Ian, why so negative?, in my personal opinion some great points for the Flip: 1. Automatic on/off system when unfolding and folding, awesome every drone should have that option, so very quick in the air, 2. Very quick unfolding and folding system, no flopping around props that can bend, 3. Better wind resistance compared to the Neo, 4. Better battery life compared to the Neo, 4. Better camera compared to the Neo, 5. Less noisy compared to the Neo, I like the sound better, 6. Special innovative design, you like it or not that is personal, I really like it. Just some positive points in my personal opinion. I did a quick testflight with the RC 2 controller, good experience no problems whatsoever. Greetings from 🇳🇱
As ever, I try and be objective and base things on what I find. Appreciate the quick unfolding, but it's very poor in even a brisk breeze; it's actually louder than the Neo and yes, for the money, it should have a better camera. My issue is that for the money, it's missing some basic features and the obstacle avoidance is genuinely a step down from the Mini 3 Pro & Mini 4 Pro.... It's a subjective thing; what's important to someone is irrelevant to someone else. As long as you know what's good and bad, then you're okay to make the right decision.
@@IaninLondonWhat are your thoughts compared to the Mini 3? The Mini 3 has no obstacle avoidance, so the Flip should be an upgrade in this area. But I don’t know if it’s also the case for the camera and the rest.
The BEST, most HONEST review out there! Way to go (as usual) mate. That obstacle avoidance or rather, lack of, is shockingly bad and yeah the noise level would definitely annoy folks whereas my Mini 3 Pro is almost in Stealth Mode.
Hey Glyn! Cheers for that! Yeah, this one needs some tweaking to say the least, bit even then, folded up it's still more than twice the size of a folded Mini 3 or 4..... I just don't get it....
I just got mine & absolutely love it. The camera quality is superb, every bit as good as the Mini 4 Pro. The design is new but I love the auto on/off which gets you up & flying in no time. The battery running time is great too. I got the Fly More kit with 3 batteries, the RC 2 controller is also really great. It's also a lot cheaper than the Mini 4 Pro. Certainly the Mini 4 Pro is a batter specked drone but it's a lot more expensive. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the Flip. It's not perfect but it sure ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of folks.
@@tricky.pixels that's excellent. You're basically getting a Mini 4 Pro camera for way less. And you have the extra functions including control by phone... 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Propeller guards are a life saver for me. I used propeller guards for my old mini 2 se for indor practicing as i felt more protected. And aftermarket guards saved my drone plenty of time. One day i used it without guards, i crashed and 1 pair broke. Then with guards the propellers never broke when i got aftermarket guard protection. But knowing dji release a stabilized drone with guards for the first time is awesome news for me. Call me crasy but feeling protected even without litmitatiom is amazing. With the guards i used to put to my mini it woul limit it to 50 meters distance. So yep, thats one of the main reasons. Plus mini 4k , mini 3 dont have master shots, no slow motion, no active track for family trips to the beach, no augmented reality for rth,no obstacle avoidance not even in the front, occusync 4 beats the ass of occusync 2 so i get better transmission to the drone, no audio tecording by taking off propeler sounds in minies is like the minies feel outdated when compared to the tech of the neo andd the flip
I don't agree with your reliance on the prop guards :) but do get the other points you're making; as I said, for some this will be a perfect fit and it's great it fits your requirements. Good post.
@@IaninLondon thanks for your reply. One of these days i had to urgently land in a side walk as i did not plan my landing. I was playing inna soccer field in town and i had no pad with me, so I could not land it in the grass. I had to manually cross some public light wires, got too close to the street and had to hover because a car was passing and that was the only way for me to maneuver the wires. After the car passed, then i had to check if no one was walking in the public side walk and after that i landed. That day i felt the danger to hurt a kid or a person. The flip will definately make me feel safer and less nervous if i ever encounter a similar stressing situation i believe. I know you are going to yell at me !well you should have had a pad or should have planned your landing! but that is just a day to day example that can happen to anyone in a public place where guards could make everyone feel safer when needed in a urgent situation.
I agree with you Ian. Unless I'm missing something, this would be for certain individuals like a beginner, or just someone that wants the automatous features, which the Neo would be a much less expensive choice for that feature, in my mind. But, then again, to-each-thier-own! Thanks for all the video's you share with us all!
Not my cuppa Ian, granted that it's not as noisy as that dreaded Neo but still a pitch that could be a nuisance in a public place. I'll stick to my Mini 4 Pro. And from what you told us in this video the lack of all round obstacle avoidance a deal killer for me at least. Cheers mate. Keep up the good work
Many thanks Ian for a good review of the DJI Flip. It backs up what a few other trustworthy channels are saying. I will not touch it with a barge pole as it does not do what I want from a sub 249gm drone to support my Air 3s. Keeping my fingers crossed for a Mini 5 pro later this year.
Ian even in the manual it tells you it wont detect twigs wires etc , so no surprise there , in fact most of the model line up are bad with trees without leaves , try detecting a parson then get on the bike see if it keeps locks on and follows
@@IaninLondon It is like they have repurposed a warehouse full of the old Spark IR detectors lol , My Mini 4 Pro has been left dangling a few times in the twigs 😄
I thought this would make a good addition to my M4P, not now. Great reviews as always that help us decide on what we should spend our money on and how best to use it.
Maybe it's a good thing that it sounds so loud and annoying. Gives you time to react as noobs fly it at you 😂 Gracias for another excellent honest review. I mirror your concerns, and that's why I'll be flipping this DJI model the bird 🖕
Thank you very much for this review! I wasn't thinking about buying this model but I was talking about it with some friends. Thanks to your review, that I'll happily share, they won't bother buying this drone. Depending on their needs, they'll go with the Neo or the Mini 4 Pro. Or both for the really nerdy drone lovers. 😏 Anyway, thanks again for your very honest reviews. They're the very reason why I recommend your channel.
