The Mini 4 Pro is DJI’s second sub-250g drone reviewed here on FirstQuadcopter. Compared to the original MINI released in October 2019, the fourth-generation DJI MINI has evolved significantly. Let’s discover the most important upgrades and test their true flight range and battery life. This review might be a little late, with the Mini 5 Pro already knocking at our door, but considering DJI’s tendency to offer solid discounts on older models, this drone is still well worth considering.
I purchased the MINI 4 Pro in January, and since then, I’ve had the opportunity to thoroughly test it in a wide range of flight conditions. Over the past five months, I’ve flown it on cold winter days, in high-altitude mountain environments, along the seaside, and even experienced an unfortunate crash incident. This diverse testing period has given me a well-rounded perspective on the drone’s performance, reliability, and resilience in various real-world scenarios.
After testing several compact drones, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has become my top choice for urban exploration. Its small size and lightweight build make it incredibly portable, fitting easily into a backpack for impromptu city flights. What sets it apart is the combination of safety features, particularly its advanced collision avoidance system. I’ve always felt secure flying in tight spaces between buildings or near trees, even in areas where other drones would feel too risky. Plus, weighing under 250g means flying without worrying about extra paperwork or a special pilot license.
DJI Mini 4 Pro + DJI RC 2: Without Compromises, Under 250 grams!
Before I get into details, I should mention that this review is not sponsored. I purchased the MINI 4 Pro drone for personal use. Over the past 10 years of blogging, I have tested over 150 drones from various brands, including DJI, Autel, FIMI, Hubsan, HolyStone, and others.
When I first came across the DJI Mini 4 Pro, I was immediately impressed by how many advanced features DJI managed to pack into such a lightweight frame. Boasting excellent flight performance in the sub-249g category, the Mini 4 Pro pushes previously reserved boundaries for larger drones. Until I had the chance to test this fourth-generation Mini, I generally leaned toward the Air series, largely because of its superior wind resistance and higher-quality camera. But after flying the Mini 4 Pro, it’s clear that DJI has significantly closed the gap, delivering a compact drone that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Since it can be frustrating not being able to pick up a call or take a photo with your phone when using controllers without a live-view screen, I opted for the Fly More Combo with the DJI RC 2 included.
Fly More Combo kit content.
If you plan to use your DJI Mini 4 Pro drone intensively, investing in the Fly More Combo is the most cost-effective and practical choice. This bundle offers excellent value for money by including essential accessories such as extra flight batteries, a 3-way charging hub, a carrying case, spare propellers, and additional valuable items. It extends your flight time, improves operational flexibility, and ensures you’re well-prepared for longer sessions, travel, or professional aerial projects. For drone enthusiasts and content creators alike, the Fly More Combo delivers a complete and reliable setup at a competitive price.
DJI Mini 4 Pro Standard vs Fly More Combo — Package Comparison Table
| Item | Standard package | Fly More Combo |
| Remote controller | DJI RC-N2 or DJI RC 2 | DJI RC 2 |
| Flight battery | 1 | 3 |
| Three-Way charging hub | No | Yes |
| Shoulder Carrying Bag | No | Yes |
| Spare Propellers (pairs) | 1 | 3 |
| Spare screws | 6 | 18 |
| Screwdriver | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C charging/data cable | Yes | Yes |
| User manual | Yes | Yes |
Pricing, availability, and package options
The MINI 4 Pro drone is available at DJI’s online store in four package options:
- The Standard kit with DJI RC-N2 remote controller is priced at $759
- The Standard kit with DJI RC 2 FPV radio at $959
- Fly More Combo kit with included DJI RC 2 costs $1,099 (shown in this review)
- Fly More Combo Plus kit with included DJI RC 2 and 3x Plus batteries is priced at $1,159
Since DJI has problems in the US, finding the MINI 4 Pro or other drones in stock is very hard. On the grey market, the price of DJI products has increased by 30–40%, and the process seems not to stop soon. It isn’t official, but many industry voices say that the company has started selling its products in the US under different brands, such as SKYROVER.
