DJI Mini 4 Pro, the perfect mini drone? Full test.

The release of a new Mini is always a special event for drone enthusiasts. DJI has rarely disappointed with its sub-250 g Mini drones, a safe bet within the wider consumer drone range. The manufacturer has successfully sparked curiosity by unveiling the new DJI Mini 4 Pro with the slogan “Mini to the Max”, and judging by the technical specifications, it clearly comes with a host of new features. So, what is it really worth? What does it bring to the table? And most importantly, should you buy it? All the answers in this article!

DJI Mini 4 Pro: design and radio controls

Design evolution

Weight	< 249 g
Dimensions (folded, without propellers) (L x W x H)	148 x 94 x 64 mm
Dimensions (unfolded, with propellers) (L x W x H)	298 x 373 x 101 mm

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is aesthetically faithful to the Mini range. It still weighs less than 250g and its dimensions are more or less the same, but, like the Mini 3 Pro when it first came out, it marks a slight physical evolution from its predecessor.

First of all, it’s taller than the previous model, thanks to two additional feet under the front arms, which also make the drone more stable. It’s also easy to see that the two large eyes housing the obstacle sensors at the front have been rounded off, and they’re no longer the only ones, as two new sensors have been added a few centimetres higher, on the top of the fuselage. We’ll come back to this in the section on obstacle detection.

In addition to the infrared sensor, new optical sensors have been added to the underside of the drone, along with an auxiliary light for night flights.

🚨 Regulatory update
Another big advantage of the DJI Mini 4 Pro is that it weighs less than 250g. Rated C0, it will therefore be subject to much more flexible restrictions. There’s no exam to sit, just register online in most European countries. Flights will obey the rules of sub-category A1: we’ll be able to fly over isolated individuals, but not over gatherings of people. It will also be possible to fly over “commercial, industrial or recreational areas”.

Radio controls with DJI O4

Compatible radio controls	DJI RC-N2 DJ RC 2
Video transmission system	O4
Operating frequencies	2.4 GHz 5.1 GHz 5.8 GHz
Max. transmission distance	FCC: 20 km CE: 10 km

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is compatible and available with the two remote controls released with the DJI Air 3, which incorporate the manufacturer’s new video transmission protocol, DJI O4:

• the DJI RC-N2, the company’s new standard, without screen, ready to welcome your smartphone.
• the DJI RC 2, an update of the original DJI RC, with its attractive 700-nit touchscreen.

DJI O4 improves both range and transmission reliability . As well as adding a frequency in Europe (5.1 GHz, in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies), it extends the flight range to 20 km FCC (previously 12) and 10 km CE (previously 8).

If connection with DJI O3 and O3+ protocols is already very reliable, DJI promises even better results with this new protocol. Based on available demonstrations and shared feedback, DJI O4 transmission appears very stable, with no notable signal dropouts.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: battery and autonomy

Batteries	2590 mAh
Battery weight	77,9 g
Max. flight time	34 minutes
Max. hovering time	30 minutes
Recharge time	30W charger: 70 minutes 30W charger + charging station: 58 minutes

The same battery… or almost

At first glance, the new Mini’s battery is identical to that of its predecessor, the Mini 3 Pro. In fact, there’s an invisible, barely perceptible difference on the scale– 2.6 grams to be precise. Weighing in at 77.9g (compared with 80.5g previously), the Mini 4 Pro’s battery saves a few grams, keeping it under the 250-gram mark.

Big advantage: if you have one, you can use the batteries from your Mini 3 Pro on your new Mini 4 Pro. Note, however, that it doesn’t work the other way round: the Mini 4 Pro’s batteries won’t work on your Mini 3 Pro.

The small problem is that this will take you above the 250-gram mark, and into a higher, more restrictive category in terms of the regulations applied to your drone.

Flight time unchanged

Maximum range remains unchanged from the previous generation.

DJI claims the same 34-minute flight time under controlled test conditions. In practice, according to available feedback, real-world flight time generally ranges between 25 and 30 minutes depending on flight conditions.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: in-flight performance and features

Maximum speed	16 m/s
Max. ascent speed	5 m/s
Max. descent speed	5 m/s
Max. wind resistance	10.7 m/s
Obstacle sensors	Omnidirectional detection system + infrared sensor under the drone

360-degree protection

The Mini 3 Pro incorporated forward, rearward and downward sensors, while the Mini 4 Pro goes even further, offering 360-degree detection in all directions, thanks to sensors on all sides of the fuselage. Previously reserved for the brand’s higher-end drone ranges, this feature is now available from the Mini range upwards.

