DJI Mini 4 Pro: leaks, release date and price

When it arrived in May 2023, the DJI Mini 3 Pro impressed us so much that we ranked it as the best compact drone for most people. It earned this accolade due to its compact size, intelligent obstacle avoidance, and low-light performance of its 4K camera.

Its small size saw it slot neatly into the sub-250g drone category, meaning it could be flown almost anywhere without restrictions.

It now appears that DJI is preparing to announce a successor, likely called the Mini 4 Pro. The timing couldn’t be better from DJI, as new US legislation that goes into effect on September 16 requires drones with a greater than 250 grams constantly transmit the position of both the pilot and the aircraft itself.

If the successor to the Mini 3 Pro stays below the crucial 250g limit, owners will be free to fly their drone without the need for registration or identification. The launch of the Mini 4 Pro at the end of September, as recently suggested, would be perfect timing from DJI.

The updates are expected to be quite minor compared to the Mini 3 Pro, but could include an update to the drone’s obstacle avoidance system, better transmission technology, longer flight time and the inclusion of the new RC 2 controller by DJI. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect from the upcoming DJI Mini 4 Pro.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: let’s get to the point

• What is that? A new DJI drone under 250g with the same foldable design as the Mini 3 Pro
• When does it come out? Expected for the end of September
• How much will it cost? Unknown for now, but likely similar to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which is currently priced at $759 / £709 / AU$1,119

DJI Mini 4 Pro: What’s in a Name?

DJI’s drone hierarchy isn’t always easy to decipher. Looking at the current lineup of consumer drones, DJI describes the Mini 3 as its entry-level offering. Above you’ll find the Mini 3 Pro and the new Air 3, both dubbed “advanced” drones, while the Mavic 3 Pro is the current flagship of the range.

The Mini 4 Pro would replace the Mini 3 Pro (and likely cause its predecessor to drop in price until retailer stock runs out) as a drone that blends pro-grade features with the all-important sub-250g design.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: New Features and Updates

Little is known for sure, but the Mini 4 Pro appears to be in development testing. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Igor Bogdanovwhich has a long history of leaking information on drones and action cameras, appears to sport more advanced obstacle avoidance than the one fitted to the Mini 3 Pro. This could mean omnidirectional avoidance technology like that seen on the new DJI Air 3.

Not much else is known about the Mini 4 Pro for now, but if the videos posted online are genuine, then it seems that the development is quite advanced and the release date shouldn’t be too far away.

As for what we expect to see, it wouldn’t be surprising if DJI equips the Mini 4 Pro with a new, fourth generation of its Ocusync connection technology, as well as support for the new and more powerful RC 2 controller.

Improvements to the camera would always be welcome, but we don’t see DJI making any major changes here, as any major updates would see the Mini 4 Pro encroach on the new Air 3. Equally, a few more minutes of flight time would be appreciated, but the Mini 3 Pro’s 47 minutes is already a minute ahead of the more expensive Air 3.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: price and release date

Jasper Ellens also claims that the DJI Mini 4 Pro could be released at the end of September.

Elsewhere, drone YouTuber The drone fanatic he also says a late September launch looks likely, especially with the new remote ID rule going into effect in the US in mid-month. DJI would certainly see strong initial sales if its new sub-250g drone arrives just a couple of weeks later.

Even though the current Mini 3 Pro only came out 15 months ago, in May 2022, the launch of new drones in September is not unusual for DJI. The company has already released new models that month, including the Osmo Action 3 camera in 2022 and the Mavic Pro drone in 2016. Fifteen months is a quick turnaround for the Mini 4 Pro, but we don’t think it’s an impossible request for DJI. .

Price-wise, the Mini 4 Pro will likely cost around the same as the Mini 3 Pro, at $759 / £709 / AU$1,119. That way it fits neatly between the entry-level Mini 3 ($469) and the more advanced Air 3 ($1,099).

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Omnidirectional avoidance

Igor Bogdanov also used his Quadro_News account on X to post a picture claiming to show the Mini 4 Pro. The quality is not great, but we can see how the shape of the frontal obstacle avoidance system is different from that of the Mini 3 Pro.

There appears to be a second set of sensors behind the forward-facing ones. These could face upwards and thus allow for omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, where the drone can see in every direction and prevent itself from flying into objects above it, as well as ahead and behind it.

This would be a nice added feature and bring the Mini 4 Pro’s obstacle avoidance tech in line with the pricier Air 3 and Mavic 3 Pro. However, it might not be enough to convince Mini 3 Pro owners to upgrade, so yes. he hopes DJI has more up its sleeve, potentially in the form of camera improvements, an increased flight time, and improved transmission technology.