone from B&H Photo, starting at $439.
- Order the DJI Flip drone from Drone Nerds, starting at $439.
DJI Flip drone: it hits the sweet spot between quality, portability and ease of use
Who is the DJI Flip best for?
There are all sorts of camera drones on the market. The Flip certainly isn’t the most powerful, as other camera drones like the DJI Air 3S and DJI Mavic 3 Pro can offer even stronger flight and higher image quality. But it’s tough to argue with a drone under $500 that’s this good.
- Vloggers and social media creators: With vertical shooting capabilities and audio recording via smartphone integration, this drone is optimized for videos intended for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
- Beginner drone pilots: The foldable propeller guards, automatic braking, and lightweight design (<249g) make it one of the safest and easiest drones for first-time flyers.
- Travelers: Because it’s compact and portable, it’s heavily checks the convenience box in a ranking of best travel drones.
Key features of the DJI Flip
Design
The DJI Flip takes the enclosed propeller guards that made the Neo a popular drone for kids (and a popular drone for beginners, too). From there, it adds the foldable design first introduced into DJI products with the DJI Mavic way back in 2016.
That makes the DJI Flip the first DJI’s first drone to feature foldable, full-coverage propeller guards. It’s efficient in design from a portability standpoint, but also far safer versus having propellers exposed.
Those propeller guards are made with traditional polycarbonate material.
And of course, this drone is ultra lightweight. It weighs under 249 grams. Any drone weighing under 250 grams is significant as it’s not regulated by federal aviation agencies in most countries. That includes the U.S., where the Federal Aviation Administration requires that pilots register drones weighing 250 grams or more. Drones 250 grams or more also must be Remote ID compliant.
Camera
The camera will get you basically the same quality as the Mini 4 Pro (yet that drone starts at more than $300). The photo above is an unedited version of a shot I took in still photo mode with this drone.
This drone’s camera also gets really interesting in that it’s designed to also adjust for close-up shots of people. When taking close-ups, expect the same quality as what you’d get on the Osmo Pocket 3, which is a part of DJI’s hand-held lineup of cameras.
Tap to focus on the subject you want in focus (if it doesn’t automatically focus to the area you want). From there, the drone snaps a photo that pulls out details in faces while blurring out the background (that’s where the f/1.7 aperture comes in). The photo above shows exactly what those close-up shots look like. I personally find the quality of close-up shots to be higher than even shots taken from a medium distance.
Here are some key camera specs:
- 48MP photos with high dynamic range and 4x zoom.
- 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor.
- Dual Native ISO Fusion.
- f/1.7 aperture.
- 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels.
- 4K/60fps HDR video, 10-bit D-Log M color mode, and slow motion at 4K/100fps.
- AI-powered tools like SmartPhoto and intelligent shooting modes (e.g. Dronie, Circle, Helix).
Flight time and control
This thing is super easy to fly. DJI gives you a few options, including the option to fly it handsfree purely by using voice control through the DJI Fly app.
You might also opt to use it with just one hand through the DJI Fly app via Wi-Fi direct, which lets you switch between different shooting modes in a new vertical screen interface.
Of course, your other option is to go the traditional route via remote control. You can use the cheaper DJI RC-N3 (included with the $439 DJI Flip), or opt for the upgraded RC 2 ($639 including the Flip), which I prefer.
Read more: DJI RC 2 vs RC-N2: should Mini 4 Pro pilots upgrade?
Expect 31 minutes of max flight time with the Intelligent Flight Battery.
If you purchase the $779 Fly More Combo, you get two spare batteries (three total) plus the Parallel Charging Hub, which charges two batteries simultaneously.
Safety and ease of use
Here are some key safety specs:
- Foldable propeller guards made from carbon fiber for minimal weight and maximum protection.
- Automatic braking and obstacle sensing for safe flying via DJI Flip’s 3D ToF sensors.
- Return-to-Home.
Designed with social media in mind
It’s not just the vertical mode that indicates this drone was designed for social media. There’s the new emphasis on close-up shots, so content creators can get better aerial shots of themselves.
And if you’re doing a standup, you can do that too. When connected to your phone, the DJI Fly app actually can capture audio. Even if there’s a slight whirring of propellers in the background, the app can automatically filter out propeller noise.
Here are some other key specs:
- Vertical shooting with a 4:3 CMOS sensor for high-quality content creation without cropping.
- Integrated audio recording with noise reduction.
DJI Flip: pros and cons
Pros
This drone is an easy, safe to fly entry point to drones — particularly for people whose priority isn’t so much flying drones but more documenting the other aspects of their lives. Here are the top 5 “pros” of the DJI Flip:
- Safety First: Full-coverage propeller guards and automatic braking are unmatched for beginner safety.
