DJI Mini 4 Pro: The ultimate pocket-sized drone for pros and enthusiasts

DJI, the world’s leading drone maker, has just launched its latest model in the Mini series: the DJI Mini 4 Pro. This tiny drone packs a lot of power and features into a mini package that weighs less than 250 grams (8.8 ounces), making it ideal for travel, adventure, and professional use. In this article, we will review the DJI Mini 4 Pro and see how it compares to its predecessor, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, and other drones in the market.

Design and specs

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone looks very similar to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, with a sleek and compact design that can fit in the palm of your hand. It has four foldable arms with propellers that can be easily replaced if damaged. It also has a removable battery that provides up to 31 minutes of flight time per charge.

The main difference between the Mini 4 Pro and the Mini 3 Pro is the addition of Omnidirectional Vision Sensing, which means that the drone has sensors on all sides to detect and avoid obstacles in its path. This makes the drone safer and more stable to fly in complex environments, such as urban areas, forests, or indoors. The drone also has a bottom auxiliary light that helps with landing in low-light conditions.

The camera of the DJI Mini 4 Pro is mounted on a 3-axis mechanical gimbal that provides smooth and stable footage. The camera has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that can capture 48-megapixel stills and 4K video at up to 100 frames per second. The camera also supports a 10-bit D-log M color profile, giving color grading more flexibility in post-production. The camera has a 24mm equivalent focal length and an f/1.7 aperture, which allows for better low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field effects.

The DJI Fly app can control the DJI Mini 4 Pro on your smartphone or by the dedicated remote controller that comes with the drone. The remote controller has a foldable design that can hold your smartphone as a monitor. It also has a 5.8 GHz transmission system that provides up to 10 km (6.2 miles) of range and a clear live view of what the drone sees.

Video

Features and performance

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone is not only a powerful camera drone but also a smart and fun one. It has many features that make it easy and enjoyable to fly, such as:

QuickShots: These pre-programmed flight modes let you capture cinematic shots with just a few taps. You can choose from modes such as Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix, Boomerang, Asteroid, and more.
MasterShots: These are advanced flight modes that let you create professional-looking videos with minimal effort. You just need to select your subject, and the drone will automatically plan the best flight route, shoot different angles, and edit them into a short video.
ActiveTrack 5.0: This is an improved version of DJI’s intelligent tracking system that lets you follow and film your subject with precision and ease. You can choose from modes such as Trace, Parallel, Spotlight, or Portrait.
Point of Interest 4.0: This is an enhanced version of DJI’s orbiting mode that lets you circle around a specific point of interest, such as a building, a landmark, or a person. You can adjust the speed, radius, altitude, and direction of the orbit.
Panorama: This mode lets you capture stunning panoramic photos from different perspectives. You can choose from modes such as Sphere, 180°, Wide-Angle, or Vertical.
Hyperlapse: This mode lets you create timelapse videos with motion effects. You can choose from Free, Circle, Course Lock, or Waypoint modes.
Night Mode: This mode lets you capture clear and bright photos and videos in low-light situations. The drone will automatically adjust the exposure settings and use the bottom auxiliary light to assist with focusing.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro also has some features that are designed for professional users, such as:

RAW photo format: This format preserves more details and dynamic range than JPEG format, giving more room for editing in post-production.
Manual exposure control: This is a feature that lets you adjust the shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance settings manually to achieve your desired results.
Focus Peaking: This feature highlights the edges of your subject in red to help you achieve sharp focus.
Histogram: This feature shows you the distribution of brightness levels in your image to help you avoid overexposure or underexposure.
Zebra Pattern: This feature shows you the areas of your image that are overexposed or clipped to help you adjust the exposure settings.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone is also compatible with some accessories that can enhance your flying experience, such as:

DJI Smart Controller: This remote controller has a built-in 5.5-inch screen that can display the live view from the drone in bright sunlight. It also has a long battery life and supports DJI’s OcuSync 2.0 transmission system.
DJI Goggles: These VR goggles let you see what the drone sees in first-person (FPV) mode. They also have head tracking and gesture control features that let you control the drone with your head movements or hand gestures.
DJI Fly More Combo: This bundle includes the drone, the remote controller, three batteries, a charging hub, a carrying bag, and other accessories. It is a good option for those who want to fly longer and have more convenience.

Comparison and verdict

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone is undoubtedly the best drone in its class, offering flagship features in a pocket-sized package. It is a significant upgrade from the DJI Mini 3 Pro, especially in terms of video quality, obstacle avoidance, and intelligent modes. It is also a great alternative to heavier and more expensive drones, such as the DJI Mavic 3 or the DJI Air 3, as it can deliver comparable performance and functionality while being more portable and affordable.

However, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is not perfect. It still has some limitations and drawbacks, such as:

The camera has a fixed aperture, meaning you cannot adjust the depth of field or control the amount of light entering the lens.
The drone is not very resistant to wind or rain, so you cannot fly it in harsh weather conditions.
The drone does not have internal storage, so you need to use a microSD card to store your photos and videos.
The drone does not have a zoom function, meaning you cannot get closer to your subject without physically moving the drone.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is also not cheap. It costs $759 for the standard package and $999 for the Fly More Combo. This is quite a high price for a mini drone, especially compared to other models in the market, such as the Hubsan Zino Mini Pro ($499) or the Fimi X8 Mini ($399). However, these models do not have the same level of quality and reliability as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, so you get what you pay for.

Overall, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is an amazing drone that can satisfy both pros and enthusiasts alike. It is small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to capture stunning photos and videos. It is smart enough to fly autonomously but flexible enough to let you customize your settings. It is safe enough to avoid obstacles but fun enough to perform tricks. It is simply the ultimate pocket-sized drone for anyone who loves aerial photography and videography. @via dji.com.