Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro: is it worth the upgrade?

DJI announced the Mini 5 Pro last week, and now I’m getting the obvious question from Mini 4 Pro owners: should I upgrade? And for people who are new to DJI’s line of Mini drones (or their most recent drone is something out of date, like a DJI Mini 2), it’s worth considering whether to get the Mini 5 Pro or save some money on the older model. Alas, in the debate between the Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

While the Mini 5 Pro represents a significant technological leap, the Mini 4 Pro remains an excellent drone that many users might not need to replace. Budget conscious pilots can likely rest easy knowing that they’ve got a high-quality drone if they choose to hold the cheaper DJI Mini 4 Pro over the 5.

Let’s break down exactly what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and whether the upgrade makes sense for your specific needs.

Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro: how to choose between DJI’s two newest Mini drones

The biggest difference between the Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro: the sensor

The biggest difference between the Mini 5 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro is quite literally, well, big. The key spec on this drone is its largest sensor size, where DJI jumped from a 1/1.3-inch sensor in the Mini 4 Pro to a full 1-inch sensor in the Mini 5 Pro.

Mini 4 Pro: 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48MP
Mini 5 Pro: 1-inch CMOS, 50MP

What’s so good about a larger sensor? Primarily that it captures more light. More light translates to better low-light performance, improved dynamic range and overall superior image quality.

That other big difference? U.S. availability

The DJI Mini 5 Pro in flight. (Photo courtesy of DJI)

No matter how great a drone is, it doesn’t mean a whole lot if you can’t get your hands on it. The other major difference is availability.

DJI sells the Mini 4 Pro drone in the U.S., but it does not sell the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone in the U.S.

DJI hasn’t been too explicit about exactly why it sells the Mini 4 Pro in the U.S. but not the Mini 5 Pro, but it likely comes down to timing and regulatory climate.

The Mini 4 Pro launched in September 2023, before recent escalations in U.S.-China tech tensions and potential regulatory restrictions on Chinese drone manufacturers. No, DJI products are not banned in the U.S. — but in 2025, DJI adopted a more cautious approach to U.S. market entry (DJI followed a similar playbook with the May 2025 launch of the Mavic 4 Pro).

It’s possibly due to it anticipating stricter regulations or wanting to avoid potential inventory issues if sudden restrictions were implemented (and it sounds like such restrictions are still on the table).

While DJI doesn’t officially sell the Mini 5 Pro in the U.S., determined buyers are finding workarounds, though none are ideal. Continue to search major retailers like Adorama and B&H Photo (they sporadically listed the Mavic 4 Pro drone, too). But move fast, as these listings appear and disappear quickly with limited stock and often inflated pricing.

International retailers may ship to the U.S., though this involves import duties, potential customs delays, and questionable warranty coverage. Some travelers purchase the drone while abroad, which is technically legal for personal use but creates complications if the device needs service or replacement.

If you don’t want to mess around with trying to even get a DJI Mini 5 Pro in the U.S., then don’t sweat. Instead, know the DJI Mini 4 Pro is a great drone — and you don’t have a hard decision to make any more.

And just to be clear, that all means even I haven’t gotten my hands on the DJI Mini 5 Pro yet. Typically I run extensive testing on drones (often even a few weeks before launching via a test unit provided by DJI!). I have no been able to do that here, so this comparison guide is all based on conversations with the DJI team and the official specs sheet.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro specs side-by-side

With that out of the way, here’s a comparison of key specs on both drones:

	DJI Mini 4 Pro	DJI Mini 5 Pro
Weight	249g	249.9g
Sensor	1/1.3″ CMOS, 48MP	1-inch CMOS, 50MP
Flight time	34min (45min with Plus battery)	36min (52min extended)
Gimbal	3-axis, 60° upward tilt	3-axis + 225° rotation
Obstacle sensing	Omnidirectional (15 lux)	Omnidirectional + LiDAR
Video	4K/60fps HDR, 4K/100fps slow-mo	4K/120fps HDR
Price	$759	~$750 (though not available in U.S.)
U.S. availability	Available everywhere	No

Where the Mini 5 Pro wins

Image Quality: The 1-inch sensor should deliver significantly better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Low-light performance, dynamic range, and overall image fidelity should all see meaningful improvements.

Creative Gimbal Capabilities: The 225° gimbal rotation is genuinely unique — no other drone offers this feature. Combined with true vertical shooting (vs. the Mini 4 Pro’s cropped vertical), content creators get substantially more creative options.

Night Flying: The 1-lux obstacle sensing with forward-facing LiDAR represents a major safety upgrade for low-light flying. The Mini 4 Pro’s 15-lux requirement means it struggles in dim conditions.

Slow Motion: 4K/120fps vs 4K/100fps might seem minor, but that extra frame rate provides noticeably smoother slow-motion footage.

Flight Time: Small but meaningful improvements in both standard (36 vs 34 minutes) and extended battery configurations (52 vs 45 minutes).

Where the Mini 4 Pro is still great

Availability and Support: You can actually buy a Mini 4 Pro, get warranty support, receive timely software updates and find accessories easily.

Ecosystem: A mature ecosystem of third-party accessories, cases, filters and support materials exists for the Mini 4 Pro.

Known Quantities: No surprises, no early adopter issues, no uncertainty about performance claims. (Remember, I haven’t even flown the DJI Mini 5 Pro myself!).

So, should you upgrade to the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone?

The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. (Photo courtesy of DJI)

Definitely upgrade if:

You’re a professional content creator who needs the best possible image quality
Low-light photography/videography is important to your work
You create a lot of vertical content for social media
You frequently fly in challenging lighting conditions
You can actually get your hands on a Mini 5 Pro

Probably don’t upgrade if:

You’re happy with your Mini 4 Pro’s image quality
You primarily fly in good lighting conditions
The creative gimbal features aren’t important to your workflow
You’re in the U.S. and want hassle-free ownership
Budget is a significant concern

Consider upgrading if:

You’re planning to travel internationally and could purchase one abroad
You’re willing to deal with gray market purchases for cutting-edge tech
Image quality improvements would meaningfully impact your work

Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro: how to weigh both droes

The Mini 5 Pro represents a significant technological advancement that pushes mini drone capabilities into previously impossible territory. (hello 1-inch sensor in a sub-250g package!).

But both drones are still great. I considered them both to be some of the best drones under 250 grams, as well as two of the best travel drones.

Just don’t feel bad if you can’t get your hands on the Mini 5 Pro, either for financial or practical reasons. Availability, support, ecosystem maturity and real-world usability all matter just as much as how good the specs are. Luckily, the Mini 4 Pro remains an excellent drone that serves most users’ needs extremely well.

For Mini 4 Pro owners, this isn’t a must-have upgrade unless specific features (image quality, night flying, creative gimbal) directly impact your work. For new buyers, the decision comes down to what you can actually purchase in your market and within your budget.

The Mini 5 Pro is certainly a leap into the future of mini drones. Still, the Mini 4 Pro remains a very solid present-day choice that won’t leave you disappointed.

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