DJI continues its streak of innovative (and very leaky) drone with the launch of grassa lightweight and people-safe model that folds in a new direction – down – to accommodate large, covered propellers. The new model should appeal to beginners and experienced users alike with features such as a large sensor, 4K 100p video, safety features, a three-axis gimbal and an affordable price.

The company says Flip “combines the simplicity of DJI Neo with the stunning photo capabilities of DJI Mini,” but in many ways, it’s better than both. It borrows a LiDAR system from In 3S because the obstacle detection and Flip’s propellers are protected on all sides, making it all but impossible to hurt the one with them. DJI says that the support structure for the guards is made of carbon fiber thread that is 1/60 the weight of the polycarbonate material and is just as strong. That makes it possible to keep the weight below 249 grams, so that buyers can fly it without a permit in most countries.

For starters, the Flip is just like the Neo in that users can place it in their hand and choose from one of six intelligent shooting modes such as Dronie or Boomerang. Then, it will automatically take off and perform that flight mode, capturing high-quality video up to 4K 60p while avoiding obstacles using the LiDAR sensor. That will help creators new to drones to safely capture quick and interesting shots in the air.

More advanced users can also fly it with a controller, either the RC 2 with a screen or the RC-N3 without one. That allows full manual control and also unlocks DJI’s FocusTrack tech (with ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0), allowing you to track yourself or another subject automatically. At the same time, it avoids obstacles ahead using LiDAR and objects below using a 3D infrared system. However, the Flip cannot track obstacles behind it, so users should be careful when flying backwards.

If you’re hoping to use the Flip as an FPV drone, you can forget about that. Unlike the Neo, it doesn’t support the Goggles N3 and Motion 3 controller combo, and there’s no word on whether it will in the future.

The Flip can fly forward at up to 26 MPH in sport mode (with object detection disabled) – pretty fast for a small drone. Due to its light weight and large surface area when unfolded, however, it is not the best drone in high winds. However, the larger propellers also mean that the Flip is much quieter than the Neo in flight, meaning it is more practical to use at events such as weddings or concerts.

The batteries are feather-light at 83.5 grams, but pack 3,110 mAh of power, allowing the Flip to stay up for about 34 minutes max (about 28 minutes in the real world). They can be charged directly on the drone or more quickly with the four battery charger in the Fly More kit (70 minutes for two batteries with 65W power). To reduce weight, the Flip has no built-in internal storage, so you need a high-speed microSD card.

The Flip supports DJI’s O4 transmission system with live video up to 1080p at 60fps. That allows for a maximum distance of 8 miles in the US, or 5 miles in Europe – pretty good for such a small device. Like the Neo, the Flip can also be controlled by a smartphone via WiFi, but only up to 50m at most.

With the same 1/1.3-inch sensor as the Mini 4 Pro, you can expect to get the same (excellent) video and photo quality. The flip supports 4K up to 60fps or 4K at 100fps in slow-motion mode, in regular, HDR or D-LogM quality. Unlike the Mini 4 Pro, however, the camera doesn’t, er, flip sideways to allow full-resolution vertical shooting, so it’s limited to 2.7K — a bit of a bummer for TikTok or Insta creators.

DJI’s latest drone appears to be an answer, in part, to its rival HoverAir. HoverAir also makes lightweight drones with foldable propellers, while offering palm takeoff and creator-friendly features. However, the Flip has more propellers and double the flight time.

One small downside I noticed is that the Flip’s propellers don’t have a great amount of ground clearance, so they tend to skid even in short grass on takeoff. That said, you should generally stay away from a flat, smooth surface or your hand. For more detailed information, stay tuned for my full Engadget review coming soon.

Otherwise, the Flip looks like another solid drone from DJI, offering more benefits than the Neo (and much less noise) for over $200 more. The Flip is now available for $439 with the RC-N3 controller, $639 with RC 2 screen controller or $779 on the Fly More kit with the RC 2 screen controller, charging hub, carrying case and two extra batteries.