Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about the DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Pro. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I’m debating buying the DJI Mini 4 Pro or the DJI Flip. I sadly crashed my DJI Mini 3 Pro and I’m having trouble repairing it or finding someone who can repair it. I may just upgrade it instead.
I want a drone that’s good for pictures and videos, is easy to carry around, and can ideally fly out of the box (like the Mini 3 Pro). I saw the Mini 5 Pro just came out but it’s not being sold inside the US. What would you recommend I replace my Mini 3 Pro with?
Sorry to hear about your Mini 3 Pro! Losing a reliable drone is always tough, especially when you’re used to how well it performs. Let me help you figure out which replacement makes the most sense for your needs.
DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Pro: the short answer
I’d lean toward the DJI Flip for most users in your situation, but the Mini 4 Pro has some advantages worth considering. Here’s why.
DJI Flip: The newer, more compact option
The Flip is DJI’s newest compact drone and brings some genuinely useful upgrades:
Portability: The Flip is incredibly pocket-friendly with its flip-phone-style folding design. If “easy to carry around” is a priority, this is as good as it gets. It’s smaller and lighter than the Mini 4 Pro when folded.
Image quality: The Flip features a 1/1.3-inch sensor (same as Mini 4 Pro) with 48MP photos and 4K/60fps video with 10-bit D-Log M. For pictures and videos, it’s excellent and matches the Mini 4 Pro’s capabilities.
Ready to fly: Like your Mini 3 Pro, the Flip is designed to fly right out of the box. Setup is straightforward, and it’s under 249 grams, so no FAA registration required for recreational flying in the US.
Modern features: It’s got subject tracking, obstacle avoidance, and all the intelligent flight modes you’d expect from a current DJI drone.
Price: I always have to factor in the cost difference. Especially given you’re buying an entirely new drone rather than go the repair route, you can at least save some money as the DJI Flip is generally more affordable than the Mini 4 Pro, which is a nice bonus.
- 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.
Mini 4 Pro: The proven performer
The image quality on the two drones are essentially identical, with the same sensor size and capabilities. If your only goal is the camera itself, go with the cheaper Flip. But the Mini 4 Pro is a more powerful aircraft, which gives it some key strengths versus the DJI Flip that may be worth the upgrade.:
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance: This is the big one. The Mini 4 Pro has obstacle sensors in all directions, while the Flip has forward and backward only. If you’re flying in complex environments or still building confidence after your crash, this extra safety net matters.
Slightly better flight time: The Mini 4 Pro edges out the Flip with up to 34 minutes versus 31 minutes. This is truly not huge, but it may be noticeable if you’re doing longer shoots.
ActiveTrack 360: This one has more advanced tracking capabilities compared to the Flip’s subject tracking, which can 1. make flying (without crashing) easier, and just get generally better video angles.
Related read: DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: is it worth the upgrade?
What about the Mini 5 Pro?
You’re right that DJI announced the Mini 5 Pro, but it’s currently not available from DJI’s shop for shipment in the U.S. What’s more, there’s no confirmed US release date yet. While it’s tempting to wait, you could be waiting months, and you need a drone now. (Though you may have luck finding the DJI Mini 5 Pro from third-party retailers).
I haven’t flown the DJI Mini 5 Pro myself given the lack of U.S. availability, but it does look to be the best of the bunch. Still, the Mini 4 Pro and Flip are both excellent current-generation options that won’t feel outdated anytime soon.
Related read: Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro: is it worth the upgrade?
My recommendation when choosing the DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Pro
Choose the DJI Flip if: You prioritize portability above all else and typically fly in open environments where omnidirectional obstacle avoidance isn’t critical. It’s also the better value.
Choose the Mini 4 Pro if: You want maximum obstacle avoidance after your crash, prefer a slightly more proven platform or frequently fly in tight spaces with obstacles coming from multiple directions.
Both drones will give you excellent image quality and that “fly out of the box” experience you loved with your Mini 3 Pro. You honestly can’t go wrong with either choice – it really comes down to whether portability or obstacle avoidance is more important to you.
Repairing your Mini 3 Pro: is it worth it?
You mentioned having trouble finding someone who could repair the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Given the low cost of the DJI Mini 3 Pro already (and the relatively affordable cost of recommended upgrades like the Flip and Mini 4 Pro), it likely doesn’t make sense to repair your DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Repairs tend to make sense for higher-end drones like the Mavic line. But the cost of labor and shipping on something like the DJI Mini 3 Pro hardly makes sense.
If you must go the repair route, I recommend Drone Nerds as the best drone repair service, as they are embedded in drones and are more familiar with their earnings than a general camera or electronics repair shop would be.
But even Drone Nerds has explicitly told me that a repair in a scenario like yours wouldn’t make sense. Their rule of thumb? If the repair (and that includes adjacent expenses like shipping) will cost more than 66% of the amount of just buying a new drone outright, you should almost always skip the repair. But even that estimate is high. Account for the depreciation of having an older drone, too.
Whatever you choose, happy flying and may your new drone have a long, crash-free life!
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