price upgrading to the brand new mannequin?

DJI introduced the Mini 5 Professional final week, and now I’m getting the plain query from Mini 4 Professional homeowners: ought to I improve? And for people who find themselves new to DJI’s line of Mini drones (or their most up-to-date drone is one thing old-fashioned, like a DJI Mini 2), it’s price contemplating whether or not to get the Mini 5 Professional or avoid wasting cash on the older mannequin. Alas, within the debate between the Mini 5 Professional vs. Mini 4 Professional, the reply isn’t as easy as you would possibly suppose.

Whereas the Mini 5 Professional represents a big technological leap, the Mini 4 Professional stays a superb drone that many customers won’t want to exchange. Price range acutely aware pilots can doubtless relaxation straightforward realizing that they’ve acquired a high-quality drone in the event that they select to carry the cheaper DJI Mini 4 Professional over the 5.

Let’s break down precisely what’s modified, what’s stayed the identical, and whether or not the improve is smart to your particular wants.

The largest distinction between the Mini 5 Professional vs. Mini 4 Professional: the sensor

The largest distinction between the Mini 5 Professional and the Mini 4 Professional is sort of actually, nicely, huge. The important thing spec on this drone is its largest sensor dimension, the place DJI jumped from a 1/1.3-inch sensor within the Mini 4 Professional to a full 1-inch sensor within the Mini 5 Professional.

Mini 4 Professional: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48MP
Mini 5 Professional: 1-inch CMOS, 50MP

What’s so good a couple of bigger sensor? Primarily that it captures extra mild. Extra mild interprets to raised low-light efficiency, improved dynamic vary and total superior picture high quality.

Associated learn: DJI Mini 5 Professional vs. Air 3S: The final word showdown between mini and flagship drones

That different huge distinction? U.S. availability

Irrespective of how nice a drone is, it doesn’t imply an entire lot should you can’t get your palms on it. The opposite main distinction is availability.

DJI sells the Mini 4 Professional drone within the U.S., nevertheless it doesn’t promote the DJI Mini 5 Professional drone within the U.S.

DJI hasn’t been too express about precisely why it sells the Mini 4 Professional within the U.S. however not the Mini 5 Professional, nevertheless it doubtless comes right down to timing and regulatory local weather.

The Mini 4 Professional launched in September 2023, earlier than current escalations in U.S.-China tech tensions and potential regulatory restrictions on Chinese language drone producers. No, DJI merchandise aren’t banned within the U.S. — however in 2025, DJI adopted a extra cautious strategy to U.S. market entry (DJI adopted the same playbook with the Could 2025 launch of the Mavic 4 Professional).

It’s presumably on account of it anticipating stricter laws or desirous to keep away from potential stock points if sudden restrictions have been applied (and it appears like such restrictions are nonetheless on the desk).

Whereas DJI doesn’t formally promote the Mini 5 Professional within the U.S., decided patrons are discovering workarounds, although none are ideally suited. Proceed to look main retailers like Adorama and B&H Photograph (they sporadically listed the Mavic 4 Professional drone, too). However transfer quick, as these listings seem and disappear shortly with restricted inventory and infrequently inflated pricing.

Worldwide retailers could ship to the U.S., although this entails import duties, potential customs delays, and questionable guarantee protection. Some vacationers buy the drone whereas overseas, which is technically authorized for private use however creates problems if the system wants service or substitute.

In the event you don’t wish to fiddle with making an attempt to even get a DJI Mini 5 Professional within the U.S., then don’t sweat. As an alternative, know the DJI Mini 4 Professional is a superb drone — and also you don’t have a tough determination to make any extra.

And simply to be clear, that each one means even I haven’t gotten my palms on the DJI Mini 5 Professional but. Usually I run intensive testing on drones (typically even a number of weeks earlier than launching by way of a check unit offered by DJI!). I’ve no been in a position to do this right here, so this comparability information is all primarily based on conversations with the DJI staff and the official specs sheet.

DJI Mini 5 Professional vs. Mini 4 Professional specs side-by-side

With that out of the best way, right here’s a comparability of key specs on each drones:

The place the Mini 5 Professional wins

Picture High quality: The 1-inch sensor ought to ship considerably higher picture high quality, particularly in difficult lighting situations. Low-light efficiency, dynamic vary, and total picture constancy ought to all see significant enhancements.

Inventive Gimbal Capabilities: The 225° gimbal rotation is genuinely distinctive — no different drone provides this characteristic. Mixed with true vertical capturing (vs. the Mini 4 Professional’s cropped vertical), content material creators get considerably extra inventive choices.

Evening Flying: The 1-lux impediment sensing with forward-facing LiDAR represents a significant security improve for low-light flying. The Mini 4 Professional’s 15-lux requirement means it struggles in dim situations.

Gradual Movement: 4K/120fps vs 4K/100fps might sound minor, however that further body charge gives noticeably smoother slow-motion footage.

Flight Time: Small however significant enhancements in each commonplace (36 vs 34 minutes) and prolonged battery configurations (52 vs 45 minutes).

The place the Mini 4 Professional remains to be nice

Availability and Help: You possibly can really purchase a Mini 4 Professional, get guarantee help, obtain well timed software program updates and discover equipment simply.

Ecosystem: A mature ecosystem of third-party equipment, circumstances, filters and help supplies exists for the Mini 4 Professional.

Identified Portions: No surprises, no early adopter points, no uncertainty about efficiency claims. (Keep in mind, I haven’t even flown the DJI Mini 5 Professional myself!).

So, must you improve to the DJI Mini 5 Professional drone?

Positively improve if:

• You’re knowledgeable content material creator who wants the absolute best picture high quality
• Low-light pictures/videography is essential to your work
• You create loads of vertical content material for social media
• You continuously fly in difficult lighting situations
• You possibly can really get your palms on a Mini 5 Professional

Most likely don’t improve if:

• You’re comfortable along with your Mini 4 Professional’s picture high quality
• You primarily fly in good lighting situations
• The inventive gimbal options aren’t essential to your workflow
• You’re within the U.S. and need hassle-free possession
• Price range is a big concern

Take into account upgrading if:

• You’re planning to journey internationally and will buy one overseas
• You’re keen to cope with grey market purchases for cutting-edge tech
• Picture high quality enhancements would meaningfully influence your work

Mini 5 Professional vs. Mini 4 Professional: how one can weigh each drones

The Mini 5 Professional represents a big technological development that pushes mini drone capabilities into beforehand unattainable territory. (hiya 1-inch sensor in a sub-250g package deal!).

However each drones are nonetheless nice. I thought-about them each to be among the greatest drones below 250 grams, in addition to two of the greatest journey drones.

Simply don’t really feel unhealthy should you can’t get your palms on the Mini 5 Professional, both for monetary or sensible causes. Availability, help, ecosystem maturity and real-world usability all matter simply as a lot as how good the specs are. Fortunately, the Mini 4 Professional stays a superb drone that serves most customers’ wants extraordinarily nicely.

For Mini 4 Professional homeowners, this isn’t essential improve until particular options (picture high quality, evening flying, inventive gimbal) instantly influence your work. For brand new patrons, the choice comes right down to what you’ll be able to really buy in your market and inside your finances.

The Mini 5 Professional is actually a leap into the way forward for mini drones. Nonetheless, the Mini 4 Professional stays a really stable present-day alternative that received’t depart you upset.

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