Great review, Ian. I completely agree with your assessment. The only advantage I can see for this drone is indoor use. I know there are some who rely on the fact that the prop guards will make up for their lack of skill and control, but reliance on this feature alone for a safe flight is a folly best avoided. Practice, practice, and practice until your skills match the drones' capabilities, not the other way around! ❤
Fully agree. There have been some comments about how useful prop cards are, but I always advise to not rely on prop cards because it makes for clumsy flying and poor wind resistance. 👍🏻👍🏻
Hello I have returned my Flip it would not follow me for more than say 10 meters then just stopped, there were no obsticles at all, at hight it kept detecting an obsticle in front and stopping apparently maybe fog ?? but I couldnt see any fog ?? but it was a dank / damp miserable day no wind at all but i,m a newby to drones but even being a newby I can tell there are problems with the Flip great video cheers Dave
Thanks Ian. 👍 Have been looking at upgrading from a mini 2 and was keen to see how this would fair. Seems, as a vlogger, it doesn't do what would be helpful like going backwards so we can be hands free. And how noisy!!! As boat vloggers, certainly wouldn't touch it with our barge pole! 😂 Looks like the 4 for us.👍
It would work if you used your mobile phone running the Fly App as that's teh way you can fly backwards and record the audio of you speaking using the phone mic. As for boats, the user guide for the Flip makes repeated mentions not to fly over water....
@IaninLondon Thanks Ian. Still thinking the 4 is the way to go. 2 is good, flies over water and the boat no problem, just missing a few things like tracking when walking down the tow path.
Shame the let down on the noise. Wonder if Master Airscrews are working on it. One thing that would sell it to me, is it's smooth follow, seems much better than the Mini 3 or 4 pro. Almost like someone with a steadycam following you.
I feel like this is a deadend product line like the NEO. It really doesn't have anywhere to go from here. I believe a Mini 5 Pro has a future with some exciting possibilities. Also, the Flop should have fit into CAT 1 designation. Keeping my money for now.
I agree with you Ian and I’m suffering a bit of buyers remorse although I was sceptical before I bought it so only went for the base model (I’ve already got an RC2 with my mini4) and I still seem to grab the Neo for checking my boundary fences and woodlands and the Neo is generally just a lot of fun to fly… The Flip, for me probably won’t get very much use unless we get some serious firmware updates!
I think you made a very good move just getting the base version as you already had the rc2 remote. Remember, it's not a bad drone, and I'm nearly pointing out is deficiencies for active track and obscale avoidance. Otherwise it's got a camera that's better than the neo so you'll still be getting good footage and stills 👍🏻
@ very true… and at the price it is you can’t expect perfection… I do like your videos… Always very informative and genuine… I have my favourite few creators and you’re one…!
IAN!... You swore in the video... I'm.... shocked!!.... well, actually I'm not surprised as the flip drone does appear to be a victim of a "Lets push out some more models without actually thinking too much or adding any more innovations" culture. I've been flying drones since 2013 (Good old Parrot AR Drone II days and my fave has to be the DJI Mini 4 Pro. DJI missed a few tricks with the Neo, if it had been super quiet with mini 4 features then it might have been a game changer. The flip, to me, seems to have been a spelling mistake. Perhaps they should spell it with an O instead. "The Flop".
Thanks for the video Ian, definitely not the drone for me to big & noisy, good review, though I think I'll wait and hopefully they will bring a Mini 5 pro out this year. I think if you want to play around you would be better off with the Neo as its a better price.
19:14 Is it really truth that it cannot launch direction track mode directly from the drone or with the voice command? It is possible in Neo so I don't see a reason for it to be missing in Flip.
Flippin ‘eck 😳Top vid mate. As a mini 3 pro and Air 3s owner I can’t see anything compelling here to make me buy it. Made me laugh with your Star Wars comment and the trot movements 😂😂
Been waiting for your review. I really want to like the Flip but as you say there’s a lot missing. I wonder if they’re planning to add features later on through updates?
thanks this is the video I needed.... I fly with my mini 3 non pro mainly on strong winds and don´t care about any auto mode I fly 100% manual.... was interested only for the 4k 60p, but I´ll get a mini 4pro or wait for the mini 5 hope it comes with 4k 60p that´s the only upgrade I need from my mini 3
Interesting bit of technology, but-“whining and whistling”-you are very right, my friend. I never draw a negative look with my quieter Mini 2, Mini 3 Pro, or Air 3. I don’t use tracking features very often, so drones of this type don’t call to me. Still hoping for a Mini 5 Pro, which, perhaps, could be my “Just One More Drone.” Until then, I will fly what I have. I enjoyed your video and appreciate your observations about the Flip.
Evening George. Contrary to a video that the evil-me posted a month ago, I very much see a Mini 5 Pro on the horizon now. The Flip is definitely not a Mini 5 killer... Cheers as ever! Ian
Read all the comments i think the majority of them are saying the same outcome . I wonder how the designer of the drone is thinking ? DJI must be thinking the same surly . My bosses wouldn’t be happy . Very good video thanks .
Great video bro. Well tested.. Not for me I'm afraid, I'm with you in the fact that it's a bit of a letdown with quite a few things.. O well. Thanks. 👍
It is becoming obvious that this drone is different from all that went before, it in that it was not created for the job but as an extension of a novel idea. It appears that concept of a foldable drone excited the team enough to go forward as the main issue, and it is all about novelty and pushing the boundaries of the body design. In fact the function should always come before the design in importance.
@stooriefitdrones no positives.... it's got a great camera, you can make videos without a controller, you can do hyperlapses, you can fly it with a phone for basic shots, it blows the neo out of the water, and assuming you buy the neo with the controller, it's not that much more expensive. I think the major downsides are that it's a bit noisy (despite what was said in the video it's nowhere near as loud as the neo). I think people aren't getting that it's not easy to have a drone with built in prop guards with all that tech and keep it under 250 grams. You can't compare it with a mini 4 pro. It's launch price was much more expensive and it didn't have the guards or the other functionalities. It's far fairer to compare it to other follow me style drones. Which again, it blows out the water, and it hasn't even had a firmware update yet.
