DJI Mini 4 Professional Vs. DJI Flip

This proper right here is DJI’s latest mannequin, the Flip. It’s designed to be extra inexpensive and affords comparable options to dearer drones, and it folds another way. Now, this, however, is the Mini 4 Professional, a highly regarded, tried-and-true mannequin with each hobbyist and industrial pilots. So, if, like me, you wrestle to know the distinction between these two platforms, be part of me for a comparability of their options, picture high quality, and video high quality. Let’s get to it!

Specs Comparability

So, let’s bounce proper into it and try the specs of those drones, together with flight time, which I do know is among the most essential issues for individuals after they purchase a drone. The DJI Flip is available in at 31 minutes—now, granted, that is the marketed flight time.

The Mini 4 Professional comes with two totally different batteries: 34 minutes for the small battery and 45 minutes for the bigger one, giving the benefit on this case to the Mini 4 Professional. So far as weight, the Mini 4 Professional is 249 grams, plus or minus a couple of grams—really, minus a couple of grams most often—with the small battery. You probably have the massive battery, it’s going to be 280 grams, which, take note, in the event you’re a leisure pilot, means it’s important to register the drone. For those who’re a Half 107 operator, it’s important to register these drones regardless.

So far as connectivity going into the controller, each use OcuSync 4.0, so no modifications right here. Identical for the velocity: 36 mph most velocity, so no distinction there both. So far as sensors, now we have a bit of extra sophistication within the Mini 4 Professional, the place you’re utilizing totally different sensors for ahead detection and two within the again for rear sensing as effectively. With the Flip, we solely have ahead sensing, which doesn’t use cameras—it really makes use of a laser sensor as an alternative.

Actual-World Efficiency

Now, as at all times after we do these sorts of evaluations, we put these drones to the take a look at in a real-world atmosphere. Be mindful we have been at excessive altitude after we examined them. For the Mini 4 Professional, the equal altitude was 7,500 ft; it was 6,900 ft for the Flip—a bit of bit much less. What we discovered is that complete flight time for the Mini 4 Professional was 23 minutes and 31 seconds with the small battery, whereas the Flip clocked in at 25 minutes and 59 seconds, so the Flip received with the identical sort of battery.

Clearly, with the larger battery, we have been in a position to get 34 minutes and 34 seconds on the Mini 4 Professional—not an possibility accessible with the Flip. So far as noise, they’re very comparable: 70 decibels from the gap we measured, the identical distance for each drones. I do must say the Flip has a barely totally different noise profile—it’s a bit of deeper. The Mini 4 Professional is definitely very quiet when it begins to get to the next altitude. Clearly, we’re not evaluating this to the Avata, which has one of the crucial annoying sounds we’ve seen in any drone.

Digital camera Capabilities

So far as the cameras within the entrance, you’re not likely shedding something with both drone. Each have a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor—I’ll get to the photographs in a second to point out you the distinction. The aperture is fastened at f/1.7, identical for each. So far as video high quality, what we discover is that each drones are able to 4K at 60 frames per second, which is fairly normal today, and 1080p at 60 frames per second as effectively. The large distinction right here is that on the Mini 4 Professional, the digital camera bodily rotates to present you a 9:16 format, which we are able to do at 4K 60 as a result of it’s the identical digital camera—it simply rotates. On the DJI Flip, we’re restricted to 2.7K within the 9:16 format as a result of the digital camera doesn’t transfer, which means the picture is cropped. I do consider it is a massive benefit for the Mini 4 Professional in the event you’re doing lots of content material for social media—I believe the footage seems to be lots higher as a result of you’ve gotten the total picture, not a cropped sensor. So, the Flip is proscribed to 2.7K at 30 frames per second and 1080p at 30 frames per second in that 9:16 format.

Each drones are able to gradual movement, which is a special mode: 4K at 100 frames per second. The Mini 4 Professional additionally has the flexibility to do 1080p at 200 frames per second. So far as coloration modes, they’re very comparable—Regular mode and D-Log M for each, so in the event you like taking pictures in Log, you’ll be capable to do that. We’ll present you some footage in a second. The benefit with the Mini 4 Professional is that it additionally helps HLG, so in the event you’re a fan of HLG and that’s a part of your workflow, this can work higher for you.

