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DJI Mini 5 Pro: one-minute review
When I tracked the seemingly constant flow of DJI Mini 5 Pro rumors ahead of its official unveil, which included exciting speculation about its sensor and safety feature upgrades, I had one question in mind: ‘will it still be under 250g?’
A weighty issue
The Mini 5 Pro is officially a restriction-free drone and available in most regions. However, US fans miss out again as the Mini 5 Pro is not available at launch, and the FAA is taking a firm stance on the drone’s actual take off weight, which could exceed the sub 250g limit of the beginner category, and therefore come with restrictions. (Many online reviewers have shown the Mini 5 Pro tipping the scales at 253g.) Want to know more? We asked several drone regulators covering key regions for their stance on the Mini 5 Pro.
I’ve now had my hands-on the latest flagship mini drone and can happily say that DJI has done it, by a whisker. The 249.9g Mini 5 Pro is officially a C0 / UK1 category drone (both regions allow for a little margin, too) and it features a 1-inch sensor (much larger than the Mini 4 Pro’s), versatile camera and class-leading safety features, now with LiDAR.
- DJI Mini 5 Pro (Grey) at Amazon for $1,420.10
If anything, the Mini 5 Pro reads like a shrunk down DJI Air 3S. They both feature a main camera with 1-inch sensor, 4K video up to 120fps, DJI’s D Log M color profiles and 14EV dynamic range.
DJI Mini 5 Pro review: a top beginner drone with a catch – YouTube
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They also both utilize omnidirectional object sensing and front-facing LiDAR for class-leading low-light flight safety features, including the superb return to home (RTH) function. Plus there’s the neat 360° ActiveTrack, which keeps your subject in the center of the frame – DJI has refined this mode in the Mini 5 Pro and it performs really well.
The Mini 5 Pro’s camera is super versatile, too – it sits on a 3-axis gimbal for smooth footage even in moderate wind and offers a 225 degree range of roll rotation; the upshot is that you can switch from horizontal to vertical recording at the push of a button.
Despite featuring a large 1-inch sensor and LiDAR sensing, the Mini 5 Pro still officially weighs less than 250g. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Honestly, it’s hard to find fault with the Mini 5 Pro – no other drone close to this size and weight is even a remote match, DJI’s own Mini 4 Pro runs the Mini 5 Pro closest but the latest model is a big upgrade.
I own the Mini 4K, DJI’s cheaper entry-level drone. There are a few shared features but if you’re a first time buyer, I think it’s worth forking out extra for the Mini 5 Pro instead – it’s a big upgrade – especially for object sensing which transforms how and where you fly.
There’s also a case for the Mini 5 Pro over the Air 3S. Sure, the weightier all-rounder has dual cameras, longer flight times and higher wind resistance, but the Mini 5 Pro now shares a lot of the same tech.
That’s enough comparing for now. For me it’s already simple – the DJI Mini 5 Pro is the best sub-250g drone and has earned its place in my best drones and best beginner drones guides.
The ND filter kit with its ND 8, ND 16 and ND 32 filters, and the charging hub and two batteries behind it, plus the RC 2 controller. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
DJI Mini 5 Pro: price and release date
- Standard bundle costs £679 / AU$1,119
- Two Fly More Combo kits available: with screen or screen-less controller
- No US pricing or availability at launch
Despite improved features including the larger 1-inch sensor and LiDAR, the Mini 5 Pro essentially costs the same as the Mini 4 Pro, which is two years old. Put simply, the latest model is excellent value.
The base DJI Mini 5 Pro package costs £689 / AU$1,1119. However, I would almost always go for the Fly More Combo instead (I’ll explain later), which adds a charging hub and two additional batteries to the bundle.
There are two Fly More Combo bundles to choose from: one with the screen-less DJI RC-N3 controller for £869 / AU$1,419 (you’ll need to connect and use your phone’s display, loaded with DJI’s app, for this controller), or one with the fancier DJI RC 2 controller for £979 / AU$1,699.
I’ve got bad news if you’re in the US – there’s no Mini 5 Pro pricing or availability at launch. I expect various independent retailers to get stock at some point, but pricing is an unknown.
