DJI’s 249g Mini 5 Pro is the first in its class to use a Type 1 image sensor, and upgrades an already robust obstacle avoidance system with LiDAR so it’s more effective in low light. However, regulatory battles mean it’ll be hard to get one stateside.
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, without question, the leading maker of camera drones worldwide. Its latest quadcopter, the Mini 5 Pro, looks like the best 249g class drone to date. Content creators, video producers, and photographers who live or work abroad are likely in for a real treat. The new drone is a serious upgrade to the previous Mini 4 Pro, and its headline upgrades include a larger 50MP Type 1 format image sensor and the addition of LiDAR to its obstacle avoidance system.New Features in Detail
The Mini 5 Pro is a 249g drone, a weight class that was originally developed in direct response to regulatory requirements. In the US and many other countries, drones that weigh less than 250 grams don’t have to be registered with a government agency and are allowed to be used in more places than heavier drones. DJI released its first Mavic Mini ultra-light drone back in 2019 and has improved upon the series with each subsequent release.
And the Mini 5 Pro follows the trend. Its camera includes an oversized (for a small drone) image sensor, one with the same Type 1 surface area (roughly 65% larger than the Type 1/1.3 in the Mini 4 Pro), 50MP resolution, and 4K60 HDR capture as the larger Air 3S. The camera is mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that twists to shift between portrait and landscape capture, but even that comes with a new twist. The Mini 5 Pro adds a video shot that rolls the gimbal by 225 degrees, a type of camera move I’ve not yet seen in a consumer drone.
The flight hardware takes a leap forward as well. The Mini 4 Pro already had 360-degree obstacle avoidance and detection, and the Mini 5 Pro adds forward LiDAR to the mix. DJI says this will improve safety at twilight and for night flights. The new drone also remembers its current flight path, so it can return to the launch point even if it loses communication with GPS satellites.
And battery life is better, the Mini 5 Pro gets 36 minutes per charge with its standard battery and 52 minutes of flight time with an optional extended life cell, up from 45 minutes for the Mini 4 Pro. The extended battery pushes the weight over 249g, but pilots will appreciate the extra flight time.Delayed Availability Is the New Normal for DJI in the US
As mentioned, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is going on sale internationally today, but it is not coming to the US.
