DJI Mini 4 Pro VS DJI Mini 5 Pro: Should I upgrade?

After two years, the Mini 4 Pro has finally received its long-awaited successor: the Mini 5 Pro. Until now, the Mini 4 Pro has firmly held the top position in the sub-250g drone market. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what has been upgraded on the new Mini 5 Pro—and whether current Mini 4 Pro owners should consider making the switch.

Quick Answer (If You’re in a Hurry)

If you already own a DJI Mini 4 Pro, upgrading to the Mini 5 Pro only makes sense if you regularly shoot in low light, rely on slow-motion footage, or value more advanced obstacle sensing and flight safety.

For casual travelers and daytime flyers, the Mini 4 Pro remains a very capable drone, and the upgrade is not essential.

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Exterior Design

At first glance, the two drones look nearly identical. When placed side by side, however, subtle differences become noticeable. The Mini 5 Pro features a slightly darker body color and is marginally larger than the Mini 4 Pro.

The most obvious visual change appears at the front: the Mini 5 Pro adds two additional sensors connected to a LiDAR system, a feature previously seen on the DJI Air 3S. This upgrade plays a key role in improving obstacle detection reliability, particularly in low-light conditions.

In everyday use, the Mini 5 Pro also introduces two thoughtful quality-of-life improvements:

• Automatic power on/off: Unfolding the right arm powers on the drone automatically. Folding it back triggers a shutdown countdown, which can be canceled by pressing any button.
• Quick-release propellers: The new press-and-twist mechanism replaces traditional screws, making propeller changes faster and more convenient.

Another meaningful upgrade is internal storage. The Mini 5 Pro includes 42 GB of built-in storage, compared to just 2 GB on the Mini 4 Pro. This allows you to record a substantial amount of footage even without a microSD card installed.

There’s also a small but thoughtful detail: when attaching ND filters, the Mini 5 Pro allows you to clip them directly onto the lens, while the Mini 4 Pro requires removing the lens cover first.

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Flight Time and Performance

In-Flying Performance

The DJI Mini 5 Pro delivers comprehensive improvements in flight performance across all directions. Its maximum flight speed reaches 18 m/s, compared to 16 m/s on the Mini 4 Pro—a 2 m/s increase that represents a meaningful upgrade. The Mini 5 Pro also improves climb speed (10 m/s vs 5 m/s) and descent speed (6 m/s vs 5 m/s).

Wind resistance is also improved, with the Mini 5 Pro rated for winds up to 12 m/s, compared to 10.7 m/s on the Mini 4 Pro. In real-world testing, both drones remained stable, though conditions were not extreme enough to fully reach their limits.

Flight Time

According to official specifications, the DJI Mini 5 Pro offers up to 36 minutes of flight time, while the Mini 4 Pro is rated for 34 minutes—a difference of just two minutes. When using the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, the gap becomes more noticeable, with rated flight times of 52 minutes for the Mini 5 Pro and 45 minutes for the Mini 4 Pro.

However, it’s important to note that these official figures are measured under ideal conditions: no wind, constant cruising speed, and no video recording. In real-world use, flight times are naturally shorter. Based on our testing:

• Flying without recording:
  Mini 5 Pro: 33 minutes (official: 36 minutes)
  Mini 4 Pro: 30 minutes (official: 34 minutes)
• Flying while recording video:
  Mini 5 Pro: 27 minutes
  Mini 4 Pro: 25 minutes

Actual flight time varies by user, but for most people, the results fall within these ranges:
Mini 5 Pro (24–30 minutes), Mini 4 Pro (20–27 minutes).

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Functions

The Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro do not introduce new photo or video shooting modes. However, one very practical upgrade is QuickTransfer in standby mode. Using the DJI Fly app, the Mini 5 Pro can be awakened within Bluetooth range and transfer files over Wi-Fi 6 at speeds of up to 100 MB/s, without powering on the drone or controller. By comparison, the Mini 4 Pro tops out at 30 MB/s.

