As an early Christmas gift, I have a DJI Neo 2 arriving tomorrow. While waiting, I’ve been researching further and now find myself considering a more significant investment in the Mini 5 Pro. The Neo 2’s features and price initially drew me in, but the potential for a broad ban on DJI drone imports—which could be applied retroactively—has me seriously looking at the Mini 5 Pro or the Flip before it might become too late.
I understand the common advice that for casual use, a more affordable drone often suffices. Still, I’m curious how many pilots began with a model like the Neo or Flip and later chose to upgrade. Given the uncertainty around DJI’s future availability in the U.S., alongside considerations like superior low-light performance, D-Log recording, and quality-of-life features such as quick-release propellers, I’m weighing whether it’s wiser to go all-in on the Mini 5 Pro from the start, with the option to resell if it doesn’t meet my expectations.
Since the Neo 2 arrives shortly, I plan to test it for a day or two to see if it satisfies my needs. Any thoughts or advice from those who have faced a similar decision would be greatly appreciated.
I started with a DJI Mini 2 and upgraded within a year, so your point about pilots moving up from models like the Neo really resonates. The potential import ban you mentioned is exactly why I decided to invest in my Air 3 now rather than wait. For your situation, if low-light shooting matters to you, the Mini 5 Pro’s performance there is a game-changer compared to the Neo. What kind of scenes are you most excited to film?
Thanks for sharing your experience with the Mini 2 upgrade—it’s a great example of how pilots often find new creative needs. For filming scenes, if you’re drawn to golden hour landscapes or urban twilight, the Mini 5 Pro’s larger sensor and aperture will give you much cleaner footage than the Neo 2. I’d recommend checking out some side-by-side low-light comparison videos on YouTube to see the difference firsthand, and I’d love to hear what you decide once your Neo 2 arrives.
The Neo 2 is already a sub-250g drone with a single lens. You should consider an Air 3S over a Mini 5.
Since you mentioned it, I have a good offer on the Air 3S, roughly equal to the M5P, but I’m concerned about its weight and travel restrictions compared to the Mini 5 Pro.
From my research, drones are most useful when you can travel with them easily, which could be more difficult with the Air 3S. I can see myself starting with an Air 3S but eventually moving to an M5P, as flying restrictions over people and international travel might limit how often I could use the Air 3S.
This is just second-hand information, so I’d love to hear about your personal experience.
The Mini 5 Pro cannot fly over people without adding prop guards, Remote ID, and an anti-collision light. At that point, it exceeds 250g, requiring a Part 107 waiver. The Neo 2 can fly over people by adding only Remote ID and a collision light, remaining under 250g (with an observer).
The Mini 5 Pro is the best travel drone, and if I could only have one camera drone, I would choose it. However, if you are definitely getting a Neo 2, it may feel redundant alongside the M5P. It’s hard to go wrong; all three are excellent drones, and you know your needs best.
Most M5P models exceed 250g. If you’re considering the 5 Pro for its size, base your decision on its actual physical dimensions rather than its legal classification.
Your choice depends on your intended use. If this is your first drone, the Neo 2 offers more than enough capability and safety, and it will serve you well for years. The Flip provides the best value for your money. If budget is not a concern, the Mini 5 Pro is the most capable option.
For the price, I’d go with the Flip. If budget isn’t a concern, the Mini 5 Pro is the better choice.
I ended up getting a Mini 5 Pro for the price of a Flip.
I agree. I started with the Flip, but upgraded to the Mini 5 Pro a few months later for the improvements and have no regrets.
I’m leaning in that direction as well. The Flip looks impressive, but since I already own the Neo 2, there’s a lot of functional overlap. The larger sensor is nice, but I could easily see myself getting a Mini 5 Pro after trying the Flip.
It’s surprising how many people, even with ostensibly better drones for specific scenarios like the Neo 2 or the Mavic 4 Pro, still opt for the Mini 5 Pro. The appeal lies in its portability for more locations and its capable camera.
I’m hoping for a drone that will last. How long do people typically keep their Minis?
I’m new to drones, so I can’t speak to the last question, but these models seem to last a long time—I often see people posting about older drones that are still working.
If you already have a Neo 2, the Flip is an upgrade, but not a major one like the Mini 5 Pro would be. One thing I “miss”—and I say that in quotes because I still own it but don’t fly it much—is the prop guards. I’m still getting used to the free propellers, which are great for lower noise, but the control and overall speed are different.
The Flip is a safe choice for getting good footage, but the difference is honestly huge. As others have said, if budget isn’t an issue, get the Mini 5 Pro with the Fly More combo. If the Fly More combo is too much, I’d suggest either getting the Flip with its Fly More combo or waiting until you can afford the Mini 5 Pro bundle. I made the common beginner mistake of buying just the Flip drone by itself.
I understand the last part. When I got the Neo, it was just the drone and batteries. I thought gesture control and my phone would be sufficient, but I’m realizing that if you want to do more than selfies and follow mode, you really need a remote and a dedicated transmission system. Once I reached that point, I had already seen enough impressive drone footage to be convinced: if you want better dynamic range and transmission range with a remote, you’re better off getting a drone with a superior camera from the start.
The Mini Pro models don’t make much sense to me. The Flip has the same sensor as the M4P at half the price, and the Air 3S is only about $150 more than the M5P for a significantly better drone. If you’re already spending around $1,000, taking the required licensing test shouldn’t be a major obstacle.
I haven’t seen the Neo 2 in person, but with such a small sensor, it will likely struggle in many conditions. The FPV feature is its main appeal.
The Air 3S is more cumbersome for travel due to restrictions on flying over people and tighter regulations. The Flip seems solid and meets many of my needs, though many who like the Flip end up choosing the Mini 5 Pro.
That’s a good point about the Neo 2. I appreciate its flexibility for exploring features like FPV and gesture control.