DJI redefined what mini drones can do with its new Mini 5 Pro – a 1-inch-sensor-toting, object-sensing, active-tracking, faster-flying beginner drone.
In fact, DJI might have created a problem for itself with the stellar DJI Mini 5 Pro – because who will want its other consumer drones now?
Being less than 250g, the flagship mini model sits in the restriction-free category of drones (that’s C0 in Europe), yet it punches well above its weight, putting the squeeze on pricier models like the Air 3S – which is a fantastic drone in its own right.
You can bag the priciest Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo, which includes a charging hub, two spare batteries, ND filter kit and RC 2 controller (which features a 5.5-inch touchscreen) for £979 / AU$1,699, or opt for the standard £679 / AU$1,119 bundle (US pricing and availability TBC).
For the cash you get a ridiculous feature set. And having flown the mini drone and shared my first impressions already, there are a few standout features I think you should know about, especially if you shoot a mix of long and short form social content.
That camera
As an upgrade of the Mini 4 Pro, it’s the Mini 5 Pro’s video skills that shine. The sensor is a larger 1-inch type – the same 50MP unit as in the Air 3S.
Paired with a 10-bit color depth and DJI’s D Log M color profile, the Mini 5 Pro’s 4K video quality outshines other mini models, essentially matching that of the pricier Air 3S., For example, you’ll notice details in highlights that are simply blown out in cheaper models.
And while the Air 3S has a second telephoto camera for a tighter perspective, the single-camera Mini 5 Pro has a trick up its sleeve – roll rotation.
Its three-axis gimbal-mounted camera offers a 225-degree range of roll rotation, which enables vertical shooting. That’s right, at the push of a button you can switch between horizontal and vertical shooting, without losing resolution. The Air 3S, however, only shoots vertical video up to 2.7K.
Roll rotation is a game-changing feature for social media content – it’s the kind of skills found in the pro Mavic 4 Pro drone, which is 3x the price of the Mini 5 Pro.
You can get full resolution 4K video whichever format you choose. And you won’t sacrifice any quality all the way up to 60fps – it’s 10-bit all the way (see my short vertical video sample, above). There’s slow motion recording too: 4K 120fps and 1080p up to 240fps.
The Mini 5 Pro also packs DJI’s omnidiretional object sensing with front-facing LiDAR, plus refined 360° ActiveTrack subject tracking, which will reliably stick to your subject, keeping them in the center of the frame even while navigating surrounding obstacles.
The Mini 5 Pro’s feature set reads likes the Air 3S’s in many places, yet the Air 3S weighs over 700g meaning there are additional regulations to adhere to. Again, the Mini 5 Pro sits in that magic sub-250g category.
I rarely use the word game-changing, but it feels apt for the Mini 5 Pro – DJI just upped the game for content creators.
Unless you’re a professional aerial filmmaker who needs the quality of the Mavic 4 Pro, I can’t think of too many reasons why you’d look at any other drone than the sub-250g Mini 5 Pro.