Tracking

The Mini 5 Pro features the updated ActiveTrack 360 system, which offers improved subject recognition and adaptability across different environments. While tracking performance is more reliable than on the Mini 4 Pro, it still doesn’t quite match drones like the DJI Flip or DJI Neo, which are designed primarily around tracking use cases.

In-Flight Safety

Both drones offer omnidirectional obstacle sensing, but the Mini 5 Pro stands out thanks to its front-facing LiDAR sensor, also found on the DJI Air 3S. This significantly improves detection reliability, especially when flying in low-light environments.

Another key difference is the introduction of DJI’s intelligent HTN system. Unlike the Mini 4 Pro’s traditional RTH system, the Mini 5 Pro can continue to function even if GPS signal is lost, relying on visual-inertial positioning and memorized flight paths to assist with returning home. On the Mini 4 Pro, losing GPS greatly reduces RTH reliability.

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Camera Performance

Both drones support vertical camera rotation, but the Mini 5 Pro expands the rotation range to 225°, offering greater flexibility for creative shooting. This is especially useful when capturing tall structures or composing upward-angled shots without compromising framing.

Sensor and Resolution

The Mini 5 Pro receives a substantial camera upgrade, featuring a 1-inch sensor—the first time DJI has introduced a sensor of this size in a drone weighing around 250 g. Compared to the Mini 4 Pro’s 1/1.3-inch sensor, the difference is most noticeable in low-light scenarios. Resolution also increases slightly, with 50 MP on the Mini 5 Pro versus 48 MP on the Mini 4 Pro.

Both drones support 4K/60fps video recording. For slow motion, the Mini 5 Pro reaches up to 4K/120fps (or 1080p/240fps), while the Mini 4 Pro is limited to 4K/100fps (or 1080p/200fps).

In our comparative testing:

In well-lit conditions:
Photos look nearly identical at first glance. However, when viewed side by side, images from the Mini 5 Pro appear more vibrant and lively. This is partly due to its higher maximum ISO of 12,800, compared to 6,400 on the Mini 4 Pro.

In low-light scenes:
The advantage of the Mini 5 Pro’s 1-inch sensor becomes clear. Images show cleaner shadows, better highlight control, richer detail, and noticeably less noise—clearly outperforming the Mini 4 Pro.

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Transmission and radio controls

In the collaborative use of the remote controller and the drones, we can see that these two drones are similar except for their video transmission systems. The Mini 5 Pro's O4+ transmission system has a more powerful protocol and excellent anti-interference capabilities, providing a more stable connection in environments with many obstacles and interference, such as cities or forests.

However, the Mini 4 Pro currently has an advantage, although this may not be an advantage for everyone. It supports FPV flight mode, and although it's not a professional system, it is compatible with DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3. There is currently no information indicating that the Mini 5 Pro supports FPV flight mode, but perhaps we can expect this feature to be added in the coming months.

DJI Mini 5 Pro VS DJI Mini 4 Pro: Price

In terms of pricing, both drones are currently priced the same. Despite being a newer and more advanced model, the Mini 5 Pro does not carry a higher price tag. It’s also worth noting that ND filters are included only in the Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. While the Mini 4 Pro has a similarly priced bundle, it includes fewer accessories.

Where to Buy DJI Mini 5 Pro​?

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is available from several retailers, including Amazon, B&H, Drone-Works, eBay, and Best Buy. At the time of writing, the Mini 5 Pro is not available through DJI’s official website in the United States.

Conclusion: Which drone to choose?

Overall, the DJI Mini 5 Pro outperforms the Mini 4 Pro in almost every category—while costing the same. That makes it one of the most compelling sub-250 g drones currently available.

If you’re buying your first drone, the Mini 5 Pro is an easy recommendation. If you already own the Mini 4 Pro, upgrading is worthwhile if you value improved low-light image quality, better slow-motion video, and enhanced flight safety.

That said, the Mini 4 Pro remains a capable and well-rounded drone. For many users, it will continue to meet everyday shooting needs for years without feeling outdated.