DJI Mini 4 Pro review: DJI embraces every feature a beginner drone needs

DJI announced the launch of the DJI Mini 4 Pro today, and it finally offers beginners the most critical safety features — most notably omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. The Mini 4 Pro is easy to fly and attainable to get your hands on given its affordable price point starting at $759.

When the DJI Mini 3 Pro dropped last year, we called it the best drone for beginners yet. The new DJI Mini 4 Pro is no different: sharp image quality, incredibly small and light, easy to get set up and in the air, and, now, even safer to fly. 

Most critical is the fact that it has what is arguably the No. 1 safety feature every drone pilot should have: omnidirectional obstacle avoidance–a first for the Mini Series. (More on why this is an excellent new addition later).

Some additional upgrades are in video shooting, intelligent features, automatic flight, and video transmission. 

Among the other highlights of the DJI Mini 4 Pro: 

  • Weighs less than 249 grams
  • 4k/60fps, 4k/100fps, Night Mode 
  • True Vertical Shooting 
  • ActiveTrack 360°
  • 34-minute flight time (or more) 
  • 20km max transmission 

Learn more about the newest drone in the Mini Series, more of these standout features in my review, and guided to the DJI Mini 4 Pro here:  

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The DJI Mini 4 Pro

Omnidirectional obstacle sensing on the DJI Mini 4 Pro

One of the biggest upgrades from the previous Mini line is Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, meaning it’s more ‘crashproof’ than any of its predecessors. (The Mini 3 has Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing). 

Previously, the lack of omnidirectional sensing was a major difference between the Mini and Air series. The Mini 4 Pro no longer has any blindspots, and while DJI won’t outright call it crash-proof, this is pretty much as close as you can get. 

The Mini 4 Pro offers awareness detections in all directions. With omnidirectional obstacle sensing, you can plan your flight route and bypass obstacles, achieving smoother and more stable tracking.

DJI Mini 4 Pro’s obstacle avoidance system is not just about seeing objects; it also actively avoids them. This is done by using APAS 5.0, which automatically generates a new route to bypass obstacles smoothly. 

Additionally, advanced RTH (return to home) allows you to send the drone home safely, giving you peace of mind knowing that your drone will return safely even if you are not actively flying it.

Since the Mini series is ideal for beginners, the addition of omnidirectional obstacle sensing is huge. I know if I was planning to invest in my first drone, I would want the piece of mind that I would have a very hard time crashing the drone. 

The DJI Mini 4 Pro gives you peace of mind every time you fly. 

O4 video transmission and slow-motion

Another huge reason to upgrade to the Mini 4 Pro over the Mini 3 is O4 Video Transmission, the next-generation O4 video transmission system that offers a transmission distance of up to 20 km. O4 Video Transmission was an epic addition to the DJI Air 3 drone, which launched in August 2024 — albeit at a far higher price point than what we have on the Mini 4 Pro.

It’s pretty generous to see DJI’s O4 tech being implemented in DJI’s most entry-level drone. The earlier models within the Mini line were far less powerful. The DJI Mini 3 was equipped with an O2 transmission, which delivered a 720p/30fps live feed from up to just 10 km away. The DJI Mini 3 Pro did one better by providing upgraded O3 transmission, but it’s impressive that DJI would put its newest tech into its most entry-level drone.

With the intelligent feature, Waypoint Flight, you can set an automatic route while minimizing operation fatigue with Cruise Control for long-distance, steady-state flights. 

If you are an action photographer looking to slow down the action for dramatic effect, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has an upgrade you are sure to love: the camera now allows for 4K video shooting at up to 100fps. That’s a delightful upgrade from its predecessor, the Mini 3 Pro, which offered 4K at just 60fps. 

The shooting in slow motion was again something that set apart the Mini from the Air series, but not any longer. You can now directly record a 4x slow-motion video. For folks who’d otherwise try to edit their video into slow-mo in post-production, this is a huge time saver. 

