Comparison
DJI Flip vs DJI Mini SE
Would you notice?
Flip vs Mini SE: You would notice weight mostly as paperwork, bag mass and how close you may fly to people; you would notice the sensor (1/1.3-inch CMOS vs 1/2.3-inch CMOS) in evening light; you would notice max video only if you slow-mo or grade HDR; you would notice gimbal travel if you shoot vertical or roll. You would not really notice wind, obstacle sensing, transmission range. UK paperwork is part of the difference: Flip is C0 / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID); Mini SE is unmarked / sub-250 g (Flyer ID + Operator ID).
Set I fly on the home bench to see net upgrade cost from your airframe (CeX cash vs used / RRP). It stays in this browser.
| Spec |  C0 · 249 g |  unmarked · 249 g |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Released | 15 Jan 2025 | 11 Jun 2021 |
| App | DJI Fly Same | DJI Fly Same |
| Weight & UK law | ||
| Takeoff weight | 249 g Same | 249 g Same |
| UK class / IDs | C0 · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID Ahead | unmarked · sub-250 g · Operator ID + Flyer ID |
| Open subcategory | A1 Over People Same | A1 Over People Same |
| From uninvolved people | May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. Same | No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Same |
| Height (Open) | 120 m AGL Same | 120 m AGL Same |
| Folded size | 136 × 62 × 165 mm (guards on) | 138 × 81 × 58 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm Ahead | 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.7 | f/2.8 |
| Field of view | 82.1° Same | 83° Same |
| ISO (photo / video) | 100–6400 / 100–6400 | 100–3200 / 100–3200 |
| Colour / log | D-Log M | Rec. 709 / normal |
| Other cameras | Single camera Same | Single camera Same |
| Max video | 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100 Ahead | 2.7K/30 |
| Gimbal / vertical | 90° tilt · true vertical Ahead | 20° tilt |
| Flight | ||
| Lab flight time | 31 min Same | 30 min Same |
| Hover time | 28 min Ahead | — |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 · 10.7 m/s Ahead | Level 5 · 10.5 m/s |
| Max speed | 43 km/h Sport Same | 46.8 km/h Sport Same |
| Climb / descent | 5 / 5 m/s Ahead | 4 / 3 m/s |
| Max takeoff altitude | 3000 m Same | 3000 m Same |
| Sensing | ||
| Obstacle sensing | Forward + down Ahead | Downward |
| Transmission | ||
| Video range (CE) | 8 km CE · O4 (13 km FCC) Ahead | 2 km CE · Enhanced Wi-Fi (4 km FCC) |
| Power & storage | ||
| Battery | 22.3 Wh Same | 17.3 Wh Same |
| Internal storage | 2 GB Same | Card only Same |
| microSD | microSD UHS-I, up to 256 GB | microSD, UHS-I Speed Class 3 |
| GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou | GPS + GLONASS |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 40 °C | 0 to 40 °C |
The i beside a spec is the explainer — hover or tap.
Questions
Will I notice the camera?
Flip main: 1/1.3-inch CMOS · 48 MP · 24 mm, 4K/60 HDR, 4K/100. Mini SE main: 1/2.3-inch CMOS · 12 MP · 24 mm, 2.7K/30. You would notice sensor class in low light; you would not notice the word 4K if both already do it.
Do I need to register the Mini SE in the UK?
Mini SE is unmarked, takeoff about 249 g (DJI publishes takeoff under 249 g. Not Mini 2 SE (that is the Mini 4K shell).). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Do I need to register the Flip in the UK?
Flip is C0, takeoff about 249 g (Full-coverage guards, still claimed under 249 g.). In the UK a Flyer ID is required from 100 g, and an Operator ID is required from 100 g with a camera or from 250 g — this airframe needs both. This is not legal advice; read the CAA Drone Code for the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Mini SE in the UK?
Mini SE (unmarked): A1 Over People. No class mark. CAA legacy weight table: under 250 g is A1 — same Open subcategory as C0. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
How far from people can I fly the Flip in the UK?
Flip (C0): A1 Over People. May overfly uninvolved people; not crowds. Flyer ID + Operator ID from 100 g with a camera. Towns OK in A1. Open height is 120 m AGL. Never over crowds. This is not legal advice — the CAA Drone Code (March 2026) applies to the airframe and battery you actually fly. Longer version: the UK Open explainer on this site (/guides/uk).
Which is better at dusk?
Flip on paper. Flip is 1/1.3-inch CMOS with Forward + down; Mini SE is 1/2.3-inch CMOS with Downward. Nightscape still needs texture and a minimum lux — it is not night vision.
Which is better for travel?
Flip if the constraint is a bag and UK class (C0, 249 g). Mini SE if you will accept unmarked and 249 g for the bigger airframe.
Can I keep my Flip batteries, controller or ND filters?
These do not share a battery family. Plan to buy packs, and check ND thread and RC protocol — Mini 4 Pro filters and batteries do not sit on a Mini 5 Pro.
How much more does it cost?
DJI UK RRP (as of 2026-08-31): Flip £295, Mini SE —. Used and CeX sit on the price board below — some of these are discontinued as new.
Who should buy which?
Flip: Guarded vlog Mini with a real 1/1.3-inch camera. Mini SE: unmarked, 1/2.3-inch CMOS.
Price board
UK pounds, dated snapshots. Each cell names the box that figure is for. EAN is the barcode on that carton when a UK listing cited one; otherwise we leave it blank rather than guess. Not live APIs. Buying used checklist.
| Flip as of 2026-08-31 | Mini SE as of 2026-08-31 | |
|---|---|---|
| DJI Store UK RRP | £295 Flip (RC-N3, 1 battery) | — Discontinued as new — Mini SE (not Mini 2, not Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K) |
| Amazon UK | £369 Flip (RC-N3, 1 battery) | See Amazon No new Mini SE buy-box — search only; confirm it is not Mini 2 SE |
| eBay UK band | £220–£400 Used drone-only floor; Fly More / RC 2 is the ceiling | See eBay Used Mini SE kits — confirm it is not Mini 2 or Mini 2 SE / Mini 4K |
| CeX sell | — Flip with RC-N3, grade B (unpriced today) | — CeX search — no SKU invented |
| CeX cash / voucher | See CeX Flip with RC-N3, grade B (unpriced today) | See CeX CeX search — no SKU invented |
Reviews that put these together
- Best DJI drone 2026: Neo 2 vs Flip vs Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S vs Mavic 4 Pro vs Avata 2
UK running costs, legality vs weather, Mini 5 Pro vs Air 3S as a complementary pair
Gadget Scout · 2026-01-15 - Best DJI drone (2026): Mini 5 Pro to Mavic 4 Pro
Sub-250 argument, Mini 5 Pro 1-inch sensor, Air 3S telephoto vs Mini 5 Pro
DroneXL · 2026-03-01 - Review: the DJI Mini 2 is the perfect drone for beginners
4K/30, RAW stills, OcuSync 2.0, sub-250 g, no obstacle avoidance
DPReview · 2020-11-05