My main problem with the Neo and Flip is the noise they create. There is a large percentage of the general public that have a great dislike for drones and one of my priorities when flying is to not attract attention. I admit I am not a vlogger and have no great interest in tracking myself or making videos. The one positive point with the Flip is that it has the same camera as the Mini 4Pro.
@stooriefitdrones I don't think it does to be honest, maybe on paper,but not in practice. I've done like for like testing with photos from the mini 3 pro and the flip, and the mini 3 pro photos had much more detail and a better colour profile. On zooming, the flip photos got very digital very fast, even at 48 megapixels. Could be a software issue.
If you've setup direction track , and if it's the same as the neo , you can walk forwards and it will track by flying backwards , but as soon as you turn around and it starts following the back of you it then locks in that direction regardless of you turning back round to face, unless you stop and reset it to face you and walk forwards again ... Well that's what the neo does , Hope that makes sense ? Can you try a sidewards direction track and see if it's the same as your neo ... You may need to be in a bigger garden though 😂
Thanks for the video Ian. Just waiting for UPS to deliver mine today and based on what I have seen so far my expectations are not too high. I was hoping that the Flip would at least have RID built in and turned on for the USA to make it a Category 1 drone here but that seems to not be the case. Cheers.
@@IaninLondon For part 107 flights RID is required no matter what the weight. For Category 1 flights over people it needs to be under 250g, protected props and RID. I can put a RID module on the Neo without going over 250g but not so with the Flip.
Right. If you're flying under part 107, is there an issue with putting a module on and going over 250 grams? (appreciate it's a pain to have to do that tho)
Hi, good review ,I think they should have named it the DJI flop! I think they were trying to copy hover air max 1? I feel they need to go back to the drawing board with this one? I have the mini 3 and it's a fabulous little drone,and it is far more portable than this. Good work 👏
Great video Ian, have you watched Gavin HR latest video on the flip? that obstacle avoidance sensor is a serious problem if flying in foggy conditions!
Dji neo is definitely more impact resistant and if dji neo has obstacle avoidance sensor believe market interest will remain high than dji flip. Sorry, to know dji flip is successful or not it will take a few months.
Good honest review Ian. I’m not a fan and won’t be buying one. This confirms to me that there will be some sort of release which will be the next step up from the mini 4 pro. The flip certainly isn’t it!
The Neo has aftermarket props that reduce the prop pitch quite a lot. Battery life is poor vs the mini drones, considering the battery capacity is 20% more than the mini pro drones and the Flip duration is shorter. The obstacle avoidance only works in some modes and just stops which could end up worse than the Neo as the Neo may just clip a branch and carry on while the Flip will stop. The gimbal protection is poor and fragile as seen in another TH-cam video. I am afraid the Neo is still a better beginner and selfie drone that is virtually indestructible in normal use.
Dji flip doesn't have obstacle avoidance, just obstacle detection. It will follow you around an obstacle, but will not avoid them if they get in the way
Lots of people misunderstanding this drone. If you’re a runner, cyclist, hiker who wants footage of yourself and friends the mini 4 pro is no use because you’ll be carrying a remote. The neo is too small and flimsy to cope with any wind. So the flip is perfect for these people. It’s not supposed to be for typical drone people who want arty slow motion footage of the sunset.
My neo does not too bad in the wind. As for flimsy my neo i feel is very competent through bumps etc. Although it is my 1st ever drone so when i do upgrade i might notice better performance but for beginner like me i think it is spot on. For me the price to value of what the neo can do compared to the flip is really showing me that the neo is better in my opinion, especially for times when u can just carry the neo in your pocket n go lol. When i can afford to i think i might try the mini pro 3 though.
Fair point, although I've ticked the remote in a bag when active tracking with the Mini 4 pro. I haven't tested the Flip on a bike yet but from the user manual it states that it will only track walking or running people, not bikes or cars or boats. From what I've seen online, the flip is no better in the wind than the neo despite what the specs state. That's something I still need to test. 👍🏻
Ian, I find it a great drone on points you and others don’t mention: 1. The unfolding and folding is very fast, 2. The automatic on/off option is awesome, DJI should do this on all new drones 👍, 3. It has a good 4K quality camera and D-log M on par with the Mini 4 Pro, 4. The wind resistance is not so bad and certainly better compared to the Neo, 5. It’s perfect for information flying just like the Neo but with far better camera quality (certainly in low light), The battery life is much better compared to the Neo, 6. The closed prop guard design is great when there is a bird attack (prop’s won’t break so less chance of a crash, also no fidling with the small propellers like the ones from the other Mini drones like the Mini 4 Pro, 7. The design is very special, I personally like it, 8, It is a very versatile drone out of the box etc. So I don’t agree with all the negative. I already did one quick testflight with te controller and got it up in the air in no time. I have the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 also, but find this one the most fun to use for quick flights. Just my personal opinion, Greetings from 🇳🇱
Very decent video however your data on the drone is somewhat incorrect. The drone has a feature that is autonomous that is called direction track and it allows you to vlog and walk forward with the drone in front of you while the drone is flying backwards filming you. It also allows you to film with the drone on your side as you are walking, the drone will travel sideways while focused on you. Maybe you haven’t done enough testing but I just figured I’d put you out because I would think you want your video to be accurate. It’s also only been 3 or 4 days. Like all drones from DJI, improvements and updates will come.