Today’s best DJI Mini 5 Pro deals
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
DJI Mini 5 Pro: specs
Swipe to scroll horizontallyDJI Mini 5 Pro specs
Camera:
50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor
Video resolution:
4K
Frame rates:
4K up to 120fps, Slow motion Full HD up to 240fps
Video transmission range:
04+ for 20km (FCC), 10km (CE/SRRC/MIC)
Flight modes:
Cine, Normal, Sport. 360° ActiveTrack. QuickShots (Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle and Boomerang)
Battery:
2,788mAh / up to 36 minutes flight time.
Charger type:
USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:
8.81oz / 249.9g
Dimensions:
157×95×68 mm (folded), 255×181×91 mm (unfolded)
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Design
- Registered weight is 249.9g (but ±4g adds confusion)
- Omnidirectional object sensing and front-facing LiDAR
- 3-axis gimbal with 225 degree roll rotation range
DJI has one non-negotiable with its mini series of drones – keep the body under 250g. This latest iteration has pushed this mission to the max: the Mini 5 Pro weighs 249.9g. Technically, the takeoff weight can vary ±4g (depending on the batch you get, says DJI), so yours could be 253g. However, the Mini 5 Pro is officially classed a C0 / UK1 (sub-250g) drone in Europe and the UK, so such discrepancies are a moot point. However, the FAA has taken a hard line, so any users there (able to get one) could need to get registered before using the Mini 5 Pro.
In addition to the larger 1-inch sensor, which I’ll get onto in the next section, the Mini 5 Pro adds front-facing LiDAR to omnidirectional object sensing. The latter is already a class-leading safety feature, and one you won’t find in cheaper models such as DJI’s own Mini 4K.
Personally, I think paying extra for object sensing is worth it – it’s a miracle that my own Mini 4K, which lacks this feature, is still functional after multiple collisions with tree branches and the like.
Now, with the addition of LiDAR, the Mini 5 Pro should sense better than the Mini 4 Pro in low light. That’s not something I’ve specifically tested in this drone, yet, but the Air 3S has this feature and you feel you can push that drone harder than the Air 3 it replaced.
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(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
The camera unit impresses, too. As before, it sits on a 3-axis gimbal which smooths out your live view during flight and any recorded video. The gimbal has a versatile 225-degree range of roll rotation, enabling you to switch between horizontal and vertical capture.
I was testing the Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo RC 2 kit, which includes the controller with a screen. On the underside of the controller is a button that switches the camera between horizontal orientation (typically for long-form content) and vertical (for quick social cuts like TikTok and YouTube Shorts) with a single click.
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I had the luxury of the RC2 controller for my review. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)And the set of ND filters, which feels like a must-have accessory.(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
I also had the Mini 5 Pro with the dedicated set of three ND filters. Depending on the frame rates you choose, and the weather, you’ll likely need to use one to balance exposure for video.
For example, if it’s sunny and you’re shooting 4K 30fps, you’ll probably need an ND to avoid blowing out highlights. The practical downside is that the filters are set strengths, rather than variable (ND8, ND16 and ND32), so once you’re in the air you’ve made your bed.
The need for filters is because lens aperture of the main camera is fixed to a bright f/1.8. A pricier drone such as the Mavic 4 Pro has a variable f/2-11 aperture, making less need for ND filters.
Other neat features that are new for the Mini 5 Pro include auto start up when you unfold the propellor arms, and that the propellor arms can be folded and unfolded in any order – both little details that speed up set up and packing away.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Features and performance
- Effective 360° ActiveTrack subject tracking
- 2,788mAh battery for up to 36 minute flight time (less in reality)
- Latest version of Return to Home
DJI says that its 360° ActiveTrack feature has been improved. I haven’t tested the Mini 5 Pro against the Mini 4 Pro, so can’t vouch for this, but I have used the feature for this test and it performs really well.
I threw on my running shoes and hit the trails in my local woodland, tracked by the Mini 5 Pro, and it was able to navigate overhanging branches with ease while keeping me in the center of the frame.
Return to home (RTH) is another essential drone feature and it performed flawlessly for my Mini 5 Pro flights. This included tricky tests such as retracing its flight path through tree cover over a small lake. It won’t even need satellite signal to retrace the flight path, provided light is good.
The Mini 5 Pro is supplied with a 2,788mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery, which delivers flight times up to 36 minutes. The reality will almost always be less, especially when you factor in wind or the various battery-hungry features.
During moderately breezy conditions and shooting 4K 60fps video and making use of functions such as 360° ActiveTrack, I was getting more like 20 minutes in the air.
