Xiaomi Fimi X8 SE 2020 vs Parrot Anafi Camera Drone Comparison

Spec Comparison of the Xiaomi Fimi X8 SE 2020 and the Parrot Anafi

The price difference of the two camera drones is not that much when comparing other drones. The Fimi X8 SE 2020 can be had for around $449 new and the Parrot Anafi for $699 and even cheaper if bought second hand.

In terms of age difference, the Parrot Anafi is now 2 years old at the time of writing and the Xiaomi Fimi X8 SE 2020 is brand new in summer 2020.

Physical Comparison

Physically there are some differences, to look at, they are completely different looking camera drones, but they both have folding arms.

The Parrot is longer and that means a longer diagonal length when folded up of 253mm, compared to the Fimi length of 210mm.

The Fimi is a much wider camera drone at 106mm when folded, compared to the 67mm of the Parrot.

When comparing their whole dimensions, the volume can be worked out, with the Fimi being the larger of the two drones by 500ml. The Parrot Anafi is 1062cm cubed when folded in it's smallest form.

The Parrot is also a much lighter drone, at less then half the weight of the Fimi X8 SE 2020.

The Parrot weighs 320 grams ready to fly which is one of the lightest camera drones on the market and the Xiaomi Fimi drone weighs in at 765 grams ready to fly.

Performance Comparison

In terms of performance the Fimi looks to beat the Parrot in a number of areas.

The max speed of the Fimi X8 SE 2020 is 10kmh faster than that of the Parrot. This helps when chasing vehicles or people on bicycles and runners through landscapes.

It also has a faster ascent speed of 5m/s compared to the 4m/s the Parrot Anafi has.

The transmission distance is double that of the Parrot, meaning the Fimi X8 SE 2020 can do 8km in wide open environments compared to the 4km for the Parrot Anafi.

The noise level is very low on both, with the Parrot having one of the quietest flight noise levels of any camera drone on the market and the Fimi is closely behind with a top noise level of 68 decibels when at head height.

These two are perfect for those looking at quieter drones for film making and not to disturb people when out in the wild.

Photo and Video Comparison

The Parrot has a unique feature in that it can look directly up and directly down, not many camera drones can do that. The Fimi X8 SE 2020 can look down which helps with tracking and landing when returning to home, but it can't look up.

They both are capable of 100 mbps video bitrate which means high quality and large video files for film work.

They both use different image sensor sizes, the Parrot has a 1/2.4" image sensor and the Fimi X8 SE 2020 a 1/2.6" sized image sensor. The Parrot advertises a Sony IMX230 as it's sensor of choice and we are unaware of what sensor the Fimi uses.

You also get different photo resolutions, 12MP with the Fimi and 21MP with the Parrot Anafi and both camera drones shoot in RAW format and save DNG files types for those looking for more professional aerial photography features.

In terms of video they both shoot 1080p through to 4K video resolutions, but the Fimi X8 SE 2020 is capable of 100fps at 1080p and 4k at 30fps.

You also get flat profile in video as well as HDR video recording with the Fimi X8 SE 2020.

Both camera drones get 3-axis gimbal to stabilize their footage for smooth film making.

Summary

You get slightly more for your money with the Fimi, as it is cheaper and has a number of features the Parrot does not.

For the weight, the Parrot is one of the best camera drones on the market and portable enough to even carry in a small shoulder bag or backpack.

The Fimi is heavier but that comes with a longer flight time and features.