DJI Mini 5 Pro Review – The Mini Drone We Have Been Waiting For

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Good day, folks. Shawn here from Air Photography. Today is a really exciting day—DJI has officially launched the brand new DJI Mini 5 Pro. In this first look video, I’ll discuss its upgraded features and test out some of its new capabilities.

Design and Hardware Upgrades

The Mini 4 Pro was already one of DJI’s most popular drones due to its capabilities and size, but now the Mini 5 Pro takes these features even further. It sports a sleek new design with a darker gray finish and introduces notable hardware improvements, including a completely new gimbal and camera.

Like the Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Flip, the Mini 5 Pro automatically powers on when unfolded, making deployment extremely fast. When folded, it powers off within 5 seconds, but this auto-off feature can be disabled in the settings if preferred. At the front, it now includes two brand-new front-facing lidars. The newly designed gimbal is also a standout.

If you notice a mystery button on the side of the drone, it currently doesn’t serve any purpose at the time of filming. DJI may add functionality for it via a future firmware update.

Camera and Imaging Features

One of the major upgrades is the Mini 5 Pro’s camera—it features a 1-inch sensor, an impressive achievement for a mini drone. This larger sensor significantly enhances photos and videos, especially in tricky lighting conditions, such as overcast days or at sunrise and sunset. In auto mode, you can expect about 14 stops of dynamic range. It supports DLOG-M in 10-bit, and, for the first time, the standard color profile also supports 10-bit color—great for those who don’t want to color grade but still want top-quality results. The field of view is now 84°, with a 50-megapixel sensor.

As with the Mini 4 Pro, the Mini 5 Pro offers true vertical video by rotating the camera, so you get the full sensor for social media content. Like the Mavic 4 Pro, it now offers manual rotation up to 225°, controllable via the controller for creative shots, and can also be used in intelligent flight modes like the new rotating quick shot.

Another new addition is the 48mm portrait mode, which provides 2x zoom for detailed and crisp images, so you can get closer to your subject without risking your drone. The Mini 5 Pro includes 42GB of internal storage, meaning if you forget your memory card, you can still capture a significant amount of footage.

Flight Performance and Batteries

Propellers have also been improved: they’re now quick release, removing the hassle of using screwdrivers in the field. Battery options include a standard version, which keeps the drone under 250 grams, and a Plus version for longer flight times, though it pushes the drone over 249 grams. The Plus battery offers a rated flight time of 52 minutes, while the standard is rated for 36 minutes. Mini 4 Pro batteries are compatible, but some features or performance may be limited.

The maximum flight speed increases to 19 m/s with the Plus battery (18 m/s with the standard), and wind resistance improves from 10.5 m/s on the Mini 4 Pro to 12 m/s on the Mini 5 Pro. Obstacle avoidance has had a significant upgrade, thanks to the new lidars and low-light sensors, granting omnidirectional obstacle avoidance even in dark conditions.

Smart Features and Intelligent Modes

It also features nextG smart return-to-home, which builds a real-time map of its surroundings during outbound flight. This means it can return home safely, even in complex environments and without satellite connectivity.

ActiveTrack 360 has been upgraded with new activity detection modes such as biking and skiing. Tracking speed for cycling is increased to 15 m/s, with drone response automatically adjusting based on the activity. The new auto mode allows the Mini 5 Pro to frame subjects on its own, or you can take full manual control for creative shots.

The Mini 5 Pro uses the O4 Plus transmission system, offering a 20 km range with 10-bit HDR video transmission. It’s compatible with the RCN3, DJI RC2, and DJI RC Pro 2 controllers. The Fly More kit’s camera bag is larger, giving you extra space for gear. The new gimbal guard design protects the gimbal and tucks the props neatly.

Finally, the Offstate Quick Transfer feature—previously seen on the Air 3s and Mavic 4 Pro—is now available here, letting you transfer files directly to a mobile device without fully powering on the drone.

All the expected intelligent flight modes are included: waypoint missions, master shots, quick shots, panorama, and focus track. This includes spotlight and point of interest features for keeping a subject centered in the frame.

Final Thoughts

The Mini 5 Pro combines pro-level features and flight capabilities in a compact form, making it especially useful in places with flight restrictions, like Canada. If this is your first drone, be sure to check out upcoming detailed videos on the channel. After flying the Mini 5 Pro for over a month, I’ve been truly impressed—especially with its flexibility, minimal restrictions, and high video quality.