19:05 I do mention that function and show the screen shot from the app. My issue is that the autonomous function (ie without remote or phone) doesn't allow this and neither does the RC2 remote.... Cheers, Ian
@@IaninLondon that is where you are incorrect sir. The drone does have an autonomous mode called direction track and it allows you to fly without a controller and without the mobile phone connection while you’re walking and the drone is moving backwards while tracking you
It’s a great drone for what it is! It’s not a mini 4 pro so I don’t expect much! Just get a mini 4 pro if you want them perfect features simple! This is a beginner’s drone !
I don't like it. Hoping they start to flyaway like the neo does so then maybe DJI will do something about it with a firmware update. 1000s of neos just flying away the same ap the old phantom 3 used to do until dji released an update which fixed it. Lots of people are not using the neo much due to this issue including me. That would make am interesting video. Getting some stats off Facebook groups of flyaways. Then maybe dji would listen. Lots of people have been on to dji including me and they are not interested. They just replace them.
I think you lost the hold point about this drone it's a beginner drone and the ones you comparing it to weigh more than 249 g so that means other restrictions and you would not want to fly this around people because laws against that as well and why should you fly among trees??? So price-wise what you get is well worth it and much safer to fly than the mini, but thanks for your review.
That's not quite the case, as I keep comparing it with the Mini four Pro and the Mini 3 which are also under 250 grams. And that was the point I was trying to make, that the Mini 3 is cheaper but gives you more. Yes, you could argue this is a beginner drone but it's an expensive beginner drone, and for me, the neo with the RC 2 remote is a true beginner drone but this is indeed a jackable trades and a master of none in my opinion 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
i think the same i waited but very disappointed and big,folding but huge i dont get it,better if dji launch a mini 5 pro with ai features and a beacon when we get a small beacon cmon ,Hoverair can make it right for foldable Dji cant!
I have to say I’ve watched countless reviews about the flip. And this video seems to intentionally make it look bad by and for those who don’t want to upgrade. You’ll take that back watch the firmware updates . 👍🏾
That was defo not my intention. I try and keep everything completely objective and based purely on performance. This evening's video shows how it stops in mid air when flying with nothing in front of it....
Ian, why so negative?, in my personal opinion some great points for the Flip: 1. Automatic on/off system when unfolding and folding, awesome every drone should have that option, so very quick in the air, 2. Very quick unfolding and folding system, no flopping around props that can bend, 3. Better wind resistance compared to the Neo, 4. Better battery life compared to the Neo, 4. Better camera compared to the Neo, 5. Less noisy compared to the Neo, I like the sound better, 6. Special innovative design, you like it or not that is personal, I really like it. Just some positive points in my personal opinion. I did a quick testflight with the RC 2 controller, good experience no problems whatsoever. Greetings from 🇳🇱
As ever, I try and be objective and base things on what I find. Appreciate the quick unfolding, but it's very poor in even a brisk breeze; it's actually louder than the Neo and yes, for the money, it should have a better camera. My issue is that for the money, it's missing some basic features and the obstacle avoidance is genuinely a step down from the Mini 3 Pro & Mini 4 Pro.... It's a subjective thing; what's important to someone is irrelevant to someone else. As long as you know what's good and bad, then you're okay to make the right decision.
@@IaninLondonWhat are your thoughts compared to the Mini 3? The Mini 3 has no obstacle avoidance, so the Flip should be an upgrade in this area. But I don’t know if it’s also the case for the camera and the rest.
Check out today's video; I'm a little more objective :)
@@IaninLondon, I will check it out👍😀🇳🇱
Fantastic video, Ian! I completely agree with everything you said!
have you watched Gavin HR latest video on the flip? that obstacle avoidance sensor is a serious problem if flying in foggy conditions!
@@ptaylor5014 I haven't yet! But I had phantom warnings flying in snowy/foggy conditions also.
Thanks Matthew! Defo something wrong with that OA system..... Great review you did too! Cheers
The two drone channels i go to for excellent solid reviews and info. Ian & Matthew keep up the good work.
The video I’ve been waiting for! Good to see it’s not any better than my mini 3 pro, I won’t be ‘flipping’ to this. Thanks 👍
The BEST, most HONEST review out there! Way to go (as usual) mate. That obstacle avoidance or rather, lack of, is shockingly bad and yeah the noise level would definitely annoy folks whereas my Mini 3 Pro is almost in Stealth Mode.
Hey Glyn! Cheers for that! Yeah, this one needs some tweaking to say the least, bit even then, folded up it's still more than twice the size of a folded Mini 3 or 4..... I just don't get it....
Honesty will always be appreciated.
I just got mine & absolutely love it. The camera quality is superb, every bit as good as the Mini 4 Pro. The design is new but I love the auto on/off which gets you up & flying in no time. The battery running time is great too. I got the Fly More kit with 3 batteries, the RC 2 controller is also really great. It's also a lot cheaper than the Mini 4 Pro. Certainly the Mini 4 Pro is a batter specked drone but it's a lot more expensive. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the Flip. It's not perfect but it sure ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of folks.
@@tricky.pixels that's excellent. You're basically getting a Mini 4 Pro camera for way less. And you have the extra functions including control by phone... 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I totally agree, great drone👍See my comment to the reaction of Ian. Enjoy your Flip! Greetings from 🇳🇱
Propeller guards are a life saver for me. I used propeller guards for my old mini 2 se for indor practicing as i felt more protected. And aftermarket guards saved my drone plenty of time. One day i used it without guards, i crashed and 1 pair broke. Then with guards the propellers never broke when i got aftermarket guard protection. But knowing dji release a stabilized drone with guards for the first time is awesome news for me. Call me crasy but feeling protected even without litmitatiom is amazing. With the guards i used to put to my mini it woul limit it to 50 meters distance. So yep, thats one of the main reasons. Plus mini 4k , mini 3 dont have master shots, no slow motion, no active track for family trips to the beach, no augmented reality for rth,no obstacle avoidance not even in the front, occusync 4 beats the ass of occusync 2 so i get better transmission to the drone, no audio tecording by taking off propeler sounds in minies is like the minies feel outdated when compared to the tech of the neo andd the flip
I don't agree with your reliance on the prop guards :) but do get the other points you're making; as I said, for some this will be a perfect fit and it's great it fits your requirements. Good post.
