DJI Mavic 4 Pro vs DJI Mini 5 Pro
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
DJI's flagship versus its lightest 1-inch sensor drone. The Mavic 4 Pro at $2,199 has a 4/3 Hasselblad triple camera, Infinity Gimbal, and 51-minute battery at 1,063g.
The Mini 5 Pro at $773 has a 1-inch sensor, LiDAR, and 10-bit D-Log M at 249g. Both have LiDAR omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. One weighs four times more and costs nearly three times more.
The real estate question: does the Mavic 4 Pro's imaging system produce enough of an upgrade over the Mini 5 Pro's 1-inch sensor to justify the weight, price, and US availability hassle?
Pros & Cons
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
- Triple camera with a 4/3 Hasselblad main (100MP), 70mm medium telephoto, and 168mm telephoto gives three focal lengths without repositioning. Switch from wide property overviews to architectural details mid-flight
- Infinity Gimbal rotates 360 degrees continuously, enabling true native vertical video for social media, 70-degree upward tilts for building facades, and rotating shots no other consumer drone can produce
- 6K/60fps video with 10-bit D-Log across all three cameras gives editors consistent color science. The Mavic 3 Pro only offered D-Log on its main camera, forcing mismatched grades between lenses
- f/2.0 to f/11 variable aperture on the main camera controls depth of field and handles bright midday sun without ND filters. That's wider than the Mavic 3 Pro's f/2.8 minimum
- 51-minute flight time translates to 40-45 minutes in real conditions, enough to photograph an entire property exterior on one battery
- LiDAR omnidirectional obstacle avoidance works down to 0.1 lux, making twilight exterior shoots and return-to-home flights safe after sunset
- O4+ transmission holds a stable 10-bit HDR 1080p feed at 30 km. The live view quality is good enough to evaluate framing and exposure on the controller screen
- 100MP stills from the 4/3 sensor resolve enough detail for large-format prints and billboard-scale real estate advertising
- 1,063g exceeds both the 250g and 1kg thresholds, triggering stricter FAA regulations and heavier drone categories in the EU
- $2,199 for the base kit and $3,549 for the Creator Combo puts it beyond what most real estate agents will spend on a drone
- Not sold in the US officially by DJI due to FCC Covered List restrictions. Buying through B&H or third-party Amazon sellers means uncertain warranty and DJI Care Refresh access
- 28mm main camera is narrower than the Mavic 3 Pro's 24mm, and some property photographers miss the wider field of view for capturing full building facades up close
- ActiveTrack performance is weaker than expected. Several owners describe it as unreliable for consistent subject tracking, especially with vehicles
- No ProRes codec, which professional videographers expected at this price point
- Normal color profile ships with excessive contrast that requires significant correction in post. Owners who don't shoot D-Log get harsh-looking default footage
DJI Mini 5 Pro
- 1-inch CMOS sensor is the largest ever fitted to a sub-250g drone, producing low-light and dynamic range that rivals the much larger Air 3S
- Forward LiDAR enables obstacle avoidance that works in near darkness, where the visual sensors on every other Mini go blind
- True vertical shooting rotates the gimbal a full 225 degrees for uncropped 4K portrait video, something even the flagship Mavic 4 Pro cannot do
- 4K/120fps slow motion and 1080p/240fps give buttery B-roll that no other Mini can match
- 50MP stills from the Quad Bayer sensor with a 48mm crop mode for tighter framing without moving the drone
- O4+ transmission holds a stable feed in cluttered urban airspace better than the Mini 4 Pro
- 42GB internal storage saves a full session if you forget your microSD card
- Sold officially in the US at $759 with full DJI warranty and DJI Care Refresh support
- ~23-25 minutes real-world flight on the standard battery, well short of the advertised 36 minutes (Philip Bloom measured 23-24 min)
- Weight runs right at the line. Rated 249.9g but with a ±4g tolerance, so many units measure 252-253g, which technically requires US registration (see the checker below)
- Wind buffeting shows up in footage in gusts where the heavier Air 3S and Mavic stay locked, the most common owner complaint
- Plus battery is the only way to reach the long advertised flight times, and it pushes takeoff weight to roughly 290g, over the 250g line
- LiDAR is forward-facing only, so it still has blind spots during sideways tracking or backward flight
- Fixed f/1.8 aperture needs ND filters for cinematic shutter speeds in daylight
- Pricey for a Mini at $759, the same as the Mini 4 Pro, so you are paying for the sensor not the size
Price Range
The Mavic 4 Pro costs $2,199 base, $3,549 for the Creator Combo. The Mini 5 Pro runs $729-773 through grey-market imports. Neither is officially sold in the US through DJI.
