DJI Mini 5 Pro: 1-Inch Sensor and Extended Battery Life Announced
DJI has officially announced the Mini 5 Pro, a new compact drone featuring a 1-inch sensor and improved battery life. This highly anticipated release aims to bring professional-level image quality to DJI's popular Mini series, directly challenging the capabilities of larger, more expensive drones.
Key Features of the DJI Mini 5 Pro
The DJI Mini 5 Pro boasts several significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Mini 4 Pro:
- 50-Megapixel 1-Inch Sensor: A major leap from the 1/1.3-inch sensor in the Mini 4 Pro, offering over twice the sensor area for improved light capture and dynamic range. DJI claims 14 stops of dynamic range.
- Enhanced Image Quality: DJI suggests the Mini 5 Pro could even surpass the image quality of the DJI Air 3S in some aspects, with improvements to portrait performance, shadow brightness, and vegetation rendering.
- Extended Battery Life: The Mini 5 Pro offers 36 minutes of flight time with the standard battery, two minutes longer than the Mini 4 Pro. An extended battery option provides up to 52 minutes of flight time.
- Improved Low-Light Performance: Incorporating the upgraded low-light version of omnidirectional obstacle avoidance with forward-facing LiDAR, enabling safer nighttime navigation and return-to-home functionality.
- Faster Performance: The Mini 5 Pro climbs at 10 meters per second (22mph) and flies horizontally at 42mph, faster than the Mini 4 Pro.
- Advanced Video Capabilities: 4K120 shooting is now supported, along with an expanded ISO range of 12800 in normal shooting and 3200 in HDR and D-Log M.
- Increased Internal Storage: The Mini 5 Pro features 42GB of internal storage, eliminating the limitations of small SD cards.
- Wi-Fi 6 Support: Offers faster downloads with speeds up to 100MB/s.
- New Telephoto Mode: Introduces a "48mm Med-Tele mode," attempting to replicate the functionality of a secondary telephoto camera.
- Gimbal Rotation: The gimbal can now freely roll for more than just vertical filming, with 225 degrees of rotation.
- Automatic Power On: Powers on automatically when the arms are unfolded.
Availability and Pricing
The DJI Mini 5 Pro is expected to be available in various bundles with additional batteries, accessories, and controllers. Pricing will vary by region. In Canada, the price is $769 USD, £689 in the UK, €798 in Europe, and ¥106,700 in Japan.
US Availability Uncertain
Despite the global announcement, the DJI Mini 5 Pro's availability in the United States remains uncertain. DJI has not officially announced a US release, nor will there be a US product website. Potential reasons for this include:
- Increased scrutiny at US ports of entry by US Customs and Border Protection.
- Tariffs on consumer electronics imported from China.
- Ongoing concerns about the security of DJI drones.
If the Mini 5 Pro is available in the US via third-party retailers like Adorama or B&H, it will likely be more expensive due to Trump-era tariffs.
Teaser Hints at One-Inch Sensor
Leading up to the official announcement, DJI released a teaser hinting at the 1-inch sensor. The teaser showed a reverse teardown of a product labeled "1-inch," strongly suggesting that the new Mini drone would feature a larger sensor. Other clues from the teaser indicated a 24mm equivalent lens with an f/1.8 aperture and the presence of obstacle detection sensors.
Competition and Market Positioning
The DJI Mini 5 Pro aims to bridge the gap between consumer-level drones and professional-grade options. Its 1-inch sensor places it in closer competition with drones like the DJI Air 3S. It could be a compelling upgrade for existing Mini pilots seeking improved image quality and performance.
