The mini drone market has just become more competitive with the launch of the DJI Mini 5 Pro, but is it worth the upgrade from the Mini 4 Pro? In this article, we’ll compare both drones in detail, highlighting the similarities, differences, and unique features that might influence your decision on whether to stick with the Mini 4 Pro or switch to the Mini 5 Pro.
Overview: DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro
Both the DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro have much to offer, and the Mini 4 Pro still holds its ground as a solid drone. However, the release of the Mini 5 Pro has raised some significant questions. The big question on everyone’s mind: Should you upgrade to the Mini 5 Pro or stay with the Mini 4 Pro? Let’s break down their similarities and differences.
Shared Features Between the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 5 Pro
Despite being different models, both drones share several important features, making them viable options for drone enthusiasts.
- Weight and Size: Both drones weigh under 250g with the standard batteries, which makes them ideal for travel. However, using the plus batteries will push the weight over 250g.
- Video Quality: Both drones support 10-bit video, ensuring high-quality footage with impressive color depth.
- Cruise Control Mode: Both models feature this mode, which is similar to cruise control in cars. You can press the cruise control button, and the drone will continue its path at the same speed.
- Waypoints Mode: This advanced feature, which allows users to set predefined paths, is available on both models.
- True Vertical Video: The camera on both drones can rotate to capture true vertical video, ensuring no awkward cropping.
- Obstacle Avoidance: Both drones come with omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, allowing them to avoid obstacles from all directions. The Mini 5 Pro does have some improvements in this area, though.
These shared features make both drones highly capable, but the Mini 5 Pro does come with a set of enhancements that take its capabilities a step further.
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Key Differences Between the Mini 4 Pro and Mini 5 Pro
While both drones are similar in many respects, there are notable differences that set the Mini 5 Pro apart.
New Gimbal System and Camera Features
The Mini 5 Pro comes with a redesigned gimbal system, which allows up to 225° of rotation. This feature enhances creative possibilities, enabling users to capture dynamic footage that the Mini 4 Pro can’t match. While the Mini 4 Pro offers true vertical video, the Mini 5 Pro takes it further with its ability to rotate and capture 180° in quickshot mode and up to 225° when manually controlled.
Additionally, the Mini 5 Pro features a 1-inch sensor, which captures better low-light footage and more detail. It also allows users to take 50-megapixel stills with its f/1.8 aperture. This larger sensor makes a noticeable difference in video and photo quality compared to the Mini 4 Pro’s 1/1.3-inch sensor and 48-megapixel stills.
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Dynamic Range and Improved Video Quality
The Mini 5 Pro offers 14 stops of dynamic range, an improvement over the Mini 4 Pro’s estimated 12 stops. While the exact dynamic range for the Mini 4 Pro isn’t clearly specified, the difference in sensor size means the Mini 5 Pro performs better in various lighting conditions.
Both drones offer 4K video at 60 fps and support HDR, but the Mini 5 Pro takes things further with the ability to shoot 4K video at 120 fps for slow-motion footage. The Mini 4 Pro can handle 4K at 100 fps, so the Mini 5 Pro offers a slight edge in this area.
Battery Life and Wind Resistance
When it comes to battery life, both drones offer standard and plus batteries, but the Mini 5 Pro boasts slightly better performance:
- Mini 5 Pro (standard battery): 36 minutes
- Mini 5 Pro (plus battery): 52 minutes
- Mini 4 Pro (standard battery): 34 minutes
- Mini 4 Pro (plus battery): 45 minutes
While the difference in flight time isn’t huge, a few extra minutes can make a difference when you’re capturing important footage. Wind resistance is another area where the Mini 5 Pro shines, handling winds up to 43.2 km/h compared to the Mini 4 Pro’s 38.5 km/h. Again, this is a minor difference, but it enhances the overall flying experience, especially in windier conditions.
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Video Transmission and Obstacle Avoidance
The Mini 5 Pro utilizes OcuSync 4 Plus, providing a 20 km range with 10-bit video transmission, offering a higher quality video feed compared to the OcuSync 4 on the Mini 4 Pro. Both drones support excellent video transmission, but the Mini 5 Pro’s upgraded system provides superior clarity and range.
Another important feature is the Nightcape omnidirectional obstacle avoidance on the Mini 5 Pro, which includes LAR sensors to help the drone avoid obstacles in low light. This is a significant upgrade over the standard omnidirectional obstacle avoidance found on the Mini 4 Pro, making the Mini 5 Pro more reliable in various lighting conditions.
Internal Storage and Active Track Features
The Mini 5 Pro also offers 42 GB of internal storage, which is a huge improvement over the 2 GB on the Mini 4 Pro. This added storage is invaluable for users who may forget their microSD card or need additional backup storage while flying.
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Both drones come with Active Track 360°, but the Mini 5 Pro offers scenario-based tracking. This means the drone can track specific activities like cycling or skiing more effectively, making the Mini 5 Pro a better choice for action-oriented tracking.
Additional Improvements in Speed and Noise
The Mini 5 Pro improves on speed and ascent/descent capabilities:
- Ascent speed: 36 km/h (Mini 5 Pro) vs. 18 km/h (Mini 4 Pro)
- Descent speed: 28.8 km/h (Mini 5 Pro) vs. 18 km/h (Mini 4 Pro)
- Horizontal speed: 68.4 km/h (Mini 5 Pro with the plus battery) vs. 57.6 km/h (Mini 4 Pro)
Additionally, the Mini 5 Pro is a little quieter, with a noise rating of 81 dB, which makes it less likely to attract unwanted attention during flight.
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Article Summary
The DJI Mini 5 Pro offers significant improvements over the Mini 4 Pro, particularly with the larger 1-inch sensor, better video capabilities, enhanced obstacle avoidance, and additional features like scenario-based tracking. These upgrades make the Mini 5 Pro a compelling option for drone enthusiasts looking for the latest technology in a compact, travel-friendly package. That said, the Mini 4 Pro is still an excellent drone, with many of the features that users love, such as true vertical video, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and solid battery life. If you already own a Mini 4 Pro and are happy with its performance, there’s no immediate need to upgrade unless you’re looking for the advanced features offered by the Mini 5 Pro.
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