@@IaninLondon thanks for your reply. One of these days i had to urgently land in a side walk as i did not plan my landing. I was playing inna soccer field in town and i had no pad with me, so I could not land it in the grass. I had to manually cross some public light wires, got too close to the street and had to hover because a car was passing and that was the only way for me to maneuver the wires. After the car passed, then i had to check if no one was walking in the public side walk and after that i landed. That day i felt the danger to hurt a kid or a person. The flip will definately make me feel safer and less nervous if i ever encounter a similar stressing situation i believe. I know you are going to yell at me !well you should have had a pad or should have planned your landing! but that is just a day to day example that can happen to anyone in a public place where guards could make everyone feel safer when needed in a urgent situation.
I was waiting for this model to come out so I could venture into the drone world, looks like I’ll go the 4 pro route now, thanks for the overview
Or a used Mini 3 Pro - brilliant and same price as the Flip
Great one again Ian very informative also Happy new year too you😁
Cheers 😀👍🏻
I agree with you Ian. Unless I'm missing something, this would be for certain individuals like a beginner, or just someone that wants the automatous features, which the Neo would be a much less expensive choice for that feature, in my mind. But, then again, to-each-thier-own!
Thanks for all the video's you share with us all!
Thanks Mark. I'm actually not even in the 'great for beginners' camp on this one. Why inflict a false sense of security with the dodgy OA? :) Cheers!
@@IaninLondon Yeah, you're probably right.
Gonna stick with my mini 3 pro and my Neo
From Japan, I really enjoy your vids and commentary. The Star Wars analogy was spot on.
Not my cuppa Ian, granted that it's not as noisy as that dreaded Neo but still a pitch that could be a nuisance in a public place. I'll stick to my Mini 4 Pro. And from what you told us in this video the lack of all round obstacle avoidance a deal killer for me at least. Cheers mate. Keep up the good work
Many thanks Ian for a good review of the DJI Flip. It backs up what a few other trustworthy channels are saying. I will not touch it with a barge pole as it does not do what I want from a sub 249gm drone to support my Air 3s. Keeping my fingers crossed for a Mini 5 pro later this year.
Yeah, maybe watch this evening's video from me; it's even worse.......
Another good and honest review Ian. Just one question please, what is the make and model of the green super dry jacket you are wearing in the video?
Great review and an honest one too. Going to stick with my mini2 and play with my Neo. Saving up for the mini4 pro..
Ian even in the manual it tells you it wont detect twigs wires etc , so no surprise there , in fact most of the model line up are bad with trees without leaves , try detecting a parson then get on the bike see if it keeps locks on and follows
The Mini 4 Pro detects twigs; that was my point. Kinda thinking you're (hopefully) less likely to hit a a person rather than a tree! :)
@@IaninLondon It is like they have repurposed a warehouse full of the old Spark IR detectors lol , My Mini 4 Pro has been left dangling a few times in the twigs 😄
@@IaninLondon forgot to say , the 4G Dongle 2 works on it. I have tested , it is the newest video on my channel if you are interested 🙂
I thought this would make a good addition to my M4P, not now. Great reviews as always that help us decide on what we should spend our money on and how best to use it.
Maybe it's a good thing that it sounds so loud and annoying.
Gives you time to react as noobs fly it at you 😂
Gracias for another excellent honest review.
I mirror your concerns, and that's why I'll be flipping this DJI model the bird 🖕
Other findings have also highlighted some of these problems with the Flip. Definitely keeping my Mini Pro 3 👍
got mine the other day... i love the design..a real talking point when out and about, handles very well..
Yes; it's got some great points; glad it's doing the job well for you...
Thank you very much for this review! I wasn't thinking about buying this model but I was talking about it with some friends.
Thanks to your review, that I'll happily share, they won't bother buying this drone. Depending on their needs, they'll go with the Neo or the Mini 4 Pro. Or both for the really nerdy drone lovers. 😏
Anyway, thanks again for your very honest reviews. They're the very reason why I recommend your channel.
Thanks Ian, I agree, an expensive toy a bigger Neo, basically.
Great review, Ian. I completely agree with your assessment. The only advantage I can see for this drone is indoor use. I know there are some who rely on the fact that the prop guards will make up for their lack of skill and control, but reliance on this feature alone for a safe flight is a folly best avoided. Practice, practice, and practice until your skills match the drones' capabilities, not the other way around! ❤
Fully agree. There have been some comments about how useful prop cards are, but I always advise to not rely on prop cards because it makes for clumsy flying and poor wind resistance. 👍🏻👍🏻
I enjoyed your little run when trying to break the active track… 😂
It was pretty pathetic I thought 😂
Your dog just chilling in a random place in the garden 😂
Great review as usual, I'd be interested to know how the Flip and Neo compare to the Hoverair X1 Pro/ProMax??
Will this drone pair with DJI Goggles 3 ?
I doubt it,, as it has no FPV capability at all.
How do you change the props?
With immense difficulty!
Hello I have returned my Flip it would not follow me for more than say 10 meters then just stopped, there were no obsticles at all, at hight it kept detecting an obsticle in front and stopping apparently maybe fog ?? but I couldnt see any fog ?? but it was a dank / damp miserable day no wind at all but i,m a newby to drones but even being a newby I can tell there are problems with the Flip great video cheers
Dave
I don't think they'll be making any more models with this type of obstacle avoidance as it's clearly not good...
Can the DJI Flip use active track mode for vehicles?
@@willina. No. Only a person or a person on a bike
@IaninLondon Ok, thanks for your information
Thanks Ian. 👍
Have been looking at upgrading from a mini 2 and was keen to see how this would fair.
