DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro: Full Comparison, Which is Superior?

18 September 2025 armant

The Evolution of DJI's Sophisticated Mini Drones

The DJI Mini series has always been a favorite of drone enthusiasts, from beginners to professionals. The reason is simple: its weight of under 249 grams makes it easy to carry anywhere and does not require registration in many countries. After the success of the Mini 4 Pro, DJI has hit the market again with the Mini 5 Pro.

But, are the upgrades that the Mini 5 Pro offers significant enough to make you upgrade? Or is the Mini 4 Pro still a solid choice and the Worth it? Let's take an in-depth look at the comparison.

Key Comparison: Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro

We will compare these two drones from several vital aspects.

1. Camera Sensor and Image Quality: The Most Significant Improvement

This is an area where the Mini 5 Pro shows a big leap.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: It uses a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor. Capable of taking 48MP photos and recording videos up to 4K/60fps HDR, the quality is already very good for a mini drone.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: It features a much larger 1-inch CMOS sensor. This is a feature that was previously only available on high-end drones such as the Air or Mavic series. The result?
- Photo Quality: Photo resolution increased to 50MP.
- Low-Light Performance: The larger sensor captures more light, resulting in much cleaner images with minimal noise in low-light conditions or at night.
- Dynamic Range: Mini 5 Pro offers up to 14 stops dynamic range (compared to 12 stops on the Mini 4 Pro), providing greater flexibility in post-production and richer details in both light and dark areas.

Conclusion: If image quality, especially in low-light conditions, is your top priority, The Mini 5 Pro is the winner.

2. Safety and Obstacle Avoidance Features

Both drones are already very secure, but the Mini 5 Pro adds an extra layer of security.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: It has an omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system, which uses visual sensors to detect obstacles in all directions (up, down, front, back, and sides).
DJI Mini 5 Pro: In addition to the same visual sensors, the Mini 5 Pro adds the following features LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) that faces forward. This feature is particularly effective for detecting obstacles in conditions of low-light or even total darkness, which is a weakness of visual sensors.

Conclusion: The Mini 5 Pro offers more advanced and safe navigation, especially when flying at night or in complex environments.

3. Videos and Creative Features

DJI has always excelled in creative features, and the Mini 5 Pro takes it to the next level.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Capable of video recording slow-motion 4K/100fps.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Improving this ability becomes 4K/120fps. Improved frame rate This results in super slow motion that is smoother and more cinematic. Other than that, Mini 5 Pro gimbal now has 225° rotationThis allows for more dynamic and creative camera movements, such as dramatic rotations.

Conclusion: For videographers looking for flexibility and shot unique, the Mini 5 Pro provides more options.

4. Flight and Transmission Period

Flying Period: The Mini 4 Pro has a flight time of up to 34 minutes on a standard battery. The Mini 5 Pro is slightly superior with a flight time of up to 36 minutes.
Transmission: The Mini 4 Pro uses O4 (OcuSync 4.0) transmission with a theoretical range of up to 20 km. The Mini 5 Pro uses O4+ which is claimed to have a range of up to 25 km.

Conclusion: The Mini 5 Pro offers a slight improvement in terms of range and flight time, although this difference may not be felt much in daily use.

Pros and Cons: Which One is Right for You?

DJI Mini 4 Pro

Pros:
- More Affordable Price: As a predecessor model, the price is now more competitive.
- Superior Performance: It still offers excellent video quality and safety features for the price.
- Portability: The weight under 249g remains the main attraction.
Disadvantages:
- Low-Light Performance: Good enough, but not as powerful as the Mini 5 Pro.
- More Limited Features: It lacks LiDAR and wider gimbal rotation like the Mini 5 Pro.

DJI Mini 5 Pro

Pros:
- 1 Inch Camera Sensor: A major upgrade that ensures superior image quality, especially at night.
- LiDAR: Unrivaled flying safety, even in the dark.
- 225° Gimbal: Provides greater creative freedom.
- Internal Storage Capacity: It has 42GB of internal storage, much larger than the 2GB on the Mini 4 Pro.
Disadvantages:
- Higher Price: Of course, you have to pay more for these advanced features.
- Availability: It may not be equally available in all markets.

Conclusion: The Decision is Yours

Choosing between the DJI Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro depends on your needs and budget.

Choose DJI Mini 4 Pro if: You are a budding or hobbyist content creator who wants a portable drone with full features and already excellent image quality. You want to save your budget without compromising on performance.
Choose the DJI Mini 5 Pro if: Whether you're a professional videographer or a serious enthusiast who prioritizes top-notch image quality, especially in harsh conditions low-light. You need extra security features like LiDAR and want to explore more creative camera movements.

The Mini 5 Pro is definitely a significant evolution and sets a new standard for drones under 250g. However, the Mini 4 Pro remains a very competent choice and will not disappoint.