Mastering the Sky: DJI Mini 4Pro

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the first miniature drone to feature binocular vision in every direction, along with omnidirectional obstacle sensing and double the transmission distance. Despite these enhancements, the drone remains largely unchanged in other aspects.

With Skydio's departure from the consumer drone market, my attention now turns to DJI. The recently unveiled DJI Mini 4 Pro, priced at $759, appears to be a step in the right direction. Its standout feature is the addition of omnidirectional obstacle sensing, marking a significant improvement over the Mini 3 Pro's limited forward, backward, and downward vision. This new binocular vision capability has tremendous potential, especially when it comes to evading obstacles such as trees or branches.

Although I cannot personally attest to its tree-dodging proficiency, Vjeran has obtained a DJI Mini 4 Pro for testing.

In many ways, the Mini 4 Pro brings the Mini 3 Pro closer to the capabilities of its larger and more expensive counterpart, the $1,099 DJI Air 3. Both drones feature a similar main camera (1/1.3-inch, 48-megapixel, f/1.7 with 82-degree FOV) and offer a battery life of over 40 minutes. However, the Mini 4 Pro sets itself apart by incorporating omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, 100fps 4K shooting (and 200fps 1080p shooting), and Ocusync 4 video transmission, which provides a range of up to 20 kilometers, compared to the Air's 12 km.

Just like the Mini 3 Pro, you can expect a respectable half-hour battery life from the included battery, while using the larger "Intelligent Flight Battery Plus" will allow for nearly 40 minutes of flight time. However, the latter is not available in Europe, as it exceeds the weight limit of 249 grams. DJI promotes "True Vertical Shooting" as a key feature of the Mini 4 Pro, but both the Mini 3 Pro (and the $469 Mini 3) already possess this functionality.

When it comes to battery life, the Mini 3 reigns supreme, offering an additional four to six minutes of flight time depending on the battery used.

For those seeking greater speed, the Mini 4 Pro may not be the ideal choice, as it ascends and descends at a leisurely pace of five meters per second. An Air or higher model would be better suited for such requirements, with the Air boasting twice the Mini's speed and the added advantage of a second f/2.8 70mm-equivalent telephoto camera, which allows for increased flexibility in photography.

To make an informed decision, I recommend visiting DJI's side-by-side comparison website to view a detailed comparison between the Mini 4 Pro, Mini 3 Pro, and DJI Air 3.

Existing Mini 3 Pro owners or those looking to accessorize will be pleased to note that the Mini 4 Pro is compatible with the same batteries. However, due to the upgraded Ocusync 4 video transmission, a new controller is required.