DJI Mini 4 Pro: Sleek Design and Portability
The Mini 4 Pro’s design is a subtle evolution from the Mini 3 Pro, now with even more of that charming “cute frog” vibe. When folded, it measures 148 × 94 × 64 mm, and with its arms extended, it stretches to 298 × 373 × 101 mm. Using the standard (2590 mAh) battery, it weighs only 249 grams—light enough to avoid registration requirements in many regions. As with other drones in the Mini series, the arms fold against the body, making it easier to fit the drone into your backpack.
The airframe is made of plastic with a light gray finish and features air-cooling vents behind the gimbal and at the rear to protect internal components from overheating. This “open” frame design does not offer any weather protection. The omnidirectional binocular vision system with six sensors is supplemented with a 3D infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft. Located on the back, just above the battery bay, you’ll find a Type-C charging port alongside a micro-SD slot for easy storage expansion (up to 512GB).
In the front, the 3-axis gimbal sits on both sides of the frame, keeping the camera steady during windy conditions. Even better, the camera can rotate 90 degrees, so you can easily shoot in portrait or landscape. Sure, it’s perfect for TikTok and Instagram Stories, but any photographer will appreciate its flexibility in framing their shots.
DJI Mini 4 Pro: Camera Performance and Image Quality
The Mini 4 Pro uses an upgraded camera with a 24mm F1.7 lens and a Type 1/1.3 Quad Bayer CMOS image sensor that now supports HDR HLG in a Rec.2020 color space and a flat D-Log M profile for professional content creators who want more creative control. It allows recording 10-bit 4K@60fps, 4K@100fps for slow-motion, and Hyperlapse videos. The camera features 1–3× digital zoom for 4K video and 12MP photos, or 1–4× for FHD video.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro delivers excellent image quality for its size, with sharp detail, natural colors, and surprisingly good low-light performance. Out of the box, the footage looks clean and vibrant already, but for those aiming for a more cinematic feel, I strongly recommend using ND filters. They allow you to maintain the proper shutter speed for smooth motion blur, especially in bright daylight, where the Mini 4 Pro tends to push shutter speeds too high. As a demo, I recorded footage above a lake in the middle of a forest under a beautiful blue sky, and the results showcased just how impressive this little drone can be.
Creative QuickShot modes on the Mini 4 Pro make capturing dynamic footage effortless, even for beginners, thanks to the safety of the omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system. Options like Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix, and Boomerang allow the drone to automatically execute complex maneuvers while keeping the subject perfectly framed, adding a cinematic touch with minimal effort. These modes are fun and practical, enabling engaging clips for social media without hours of manual flying or editing. The video below is a demo of testing all the QuickShot modes, recorded directly from the RC2 screen to show how each feature performs in real time.
As mentioned, the beauty of the MINI 4 Pro’s camera is not necessarily its larger sensor, but rather the 3-axis gimbal’s ability to rotate vertically for social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Surely, its shine was dimmed after the release of the Antigravity A1 drone, which can record in 360° and export vertically, horizontally, or at any angle the user desires, all in 8K.
DJI Mini 4 Pro: Mastering the Controller and Maximizing Range
As mentioned, I ordered the Mini 4 Pro with the DJI RC 2 because I found it more convenient than the screenless version (RC-N2). It’s a significant step up from using your smartphone in tandem with the controller, offering everything in one device without needing cables. Important to note that the Mini 4 Pro relies on DJI’s O4 digital transmission protocol, which delivers stronger signal stability, lower latency, and extended range (20Km) compared to O3 and O3+. However, this upgrade also limits backward compatibility—controllers such as the RC-N1 and first-generation DJI RC.
The DJI RC 2 measures 168.4 × 132.5 × 62.7 mm (including the removable control sticks) and features a bright (700nits) 5.5-inch Full HD touchscreen, which delivers clear visibility even in direct sunlight—an essential feature for outdoor flying.
When I tested the Mini 4 Pro’s range, I admit I was skeptical about reaching 20 km—and my doubts weren’t unfounded. The signal remained strong, but the battery wouldn’t have lasted for the return trip. I hit the RTH button at 4544 meters to prevent the drone from auto-landing in a hard-to-reach field while the controller still showed 4 out of 5 signal bars.
