DJI Mini 5 Pro: Why is it the most impressive drone under 250g?

DJI's 249g DJI Mini 5 Pro is the first in its class to use a Type 1 image sensor, and it also upgrades its already powerful obstacle avoidance system with LiDAR, making it more effective in low light. But that's not all that makes the DJI Mini 5 Pro the most impressive drone yet .

 

Advantage

• New 1-inch sensor with highly detailed 4K HDR video
• Multi-function camera with 225 degree rotation
• Top flight and safety features

Disadvantages

• Flight times are often not as long as advertised.
• More expensive than budget models like the Mini 4K

DJI Mini 5 Pro Price and Release Date

• The standard package costs £679 / 24 million VND
• There are two Fly More Combos: with screen or without screen controller

Despite its many improved features, including a larger 1-inch sensor and LiDAR, the DJI Mini 5 Pro essentially costs the same as the Mini 4 Pro, which launched two years ago and cost a bit more. Simply put, this latest model is a fantastic value.

 

There are two Fly More Combo bundles to choose from: one with the screenless DJI RC-N3 controller for £869 (you'll need to connect and use a phone screen with the DJI app installed for this controller) or one with the more premium DJI RC 2 controller for £979.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Configuration

Camera:	50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor
Video resolution:	4K
Frame rate:	Up to 4K for 120fps, Slow motion Full HD for 240fps
Video transmission range	04+ for 20km (FCC), 10km (CE/SRRC/MIC)
Flight mode:	Cine, Normal, Sport. 360° ActiveTrack. QuickShots (Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle and Boomerang)
Battery:	2,788mAh / flight time up to 36 minutes.
Charging type:	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:	8.81oz / 249.9g
Size:	157×95×68 mm (folded), 255×181×91 mm (unfolded)

DJI Mini 5 Pro Design

• Weight 249.9g
• Omnidirectional Object Sensor and Forward-Facing LiDAR
• 3-axis gimbal with 225-degree rotation range

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is truly super light. Technically, takeoff weight can vary by ±4g (depending on the shipment you receive, DJI says), so yours might be 254g. However, the Mini 5 Pro is officially classified as a C0 drone (under 250g) in Europe, so such differences shouldn't be an issue.

In addition to the larger 1-inch sensor, the Mini 5 Pro also adds forward-facing LiDAR for omnidirectional object sensing. The latter is already a class-leading safety feature, and you won't find it in cheaper drones like DJI's Mini 4K. Now, with the addition of LiDAR, the Mini 5 Pro should be able to better sense objects in low light than the Mini 4 Pro.

 

The camera setup is also impressive. As before, it's mounted on a 3-axis gimbal, which smooths out your live view as you fly and any video you record. The gimbal has a flexible 225-degree roll range, allowing you to switch between landscape and portrait modes.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Performance

• 1-inch sensor delivers best-in-class image quality
• Efficient ActiveTrack 360° subject tracking
• 2,788mAh battery for up to 36 minutes of flight time

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is equipped with a single camera using a 1-inch sensor for 4K 60fps video with 10-bit color depth, or slow-motion recording up to 120fps, which can be increased to 240fps if the resolution is reduced to 1080p.

You can choose between different color profiles – the easy-to-use standard interface or DJI's D Log M, which requires color grading. The latter gives you the widest dynamic range to work with – up to 14EV – meaning you'll likely capture more tonal detail. When comparing video quality with the much cheaper Mini 4K drone, the 4K resolution is pretty much the deciding factor – the Mini 5 Pro's video quality is much better.

As usual, DJI's QuickShot modes are present, including Boomerang and Helix. These automated flight movements can create some super-dynamic footage when used wisely.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is equipped with a 2,788mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery, which gives it a flight time of up to 36 minutes. The reality is almost always shorter, especially when you factor in wind or other battery-draining features. In light winds, shooting 4K 60fps video and using features like 360° ActiveTrack, it only managed around 20 minutes.

Such limited flight time is why the more expensive Fly More Combo packages are industry favorites – they're the most cost-effective way to buy a few extra batteries and triple the fun.

Overall, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a quality drone that's well worth the price and worth considering adding to your shopping cart.