DJI Mini 4 Pro Review, the Sub-250g Drone That Got Omnidirectional Sensing

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is still one of the safest buys in drones. It weighs under 249 grams with the standard battery, it sees obstacles in every direction, and it shoots 10-bit D-Log M video you can grade properly. DJI launched it on September 25, 2023, at $759 with the screenless RC-N2 controller.

Being under 250 grams is the big deal. Recreational flyers in the US skip FAA registration, and in the EU it carries the C0 label, the lightest category. You can carry it in a jacket pocket. That’s why so many travelers end up with a Mini.

Video review: Air Photography

The camera

A 48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor sits behind a 24mm-equivalent f/1.7 lens. The aperture is fixed, so daylight video needs ND filters. It records 4K up to 60fps for normal use, 4K at 100fps for slow motion, and 1080p at up to 200fps. HLG and D-Log M are 10-bit. Normal mode is 8-bit.

The gimbal rotates for true vertical shooting, so Reels and Shorts use the full sensor instead of a crop. Raw stills hold up well for sunsets and city views, though the small sensor gets noisy after dark. Up close, reviewers noticed some barrel distortion.

The real upgrade, safety

The Mini 3 Pro could only see forward, back and down. The Mini 4 Pro added omnidirectional vision sensing and a downward infrared sensor, which makes ActiveTrack 360 and the improved return-to-home far less nerve-racking. It’s the first Mini that will avoid a tree while it follows you down a trail. There’s no LiDAR, so it’s weaker in low light than newer models.

O4 transmission reaches 20 km under FCC rules and 10 km under CE, which is more than you’ll ever legally use. In practice, a steady HD feed matters more than range.

The weak spots

Wind. At about 249 grams it gets pushed around on coastlines and mountain ridges. DJI rates it at 10.7 m/s, but real-world gusts eat battery fast.

Flight time is rated at 34 minutes on the standard battery and 45 on the Plus battery, but expect 20 to 25 minutes before return-to-home nags you. The Plus battery also takes it over 250 grams and isn’t sold in the EU.

And the RC-N2 kit uses your phone as a screen. Most people end up wanting the $959 kit with the DJI RC 2 or the $1,099 Fly More combo.

Mini 4 Pro or Mini 5 Pro

The DJI Mini 5 Pro moves to a 1-inch sensor and adds LiDAR, and it’s the better camera. But it was never officially sold in the US, and it sits right at the 250g line. If you want an officially supported, truly sub-250g drone with a great camera, the Mini 4 Pro is still the one. Grab a set of ND filters and see our guide to using ND filters on a drone.

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