DJI Mavic 4 Pro leaks show it could improve my favorite camera drone with a redesigned triple camera module
- Leaked images apparently show the DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s redesigned spherical camera module
- Leakers have noted that DJI’s new LiDAR feature may be missing
- There are no suggestions for a launch date yet
A recently leaked image gives us what appears to be the most detailed look at the DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone’s camera module, and it takes on a new form compared to that of the Mavic 3 Pro.
The Mavic 3 Pro is our favorite premium camera drone and is the first consumer drone with a triple camera module, which we named Camera of the Year 2023. It features an angle module with 24mm, 70mm and 166mm lenses for different perspectives. The leaked Mavic 4 Pro also appears to have a triple camera module, but it looks quite different.
Most clearly from the leaked photos shared by trusted leaker @QuadroNieuws on X (formerly Twitter) is that the Mavic 4 Pro’s Hasselblad-branded camera module is larger and spherical. This can mean two things.
One improvement could be improved image quality, although we don’t know if there are entirely new image sensors for the three cameras. The Mavic 3 Pro has a primary 24mm camera with a large 20MP Four Thirds sensor, a 3x telephoto camera with 1/1.3 inches, plus a 7x telephoto camera with a smaller 1/2 inch sensor. However, the physically larger unit in the leaked images suggests at least improved lenses.
The gimbal-mounted camera module also appears to protrude more in leaked images (see below) and appears to have a greater range of motion. That’s good news for Mavic 3 Pro owners who have complained about the gimbal’s limits.
In addition to improvements we can expect from the rumored Mavic 4 Pro, there are also suggestions that it will be missing a new feature that debuted in the DJI Air 3S.
👉As we prepare for the DJI Flip, let’s not forget our handsome DJI Mavic 4 Pro.🫡#dji #djimavic4pro pic.twitter.com/jDUiVfVd3iJanuary 9, 2025
Function over form?
DJI leaker @QuadroNews suggests the Mavic 4 Pro will miss out on LiDAR, a new feature in the Air 3S that improves object detection performance, especially in low light. However, that rumor is based on the leaked image of what could potentially be an early prototype – there’s no word yet on a launch date – and that feature could consequently make its way to a final version.
The general sentiment from DJI fans reacting to the leaked images is positive regarding the possible camera improvements – while previous rumors also point to improved battery life – but they are less enthusiastic about the looks of the Mavic 4 Pro, and that’s me agree.
Of course, a prototype will lack the finesse of a final product, but based on the leaked images, DJI has prioritized function over form – the Mavic 4 Pro appears to be a beastly professional drone.
The first talk was that the rumored Mavic 4 Pro would launch alongside the new DJI Flip. However, only the Flip was announced today, and speculation about the Mavic 4 Pro’s launch date is quiet for now, suggesting we still have a little longer to find out more about the potentially class-leading new camera module.