DJI Flip - new super-portable drone with retractable rotors and LiDAR
[20:11 Wed,11.December 2024 by Thomas Richter]
Thanks to the always reliable DJI leakers Jasper Ellens and Igor Bogdanov, we now know that DJI is developing a new mini drone called Flip. Leaked images have also revealed its design: it features foldable rotors with guards and is very compact when folded. According to Jasper Ellens, it uses the (Ocusync) O4 system for video data transmission and, like the Air 3S, will very likely include LiDAR for obstacle avoidance.
Breaking: Thanks to my friend YueYue this is the world&s first view of the #DJIFLIP. The Flip will be the next gen #foldable DJI drone (video). If you were waiting on a Mini 5. This is it. It will have O4 and probably LiDAR. Prop guards are like FPV carbon fiber. Cheers! Jasper pic.twitter.com/uhumLWXLup
It is speculated that, due to its larger rotors, it may not produce the unpleasant buzzing noise like the DJI Neo, released three months ago but instead have a noise level more comparable to the Mini 4. The rotor guards to prevent injuries suggest it might be designed as a selfie/FPV drone like the Neo—or it could simply be DJI aiming to reduce injury risks. The mechanism that folds the otherwise bulky rotors and guards into a single compact unit is certainly innovative. Here&s a video showing how the rotors fold:
A trademark registration on January 24, 2024, had already indicated that a new DJI drone called Flip was in development. However, many leakers assumed DJI was merely reserving the name and would ultimately choose Neo over Flip. Now it’s clear that DJI had planned two different drones from the beginning. §PIC12:DJI Flip FCC Registration
DJI Flip vs Neo vs Mini
The DJI Flip, with its foldable rotors, will be significantly more portable than the Neo, whose rotors and guards are fixed. When folded, it resembles the Hover Air X1 models but might be slightly smaller compared to the Mini 4 Pro.
But aside from its increased portability, what will distinguish it from the Neo? The images suggest that the Flip’s gimbal camera will be movable in all three axes, delivering better-stabilized footage compared to the Neo. Another new feature is the top-accessible battery, which can be swapped via two side-mounted release buttons. The integrated LiDAR indicates that DJI is prioritizing reliable obstacle detection with the Flip.
DJI Flip
Speculation remains about how DJI will position the Flip in relation to its other models. Will it replace the Mini series or serve as a more portable and affordable model compared to the Mini 3, offering significantly better image quality than the lower-tier Neo, whose video quality is rather poor?
The DJI Flip is rumored to hit the market in January 2025. Until then, thanks to the usual leakers, we’ll undoubtedly learn more about its technical specifications, unique features, and potential price.
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