The DJI Neo 2, DJI Flip, and DJI Mini 3 are excellent representations of DJI's impressive ability to pack in features within a small frame. We examined the key differences in design, safety features, camera specifications, and intelligent modes between these models. The release of the Neo 2, at 160g*, makes it the lightest of the three, yet it is the only one equipped with omnidirectional obstacle sensing. This stands in sharp contrast to the Mini 3’s limited downward-only system and the Flip’s 3D Infrared system, giving the Neo 2 a decisive advantage in flight safety.
Our analysis of the camera systems reveals a close competition. The Flip possesses the most powerful sensor at 48 MP on a 1/1.3” CMOS, which slightly outperforms the Neo 2’s 12 MP 1/2-inch sensor in still photography. However, the Neo 2 matches the Flip in 4K/60fps video and offers superior intelligent features, including FocusTrack, SelfieShot, and Dolly Zoom, which the Flip lacks. The Mini 3 falls behind both, capping at 4K/30fps and missing most advanced tracking modes. While the Mini 3 boasts the longest flight time at 38 minutes, we find the Neo 2’s shortest time (19 minutes) is a trade-off for its advanced processing and safety features.
Ultimately, the DJI Neo 2 presents the most compelling package for a new drone buyer, offering the best obstacle avoidance, the most versatile intelligent features, and exclusive compatibility with DJI Goggles for an immersive FPV experience. While the Flip has a slight camera edge and the Mini 3 offers superior battery life, the Neo 2 provides a more advanced, safer, and feature-rich experience overall. In our view, its robust capabilities make it the new benchmark in the micro-drone category.
DJI Neo 2
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Cons:
DJI Flip
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DJI Mini 3
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| DJI Neo 2 | DJI Flip | DJI Mini 3 | |
| | | | |
| Price | Starting at | Starting at | Starting at |
| Weight | 160 g* | < 249 g | 248 g |
| Main Camera | 1/2-inch CMOS Sensor | 1/1.3-inch Image Sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS Sensor |
| Max Video Resolution | 4K/60fps HDR | 4K/60fps HDR | 4K/30fps HDR |
| Max Flight Time | Approx. 19 Min Approx. | Approx. 31 Min Approx. | Approx. 38 Mins Approx. |
| Max Transmission | Wi-Fi: 500 m | 14 km | 10 km |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Omnidirectional | Forward | Downward Only |
| Internal Storage | 49 GB | 2 GB | N/A |
| MicroSD Support | N/A | Supported | Supported |
| Subject Tracking | Supported | Supported | N/A |
| Max Digital Zoom | N/A | 4x | 4x |
The release of the Neo 2 has shifted the playing field of DJI micro drones. Previously, the Neo, the Flip, and the Mini series represented the major categories of lightweight DJI drones, with each drone possessing its own assets and drawbacks. The Mini series was launched as a fun foray into drone flying for beginners, while the Flip featured DJI’s first-ever foldable full-coverage propeller guard. The original Neo, when it first came out, made a name for itself as the lightest of all DJI micro drones, weighing only 135g.
With the Neo 2 possessing a whole new roster of camera specs, intelligent features, and obstacle avoidance capabilities, it’s time to see how it stands up against the rest of DJI’s micro drones. Here’s a breakdown of how the new DJI Neo 2 compares to the DJI Flip and DJI Mini 3 drones.
The Neo 2 is the lightest of the three drones, at only 151g. Even with its lightness, it’s equipped with an integrated propeller guard and omnidirectional obstacle sensing for safety. This includes an omnidirectional monocular vision system paired with forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system. The 2-axis gimbal also provides decent rotation for capturing photos and videos.
The Flip weighs just under 249g, making it a similar size and weight to the DJI Mini series. Its biggest differentiator is the foldable full-coverage propeller guard, a first for DJI. This guard is crafted with a carbon fiber support structure that weighs significantly less than traditional Polycarbonate (PC) materials while maintaining comparable rigidity. The drone also relies on a 3D Infrared Sensing System that detects obstacles and automatically brakes when needed, even in poor lighting conditions. With a 3-axis gimbal, the drone can tilt, roll, and pan as needed, giving it greater filming flexibility than the Neo 2.