Such flight time limits are why I typically prefer the pricier Fly More Combo bundles – they are the most cost effective way to get a couple of extra batteries and effectively triple the fun.
DJI also sells an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus – the 4,680mAh unit extends flight times by around 30% versus the standard unit, but it’s weightier and tips the Mini 5 Pro into the next weight category up, which comes with restrictions; legally, you need to get your region’s equivalent of a competency certificate.
The camera unit is special: a 1-inch sensor, 3-axis gimbal with versatile range which covers vertical shooting (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Top flight speeds and wind resistance are improved by about 10% versus the Mini 4 Pro – that’s 18m/s to 16m/s in sport mode, and 12.7m/s to 10.6m/s wind resistance. Ascent speeds are much, much quicker with the Mini 5 Pro.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Image and video quality
- 1-inch sensor delivers best-in-class image quality
- 50MP stills in RAW
- Just a single camera, but with digital zoom up to 3x
The Mini 5 Pro shoots the best quality video I’ve seen in a sub-250g drone. It features a single camera which utilizes a 1-inch sensor for 4K 60fps video with 10-bit color depth, or slow motion recording up to 120fps, which can be upped to 240fps if you drop resolution to 1080p. For reference, the Mini 4 Pro maxes out at 100fps and 200fps respectively.
You can choose between various color profiles – a good-to-go standard look or DJI’s D Log M, which needs grading. The latter gives you the most dynamic range to work with – DJI says up to 14EV – meaning you’ll likely capture more tonal detail as a reward for your efforts in the editing suite.
When I compare video quality to that of the much cheaper Mini 4K drone, the 4K resolution is about where the comparison ends – the Mini 5 Pro’s video quality is much better – you get the editing flexibility with D-Log M, and RAW photo capture. There’s less of an image quality difference with the Mini 4 Pro, unless you are working in low light.
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Straight out of camera JPEG(Image credit: Tim Coleman)The main camera’s complete view(Image credit: Tim Coleman)The same scene with the 3x digital zoom employed(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
As previously mentioned, the Mini 5 Pro can switch between vertical and horizontal format for photos and videos at the push of a button. In addition to the 4:3 apect photos above, I’ve included some vertical ones too, below.
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(Image credit: Tim Coleman)(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
As usual, DJI’s range of QuickShots are present and include Boomerang and Helix. These automated flight moves can make for super-dynamic clips when used smartly.
A level up from before, though, is a 225 degree roll. This ‘MasterShots’ move can also be performed automatically, although unlike other QuikShots moves, the drone doesn’t return to its starting position once the rotation move is complete. I’ve included an array of those flight moves in the video, below.
One final point to make – the Mini 5 Pro includes 42GB of internal storage, whereas the Mini 4 Pro only includes 2GB. Could DJI add more? Sure, but 42GB is enough for more 4K video clips than you’d think.
- Image and video quality score: 5/5
DJI Mini 5 Pro: testing scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontallyDJI Mini 5 Pro
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
Pricey for beginners, yes, but for the features on board, no other drone comes close. Not available in the US, though
5/5
Design
Decent upgrades over the Mini 4 Pro, but confusion over the actual take-off weight could be a dealbreaker
4.5/5
Performance
Superb all-round flight performance, safety features, return to home and auto tracking skills
5/5
Image and video quality
Sets the image quality bar for mini drones
5/5
Should I buy the DJI Mini 5 Pro?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
DJI Mini 5 Pro: also consider
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
How I tested the DJI Mini 5 Pro
- DJI loaned me the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo (RC 2)
- I had it for several weeks to complete an in-depth review
- I’ve piloted the drone with the RC 2 controller in sunny conditions with moderate wind and tested its tracking capabilities, plus QuikShots moves
I had the DJI Mini 5 Pro for a few days before its unveiling, and consequently for several weeks to complete my in-depth test. The flight conditions were generally sunny or overcast, and with moderate wind, which provided a stern test for the Mini 5 Pro’s stability.
I’ve controlled the drone with the RC 2 controller which features a screen. I’ve taken multiple 4K 60fps videos in vertical and horizontal aspects, flicked between the cine, normal and sport flight modes and tested the 360° ActiveTrack through woodland and more.
I’ve shot video using both standard color profiles and DJI’s D Log M color profile and graded the footage. During bright conditions I’ve used the ND 8 filter to balance exposure. I’ve also taken still images in RAW and JPEG, plus utilized the 3x digital zoom.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Price Comparison