Picture High quality Evaluation

So far as picture high quality on these two, they’re actually comparable. I don’t know if I’m particularly keen on the Mini 4 Professional simply because I personal one and have flown it a bunch, however I do assume they’re very shut. I used to be really stunned that the Flip’s high quality is sort of pretty much as good because the Mini 4 Professional’s. I do assume perhaps for me the Mini 4 Professional appears only a tad higher, maybe in dynamic vary, however in some comparability movies I’ve seen, I lean towards it. Once more, I could be biased towards the Mini 4 Professional, however it’s fairly spectacular how shut the Flip will get to the standard you get within the Mini 4 Professional for much less value. They do have the identical sensor, however I observed the Flip’s pictures have been a bit of magenta-tinted and didn’t present as deep greens because the Mini 4 Professional. I’ve a sense it’s the backend processing constructed into the drone. Though the sensor sizes are precisely the identical, you continue to want computing energy to get an excellent picture, and I believe the Mini 4 Professional has a bit of extra on the picture aspect.

There are lots of similarities right here—burst, panoramic, all totally different codecs may be completed on each. So far as zoom, the Flip can do 2x, 3x, and 4x digital zoom, whereas the Mini 4 Professional can solely do 2x digital. I don’t know that that’s a giant deal—I hate utilizing digital zoom except I’m actually on the lookout for one thing particular, however it’s not one thing I’d use in my footage.

Clever Options

Each drones can do Grasp Photographs. For those who’re not acquainted, that is the flexibility to document cool footage of an object—you let the drone fly, and it makes a bit of video on the finish. That is nice in the event you’re seeking to get some artistic flows going. So far as Fast Photographs—Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang—all of those can be found. The one distinction is that, curiously, the Flip can do Highlight, and the Mini 4 Professional can do Asteroids. Neither drone overlaps on these two Fast Photographs.

So far as clever flight modes, along with Fast Photographs, now we have Grasp Photographs accessible on each. We even have Hyperlapse and Panorama on each. The large benefit for the Mini 4 Professional is that it might probably do Waypoints—not one thing we are able to do on the Flip. Each have Lively Observe, the flexibility to comply with an object. On the Hyperlapse aspect, they provide Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint modes throughout the Hyperlapse performance, and each have the identical choices.

Pricing Particulars

Now, let’s speak about pricing as a result of I do know that is essential for lots of you, accurately. The Flip was designed to be a class under the Mini 4 Professional, so it’s cheaper. The drone-only possibility, which is just accessible with the Flip, is $439. If you have already got a controller sitting round, it’s an amazing deal—you may simply purchase the drone and use an present controller.

You can even purchase it with the RC2 (the controller with the display screen) for $639. After all, on the time of recording this, these costs may change sooner or later. The Mini 4 Professional comes at a premium: $759 with the RCN2 (the controller with out the display screen—you’ll have to make use of your cellphone). With the RC2, it’s $959. With the Flip, it’s $1,099 with the RCN2 (the decrease mannequin controller) and an extra $6 if you wish to improve to the RC2.

Fairly frankly, when you have the finances, the RC2 controller might be my favourite. For the bang for the buck, it’s such an amazing bundle—you’ve gotten every part in a single, and you’ll be up within the air very quickly. I don’t work for DJI, however that is only a nice controller. If you need further batteries, they’re $65 for each drones’ small batteries. The larger battery for the Mini 4 Professional is $95 as an alternative of $65.

Digital camera Chart Testing

We like to put our drones to the take a look at utilizing a digital camera chart, and that is the place it turns into very priceless. We zoom in on totally different components of the chart. For those who’re not aware of it, that is what our digital camera chart seems to be like. We begin with 12 megapixels after which transfer to 48 proper after that. We have a tendency to choose parts of the chart that push the sensor to its limits. What we discover, wanting on the chart, is that these two sensors—keep in mind, they’re the identical dimension and have the identical aperture—produce outcomes which are very a lot the identical. It seems to be like we might have swapped the SD playing cards, and the outcome would have been practically similar. As we go towards 3200 ISO, it begins to get a bit extra pixelated and noisy, which isn’t the case at ISO 100.

