New DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone Offers Obstacle Sensing & Longer Battery Life

Written by Tyler Glass
|
Published on September 25, 2023
Tyler Glass
Adorama ALC

DJI has just announced its successor to the wildly popular mini drone series, the DJI Mini 4 Pro. The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the most advanced mini-camera drone and weighs just under 249g. It provides 20km FHD Video Transmission, 4K/60fps, extended battery life and so much more. Let’s take a closer look at the details:

Key Features of the DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone

  • 4K/60fps video
  • 20km FHD video transmission 
  • ActiveTrack 360 
  • Omnidirectional obstacle sensing 
  • Enhanced flight modes
  • DJI RC 2 remote 
  • Under 249g 
  • Extended battery life (over DJI Mini 3 Pro)
Photo from DJI

What’s New About the DJI Mini 4 Pro?

The Sensor 

The Mini 4 Pro’s camera is a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with Dual Native ISO Fusion, f/1.7 aperture, and 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels. It provides high dynamic range, providing more information in both your highlights and shadows. Enjoy the option of taking either 12MP stills for smaller file sizes, or 48MP stills for those moments when you need as much information as possible. 

Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing 

Omnidirectional obstacle sensing keeps the DJI Mini 4 Pro safe in any environment. It has four wide-angle vision sensors as well as downward vision sensors that detect obstacles from every angle. The Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) is an additional safety feature that enables automatic braking and bypassing during flight. 

4K/60fps Video 

A noticeable upgrade from the DJI Mini 3 is 4K60fps, as well as the 10-bit D-Log M and capture over 1.07 billion colors. This drone also features a 4K/60fps HDR mode which gives you even more dynamic range but, for editing purposes, D-Log M might be the better format. 

The Mini 4 Pro also features 4K/100fps slow motion when capturing fast-paced action footage. 

Photo taken with the drone, provided by DJI

Intelligent Flight Modes 

Night Mode has been added with an improved noise reduction algorithm to effectively suppress noise and create a clearer, cleaner images as well as video footage. 

MasterShots deliver dynamic camera movement templates that are tailored for portrait, close-up, and long-range shots that ensure you nail the proper movement of the drone every time. 

Quickshots provide intelligent movements such as circle, helix, rocket and boomerang shots for more stylized results. 

Improved Battery and Charging Hub 

The Mini 4 Pro will use the same Intelligent Flight Battery Plus as the Mini 3 Series. This provides a max flight time of 45 minutes, which is incredible for a drone of this size. It also uses the same Two-Way Charging Hub used for the 3 Series, and can charge the remote and three batteries all at the same time. It can also be used to power other devices such as remote controllers, smartphones, and other electronic devices. Some creators also use it to simply and securely transport batteries to their destination. 

Photo from DJI

DJI RC 2 Remote 

The DJI RC 2 was released with the DJI Air 3 earlier this year and is a standout accessory offered with all new DJI drones. It is lightweight and easy to use and comes with the built-in DJI Fly app. It’s high-definition screen delivers a crisp and clear image — even when flying in harsh sunlight. 

20km Video Transmission

Another benefit from the RC 2 remote is the 20km Video Transmission system which has already been tested and proven with the DJI Air 3. The new 04 video transmission system gives the user ultra-responsive control and smooth 1080p/60fps FHD live feed. 

Who Should Try the DJI Mini 4 Pro?

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is made for a multitude of creators and enthusiasts. It is an entry-level drone that offers professional-level video and stills, but is also small enough to fit in your jacket pocket. Simply put, this drone is for those looking for the smallest option possible without sacrificing too much quality. 

Photo from DJI

The Mini 4 Pro is an amazing option for social creators who are looking for new perspectives and want a solid entry-level drone to achieve that. It’s small enough that you will barely notice adding it to your kit but offers features that you won’t quickly outgrow. 

Some professional creators will find this to be a helpful backup to your go-to drone like the Mavic 3 or Mavic Air Series drones. Whether it’s on a long hike or you simply want something to throw in your carry-on, the Mini 4 Pro will fit just about anywhere. 

Photo from DJI

Comparable DJI Drones

DJI Mini 3 Pro 

If you are interested in getting your first drone and are attracted to the Mini Series, the Mini 3 Pro might be a great option if you aren’t needing the extra features that the Mini 4 Pro now offers. You can still get amazing results with this predecessor at a lower price point. The Mini 3 Pro offers 4K/30fps, 12MP stills, and 4x zoom on video. 

DJI Air 3  

DJI released the Air 3 earlier this year and it offers all that the Mini 4 Pro can, with a few more features and a slightly larger size. The DJI Air 3 uses the same 1/1.3-inch sensor but also has a second 70mm telephoto lens offering new perspectives at every turn. You can record in 4K/60fps in D-Log M for ultimate video recording. 


DJI Mini 4 ProDJI Mini 3 ProDJI Air 3
Camera(s)1/1.3” CMOS1/1.3” CMOS1/1.3” CMOS Wide-Angle Camera 1/1.3” CMOS 3x Medium Tele Camera
Pixels48MP48MP48MP
Aperturef/1.7f/1.7f/1.7 & f/2.8
Video Resolution4K/60fps 4K/100fps Slow Motion4K/30fps HDR 4K/60fps4K60fps HDR 4K/100fps Slow Motion
Video Transmission20km Video Transmission12km Video Transmission20km Video Transmission
Obstacle Avoidance SensorsOmnidirectional Obstacle SensingTri-Directional Obstacle SensingOmnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
Flight Time45 mins47 mins46 mins
Weight<249g<249g720g

Conclusion 

The added 4K/60fps is a massive upgrade to video quality and 48MP stills offer sharp and clean images that you can turn into high-quality prints. This drone is sure to be a massive hit with social creators and those looking for a compact drone with professional-level features. 

Tyler Glass
Tyler is a photographer and writer, born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. His ultimate goal in being a creative is to inspire others through his images, and to care more for the beautiful planet that we inhabit. The more people we convince to care for our world, the more likely we are to save it. Follow him on Instagram (@tylerwayneglass), Facebook (@tylerwayneglass), and Youtube.