DJI continues its streak of innovative (and heavily leaked) drones with launch Tossa lightweight and safe model that folds in a new direction – downwards – to accommodate large enclosed propellers. The new model should appeal to both new and experienced users thanks to features such as a large sensor, 4K 100p video, security features, a three-axis gimbal and an affordable price.
The company says the Flip “combines the simplicity DJI Neo with amazing photo opportunities DJI Mini“, but in many ways he is better than both. It borrows the LiDAR system from On 3S to detect obstacles, and the Flip's propellers are protected on all sides, making it virtually impossible to harm them. DJI says the protection support structure is made from carbon fiber filament, which is 1/60th the weight of polycarbonate material and just as durable. This keeps the weight under 249 grams, so buyers will be able to fly it without a permit in most countries.
For beginners, the Flip is similar to the Neo in the sense that users can hold it in their hand and choose from six smart shooting modes such as Drone or Boomerang. It will then automatically take off and enter flight mode, capturing high-quality video at up to 4K 60p resolution while avoiding obstacles using its LiDAR sensor. This will help creators who are new to drones to safely take quick and interesting aerial shots.
More advanced users can also control it using a controller: RC 2 with a screen or RC-N3 without it. This provides full manual control and also unlocks DJI FocusTrack technology (with ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0 and Point of Interest 3.0), allowing you to automatically track yourself or another subject. At the same time, it will avoid obstacles in front using LiDAR and objects below using a 3D infrared system. However, the Flip cannot track obstacles behind it, so users should be careful when flying backwards.
If you're hoping to use the Flip as an FPV drone, you can forget about it. Unlike the Neo, it does not support the combination of Goggles N3 and Motion 3 controllers, and it is unknown if this will be supported in the future.
The Flip can fly forward at up to 26 mph in Sport mode (with object detection turned off)—pretty fast for such a small drone. However, given the light weight and large surface area when unfolded, it is not the best drone in high winds. However, the larger propellers also mean the Flip is much quieter in flight than the Neo, meaning it will be more practical to use at events such as weddings or concerts.
The batteries are lightweight, weighing just 83.5 grams, but have a capacity of 3,110 mAh, allowing the Flip to stay in the air for a maximum of about 34 minutes (about 28 minutes in the real world). They can be charged either directly on the drone or much faster using the four-battery charger included with Fly More (70 minutes for two 65W batteries). To keep weight down, the Flip doesn't have built-in internal storage, so you'll need a high-speed microSD card.
The Flip supports the DJI O4 transmission system with real-time video up to 1080p at 60fps. This provides a maximum range of 8 miles in the US or 5 miles in Europe – pretty darn good for such a small device. Like Neo, Flip can be controlled from a smartphone via Wi-Fi, but from a distance of no more than 50 meters.
Thanks to the same 1/1.3-inch sensor as the Mini 4 Pro, you can expect about the same (very good) video and photo quality. The Flip supports 4K at up to 60fps or 4K at 100fps in slow motion mode in normal quality, HDR or D-LogM. However, unlike the Mini 4 Pro, the camera doesn't flip sideways to allow full-resolution vertical shooting, so it's limited to 2.7K – a bit of a shame for TikTok or Insta creators.
DJI's latest drone appears to be partly a response to its competitor. HoverAir. HoverAir also makes lightweight drones with enclosed propellers that fold away while offering palm take-off and creator-friendly features. However, the Flip has larger propellers and twice the flight time.
One small drawback I noticed is that the Flip's propellers don't have much ground clearance, so they tend to get stuck even in short grass when taking off. So you will typically have to take off from a flat, smooth surface or from your hand. For more details, stay tuned for my full Engadget review coming soon.
Otherwise, the Flip looks like another solid drone from DJI, delivering more benefits than the Neo (and much less noise) for just over $200 more. Flip is available now for $439 with controller RC-N3, $639 with RC 2 Screen Controller. or $779 for Fly More kit with RC 2 screen controller, charger, carrying case and two extra batteries.