DJI Mini 4 Pro: Battery Life in Real-World Tests
The DJI Mini 4 Pro comes with two battery options. The standard battery has a capacity of 2590 mAh / 7.32 V (18.96 Wh), weighs 77.9 g, and provides up to 34 minutes of flight time. For more extended missions, the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus offers 3850 mAh / 7.38 V (28.4 Wh), weighs 121 g, and extends flight time up to 45 minutes. However, it’s important to note that using the Plus battery increases the takeoff weight above 249 g, which may affect drone classification and registration requirements in certain regions, such as the US and Europe.
During my hovering battery life test, the drone stayed in the air for 27 minutes. When it force-landed, it had only 1% left (5.85V battery voltage). You can expect a flight time of 28-32 minutes, depending on flight conditions. Remember that over-discharging drone batteries can reduce their lifespan.
DJI Mini 4 Pro: Advanced Obstacle Avoidance & Visual Subject Tracking
From all the features I’ve tested on the Mini 4 Pro, the collision-avoidance (OA) system remains the most critical and nerve-wracking. In practice, I often hold my breath as the drone approaches tree branches or overhead power lines, waiting to see if it will react in time. Fortunately, DJI’s system has proven remarkably reliable, offering both confidence and an extra layer of safety when flying in complex environments.
I conducted one of the obstacle-avoidance tests in the middle of the day, with temperatures nearing 40°C. I took off near the edge of a forest and set the Mini 4 Pro to follow me inside. For the first minute, everything went smoothly—the drone navigated through the branches without even touching a leaf. However, after about a minute of flight, the aircraft overheated, displaying an “CPU Overheat Warning” on the remote controller screen and losing connection with the controller. At that moment, my heart skipped a beat—I feared the drone might deactivate its collision sensors and start climbing to the RTH altitude set in the app. With the treetops just above me, that could have ended badly, and I was holding my breath as I observed it.
Instead, as you can see in the video above, the MINI 4 Pro drone spun around and skillfully made its way through the trees, searching for an exit. After a tense few moments, it finally emerged from the forest and landed safely at the takeoff site. Experiencing that firsthand was unforgettable—definitely one of the most thrilling flights I’ve had in my ten years as a drone enthusiast.
A few months later, I discovered that the system is not 100% bulletproof. I took off under a thin fiber-optic cable, and one of the propellers hit it, causing the drone to crash from about 5 meters. Luckily, it landed on something soft, and nothing broke, so I’ve been paying closer attention to it ever since.
DJI Mini 4 Pro alternatives: How does it compare to the Autel Nano Plus?
Currently, the only drone that can be considered a real contender for the MINI 4 Pro is the Autel EVO Nano Plus, a three-year-old model with similar flight performance.
When comparing the image sensors of these two drones, the Autel Nano+ is equipped with a 1/1.28″ image sensor, which is slightly larger than the 1/1.3″ sensor found in the DJI Mini 4 Pro. While the difference may seem minimal, the 1/1.28″ sensor provides a marginal advantage in terms of physical size, allowing it to capture more light. This can enhance image quality, particularly in low-light situations, by reducing noise and offering better detail retention.
The SKYROVER X1 found on Amazon and other retailers can’t be considered a real alternative because it seems just a rebranding. The performance of the two drones looks identical.
Should you wait for the upcoming DJI Mini 5 Pro?
If you’re debating whether to grab the DJI Mini 4 Pro now or hold out for the rumored Mini 5 Pro, it comes down to timing and priorities. The Mini 4 Pro is an excellent, proven choice — lightweight, packed with pro features like 4K/60fps HDR video and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and no registration is needed in many countries.
While the DJI Mini 5 Pro is expected later this year (September or October) with possible upgrades like a larger sensor, LiDAR-based obstacle avoidance, and better flight time, details aren’t confirmed. If you need a capable, travel-friendly drone now, the Mini 4 Pro won’t disappoint. But it might be worth holding off if you can wait a few more months and want the latest tech.
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