The DJI Mini 4 Professional was certainly one of DJI’s most profitable drones, setting the bar for light-weight, regulation-friendly drones that didn’t compromise on options. Now its successor, the DJI Mini 5 Professional, is right here. On paper, it provides some important upgrades—however is it price upgrading in case you already personal the Mini 4 Professional?
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The place to Purchase
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The DJI Mini 5 Professional is Over 250g!
The largest controversy surrounding the DJI Mini 5 Professional is its weight.
The DJI Mini collection has at all times been identified for staying below 250g—a key threshold in lots of international locations for flying with out strict rules corresponding to registration. Nevertheless, DJI has quietly eliminated the “sub-250g” advertising and marketing tagline from the Mini 5 Professional, though it’s nonetheless labeled as a C0-class drone within the EU.
Many customers are reporting their Mini 5 Professional items tipping the size at over 250g. DJI now lists the official takeoff weight as 249.9g ± 4g, which looks as if a handy strategy to maintain the “sub-250” impression alive. In observe, in case your drone weighs 253.9g, it’s nonetheless technically “inside tolerance.”
Whether or not being barely over 250g issues will rely in your nation’s rules. If you wish to keep absolutely compliant, be certain that to verify your native guidelines earlier than buying.
For comparability, the earlier DJI Mini 4 Professional got here in safely below 250g proper out of the field.
Mini 5 Professional vs Mini 4 Professional
Aside from weight let’s discuss concerning the specs and options.
| Function | DJI Mini 5 Professional | DJI Mini 4 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | 17 September 2025 | 25 September 2024 |
| Worth | From US$769 | From US$649 |
| Claimed Weight | 249.9g±4g | 249g |
| Dimensions | 157×95×68 mm (Folded) 304×380×91 mm (Unfolded) |
148×94×64 mm (Folded) 298×373×101 mm (Unfolded) |
| Digicam | 1″ CMOS, 50 MP | 1/1.3″ CMOS, 48 MP |
| Max Video Decision | 4K @ 120fps | 4K @ 100fps |
| Gimbal / Angles | 3-axis Vertical + upward (~225° rotation) |
3-axis True vertical capturing |
| Transmission System | OcuSync 4.0+ (O4+) | OcuSync 4.0 (O4) |
| Max Transmission Distance | As much as 20 km | As much as 20 km |
| Impediment Avoidance Tech | Omnidirectional sensors + LiDAR | Omnidirectional sensors |
| Topic Monitoring | ActiveTrack 6.0 | ActiveTrack 6.0 |
| Max Flight Time | 36 minutes 52 minutes with Battery Plus |
34 minutes 45 minutes with Battery Plus |
Design & Construct
At first look, the Mini 5 Professional and Mini 4 Professional look very comparable, however the Mini 5 Professional is barely bigger. The added size is principally to accommodate the brand new 1-inch digital camera sensor and the front-mounted LiDAR sensor for impediment detection.
- Coloration: The Mini 5 Professional is available in a barely darker shade.
- Weight: Each carry the C0 label in Europe, which means they qualify for lighter rules.
Digicam Upgrades
That is the place the DJI Mini 5 Professional actually units itself aside.
- Mini 5 Professional: 1-inch sensor, 50MP photographs, 4K/120fps slow-motion, 4K/60 HDR video, and 10-bit D-Log M.
- Mini 4 Professional: 1/1.3-inch sensor, 48MP photographs, 4K/100fps slow-motion.
That is the primary time a 1-inch sensor has been included on a sub-250g-class drone, and it makes an enormous distinction. The bigger sensor improves dynamic vary and low-light efficiency dramatically. Sunsets, sunrises, and nighttime footage look far superior on the Mini 5 Professional, with richer shadow element, higher spotlight retention, and an total extra cinematic look.
If you happen to primarily fly in vivid daytime circumstances, the hole is much less noticeable. However in difficult lighting, the Mini 5 Professional clearly wins.
The Mini 5 Professional additionally options an elevated body price of 120 fps in comparison with the Mini 4 Professional’s 100 fps, enabling smoother slow-motion seize. Moreover, its 5.4K decision surpasses the 4K of the Mini 4 Professional, offering better element and enhanced flexibility for post-production workflows.
Flight Time
The claimed flight instances are:
- Mini 4 Professional: as much as 34 minutes.