These new capabilities greatly enhance flight safety by reducing the risk of impact, and the drone will also be able to use this system in autonomous flight modes: subject tracking, planned itineraries or the RTH mode for automatic return to the take-off point. This will also work in automatic shooting modes.

Major upgrade to automatic flight modes

The new Mini 4 Pro now incorporates all the flight functions initially reserved for the various Mavic 3 models, then recently introduced on the DJI Air 3.

We can start by mentioning the FocusTrack subject tracking suite, which consists of 3 modes:

• Spotlight, in which a moving target (person walking, vehicle, etc.) is identified and the drone keeps it in the center of the frame at all times. Meanwhile, the drone is manually controlled, allowing you to turn freely around your subject.
• Point of interest, where a moving or fixed target (building, monument, etc.) is identified and the drone turns around the target in the desired direction and at the desired speed.
• ActiveTrack, to have the drone track a moving target either in parallel, or at a given distance and angle, or via the new ActiveTrack 360 mode, which not only determines the drone’s position in relation to the target live, but also allows it to make the desired 360-degree movements around it with a single finger on the DJI Fly app.

The Mini 4 Pro now also features a Cruise Control function that lets you keep the drone flying in the desired direction and at the desired speed, so you can fly in a straight line and let go of the joysticks, for example to focus more on the shooting.

Finally, the last major new feature, which we recently announced for the first time on the Air range and which now arrives on the Mini series: the Waypoint function. It can be used to store waypoints, either in flight or in the application, to create an itinerary for the drone, which can then be re-routed at a later date.

Wind speed and resistance

No change from the previous generation in terms of flight behaviour. The DJI Mini 4 Pro can still fly at a maximum speed of 16 m/s horizontally, or 57.6 km/h, and climb and descend vertically at a speed of 5 m/s (18 km/h).

The same applies to wind resistance: the Mini 4 Pro will be able to withstand winds of 10.7 m/s, or precisely 38.52 km/h, which is already more than excellent for a drone of its size. And as always with DJI, the drone’s nacelle helps to keep the image incredibly stable: even if your drone is tilted in all directions, the image will remain straight.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: camera and image quality

Sensor	1/1.3-inch 48 MP CMOS
Lens	24 mm equivalent, FOV 82.1°, Aperture f/1.7
Max. image size	8064 x 6048
Photo resolution	12 and 48 MP
Max. video resolution	4K up to 100 fps FHD up to 200 fps
ISO range	100 to 6400 (Photo, Normal Video and Slow Motion) 100 to 12800 (Night Mode)
Photo format	JPEG DNG (RAW)
Video format	MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265)
Max. bit rate	150 Mb/s
Color profile	Normal (8 bits) HLG (10 bits) D-log M (10 bits)
Digital Zoom	12MP photo: 1 to 2x 4K: 1 to 3x FHD: 1 to 4x

The (almost) same camera

The DJI Mini 4 Pro inherits the same camera as its predecessor, the Mini 3 Pro, which also equips the latest Mavic Air 3: a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with 48 MP resolution, focal length equivalent to 24 mm and f/1.7 aperture.

One point to note is that the camera, although identical inside, is actually slightly larger physically than that of the Mini 3 Pro. As a result, forget the filters on your Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, as you won’t be able to install them on it.

However, you can always switch between landscape and portrait mode, as it is still physically capable of pivoting vertically for shots in true 9:16 format.

The same image quality?

While the camera has not evolved in terms of hardware compared with the Mini 3 Pro, we can see that, as with the DJI Air 3 also equipped with the same lens, the improvements made by DJI are more on the software side.

This is the case for frame rate, for a start. The Mini 4 Pro is now capable of shooting in 4K at up to 100 frames per second (60 fps in 4K HDR and 100 fps for slow-motion mode), compared with 60 fps for the previous model, and in Full HD at up to 200 fps, compared with 120 fps previously. A big plus for those who like to create beautiful slow-motion shots.

It can also sometimes be observed that the image rendering appears slightly sharper than on the previous generation. As already highlighted in various Air 3 tests, DJI has worked on software processing to digitally improve the rendering of this same lens. However, this varies from shot to shot, and on the whole the image quality of the two models remains very similar, making it difficult to differentiate between them.

