With the launch of the Mini 4 Pro, DJI has nailed the recipe for producing premium-level ultralight drones. It comes just 18 months after the superb Mini 3 Pro, but with significant tweaks to the image processing and obstacle avoidance tech, it's undeniably the one to beat.
At under 250 grams in weight, it’s free from many of the rules and regulations that apply to larger models. In the USA there’s no need to register it with the FAA for recreational use, while in the UK (a notoriously difficult place to fly drones), it can be flown pretty freely in public areas. Phew.
Here in the UK, finding a sub-250 gram drone is critical for most amateur pilots. What’s the point in me spending money on a high-performance camera drone like the DJI Mavic 3 (895g) or newer DJI Air 3 (720g) if I risk falling foul of the law every time it takes off? There’s usually a big trade-off here however, with the quality of the camera and safety features decreasing as the drone gets smaller and lighter. Thankfully, the Mini 4 Pro doesn’t feel close to subpar in these areas—even if it doesn’t quite hit the performance heights of its bigger brethren.
Safety First
With up to 34 minutes of flying time on a full charge, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has the same battery life as the Mini 3 Pro. I think it’s a generous amount, even if the real-world air time is closer to 25 minutes than 34. However, those who anticipate long days of shooting with no easy means of recharging would do well to invest in one or two additional batteries (they cost about $65 each).
You could also simply buy the DJI Fly More bundle ($1,159), which comes with the drone, three batteries, a charging cradle that can hold all three at once, an RC 2 controller, and a sturdy shoulder bag to put it all in. This is the version of the drone I was sent to review, and while it’s expensive it does feel like a one-and-done purchase. It's also worth nothing that the RC 2 controller is one of the best I've ever used.
Like most consumer drones, the Mini 4 Pro is flown using a classic twin-stick control method. It’s easy to master—especially with much of the work now done for you via automatic takeoff and landing—and impressively responsive.