Small, featherweight, and packed with power, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is rewriting what beginners expect from a sub-250g drone.
Recent Trends
- Sub-250g drones gain ground for beginners
- 1-inch sensors become standard in compact drones
- Advanced subject tracking powered by AI improves safety
Mini 5 Pro: Why It Tops Our Drones Guide
What makes the Mini 5 Pro stand out
It pairs a larger 1-inch sensor with a stabilized 4K camera capable of 120fps, all in a chassis that weighs just under the 250-gram mark. That combination unlocks genuinely cinematic footage in a pocketable form factor, making it practical for travelers, vloggers, and weekend shooters alike.
The Mini 5 Pro also improves on flight control and sensing. Top speeds and wind resistance are roughly 10% higher than the Mini 4 Pro, while ascent is noticeably faster. The drone uses ActiveTrack 360 for better subject tracking and adds omnidirectional obstacle sensing with front-facing LiDAR sensors that work even in lower light conditions. In practice, this means you can run a tight chase through a forest without worrying about a tree branch suddenly interrupting your shot.
Battery life clocks in at up to 38 minutes, a meaningful bump that lets you capture more territory in a single session. Video can be shot in horizontal or vertical formats, with a flat D-Log M color profile offering about 14 EV of dynamic range for post production. The addition of MasterShots—built on the Mini 5 Pro’s 225-degree roll—delivers dynamic, interview-friendly footage with minimal input from the user.
Design refinements also shine in real life. The folding propellers are easy to pack, and the camera activates automatically when the drone opens up, letting you be airborne in seconds. Still, it remains a single-camera system with a fixed aperture, unlike twin-camera rivals like the Air 3S or the Mavic 4 Pro.
Pricing sits around £689 / AU$1,199, and while the US market had not announced official pricing at the time of testing, the value proposition remains compelling for beginners who want built-in safety and high-quality footage. If you want to dip your toes into drone work on a strict budget, the Mini 4K option still offers a tempting entry point, but it cannot match the overall capability in a similarly compact package.
Who should buy? Beginners who crave confidence-boosting safety features, social media creators needing fast, high-quality clips, and anyone who wants portability without sacrificing camera performance. The Mini 5 Pro makes it easy to shoot compelling footage in challenging spots like around trees or over water. For creators and hobbyists alike, the takeaway is simple: smaller drones can do big jobs.
Is the Mini 5 Pro for everyone? Not quite. But it stands as the best option for most people who want an all-around capable micro-drone that stays agile in tight spaces and delivers solid video quality.
According to TechRadar’s Tim Coleman, the weight of 249.9 g with a ±4 g tolerance could complicate regulatory decisions in the US, where 250 g acts as a threshold for certain flight rules and certifications.
Conclusion
In short, the Mini 5 Pro sets a new benchmark for sub-250g drones. It pairs a 1-inch sensor and robust safety features with a form factor that fits in your pocket and your schedule. Regulators aside, it’s a practical, high-value tool for travel, content creation, and casual exploration.