There’s one a part of the digital camera chart that every one drones often wrestle with: a sq. on the backside within the center with a black-and-white sample that creates lots of chromatic aberration. What we observed is that after we examined the Mini 4 Professional initially, it carried out the very best, particularly on that a part of the chart, and it nonetheless does. We did the testing on the identical time with the identical lighting for each drones, and the Mini 4 Professional did higher. Why? I don’t know—it’s the identical sensor dimension, identical aperture, and looks as if the identical sensor in each different approach, however it simply carried out higher on this case.

On the 48-megapixel aspect, we discover issues we’ve seen earlier than: at 48 megapixels in comparison with 12 megapixels, the picture high quality is healthier all the best way as much as ISO 800. ISO 1600 and 3200 usually carry out higher at 12 megapixels, which I believe has to do with the variety of pixels being utilized and the heating that develops from that. Usually, in the event you’re utilizing something between ISO 100 to 800—which needs to be the vast majority of your flights—I like to recommend utilizing the 48-megapixel digital camera.

When evaluating the 2 cameras from the 2 drones, we see the identical outcomes as earlier than: each cameras have the identical points in the identical areas of the photographs. That’s not shocking as a result of I consider it’s a really comparable, if not precisely the identical, sensor. Once more, the Mini 4 Professional did higher on that one particular portion of the digital camera chart—I can’t clarify it, however it’s what it’s. I don’t know that in actual life it might translate to that massive of a distinction.

Video Comparability: DJI Flip vs Mini 4 Professional

Now, let’s check out a video comparability. We used the identical settings in the identical space on the identical day, flown back-to-back, to point out you precisely what the footage seems to be like. I’ll allow you to resolve what you assume is the higher footage and if one warrants extra money than the opposite. Let me know within the feedback!

Flying Rules and Wind Efficiency

I do want to speak about flying over individuals, Distant ID, and these items as a result of these are questions we get on a regular basis. Each of those drones usually are not—I repeat, usually are not—Class 1 compliant with the FAA. For the Flip, the reason being it doesn’t have Distant ID internally. In any other case, every part would work—it has prop guards, it’s sub-250 grams, and it might be excellent. DJI determined to not embrace Distant ID, which suggests you’d have so as to add a module, taking it over 250 grams. You’ll be able to argue with me within the feedback whether or not DJI was proper or flawed—it doesn’t matter; it’s not Class 1 compliant. The Mini 4 Professional isn’t Class 1 compliant both as a result of it doesn’t have prop guards natively. As quickly as we add prop guards, it goes over 249 grams—identical story.

The underside line is you may apply with the FAA in the event you’re a Half 107 operator and licensed. You’ll be able to apply for a waiver as a result of these drones, with all gear, are sub-400 grams, which is the restrict the place the FAA requires a parachute. It’s pretty straightforward to get—now we have a video right here speaking about all this data.

One thing else I need to point out, as a result of there’s a giant distinction between the 2: the Flip doesn’t do effectively within the wind. It’s horrible in comparison with the Mini 4 Professional. Hyperlapses are one space the place we examined this a bunch, and the Flip doesn’t appear to carry out very effectively in comparison with the Mini 4 Professional—it simply doesn’t deal with wind as effectively. So, in the event you’re flying in a windy atmosphere regularly, you’ll positively need to decide the Mini 4 Professional.

Ultimate Ideas

My choice can be the Mini 4 Professional for positive, however I might positively see myself choosing up the Flip. It’s a bit of cheaper, and there are some nice controller choices you may pair it with. No matter you resolve—if you wish to spend a couple of further hundred {dollars} on the Mini 4 Professional or follow one thing cheaper with the Flip—I don’t assume you may go flawed with both. Let me know what you assume within the feedback, and we’ll see you within the subsequent video!