DJI Launches the Flip, The First Drone with Downward-Folding Props

DJI is starting 2025 with a bang.

Last week it launched the Matrice 4, and today it launched the Flip.

The DJI Flip’s unique design—which you can see in the first few seconds of the video above—caused a stir when it was first leaked.

And with good reason: it’s the first drone ever with propellers that fold down and stack together. Beyond that, it’s a small but powerful drone, which comes with a 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor that captures 48MP stills and 4K/60fps HDR video.

It’s also pretty inexpensive, selling for just $439. (The Neo, another small selfie drone DJI put out last fall, sells for $199.)

DJI Flip Specs & Features

Just when you thought the drone industry was starting to flatline on innovation, a drone like the Flip comes out.

Check out this short video to see the Flip’s unique design in action:

 

The Flip’s creative design makes it really easy to transport, and super fast to take out and deploy.

And it has a super lightweight carbon fiber prop guard system—so light it weighs 1/60 of traditional propeller protection materials.

Plus it comes with intelligent features like AI subject tracking, automatic takeoff, and multiple flight modes.

Here are the major specs for the Flip:

• Weight. 249 grams—putting it just below the FAA’s 250 gram registration requirement
• Camera system.  1/1.3″ CMOS with 48MP stills and 4K HDR video at 60fps.
• Battery life. Up to 31 minutes max flight time
• Max forward flight speed. About 35.8 mph
• Transmission range: Up to 8 miles with DJI O4 video transmission system

What Makes the Flip Unique?

There are a lot of small-yet-robust drones out there—take all of the drones in the DJI Mini series, for starters—but the Flip has several characteristics that make it stand out.

Here are the main ones:

• Innovative folding design. We know, we keep mentioning this. But Flip’s folding mechanism really is one-of-a-kind, and it’s also functional, allowing the drone to take up less space once its folded up.
• Safety-first approach. The Flip’s design incorporates lightweight polycarbonate propeller guards with carbon fiber string, enhancing safety for vlogging and selfie applications.
• Versatile functionality. The Flip combines the features of a camera drone, vlogging drone, and selfie drone, making it more versatile than models like the DJI Neo (part of what makes it a few hundred dollars more than the Ne—more on that in the next section).
• Multiple control options. You can fly the Flip: without an app or controller, with the DJI Fly app, or with one of two available controllers.
• Autonomous flight. The Flip has a bunch of intelligent flight modes and AI subject tracking, allowing for hands-free flying (in certain scenarios).
• Audio recording: Unlike many other DJI drones, the Flip can capture audio via the DJI Fly app or with a connected DJI Mic, filtering out propeller noise for vlogging purposes.

How Is the DJI Flip Different from the DJI Neo?

This is the question everyone seems to be asking. And it’s a good question, since the Neo seems really similar to the Flip at first glance.

But the truth is that where the Neo is a fairly simple selfie drone, the Neo is a little bigger and more robust, potentially crossing the line into the prosumer realm.

The DJI Flip combines the simplicity of the DJI Neo with the stunning photo capabilities of the DJI Mini to make both aerial photography and close-up portraits accessible for everyone

– Ferdinand Wolf, DJI’s Product Experience Director

While the Neo was made for people who don’t know how to fly at all—and may not need to, since the drone can basically fly itself—the Flip provides more control, and some amount of piloting chops.

Spec Comparison for the Flip and the Neo

Aside from the obvious design differences, the key differences between the two drones in terms of specs are that the Flip has a more advanced 1/1.3″ camera sensor, longer flight time, and enhanced safety features, while still maintaining a sub-250g weight.

Here’s a chart comparing the two drones:

Feature	DJI Flip	DJI Neo
Weight	249g	135g
Camera sensor	1/1.3″ CMOS sensor	1/2″ CMOS sensor
Video resolution	4K/60fps HDR, 4K/100fps slow-motion	4K/30fps
Photo resolution	48MP or 12MP	12MP
Flight time	31 minutes	18 minutes
Transmission tange	5 miles (8 km)	3.7 miles (6km)
Wind Resistance	10.7 m/s	8 m/s
Foldable Prop Guards	Yes	No
Digital Zoom	Up to 4x	No
Storage	2GB internal + microSD up to 512GB	22GB internal
Sensing System	Forward 3D infrared, downward infrared imaging and vision	Downward infrared and vision
Gimbal	3-axis mechanical	1-axis mechanical + EIS

Learn more about the DJI Flip.