Given the combination of slow motion and  ActiveTrack 360°, you can track a fast-moving object, say a jetski, and film in slow motion. That could make for some pretty epic video coming out of what’s otherwise a pretty entry-level drone.

Smart shooting modes

The Mini 4 Pro offers three intuitive methods for capturing shots which DJI calls Spotlight, Point of Interest, and ActiveTrack 360°. These are all smart shooting modes we have seen before in the Mini Series — but this time around they’ve gotten performance upgrades.

ActiveTrack 360° allows users to bypass obstacles and achieve smoother, more stable tracking.

You’ll be able to pick a subject and the drone will follow it around. The system has greatly improved accuracy and can quickly auto-recognize and re-plan the tracking route after losing the subject. 

With the omnidirectional obstacle sensing and the upgrades to ActiveTrack 360°, something tells me we will soon find the DJI Mini 4 Pro on Drone Girl’s list of the best follow-me drones. 

Other Intelligent features on the DJI Mini 4 Pro include: 

  • MasterShots: Delivers dynamic camera movement templates tailored for portrait, close-up, and long-range shots, ensuring you nail every shot
  • QuickShots: Provides Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, and Asteroid moves for more style results 
  • Hyperlapse: Provides Free, Waypoint, Circle, and Course Lock modes with unlimited shooting time and supports compositing while shooting 
  • Panorama: Supports shooting 180, Wide Angle, Vertical, and Sphere panoramic photos to capture landscapes 

Super light and small design (under 249 grams!)

The Mini 4 Pro stays true to its name, as it is truly mini. The Mini 4 Pro shares the same compact sleek design as the Mini 3 Pro. And there are quite a few advantages to smaller-size drones. 

Drones under 250 grams are a big deal. Weighing under 249 grams exempts drones from many forms of regulation, notably, they do not need to be registered with the FAA for recreational operations and do not need to be Remote ID compliant

Many countries classify drones based on their weight and build more regulations or restrictions based on that. Typically, the larger the drone, the more regulation it is subject to. In many countries, including the U.S., drones weighing under 249g don’t need to be registered. 

Also, smaller drones are in general safer. Most experts agree that smaller drones tend to be safer for a simple reason: the impact generated by a tiny drone is inherently so much smaller than a bigger drone, should it crash. 

And finally, as any frequent traveler knows, smaller means more space for all your travel essentials and less need for a checked bag. The sleek foldable design makes the Mini 4 Pro an excellent travel partner. 

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The DJI Mini 4 Pro

34 minutes of flight time (and 45 minutes, kind of)

This drone offers an impressive 34 minutes of flight time with a single charge. Like the Mini 3 Pro,  the arms and propellers have significantly enhanced the drone’s aerodynamic performance setting it apart from other Mini drones in terms of flight duration. 

But why have 34 minutes of flight time when you can have 45? DJI has introduced a specialized battery, the “Intelligent Flight Battery Plus” available at an extra cost. This advanced battery extends the flight time to a maximum of 45 minutes on a single charge. 

Keep in mind that the enhanced batteries are heavier.  Opting for the “Plus” version will push the drone’s weight beyond 249 grams. If you’re in an area where regulations apply to drones weighing 250 grams or more, compliance with the law is necessary, which includes drone registration in the U.S.

A closer look at the Mini 4 Pro camera system 

The Mini 4 Pro shares many of the same camera specs as the Mini 3 Pro, with a view of notable upgrades. Here are some additional DJI Mini 4 camera specs:

  • A 1/1.3-inch CMOS camera sensor with dual native ISO: This means footage from either camera can be packed with rich coloring and natural lighting transitions.
  • Aperture: f/1.7, which is ideal for low-light and nighttime performance 
  • High-quality capture: It shoots images at up to 48MP and video at up to 4k/60fps 
  • Digital video zoom: It’s available up to 2x in 4k, up to 4x
  • HDR Video recording: Available in 4k/60fps 
  • Night Shots video: Delivers clear, cleaner footage in low-light conditions  

The Mini 4 Pro offers advanced control through 10-bit D-Log M recording, providing access to a wide range of colors. HLG maintains natural colors and brightness across various platforms due to its high dynamic range. Capture fine details with 48 RAW and SmartPhoto technology, a blend of HDR imaging and scene recognition, resulting in compelling images. 

