Get the DJI Flip if you want to film yourself and other people: it has built-in full-coverage prop guards, palm takeoff, follow-me tracking, 4K/60 and 4K/100 slow motion. Get the Mini 3 if you mainly film landscapes and trips: it costs $22 less, flies about 7 minutes longer per battery and has a gimbal that rotates for true vertical shots. Both weigh under 250 g, so neither needs FAA registration for recreational flying.
Specs side by side
| Flip | Mini 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our price (drone + controller) | $483 | $461 |
| Fly More Combo | $857 | $791 |
| Takeoff weight | 249 g | 248 g |
| Sensor | 1/1.3 in, 48 MP, f/1.7 | 1/1.3 in, 48 MP, f/1.7 |
| Video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 slow-mo, D-Log M | 4K/30 HDR |
| Vertical video | 2.7K vertical (cropped) | True vertical (gimbal rotates) |
| Max flight time | 31 min | 38 min |
| Obstacle sensing | Forward 3D infrared + downward | Downward only |
| Tracking | ActiveTrack and Follow (people) | None |
| Video link (FCC) | O4, 13 km | O2, 10 km |
| Wind resistance | 10.7 m/s (Level 5) | 10.7 m/s (Level 5) |
| Internal storage | 2 GB | None |
| Controller in standard kit | RC-N3 | RC-N1 |
Prices are our current prices. Specs are DJI's published figures.
The key differences
Who you're filming. The Flip is designed to fly close to people. The guards fully enclose the propellers, it can take off from and land on your palm, and it can follow a person with ActiveTrack or the Follow mode without a controller. The Mini 3 has no follow-me or subject tracking at all, only QuickShots and Panorama. If you want the drone to track you on a bike or a hike, that alone decides it. See Flip ActiveTrack.
Video quality. Both use a 1/1.3-inch 48 MP sensor with the same 24 mm f/1.7 lens, so daylight photos look similar. The Flip records 4K at up to 60 fps (100 fps for slow motion) and has D-Log M for color grading. The Mini 3 tops out at 4K/30. If you shoot fast action or want smooth slow motion, the Flip wins clearly.
Flight time. The Mini 3 is rated for 38 minutes, the Flip for 31. Over a three-battery outing that's about 20 extra minutes in the air with the Mini 3. The Mini 3 also accepts the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus for 51 minutes, but that takes it over 250 g, so it then needs FAA registration and Remote ID.
Vertical shots. The Mini 3's gimbal rotates 90 degrees for full-resolution vertical photos and video. The Flip shoots vertical video as a 2.7K crop. For Instagram and TikTok both work, but the Mini 3 gives more detail.
Safety around obstacles. The Flip's forward 3D infrared sensor helps it stop before hitting things ahead. The Mini 3 senses only the ground below. Neither senses sideways or backward, so fly carefully near trees either way. DJI notes that tracking modes on the Flip don't avoid obstacles.
Range and link. The Flip uses DJI's newer O4 system, rated 13 km FCC. The Mini 3 uses O2 at 10 km. Both are far beyond what US line-of-sight rules allow, so this mostly shows up as a steadier video feed near trees and buildings.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the Flip for long landscape flights. It flies about 7 minutes less per battery and tops out at 12 m/s in Sport mode, versus 16 m/s for the Mini 3. The Mini 3 is better for that.
- Choosing the Mini 3 to film yourself. Without tracking, you need a second person to fly it.
- Skipping spare batteries. At 31 to 38 minutes, one battery goes fast. The Fly More Combo is the better value for both. See is the Fly More Combo worth it.
Quick answers
Which is better for beginners? Both are easy. The Flip's guards make bumps less damaging, so it's more forgiving close to people.
Can either fly in the rain? No. Neither drone is water resistant.
Do I need a license? Not for fun: pass the free TRUST test. Paid work needs Part 107 and registration either way.
Which should you buy?
- Vlogging, family clips, filming yourself: DJI Flip.
- Landscapes, travel, lowest price for a 48 MP camera: DJI Mini 3.
- Want tracking and longer flights in one drone: look at the Mini 4 Pro. See Flip vs Mini 4 Pro.
Still unsure? Ask a drone pilot and we'll help you pick.
Related guides
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