Seems, as a vlogger, it doesn't do what would be helpful like going backwards so we can be hands free. And how noisy!!!
As boat vloggers, certainly wouldn't touch it with our barge pole! 😂
Looks like the 4 for us.👍
It would work if you used your mobile phone running the Fly App as that's teh way you can fly backwards and record the audio of you speaking using the phone mic. As for boats, the user guide for the Flip makes repeated mentions not to fly over water....
@IaninLondon Thanks Ian. Still thinking the 4 is the way to go. 2 is good, flies over water and the boat no problem, just missing a few things like tracking when walking down the tow path.
Shame the let down on the noise. Wonder if Master Airscrews are working on it. One thing that would sell it to me, is it's smooth follow, seems much better than the Mini 3 or 4 pro. Almost like someone with a steadycam following you.
I feel like this is a deadend product line like the NEO. It really doesn't have anywhere to go from here.
I believe a Mini 5 Pro has a future with some exciting possibilities.
Also, the Flop should have fit into CAT 1 designation. Keeping my money for now.
I agree with you Ian and I’m suffering a bit of buyers remorse although I was sceptical before I bought it so only went for the base model (I’ve already got an RC2 with my mini4) and I still seem to grab the Neo for checking my boundary fences and woodlands and the Neo is generally just a lot of fun to fly…
The Flip, for me probably won’t get very much use unless we get some serious firmware updates!
I think you made a very good move just getting the base version as you already had the rc2 remote. Remember, it's not a bad drone, and I'm nearly pointing out is deficiencies for active track and obscale avoidance. Otherwise it's got a camera that's better than the neo so you'll still be getting good footage and stills 👍🏻
@ very true… and at the price it is you can’t expect perfection… I do like your videos… Always very informative and genuine… I have my favourite few creators and you’re one…!
Thanks as always Ian great review you've just saved me £600+ Hppydays👍
IAN!... You swore in the video... I'm.... shocked!!.... well, actually I'm not surprised as the flip drone does appear to be a victim of a "Lets push out some more models without actually thinking too much or adding any more innovations" culture. I've been flying drones since 2013 (Good old Parrot AR Drone II days and my fave has to be the DJI Mini 4 Pro. DJI missed a few tricks with the Neo, if it had been super quiet with mini 4 features then it might have been a game changer. The flip, to me, seems to have been a spelling mistake. Perhaps they should spell it with an O instead. "The Flop".
If only you knew how much swearing gets editied out of my videos..... ;) This one needed to be left in :)
@@IaninLondon😂
Thanks for the video Ian, definitely not the drone for me to big & noisy, good review, though I think I'll wait and hopefully they will bring a Mini 5 pro out this year. I think if you want to play around you would be better off with the Neo as its a better price.
Yep. I think all eyes are now awaiting a Mini 5 pro 😀
19:14 Is it really truth that it cannot launch direction track mode directly from the drone or with the voice command? It is possible in Neo so I don't see a reason for it to be missing in Flip.
You can launch direction track but it won't fly backwards unless you have started that via the handset and fly app.
Flippin ‘eck 😳Top vid mate. As a mini 3 pro and Air 3s owner I can’t see anything compelling here to make me buy it. Made me laugh with your Star Wars comment and the trot movements 😂😂
this drone is for beginner who wants better camera than neo. here in Indonesa the price in US$ is :
$400 (RC) , $550 (RC2) , $700( combo ) .
Been waiting for your review.
I really want to like the Flip but as you say there’s a lot missing.
I wonder if they’re planning to add features later on through updates?
Yeah, but you can't fix poor OA by firmware, but other functions may be...
thanks this is the video I needed.... I fly with my mini 3 non pro mainly on strong winds and don´t care about any auto mode I fly 100% manual.... was interested only for the 4k 60p, but I´ll get a mini 4pro or wait for the mini 5 hope it comes with 4k 60p that´s the only upgrade I need from my mini 3
The Mini 3 Pro is a great model.... Let's wait for the MIni 5 Pro :)
Any safety light for night video shot?
No bright lights like the Mini series, no.....
Interesting bit of technology, but-“whining and whistling”-you are very right, my friend. I never draw a negative look with my quieter Mini 2, Mini 3 Pro, or Air 3. I don’t use tracking features very often, so drones of this type don’t call to me. Still hoping for a Mini 5 Pro, which, perhaps, could be my “Just One More Drone.” Until then, I will fly what I have. I enjoyed your video and appreciate your observations about the Flip.
Evening George. Contrary to a video that the evil-me posted a month ago, I very much see a Mini 5 Pro on the horizon now. The Flip is definitely not a Mini 5 killer... Cheers as ever! Ian
its day 3 with the drone....how bad was the Neo......updates will come
Can it follow you from the side or in front?
In front of you set it in the Fly App on your smartphone; that's the only way...
Read all the comments i think the majority of them are saying the same outcome . I wonder how the designer of the drone is thinking ? DJI must be thinking the same surly . My bosses wouldn’t be happy . Very good video thanks .
Great review!
This drone just seems to be a waste of time, even for the intended audience. Great initial review Ian. Honest and knowledgeable was always.
I would send it back, Ian!
Should be called spark 2
Looks like a Spark backscuttling a Water Skimmer
For fair comparison, you need to put it against mini3, not 4. How does it stand against mini3?
Why do you say that? The Mini 3 Pro has the same type of obstacle avoidance system as the Mini 4 Pro, but it's just forwards and backwards.....
@IaninLondon because mini 4pro is 50% more expensive vs Flip. It's just apples vs pears
@ Fair point.
Great video bro. Well tested.. Not for me I'm afraid, I'm with you in the fact that it's a bit of a letdown with quite a few things.. O well. Thanks. 👍
It is becoming obvious that this drone is different from all that went before, it in that it was not created for the job but as an extension of a novel idea. It appears that concept of a foldable drone excited the team enough to go forward as the main issue, and it is all about novelty and pushing the boundaries of the body design. In fact the function should always come before the design in importance.