The Mini 3 weighs the same as the Flip at just under 249g, and has a similar 3-axis mechanical gimbal for filming. Like the DJI Flip, it’s compact and foldable, although it lacks the Flip’s signature foldable full-coverage propeller guard. Its obstacle-sensing capabilities are limited to a downward vision system, making it the least advanced of the three drones in terms of obstacle avoidance.
The Neo 2 has a 12MP, 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a high-performance image processor. This makes the footage clearer while reducing noise. It also incorporates DJI’s portrait optimization technology to improve brightness, contrast, and skin tone for more radiant and lifelike expressions. The 2-axis gimbal works with DJI’s Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) technology to make footage smoother and more stable.
The Neo 2 can record 4K/60fps video and 4K/100fps slow-motion video, with support for 2.7K vertical shooting as well. While its video capabilities are similar to the Flip, its smaller sensor makes its photography slightly weaker.
The Flip is equipped with a 48 MP, 1/1.3” CMOS sensor with Dual Native ISO Fusion, an f/1.7 aperture, 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels, and a FOV of 82.1 degrees. The drone relies on next-gen SmartPhoto, which uses a combination of HDR imaging, scene recognition, and advanced processing to enhance image details. Meanwhile, 10-bit D-Log M color mode enhances color capture and preserves details in low-light environments. The camera also includes a 4x zoom feature to capture photos and video of distant subjects.
The Flip can record 4K/60fps HDR video and 4K/100fps slow-motion video, making it slightly more advanced at video recording than the Neo 2. It also has support for 2.7K vertical shooting, which makes it easy to film and share videos on social media.
The Mini 3 has a 12 MP, 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with the same aperture, pixel size, FOV, and 4x digital zoom. D-Cinelike Color mode widens the available color selections, giving you a bit more visual information to work with. However, the Mini 3’s video recording capabilities are slightly less advanced than the Neo 2 and the Flip, with the ability to capture 4K/30fps HDR video and 1080p/60fps slow-motion video. Like the other two drones, the Mini 3 supports vertical shooting, although it does so by spinning the gimbal ninety degrees rather than entering a specific portrait-format mode.
The Neo 2 has the shortest flight time of the three drones, at only 19 minutes. When using the mobile app to pilot the drone, the transmission range is 500 meters. However, the DJI RC-N3 controller offers up to 10 km transmission range. All three drones have the same wind resistance, which is 10.7 m/s.
The Flip has a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, which is about halfway between that of the Neo 2 and the Mini 3. When flown via voice control, the distance is only 50 meters, which is 1/10th that of the Neo 2. It relies on DJI O4 video transmission to transmit video up to a maximum distance of 13 km, which is the longest of the three drones.
The Mini 3 has the longest maximum flight time of 38 minutes, although this can be extended to 51 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. It relies on OcuSync 2.0 to transmit video up to 10 km, which is similar to that of the Neo 2 when piloted with a remote.
The Neo 2 comes with several intelligent features that enhance tracking performance, image capture, and flight capabilities. FocusTrack (which includes ActiveTrack, Spotlight, and Point of Interest) enables smooth and stable tracking of subjects in motion, from runners to cyclists to vehicles. It can track up to speeds of 12 m/s, with eight-direction tracking helping you keep subjects in focus at all times. The Return to Home (RTH) and Failsafe RTH features enhance the drone’s safety by bringing it back to the starting point when activated by manual trigger or loss of signal.
With a single tap, SelfieShot allows you to switch between waist-up, full-body, and long shots when taking solo or group photos. Meanwhile, intelligent shooting modes such as QuickShots and MasterShots will perform a series of predetermined aerial maneuvers to record mind-blowing videos from diverse perspectives. The Dolly Zoom feature adds a particularly cinematic flair to videos with an intense zoom effect straight out of a Hitchcock film. Lastly, the Neo 2 supports versatile flight thanks to its enhanced hovering and positioning capabilities. This makes it easier to fly indoors, around buildings, over water, and in other challenging environments.
The Flip includes many of the same intelligent shooting modes as the Neo 2, such as QuickShots, MasterShots, and FocusTrack. It can capture Hyperlapse videos in four different modes: Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint. It can also capture Panorama videos in either 180°, Wide Angle, Vertical, or Sphere modes. Unlike the Neo 2, it lacks RTH capabilities, SelfieShot, and the DollyZoom feature.