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The DJI Mini 4 Pro

The gimbal redesign for TikTok remains 

Between the period after DJI launched its own built-in, brushless gimbals until the time of the DJI Mini 3 Pro, gimbals didn’t tend to receive a ton of attention. But with the Mini 3 Pro, we saw a complete redesign that allowed for not just traditional horizontal video but enabled tilt-up shots and vertical shooting. The DJI Mini 4 Pro keeps the same redesign. 

Vertical shooting is the type of shooting that most people are familiar with taking via their smartphones –and what you see on the TikTok and Instagram reels. 

To film vertically with your DJI Mini 4 Pro, simply press a button to rotate the camera 90 degrees for True Vertical Shooting. This gives you photos and videos in portrait orientation without needing to zoom in or crop your original image, as you previously had to. 

If you are a TikTok or Reels content creator looking to add a drone to your filming repertoire, the true vertical shooting feature on the Mini 3 Pro — and now the Mini 4 Pro — is a must. 

Is the DJI Mini 4 Pro worth it? 

Given its starting price at $759 (that’s for the RC-N2 Remote Controller) or $959 if you want the version with the better RC 2 controller, it’s certainly not cheap. Beginners who aren’t sure they are ready to commit to a DJI drone might be better off with one of the picks in our guide to the best drones under $500 from DJI. After all, you don’t want to shell out that much money for something you’re not certain you’ll fly often.

But for beginners who want the best of the best, this is it. There’s no need to worry about compliance with most FAA drone rules given its sub-250 gram size. It’s easy and intuitive to fly.

Perhaps most notably is that the addition of Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing and O4 Video Transmission are critical additions to the Mini Series. With the Mini 4, it feels like DJI curated the features and specs perfect for people looking to purchase their first drone (although I recommend practicing on a cheap toy drone if you’re brand new).

Sure, you’ll make some tradeoffs in picking this drone over a higher-end Mavic 3. And you’ll pay more than you would for the Mini 2 or Mini 3 — but you are getting a significantly safer drone and much better video footage. 

At under $1,000 and basically crash-free, the Mini 4 Pro is definitely worth it for relatively new drone pilots, social media content creators, travelers, and more. And now with the addition of O4 tech, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is even a good selection for many types of professional photographers who don’t need all the features of the DJI Mavic 3. 

DJI continues to pack so many features into such a small size and an impressive price. 

The Mini 4 Pro offers various different configurations in terms of pricing and packages. Here is a closer look at what each package includes:

DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC-N2) ($759): one drone, a DJI RC-N2 Remote Controller, an Intelligent Flight Battery, a pair of Propellers (Screws Included), a Screwdriver, a Gimbal Protector, and a Propeller Holder

DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC 2) ($959): one drone, a DJI RC 2 Remote Controller, a Intelligent Flight Battery, a pair of Propellers (Screws Included), a Screwdriver, a Gimbal Protector, and a Propeller Holder

DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) ($1,099): one drone, a DJI RC 2 Remote Controller, three Intelligent Flight Battery, three pairs of Propellers (Screws Included), a Screwdriver, a Gimbal Protector, a Propeller Holder, a DJI Mini Shoulder Bag, and the Two-Way Charging Hub. 

DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo Plus (DJI RC 2) ($1,159): one drone, a DJI RC 2 Remote Controller, three Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, three pairs of Pro Propellers (Screws Included), a Screwdriver, a Gimbal Protector, a Propeller Holder, a Shoulder Bag, and the Two-Way Charging Hub.

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