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

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

Disadvantages

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

DJI Mini 5 Pro Price and Release Date

1. The standard package costs £679 / 24 million VND
2. 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

1. Weight 249.9g
2. Omnidirectional Object Sensor and Forward-Facing LiDAR
3. 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. 1-inch sensor delivers best-in-class image quality
2. Efficient ActiveTrack 360° subject tracking
3. 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.