The Mini 3 features the fewest intelligent features, although it does have more advanced RTH capabilities than either the Flip or the Neo 2. The drone is equipped with QuickShots, although it lacks MasterShots and any FocusTrack features. It does, however, include a triple-mode RTH feature that includes Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH, and Failsafe RTH. The drone features an Auto Takeoff function that helps you start your flight journey, while its GNSS capabilities allow the drone to hover stably and accurately.
The Neo 2 offers various control methods, ranging from voice control to fully immersive FPV. You can launch the drone from the palm of your hand, using the Return-to-Palm feature to bring it back to landing in your hand. Throughout the flight, you can control the drone with Gesture Control, which allows you to control the direction and proximity of the drone using one or both hands. You can also use Voice Control to pilot the drone with vocal commands, which can be given directly or through Bluetooth earphones. If you prefer using a smartphone, you can pilot the drone with virtual joysticks via the DJI Fly App.
The RC options include the RC-N3 controller, which uses a smartphone and the DJI Fly App to act as the screen, while the controller itself includes physical joysticks for operating the drone. The RC 2 controller features a 5.5-inch 080p high-brightness screen that’s built into the device itself. This offers even finer control over the drone without needing a smartphone to operate.
The Mini 3 uses the least advanced remote controllers, which are the DJI RC-N1 and the DJI RC. Like the later versions of these controllers, the RC-N1 requires a smartphone, while the RC does not. The biggest difference between the older models and the newer ones is that the newer models feature a better transmission system and more smart features. However, this doesn’t usually make as much of a difference to beginner fliers.
The only drone on this list that is compatible with DJI Goggles is the Neo 2. When pairing the RC Motion 3 controller with the DJI Goggles N3, you can experience an immersive first-person view from midair. The Goggles N3 includes a head tracking function that allows you to pilot the drone with head or wrist movements, allowing you to perform flips, rolls, and drifts with ease. The DJI RC Motion 3 can be used as an AR cursor before takeoff or while hovering, which you can use to activate functions or adjust settings.
The Neo 2 is available for the following prices: $360 CAD for the standard model, which doesn’t include a remote controller; $600 CAD for the Fly More Combo, which includes the RC-N3 controller, two extra intelligent batteries, and a two-way charging hub; and $840 for the Motion Fly More Combo, which includes the same accessories as the Fly More Combo, but with the RC Motion 3 and the Goggles N3 instead of the RC-N3.
The Flip is available for the following prices: $609 CAD for the standard model, which includes the DJI RC-N3 controller; $839 CAD for the version that includes the DJI RC 2 controller; or $1,015 CAD for the Fly More Combo that includes the RC 2 controller, two extra batteries, three extra pairs of propellers, a charging hub, and a carrying case.
The Mini 3 is available for the following prices: $469 CAD for the standard model, which includes the DJI RC-N1 controller; $599 CAD for the version that includes the DJI RC controller; $649 CAD for the Fly More Combo, which comes with the RC-N1 controller, two extra batteries, three extra pairs of propellers, a charging hub, and a carrying case; and $785 CAD for the Fly More Combo (DJI RC), which includes the same accessories as the regular Fly More Combo, but with the DJI RC controller instead of the RC-N1.
The DJI Neo 2’s biggest assets are its smaller weight, more versatile control options, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, intelligent shooting modes, and compatibility with DJI Goggles. Although its camera may not be quite as advanced in some ways as the DJI Flip, it’s still got enough bells and whistles to record pretty incredible videos that would make any social media post go viral. It’s also a bit cheaper than the other two options, making it a great choice for the budget-conscious beginner. It’s biggest restriction is the shorter maximum flight time, though this may not matter as much with additional batteries.
If camera quality and sensor size are your top priorities, then the Flip edges out the Neo 2, but just barely. However, the lack of SelfieShot, DollyZoom, and RTH features makes it less fun to play around with. The Mini 3 is even less advanced, with almost no intelligent features and an earlier model remote controller and transmission system. All in all, the Neo 2 is pretty much the way to go if you’re looking for a new drone, but if you already own the Flip or the Mini 3, you might not need to upgrade just yet.
* 160 g with DJI Neo 2 Digital Transceiver, 151 g without DJI Neo 2 Digital Transceiver
** 4K/100fps slow-motion video can only be recorded when operating with a remote controller or motion controller.
Dr Drone
Author
DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.