- Mini 5 Professional: as much as 36 minutes.
Anticipate comparable flight time and flight distance between the 2 fashions. An even bigger battery referred to as Battery Plus is out there in case you are searching for longer flight time however it is going to make your drone heavier.
Transmission and Vary
The Mini 5 Professional upgrades to O4+ transmission, whereas the Mini 4 Professional makes use of the usual O4 system. On paper, each promise a most vary of 20km, so in observe, this improve isn’t a game-changer for many pilots.
Regardless that the spec sheets boast lengthy vary, real-world limitations usually come from battery life somewhat than transmission distance (when flying in line of sight). With the usual battery lasting round 25–half-hour in a traditional flight, you possibly can realistically count on a protected round-trip of about 6–8km, or roughly 15km whole distance. In brief, the connection is rock strong on each drones, and also you’re way more prone to run out of battery earlier than you lose sign.
ActiveTrack & Impediment Avoidance
The Mini 4 Professional options six fisheye lenses for impediment avoidance, offering 360° detection of surrounding objects. Whereas efficient below optimum lighting circumstances, its efficiency may be restricted in low-light environments.
The Mini 5 Professional addresses this limitation by incorporating superior LiDAR sensor on the entrance, providing enhanced impediment detection at nighttime. Additionally it has smarter monitoring algorithms which make ActiveTrack smoother and extra dependable. It predicts motion higher and retains topics in body with fewer jerky transitions.
For actions like biking, working, or motion sports activities, this can be a big improve—you possibly can belief the drone to maintain you in body with a lot better reliability.
Medium Telephoto Mode
One of the vital thrilling new options on the Mini 5 Professional is its 48mm “medium tele” mode, which simulates having a second lens. This enables for tighter framing and extra dramatic views with no need to fly dangerously near your topic.
Whereas the picture high quality isn’t fairly as sharp as the first lens—it’s a digital crop assisted by software program—the pliability it provides for cinematic composition is a welcome addition, particularly for solo creators seeking to differ their photographs.
Further Options
The Mini 5 Professional additionally packs in a number of considerate extras that make on a regular basis flying extra handy:
- 42GB of built-in storage – a lifesaver in case you ever neglect your SD card.
- Wi-Fi 6 – enabling a lot quicker file transfers.
- Unfold-to-power-on function – a small element that streamlines setup and makes takeoff faster.
- ND filters included within the Fly Extra Combo – helpful for anybody critical about video.
Taken collectively, these extras give the Mini 5 Professional a extra polished {and professional} really feel in comparison with the Mini 4 Professional.
Conclusion: Who Ought to Get the Mini 5 Professional?
If you happen to demand increased efficiency—say you frequently shoot slow-motion video at 4K/120fps, otherwise you work in low-light circumstances the place dynamic vary actually issues—the Mini 5 Professional has clear benefits. Its 1-inch CMOS sensor delivers noticeably higher picture high quality than the Mini 4 Professional’s 1/1.3-inch sensor, particularly in difficult lighting. Add in barely longer flight instances, stronger impediment avoidance, and total improved reliability, and the Mini 5 Professional begins to look very interesting for professionals or critical hobbyists.
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Nevertheless, in case your flying is extra informal—journey movies, vlogging, social media clips, or daytime photographs—the Mini 4 Professional nonetheless delivers wonderful efficiency. It weighs below 249g, provides omnidirectional impediment sensing, 4K/60 HDR video, vertical capturing, and strong flight instances of as much as half-hour with the usual battery. For a lot of pilots, the Mini 4 Professional stays a unbelievable all-rounder, and upgrading received’t immediately make you a greater pilot or filmmaker. If you happen to’re proud of the outcomes you’re getting now, there’s no rush to maneuver on.
Try the DJI Mini 4 Professional evaluation: https://oscarliang.com/dji-mini-4-pro/
One factor price mentioning: the over-250g weight state of affairs is barely annoying. In Europe, the Mini 5 Professional remains to be categorised as C0, so it stays compliant with lighter rules. However guidelines differ by nation, so do your homework if you wish to keep absolutely compliant.
Lastly, be aware that the DJI Mini 5 Professional just isn’t formally offered within the US, resulting from latest DJI restrictions. Clients outdoors the US can nonetheless purchase it, however American pilots may have to take a look at various fashions.