As a drone photographer I would not consider buying this drone. Far too many negative points and no positive ones.
@stooriefitdrones no positives.... it's got a great camera, you can make videos without a controller, you can do hyperlapses, you can fly it with a phone for basic shots, it blows the neo out of the water, and assuming you buy the neo with the controller, it's not that much more expensive. I think the major downsides are that it's a bit noisy (despite what was said in the video it's nowhere near as loud as the neo). I think people aren't getting that it's not easy to have a drone with built in prop guards with all that tech and keep it under 250 grams. You can't compare it with a mini 4 pro. It's launch price was much more expensive and it didn't have the guards or the other functionalities. It's far fairer to compare it to other follow me style drones. Which again, it blows out the water, and it hasn't even had a firmware update yet.
I don’t believe you are in the demographic that DJI is targeting with the Flip (i.e. beginners buying their first “very capable” drone).
My main problem with the Neo and Flip is the noise they create. There is a large percentage of the general public that have a great dislike for drones and one of my priorities when flying is to not attract attention. I admit I am not a vlogger and have no great interest in tracking myself or making videos. The one positive point with the Flip is that it has the same camera as the Mini 4Pro.
@stooriefitdrones I don't think it does to be honest, maybe on paper,but not in practice. I've done like for like testing with photos from the mini 3 pro and the flip, and the mini 3 pro photos had much more detail and a better colour profile. On zooming, the flip photos got very digital very fast, even at 48 megapixels. Could be a software issue.
Good information thanks Ian. On a side note what’s the make brand of the jacket you were wearing? Looks really warm. Cheers.
Gotta get use to those 4 wagon wheels😮😮😮😮😮
If you've setup direction track , and if it's the same as the neo , you can walk forwards and it will track by flying backwards , but as soon as you turn around and it starts following the back of you it then locks in that direction regardless of you turning back round to face, unless you stop and reset it to face you and walk forwards again ... Well that's what the neo does , Hope that makes sense ? Can you try a sidewards direction track and see if it's the same as your neo ... You may need to be in a bigger garden though 😂
@@hartsyde Your comment makes sense but that functionality does not 😅
Thanks for the video Ian. Just waiting for UPS to deliver mine today and based on what I have seen so far my expectations are not too high. I was hoping that the Flip would at least have RID built in and turned on for the USA to make it a Category 1 drone here but that seems to not be the case. Cheers.
Is RID needed for sub 250 gram in the US tho?
@@IaninLondon For part 107 flights RID is required no matter what the weight. For Category 1 flights over people it needs to be under 250g, protected props and RID.
I can put a RID module on the Neo without going over 250g but not so with the Flip.
Right. If you're flying under part 107, is there an issue with putting a module on and going over 250 grams? (appreciate it's a pain to have to do that tho)
@ yes, over 250g would kick you out of category 1 so no ability to fly over people without a waiver.
Excellent review! Really hoped this would be a Neo with a mini camera. Shame the Flip isn’t living up to that
Well, it's looks like I won't be upgrading my Mavic Air yet (not that I could afford to).
Nicely done
The flip that never flipped😢. Still you could always use it as an Aircon unit for inside the car🤷
It's very breezy..... :)
@@IaninLondon I have adapted mine as a cooler tray not to be mistaken for a laptop cooler mind. The Mrs says it's brilliant fur her ☝️😰😡🥶🥵🥹,Flush days
Hi, good review ,I think they should have named it the DJI flop!
I think they were trying to copy hover air max 1? I feel they need to go back to the drawing board with this one?
I have the mini 3 and it's a fabulous little drone,and it is far more portable than this.
Good work 👏
Great video Ian, have you watched Gavin HR latest video on the flip? that obstacle avoidance sensor is a serious problem if flying in foggy conditions!
I hadn't but will this weekend.....
Definitely worth a watch.
I have the "standard" Mini 3 and its still a great little drone, especially for the money.
It goes 16 m/s in sports mode. You may have to go back in to adjust it.
Hi Ian, sorry I missed you when you popped in. Hope to see you again soon. Mark
Not a problem! Great to finally see the shop in person! Great setup 😀
@@IaninLondon Many thanks! 🙏
Dji neo is definitely more impact resistant and if dji neo has obstacle avoidance sensor believe market interest will remain high than dji flip. Sorry, to know dji flip is successful or not it will take a few months.
If you like flying in the trees, just cut some window screening to fit the prop guards.
Good honest review Ian. I’m not a fan and won’t be buying one. This confirms to me that there will be some sort of release which will be the next step up from the mini 4 pro. The flip certainly isn’t it!
Nice one Ian. Been waiting for your comments. Cheers bud, Paul
You can set direction track as a custom, without using the remote.
Yep; I mention that you can only set it via the Fly App on your phone
The Neo has aftermarket props that reduce the prop pitch quite a lot.
Battery life is poor vs the mini drones, considering the battery capacity is 20% more than the mini pro drones and the Flip duration is shorter.
The obstacle avoidance only works in some modes and just stops which could end up worse than the Neo as the Neo may just clip a branch and carry on while the Flip will stop. The gimbal protection is poor and fragile as seen in another TH-cam video. I am afraid the Neo is still a better beginner and selfie drone that is virtually indestructible in normal use.
Spot on; the Neo truly is a great beginner drone. The Flip isn't.....
Ian I agree with you. It si much better a Mini 3 Pro for the price.
Thanks for speaking the truth not Jody all the BS lies sucking up to DJI. I
Dji flip doesn't have obstacle avoidance, just obstacle detection. It will follow you around an obstacle, but will not avoid them if they get in the way
Very true, but it's a shame this has to be pointed out.... If it has the sensors, it should have the full function....
that noise is going to bring out a lot of karens!!! might give this one a miss think i prefer the mini 3 pro
Sorry to write:
Flip = McSalad Shakers = New Coke = Bud light (Ouch)
The Neo and what it offered was a winner.
