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- Which should you buy?
- DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro: specs
- Camera: the jump to 1 inch
- Video and color profiles
- Safety: LiDAR and low-light flying
- Battery life
- Speed, transmission and wind
- Weight and rules
- Storage and compatibility
- Should you upgrade from the Mini 4 Pro?
- DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro FAQ
- Keep reading
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: is the new 1-inch sensor worth the upgrade? The Mini 5 Pro brings the biggest camera jump the Mini series has seen, plus 10-bit video in the Normal profile, 4K at 120 fps, a forward LiDAR sensor and better low-light vision, while staying around the 250 g mark. The Mini 4 Pro, meanwhile, has dropped in price and is still excellent.
Note for US readers: the Mini 5 Pro hasn’t been officially sold in the United States because of the regulatory situation around DJI, so this comparison is most relevant to buyers in the UK, Europe and other markets.
Quick answer: choose the Mini 5 Pro if you shoot landscapes, sunrises and sunsets, edit your footage or fly near obstacles in low light. Choose the Mini 4 Pro if you want the best value, already own an RC-N2 controller or DJI FPV goggles, or mostly fly in daylight for social media.
Which should you buy?
Choose the DJI Mini 5 Pro if…
- You shoot landscapes or in low light: the 1-inch sensor gathers much more light.
- You edit your videos: 10-bit even in the Normal profile and 4K at up to 120 fps.
- You fly near trees or buildings, or at dusk: it adds a forward LiDAR sensor and its vision sensors work in very low light.
- You want one lightweight drone that won’t feel dated in a few years.
Choose the DJI Mini 4 Pro if…
- You want the best price-to-quality ratio: it’s often cheaper since the Mini 5 Pro arrived.
- You already own a DJI RC-N2 controller or DJI FPV goggles, which the Mini 5 Pro didn’t support at launch.
- You mostly fly in daylight for social media: its 1/1.3-inch camera is still very good in good light.
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro: specs
| Spec | DJI Mini 5 Pro | DJI Mini 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1-inch CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS |
| Photos | 50 MP, f/1.8 | 48 MP, f/1.7 |
| 4K video | Up to 120 fps | Up to 100 fps |
| Normal profile | 10-bit | 8-bit |
| Dynamic range | Up to 14 stops (HDR) | Not published |
| Gimbal | 225° rotation | True vertical (90°) |
| Weight | 249.9 g (declared) | Under 249 g |
| Flight time (standard battery) | 36 min | 34 min |
| Transmission | O4+ | O4 |
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional + forward LiDAR | Omnidirectional |
| Low-light vision | Works from 1 lux | Needs more than 15 lux |
| Top speed | 18 m/s | 16 m/s |
| Wind resistance | 12 m/s | 10.7 m/s |
| Internal storage | 42 GB | 2 GB |
| Compatible controllers | DJI RC 2, RC Pro 2, RC-N3 | DJI RC 2, RC Pro 2, RC-N3, RC-N2 |
Camera: the jump to 1 inch
The biggest change is the 1-inch sensor. A larger sensor captures more light per pixel, which shows in high-contrast sunrises and sunsets, overcast skies and dusk. Resolution is similar (50 vs 48 MP) and the apertures are almost identical, so the advantage comes from sensor size. The gimbal also rotates 225°, enabling tilted, creative shots beyond the Mini 4 Pro’s true vertical mode.
Video and color profiles
For editors, the Mini 5 Pro records 10-bit even in the Normal profile, while the Mini 4 Pro is 8-bit there and 10-bit only in HLG and D-Log M. It also reaches 4K at 120 fps and Full HD at 240 fps (vs 100 and 200 fps), for smoother slow motion, and allows higher video ISO.
Safety: LiDAR and low-light flying
Both sense obstacles in every direction, but the Mini 5 Pro adds a forward LiDAR sensor with a 0.5–25 m range, and its vision system works from 1 lux, compared with more than 15 lux for the Mini 4 Pro. That reduces risk exactly when accidents are most likely: near obstacles and in fading light. It doesn’t replace careful flying.
Battery life
With standard batteries, DJI quotes 36 minutes for the Mini 5 Pro and 34 for the Mini 4 Pro; real-world figures are a bit lower. The Plus battery extends the Mini 5 Pro’s flight time considerably, but it pushes the drone over 250 g, which changes the rules that apply. If you’ll fly a lot, the Fly More Combo with three batteries and a charger is usually better value than buying batteries separately.
Speed, transmission and wind
The Mini 5 Pro uses O4+ transmission, is faster (18 vs 16 m/s in Sport mode), climbs twice as fast (10 vs 5 m/s) and resists slightly stronger wind (12 vs 10.7 m/s), which matters on a drone this light.
Weight and rules
Both are designed to sit under 250 g with the standard battery. DJI declares 249.9 g for the Mini 5 Pro; EASA has confirmed it keeps its C0 class thanks to the 3% tolerance in the certification standard. In the UK, check the CAA’s current Flyer ID and Operator ID requirements before flying. Always keep the drone in sight, stay under 120 m (400 ft) and never fly over crowds.
Storage and compatibility
The Mini 5 Pro has 42 GB of internal storage versus 2 GB, handy if you forget your microSD card. If you already own DJI gear, note that the Mini 5 Pro works with the DJI RC 2, RC Pro 2 and RC-N3, but not the RC-N2, and it didn’t support DJI FPV goggles at launch.
Should you upgrade from the Mini 4 Pro?
If you mostly fly in daylight and post to social media, the Mini 4 Pro is still more than enough and the upgrade isn’t worth the cost. If you shoot landscapes, fly at sunrise or sunset, or edit seriously, the Mini 5 Pro’s sensor and 10-bit video make a visible difference. For a first drone where it’s available, the Mini 5 Pro is the most complete sub-250 g option; on a budget, the Mini 4 Pro remains one of the best camera drones.
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro FAQ
DJI declares 249.9 g with the standard battery. Some units weigh slightly more, but EASA confirmed it keeps C0 class thanks to the 3% tolerance. With the Plus battery it exceeds 250 g.
It hasn’t been officially sold in the United States because of the regulatory situation around DJI. Check current availability before buying.
The Mini 5 Pro, thanks to its 1-inch sensor versus the Mini 4 Pro’s 1/1.3-inch sensor. The difference is clearest in low light and high-contrast scenes.
Yes if it’s the DJI RC 2, RC Pro 2 or RC-N3. The RC-N2 isn’t compatible with the Mini 5 Pro.
DJI quotes 36 minutes with the standard battery; expect a bit less in real flight with wind and maneuvers.