DJI Mini 5 Pro Vs Mini 4 Pro – FULL COMPARISON! Worth Upgrading?

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The DJI Mini 4 Pro was one of the most successful drones DJI has ever created, and we finally have its successor: the DJI Mini 5 Pro. In this article, we’ll compare them side-by-side to review the new changes, features, and improvements of the Mini 5 Pro, and help you decide whether it’s worth upgrading from the Mini 4 Pro.

Design and Build

Let’s start with the design and build of both drones. First, they both have the C0 label in Europe, which means you don’t have to comply with extra regulations and can fly them more freely.

DJI Mini 5 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro side-by-side.

Looking at them side-by-side, the Mini 4 Pro is noticeably smaller than the Mini 5 Pro. The Mini 5 Pro has grown significantly in length to accommodate its new front, which features a LiDAR sensor and a huge new 1-inch camera sensor—more on those later. From all other angles, they are pretty much identical in appearance. However, the Mini 5 Pro comes in a slightly darker color, which I love.

DJI Mini 5 Pro DJI Mini 4 Pro

Camera and Image Quality

One of the biggest and most obvious changes is the camera. The size difference between the sensors is significant. The Mini 5 Pro’s 1-inch sensor is considerably larger, providing much better low-light visibility for night shooting.

Other camera features include 4K/60fps HDR video, 10-bit D-Log M, and HLG. It also offers 50-megapixel photos and 4K/120fps slow-motion video. In comparison, the Mini 4 Pro has a 1/1.3-inch 48-megapixel sensor with 4K/100fps slow-motion video. This is a bump up in all camera parameters, and the 1-inch sensor delivers a definite improvement in quality.

The most significant difference between the two cameras becomes apparent when shooting in high-dynamic-range situations, such as on bright, sunny days, directly into the sun, during sunrises and sunsets, or especially at night. The larger sensor allows for more light, and the 14 stops of dynamic range on the Mini 5 Pro make a big difference in automatic camera settings. In other scenarios, the difference between the two sensors is less noticeable.

Keep in mind that all footage was shot in D-Log M and converted to Rec. 709 without any post-processing. The night footage was shot in the normal color profile, and everything was recorded in automatic camera settings for maximum fairness. While you can get more out of both drones with manual settings and ND filters, we used auto for this comparison.

The Mini 5 Pro also features a rotating gimbal, similar to the Mavic 4 Pro, which can rotate 220 degrees on the horizontal axis. This allows for creative shots that can be implemented using intelligent flight modes like QuickShots and Waypoints.

Flight Time and Batteries

Next, let’s discuss flight time. Like the Mini 4 Pro, the Mini 5 Pro comes with a “Plus” battery that offers more flight time but increases the total weight to over 250g. With the standard battery, the flight time has increased from 34 to 36 minutes. However, in my experience, I get a more realistic 25 to 30 minutes of flight time. So, there isn’t a huge upgrade in terms of flight time.

It’s important to note that the batteries are not interchangeable. While a Mini 4 Pro battery will fit and power on the Mini 5 Pro, DJI advises against this as it hasn’t been sufficiently tested and could lead to unexpected and potentially dangerous situations.

Transmission and Tracking

The transmission has been upgraded from O4 on the Mini 4 Pro to O4 Plus on the Mini 5 Pro. Honestly, I’ve never had signal issues with either drone unless flying in urban areas behind solid obstacles.

When it comes to tracking, the Mini 5 Pro takes a huge leap forward. It not only has a LiDAR sensor on the front for better nighttime performance and safety but also features an improved algorithm that is much smoother when tracking people and vehicles. There’s even a specific cycling mode with significantly improved ActiveTrack speed. The drone is now smarter at tracking from different angles and predicting movement, resulting in smoother, more usable footage.

Additional Features

The Mini 5 Pro also introduces a new 48mm medium telephoto mode, which simulates a second lens, similar to more expensive drones like the Air 3 and Mavic 4 Pro. While the quality is a bit soft for my taste, I’m a fan of the flexibility it offers for composing different shots.

Other noteworthy features include 42GB of built-in storage, Wi-Fi 6 for faster transfers, and the “unfold to power on, fold to power off” feature, which is a huge convenience. Additionally, ND filters are included in the Fly More Combo.

Is It Worth Upgrading?

All of these new features and improvements make the Mini 5 Pro a worthy upgrade from the Mini 4 Pro, but with a major caveat: it’s not for everyone. The biggest differences are in low-light performance and dynamic range. If you frequently shoot at night, during sunrise or sunset, or in other challenging lighting conditions, the Mini 5 Pro is a significant upgrade.

However, if you primarily fly in bright, sunny conditions and don’t use features like ActiveTrack, you may not find the upgrade as compelling. If you rely on all the features a drone has to offer, you will definitely notice the Mini 5 Pro is a big improvement.

If I have to give a one-word answer, I would say yes, it’s worth the upgrade. But don’t feel it’s 100% necessary unless you’re going to take full advantage of all the new features. It’s better to focus on telling a better story with your current drone than to buy the latest and greatest, hoping it will make you a better pilot—which it won’t.

That being said, the Mini 4 Pro is still a fantastic drone. The Mini 5 Pro is simply a great successor.

So, which one makes the most sense for you? The Mini 4 Pro or the Mini 5 Pro? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions. If this comparison has been helpful, please drop a like and subscribe for more videos like this one. This is Mike from Drone Supremacy. Never stop flying, and I’ll catch you in the next one. Ciao.