- Compact and Portable: Lightweight and foldable for on-the-go creators.
- High-Quality Output: Excellent photo and video quality with intelligent modes to simplify complex shots.
- Ease of Use: Intuitive controls with app and voice command options.
- Affordable Entry Point: Starting at $439, it’s reasonably priced for its feature set.
Cons
But while I do love the Flip, it’s not for everyone. Here are some reasons you might skip it.
- Limited Professional Features: Lacks advanced obstacle avoidance and larger sensor sizes seen in higher-end DJI drones.
- Flight Time: While sufficient for beginners, 31 minutes may feel limiting for more intensive shoots.
- Wind Resistance: The lightweight design may struggle in windy conditions compared to heavier DJI models. My top overall travel camera drone, the DJI Air 3S, easily surpasses the Flip in terms of flight power.
How the DJI Flip fits into DJI’s lineup
The DJI Flip is positioned as a hybrid between the DJI Mini series and the Osmo Pocket series, blending the portability and affordability of the Mini with the vlogging and vertical video features of the Osmo Pocket (and of course, ability to fly).
It’s also worth considering the DJI Neo, another super tiny drone, versus the DJI Air 3S, which is a far more powerful camera drone.
DJI Flip vs. Neo vs. DJI Mini 4 Pro vs. DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Osmo Pocket 3
So how do those drones (and, well, the Osmo Pocket) compare side-by-side?
The Flip is basically a sweet spot product between the Air 3S and Neo. It’s pretty similar to the DJI Mini 4 Pro but with what I generally consider upgraded features (e.g. enclosed propellers, easy flight modes) that I’ll be curious to see if the Flip ends up canabalizing the Mini 4 Pro in popularity.
| Feature | DJI Neo | DJI Flip | DJI Mini 4 Pro | DJI Air 3S | DJI Osmo Pocket 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | <249g | <249g | 249g | 724 grams | N/A (handheld) |
| Camera Sensor | 1/2-inch CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 1-inch CMOS | 1/1.7-inch CMOS |
| Photo Resolution | 12 MP | 48MP | 48MP | 50MP, dual-camera system | 64MP |
| Video Resolution | 4K/30fps | 4K/60fps HDR | 4K/100fps HDR | 4K/120fps | 4K/120fps HDR |
| Flight Time | 25 minutes | 31 min | 34 min | 45 minutes | N/A |
| Propeller Guards | Yes | Foldable, full-coverage | None | None | N/A |
| Price (Starting) | $199 | $439 | $759 | $1,099 | $529 |
How to get your hands on the DJI Flip
You don’t even have to be patient. If you order today, you won’t have to wait long as shipping starts today. When you order, you’ll have the choice of a few different configurations, which are:
- DJI Flip with RC-N3 controller: $439
- DJI Flip with DJI RC 2 controller: $639
- DJI Flip Fly More Combo: $779
When you purchase the Fly More Combo, you get a few extras beyond what’s included in the DJI Flip with DJI RC 2 controller kit. You do get that upgraded RC 2 versus the usual RC-N3, as well as:
- Two additional batteries (3 total)
- Parallel Charging Hub
- 2 additional propellers
- Shoulder bag
You also have the option to add on DJI Care Refresh, which is DJI’s own protection plan. It’s pretty comprehensive and even covers accidental damage, including flyaway, collisions and water damage. The catch? Paying for DJI Care Refresh doesn’t automatically get you a new drone. You’ll have to pay a small additional charge, to have your damaged product replaced if an accident occurs — which is DJI’s way of ensuring you have some skin in the game.
DJI Flip: is it worth it?
The DJI Flip is an excellent entry-level drone for aspiring content creators and beginners looking for a safe, easy-to-use device. While it lacks some of the advanced features of higher-end DJI drones like the DJI Air 3S, its foldable design, intelligent shooting modes, and integration with social media platforms make it a standout choice for vloggers and travelers. It might even push out the DJI Mini 4 Pro as any sort of contender for drone pick.
Its safety-focused design makes it ideal for beginners, while its advanced camera features appeal to creators seeking high-quality content without professional-level complexity. If safety, simplicity, and social media content are your priorities, the DJI Flip offers tremendous value.
- Order the DJI Flip drone from Amazon, starting at $439
- Order the DJI Flip drone from B&H Photo, starting at $439.
- Order the DJI Flip drone from Drone Nerds, starting at $439.
The post DJI Flip review: the ultimate camera drone for beginners, travelers and content creators appeared first on The Drone Girl.