DJI MINI 4 PRO
It makes the case for staying light, but does it live up to the Pro tag?
The Mini 4 Pro appears to be a refinement rather than an out-and-out replacement for DJI’s already popular Mini 3 Pro model. When launching that generation of drones, the world’s most successful drone manufacturer made clear that it considered it possible to offer three distinct tiers in the ultralight (below 250g) category.
The generational number hasn’t advanced at the same time, but it isn’t a surprise that it’s the Pro that changes first. So how can what is – or, at least, should be – DJI’s best option under 250g keep itself ahead of the pack? The drone powerhouse has decided that it’s the software and AI, rather than the camera sensor, that are worthy of attention, and that’s certainly something that chimes with not just the wider drone industry, but the world in general.
The AI, by the way, is a broad generalisation for the technology that can both avoid collisions and help track a subject for smooth shots. Collision sensors are one thing, but the way a drone uses them is quite another, so we were keen to find out whether the software is gimmicky or genuinely useful, and whether the drone truly lives up to the ‘Pro’ tag.
The other crucial question for many, no doubt, is whether the Mini 4 Pro should be of interest to photographers and videographers who already own its predecessor; and for the record, that includes me, as I’ve previously chosen to spend my own money on a Mini 3 Pro.
With that my mind – and hoping the rain would hold off – I headed out with the Mini 4 Pro to see what it was made of.
Key features
DJI’s strapline for the Mini 4 Pro’s launch was ‘Mini to the max’, emphasising how the drone brought ever more flagship features into the ultralight category. Apart from a camera that’s broadly similar to one of the two on the recent DJI Air 3, the stand-out additions are the all-round obstacle sensors. These can be used not only for avoiding objects when
heading sideways (unlike the Mini 3 Pro) but also to bolster subjecttracking AI in an upgrade called ActiveTrack 360°.
This system has also been boosted by a tool called the ‘Trace wheel’, allowing more complicated shots to be achieved using the automated tracking. There are other UI improvements that have some elements of augmented reality to make finding the take-off point easy, or to see the projected flight path in the air. The camera has also gained Night Shots Video mode, improving low-light performance, and an LED landing light on the base so that you can land in the dark.
At the same time, the drone has been upgraded to DJI’s new O4 video transmission system, which has a range of over 12 miles with a clear line of sight, meaning the updated RC 2 controller with fold-out antennae is an option.
Build and handling
For this review, DJI sent a Fly More
Kit sample with the RC 2 controller, which I’ve previously used when I reviewed the Air 3. The kit includes the same high-quality and spaceefficient shoulder bag with room for the three-battery charger, remote and quad, plus a lid full of spares, though it’s a squeeze to jam the ND filters and wide-angle lens adapter in too. The quadcopter has gained an additional protective strap, which makes sense to protect the flappy propellers when you’re pushing it into and pulling it out of the tight bag. Holding the
Mini 4 in my hand, the rear vents are noticeably bigger than those on its predecessor, but the more obvious change is the fish-eye vision sensors: the front ones are now more exposed at the sides, like an insect, and the rear ones similarly so. The Mini 3 Pro’s backwards-facing collision sensors were smaller and much less exposed, but could only see backwards – obstacles to the side were ignored.
While the top of the drone has