The DJI Flip marks yet another entirely new airframe design from DJI. Sure, there have been size & weight changes, camera improvements, and extra features but – until the recent DJI Neo – the consumer category hasn't seen much other than incremental changes since the folding revolution – and that came in 2016 with the Mavic Pro.
Is DJI suddenly in a hurry to innovate? To show America what it might miss out on if Chinese products get banned? Who knows, but if it makes for this much innovation from a company already ahead of the competition, it's hard to complain.
In any case, this drone combines the auto-tracking features of the Neo with a more powerful camera for a 'best of both worlds' travel / vlogging drone. It's a smart idea.
Since they seem to be looking to grow the market, safety seems to be DJI's main concern. The inclusion of spoke-like cages around the propellors makes it much harder to cause any harm with (or to) the props, especially the rotating ends. They also fold together to make a drone you can pocket – at least in a lint-free place – more easily than you'd expect despite a surprisingly large size.
Specifications
Price
With the drone at $439 / £369 / AU$699 for the base unit with one battery (which still includes a standard remote control), $639 / £549 / AU$949 with the RC2 controller (the one with the built-in display) and $779 / £659 / AU$1,159 for the Fly More combo (with 3 batteries, charging hub, RC2 & a bag) the drone represents good value for anyone looking to get decent aerial images & video on the go, sitting below the Mini 4 Pro but well above the Neo in the DJI range.
Build and handling
Given drones in this weight category have more or less all looked the same – even some competitors like the Potensic Atom – I found myself wondering how the drone, with all that extra material but the same 'magic' under 249g weight, could feel anything other than a bit flimsy.
It is nothing of the sort in the hand though. The difference seems to be the proportionally compact and light battery housing, which sits at the top back.
Folded up, the drone isn't a lot bigger than the tiny DJI Neo thanks to the neat stacking of the propellor cages. The spoke-based design is smart, though it is still easily possible to get a finger between the spokes at the rim (I know, I did). With your palm out it's fine though.
When open, the drone's cages snap reassuringly into place, revealing the sensor array that allows for easy hand landings.
At first glance, the design doesn't seem to allow for much camera tilt, but somehow the rings don't interfere and the gimbal is at once effectively caged by the front rings and top of the fuselage and able to tilt 90 degrees down and upward.
The rings also afford an advantage in some legal traditions (including the UK), where you are supposed to fly only as far as you can see the drone (or to a maximum distance). Now you can see it that bit further because, for an ultralight, it's bigger.
The drone has a MicroSD card slot on the side, and a USB-C for charging, though there is a charging hub for four (not DJI's usual 3) batteries at once. The only very, very slight irritation of the design is that you can only see two at once when you're checking the power status as they're 'flipped' back to back rather than in a row.
Performance
The drone has a good, if not amazing camera. I took it out on a day with very harsh light (testing in winter in the UK doesn't help matters; the sun is low in the sky, and the weather is cold and crisp).
I'd say a key lesson is that you're better off making sure you've got the option of RAW images, which do add some spare dynamic range (though perhaps less than you'd hope). Luckily DJI's quote mature camera software is ideal here, with features like exposure bracketing which sensible photographers will make use of.
I can't say I was amazed by the digital zoom, but it's nice to have the option.
The 4K60fps video with HDR can capture at up to 150mbps which still compares well to some (and 4K/100fps slow-mo is mentioned, though I haven't tested it yet).
The real performance star, though, is the drone itself, which is so simple to launch from the hand (once you get used to the button placement) and is so good at recognising a hand (even in gloves) to land on again. The speaker is loud and clear too, so you're unlikely to make a mistake, which is useful – though with this drone there is enough battery to do a few retries!
Oh, and it is worth saying – for a drone specifically calling itself a vlogging drone – that this is, to my ear, even noisier than other drones – perhaps the sail area? So don't expect your clips to go unedited!
Image Samples
Sample video
The video shows a selection of shots at 4K which are not really in ideal light, but give you an idea of how the camera behaves. There are no real surprised if you've seen other DJI cameras – you'll get good, smooth 4K video. Look closely and you might spot a little more waving from side to side in when the drone is hovering, but I still get the impression you'll get some great shots for your social edits.
Overall verdict
I'll freely admit this is not the most beautiful design I've ever seen, but it is brilliant. It brings the one-tap functionality of DJI's Neo – or the competing HoverAir – into a more useful category for photographers, while being robust and portable enough to overcome battery life concerns and camera quality – at least for the vloggers that DJI is targeting!
Safety, too, is impressive – not just in terms of protecting from being clipped by the props; that same tech means it's easy to throw the device into a jacket pocket and feel reasonably confident too.
Sure, it was a bit disappointing that features like the Panorama aren't as sophisticated as the Air 3S, but that is a much more expensive (and heavier) drone. For people looking to head out and get clips to add to social, and to mix with their day-to-day, this is a brilliant choice with all the options you could reasonably hope for.
In other words, it might not be 5-stars for everyone, but if it seems like the right device for you, it really does seem to join all the dots, especially for what is effectively a new category.
Alternatives
How I test drones
As a qualified drone operator with commercial experience – and a lot of leisure time spent flying drones too – I've always found the best way to test a drone is to get out there and use it in the real world – and if it is a safe or family friendly one, do so with my son (a bit of a drone enthusiast too) if possible!
