Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro at a Glance
Spec | DJI Mini 5 Pro | DJI Mini 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Price | £659.00 | £589.00 (out of stock) |
Camera sensor | 1-inch CMOS, 50MP | 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48MP |
Weight | Under 250g | Under 249g |
Flight time | 36 minutes | 34 minutes (45 with larger battery) |
Max transmission range | 20km | 20km (FCC), 10km (CE) |
Obstacle sensing | Nightscape Omnidirectional, forward-facing LiDAR | Omnidirectional binocular vision + 3D infrared |
GNSS | Dual-band (L1+L5) | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou |
Gimbal | 225° rotation, True Vertical Shooting | -135° to 80° tilt, no native vertical mode |
Video | 4K/60fps HDR | 4K/60fps HDR, 4K/100fps slow motion |
Where the Sensor Upgrade Actually Matters
A 1-inch sensor gathers meaningfully more light than a 1/1.3-inch one, the difference shows up most in dusk, dawn and indoor shots where the Mini 4 Pro's smaller chip starts introducing visible noise. Daytime shooting in good light narrows the gap considerably, both cameras produce sharp, usable footage outdoors on a clear day. For anyone shooting mostly at golden hour, indoors, or in variable UK weather, the Mini 5 Pro's sensor is the difference that shows up in the footage itself, not just the spec sheet.
LiDAR and Night Flying
The Mini 5 Pro's forward-facing LiDAR is built specifically for Nightscape operation, obstacle detection that keeps working in low light where the Mini 4 Pro's vision-based sensing relies on enough ambient light to see by. Anyone flying regularly after sunset, city rooftops, evening events, low-light landscapes, gets a real safety margin from this that the Mini 4 Pro's daylight-oriented sensing doesn't match.
True Vertical Shooting
The Mini 5 Pro's gimbal physically rotates 225°, letting it capture a full-resolution vertical frame natively rather than cropping a horizontal shot down to fit. The Mini 4 Pro can shoot vertical too, but it crops from the horizontal frame, losing resolution in the process. For anyone shooting primarily for Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts, that's a genuine quality difference between the two, not just a marketing checkbox.
Which One to Buy
With the Mini 4 Pro currently out of stock, the Mini 5 Pro is the practical answer for most buyers right now regardless of the spec comparison. On specs alone it's the better drone anyway, the larger sensor, LiDAR-assisted night flying and native vertical shooting all land in its favour, the £70 price difference buys a genuine capability upgrade rather than just a newer model number.
Free Gifts Included
DJI Mini 4 Pro Mega Bundle
Don't Risk it! Purchase From UK's Highest Rated Dealer · Weighs Under 249g
DJI Mini 5 Pro Mega Bundle
1-Inch Large CMOS Camera · Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
Common Questions
It's currently showing as out of stock. The Mini 5 Pro is the in-stock option carrying the newer sensor and obstacle sensing hardware.
Yes, it stays under 250g, the same weight bracket the Mini 4 Pro sits in.
Less than it does in low light. Both cameras produce sharp footage in good outdoor light, the gap widens at dusk, indoors or in overcast UK conditions where the Mini 5 Pro's larger sensor gathers more light.
Yes, but by cropping the horizontal frame rather than physically rotating the gimbal, which loses resolution compared to the Mini 5 Pro's native 225° rotation.
Slightly, 36 minutes against the Mini 4 Pro's 34 minutes on its standard battery, though the Mini 4 Pro's larger optional battery extends that to 45 minutes.