Let’s talk about image quality: it’s always exceptional, especially for such a small drone. For photos, where you can choose between 12 and 48 MP resolutions, and for video, colors are beautiful and realistic, images are sharp and rich in detail, with a very good dynamic range. And in low-light conditions, Night mode comes to the rescue by pushing ISO to the extreme to optimize noise management.

While pure quality hasn’t really changed, the same can’t be said for color profiles. The Normal profile (8 bits) is still there. D-Cinelike is replaced by not one, but two new 10-bit profiles: HLG and D-Log M. Lovers of colorimetric retouching in post-production will be in for a treat.

Photo/video features: the classic cocktail

We find the now classic cocktail of photo and video functions found on all the latest DJI consumer drones.

On the photo side, the single-shot, interval, burst and automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) modes are still available, as are the three Panorama modes: Sphere, 180° and Wide-angle.

On the video side, in addition to the autonomous flight modes described in the section on in-flight functionalities, there are QuickShots and MasterShots modes, making the drone perform a variety of aerial figures while taking video, plus Timelapse and Hyperlpase modes for accelerated video.

As explained earlier, the Mini 4 Pro retains the Mini 3 Pro’s rotating camera and thus the ability to switch freely between landscape and portrait modes, in order to offer a true vertical mode for fans of publications on social networks mainly used on smartphones, such as TikTok or Youtube and Instagram stories.

Last but not least, the QuickTransfer function is there too, so you can transfer all your drone captures to your mobile quickly and wirelessly.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: price

Standard pack (DJI RC-N2 remote control)	799€	See on Amazon
Standard pack (DJI RC 2 remote control)	999€	See on Amazon
Fly More pack (DJI RC 2 remote control)	1129€	See on Amazon

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is available from the DJI Shop website from €799 for the basic package with the standard DJI RC-N2 radio control system. The package also includes a pair of additional propellers, a protective cover for the nacelle, a propeller attachment to protect them during transport, and various cables.

The same package with the DJI RC 2 touchscreen remote control is priced at €999.

That’s respectively 54 and 100 euros more than the new discounted prices of equivalent packs for the Mini 3 Pro.

As always with DJI drones, the Mini 4 Pro is also available in a Fly More version with a whole host of additional accessories, priced at €1129. For this price, you’ll get all the accessories in the standard pack, plus 2 extra batteries and 2 extra pairs of propellers, a charging station and a shoulder bag.

DJI Mini 4 Pro conclusion: should you buy it?

To sum up, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has many of the same qualities as the Mini 3 Pro, a tried-and-tested drone that has become a benchmark. But DJI is still pushing the boundaries, offering us even more with the addition of all the features we thought were reserved for the brand’s higher-end drones.

With 360° obstacle detection, Waypoint and other autonomous flight modes, new DJI O4 transmission and increased frame rate, the Mini 4 Pro is even more complete than its predecessors. And it’s the logical choice as the best new sub-250g drone on the market today.

Buy it if…

… you want the best drone weighing less than 250 grams. If you need a mini drone that you can take anywhere without having to worry too much about regulations, and you want it to be as complete as possible, the Mini 4 Pro is for you. With all its features, it’s ready for any situation.

Don’t buy it if…

… you don ‘t need all the features it has to offer. If you don’t see yourself using most of the new functions it incorporates more than once or twice, you can make do with another drone in the Mini range, such as the Mini 3 or even the Mini 2, which will give you great satisfaction and save you money in the process.

I already have a Mini 3 Pro, should I replace it?

If you already own a DJI Mini 3 Pro, unless you really need a particular function such as omnidirectional obstacle detection or Waypoint, upgrading will not be necessary. In all other respects, the Mini 4 Pro is not radically different, and if image is your main concern, you won’t need to replace your drone.

📌 Also worth reading:
👉 Still hesitating? Take a look at our full review of the drone DJI Mini 3.
👉 See how the DJI Mini 4 Pro compares to a more powerful rival in our Mini 4 Pro vs Air 3S comparison.
👉 Also check out our guide to DJI Mini 4 Pro accessories to complete your setup.
🆕 The DJI Mini 5 Pro is now available: discover our full analysis in the article DJI Mini 5 Pro price and battery life.

➡️ Find all the spare parts for the DJI Mini 4 Pro in our online store.