Both require navigating third-party sellers with uncertain warranty coverage. The Mavic 4 Pro costs roughly 3x more than the Mini 5 Pro.
If you're importing either way, the Mini 5 Pro's lower price reduces the financial risk of buying without warranty.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
4.7 | 4.6 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 6K/60fps | 4K/120fps |
| Sensor Size | 4/3 CMOS (main) + 1/1.3-inch (med tele) + 1/1.5-inch (tele) | 1-inch CMOS |
| Aperture | f/2.0-f/11 (main), f/2.8 (teles) | f/1.8 |
| Zoom | 6x optical (28mm + 70mm + 168mm triple lens) | 2x (48mm crop) |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 51 min | 36 min |
| Range | 30 km | 20 km |
| Max Speed | 25 m/s | 19 m/s |
| Gimbal | 3-axis Infinity Gimbal (360° rotation) | 3-axis mechanical (225 degree rotation) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $2199 | $759 |
| Weight | 1063g | 249.9g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Camera System
7x larger than the Mini 5 Pro's 1-inch sensor. More sensor area means cleaner high-ISO images and more dynamic range, but the gap is smaller than the price gap suggests.
Both drones produce sharp, professionally usable stills for real estate.
- Resolution: 100MP (Mavic 4 Pro) versus 50MP (Mini 5 Pro)
- Aperture: variable f/2.0-f/11 (Mavic 4 Pro) versus fixed f/1.7 (Mini 5 Pro)
- Focal lengths: three cameras at 28mm, 70mm, 168mm (Mavic 4 Pro) versus single 24mm with digital zoom (Mini 5 Pro)
- Both shoot 10-bit D-Log color
The Mavic 4 Pro's triple camera eliminates repositioning between wide, medium, and tight shots. The Infinity Gimbal rotates 360 degrees and tilts upward 70 degrees for creative angles the Mini 5 Pro can't match.
Obstacle Avoidance
Both have LiDAR omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, which is notable because the Mini 5 Pro gets the same safety system as the flagship. For flying around suburban properties, both drones provide the same level of crash protection.
Weight and Regulations
- Weight: 1,063g (Mavic 4 Pro) versus 249g (Mini 5 Pro)
- The Mini 5 Pro qualifies for sub-250g operational rules
- The Mavic 4 Pro exceeds 1kg and triggers stricter regulations
Choose the Mini 5 Pro if:
- You want a real estate drone that fits in your jacket pocket at 249g
- You shoot standard residential properties and value portability
- You need LiDAR obstacle avoidance without the flagship price
- You want professional-grade stills and video with a 1-inch sensor
The 1-inch sensor produces stills and video that handle professional editing. At 249g, flying over suburban properties with neighbors below is operationally simpler.
Choose the Mavic 4 Pro if:
- You photograph high-end properties and need the absolute best image quality
- You want three focal lengths without repositioning (28mm, 70mm, 168mm)
- You need variable aperture for all-day shoots without ND filters
- You want 100MP stills with room to crop for print
If your real estate photography is a primary business generating premium fees, the Mavic 4 Pro is a production tool that earns back its cost.
Our Verdict
The Mini 5 Pro at $773 for real estate photographers who value portability, LiDAR safety, and cost efficiency. The 1-inch sensor is more than good enough for property photography, and the 249g weight makes daily use effortless. The Mavic 4 Pro at $2,199 for professional production work on luxury properties. The triple camera, variable aperture, and 100MP stills produce a tier of imagery that the Mini 5 Pro can't match. The premium only makes sense when clients are paying for it.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
4.7/5 overall · $2199
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Paul Posea · Updated 2026-02-13