Still waiting for the M5 Pro...
Yep, me too.....
The mini 4 pro dropping in price now nicely 🤔🤔
Aha......! :)
i cannot think of anything it does i would wish or need
I think this Drone should be recalled and everyone given their money back
Lots of people misunderstanding this drone. If you’re a runner, cyclist, hiker who wants footage of yourself and friends the mini 4 pro is no use because you’ll be carrying a remote. The neo is too small and flimsy to cope with any wind. So the flip is perfect for these people. It’s not supposed to be for typical drone people who want arty slow motion footage of the sunset.
My neo does not too bad in the wind. As for flimsy my neo i feel is very competent through bumps etc. Although it is my 1st ever drone so when i do upgrade i might notice better performance but for beginner like me i think it is spot on. For me the price to value of what the neo can do compared to the flip is really showing me that the neo is better in my opinion, especially for times when u can just carry the neo in your pocket n go lol. When i can afford to i think i might try the mini pro 3 though.
Fair point, although I've ticked the remote in a bag when active tracking with the Mini 4 pro. I haven't tested the Flip on a bike yet but from the user manual it states that it will only track walking or running people, not bikes or cars or boats. From what I've seen online, the flip is no better in the wind than the neo despite what the specs state. That's something I still need to test. 👍🏻
@ I really think the main point of the Flip (and Neo) is to tempt people who are thinking about buying the HoverAir X1 Pro.
@stedoesstuff Fair enough... 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Ian, I find it a great drone on points you and others don’t mention: 1. The unfolding and folding is very fast, 2. The automatic on/off option is awesome, DJI should do this on all new drones 👍, 3. It has a good 4K quality camera and D-log M on par with the Mini 4 Pro, 4. The wind resistance is not so bad and certainly better compared to the Neo, 5. It’s perfect for information flying just like the Neo but with far better camera quality (certainly in low light), The battery life is much better compared to the Neo, 6. The closed prop guard design is great when there is a bird attack (prop’s won’t break so less chance of a crash, also no fidling with the small propellers like the ones from the other Mini drones like the Mini 4 Pro, 7. The design is very special, I personally like it, 8, It is a very versatile drone out of the box etc. So I don’t agree with all the negative. I already did one quick testflight with te controller and got it up in the air in no time. I have the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 also, but find this one the most fun to use for quick flights. Just my personal opinion, Greetings from 🇳🇱
Well mate, great review as always..... What a crop of crap that is.... What are DJI playing at with launching this thing to the public?????
Very decent video however your data on the drone is somewhat incorrect. The drone has a feature that is autonomous that is called direction track and it allows you to vlog and walk forward with the drone in front of you while the drone is flying backwards filming you. It also allows you to film with the drone on your side as you are walking, the drone will travel sideways while focused on you. Maybe you haven’t done enough testing but I just figured I’d put you out because I would think you want your video to be accurate. It’s also only been 3 or 4 days. Like all drones from DJI, improvements and updates will come.
19:05 I do mention that function and show the screen shot from the app. My issue is that the autonomous function (ie without remote or phone) doesn't allow this and neither does the RC2 remote.... Cheers, Ian
@@IaninLondon that is where you are incorrect sir. The drone does have an autonomous mode called direction track and it allows you to fly without a controller and without the mobile phone connection while you’re walking and the drone is moving backwards while tracking you
Only if you have previously set it up in the app, and once you change doirection and it starts following you agian, it will not fly backwards....
Active tracking is a good thing but they should have given obstacle avoidance which is a big let down
Give me my Mavic 2 Pro anyday👌🍻
It’s a great drone for what it is! It’s not a mini 4 pro so I don’t expect much! Just get a mini 4 pro if you want them perfect features simple! This is a beginner’s drone !
flipping awful drone , but a flipping great video Ian
I don't like it. Hoping they start to flyaway like the neo does so then maybe DJI will do something about it with a firmware update. 1000s of neos just flying away the same ap the old phantom 3 used to do until dji released an update which fixed it. Lots of people are not using the neo much due to this issue including me. That would make am interesting video. Getting some stats off Facebook groups of flyaways. Then maybe dji would listen. Lots of people have been on to dji including me and they are not interested. They just replace them.
I think you lost the hold point about this drone it's a beginner drone and the ones you comparing it to weigh more than 249 g so that means other restrictions and you would not want to fly this around people because laws against that as well and why should you fly among trees??? So price-wise what you get is well worth it and much safer to fly than the mini, but thanks for your review.
That's not quite the case, as I keep comparing it with the Mini four Pro and the Mini 3 which are also under 250 grams. And that was the point I was trying to make, that the Mini 3 is cheaper but gives you more. Yes, you could argue this is a beginner drone but it's an expensive beginner drone, and for me, the neo with the RC 2 remote is a true beginner drone but this is indeed a jackable trades and a master of none in my opinion 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Doesn't help that you have to buy it with a remote which isn't the case with the Neo. I won't be getting it.
No remote I.D
No
It will track a bicycle because presumably you are on it and it will track you.
But do you look like a walking person when you run a bike....🤔
A weird release from DJI, not sure we needed this.
Plus it doesn't have FPV capabilities like the Neo does. Weird product, DJI.
i think the same i waited but very disappointed and big,folding but huge i dont get it,better if dji launch a mini 5 pro with ai features and a beacon when we get a small beacon cmon ,Hoverair can make it right for foldable Dji cant!
Yes, I think everyone's waiting for the mini 5 pro now....
I have to say I’ve watched countless reviews about the flip. And this video seems to intentionally make it look bad by and for those who don’t want to upgrade. You’ll take that back watch the firmware updates . 👍🏾
That was defo not my intention. I try and keep everything completely objective and based purely on performance. This evening's video shows how it stops in mid air when flying with nothing in front of it....