The DJI Mini 5 Pro is the most impressive sub-250g drone I've tested – trust me, it's definitely worth upgrading for

· TechRadar

Early Verdict

I've only had DJI's flagship mini drone for a few flight sessions so far, but they were enough to prove to me that the Mini 5 Pro is the top performer for beginner drones. DJI has squeezed a phenomenal array of tech into a 249.9g body, thus keeping it within the restriction-free C0 category of drones in Europe. The larger 1-inch sensor and DJI's log color profile deliver class-leading video quality, while DJI has also raised the bar for flight and safety features in a sub-250g drone. It's a much pricier drone than the entry-level Mini 4K, but if you can stretch your budget further you won't be disappointed – object sensing will pay for itself in the long run. If anything, the Mini 5 Pro puts the squeeze on the weightier DJI Air 3S, which to me is some praise. I'm still carrying out in-depth tests, but can already sense the Mini 5 Pro will be my top-choice drone.

Pros

  • +New 1-inch sensor with detail rich 4K HDR video
  • +Versatile camera with a 225 degree roll rotation
  • +Class-leading flight and safety features

Cons

  • -Flight times typically not as long as advertised
  • -Pricier than entry-level models like the Mini 4K

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DJI Mini 5 Pro: one-minute review

When I tracked the seemingly constant flow of DJI Mini 5 Pro rumors ahead of its official unveil, which included exciting speculation about its sensor and safety feature upgrades, I had one question in mind: 'will it still be under 250g?'

I've now had my hands-on the latest flagship mini drone and can happily say that DJI has done it, by a whisker. The 249.9g Mini 5 Pro is officially a C0 category drone and it features a 1-inch sensor (much larger than the Mini 4 Pro's), versatile camera and class-leading safety features, now with LiDAR.

If anything, the Mini 5 Pro reads like a shrunk down DJI Air 3S. They both feature a main camera with 1-inch sensor, 4K video up to 120fps, DJI's D Log M color profiles and 14EV dynamic range.

They also both utilize omnidirectional object sensing and front-facing LiDAR for class-leading low-light flight safety features, including the superb return to home (RTH) function. Plus there's the neat 360° ActiveTrack, which keeps your subject in the center of the frame – DJI has refined this mode in the Mini 5 Pro and it performs really well.

The Mini 5 Pro's camera is super versatile, too – it sits on a 3-axis gimbal for smooth footage even in moderate wind and offers a 225 degree range of roll rotation; the upshot is that you can switch from horizontal to vertical recording at the push of a button.

Despite featuring a large 1-inch sensor and LiDAR sensing, the Mini 5 Pro still officially weighs less than 250g. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

I've only had a few days with the Mini 5 Pro so far, but I've used DJI's other mini drones extensively and can make quick judgements on just how good it really is. Honestly, it's hard to find fault.

I own the Mini 4K, DJI's cheaper entry-level drone. There are a few shared features but if you're a first time buyer, I think it's worth forking out extra for the Mini 5 Pro instead – it's a big upgrade, even over its predecessor, the Mini 4 Pro.

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