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 listed it as the best compact drone for most people. This accolade is due to the compact size, intelligent obstacle avoidance and low-light performance of the 4K camera.

Its diminutive size allowed it to fit neatly into the sub-250g drone category, meaning it could be flown virtually anywhere with no restrictions.

Now it seems that DJI is preparing to announce a successor, likely called the Mini 4 Pro. DJI’s timing couldn’t have been better, as new US legislation that goes into effect on September 16 requires drones weighing more than 250 grams to continuously broadcast the location of both the pilot and the aircraft itself.

If the successor to the Mini 3 Pro falls below that crucial 250-gram limit, owners will be free to fly their drone without registration or identification. Launching the Mini 4 Pro at the end of September, as recently suggested, would be perfect timing from DJI.

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

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Get to the point

• What is it? A new drone weighing less than 250 grams from DJI with the same folding design as the Mini 3 Pro
• When is it out? Expected end of September
• How much is it? Unknown for now, but likely similar to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, currently priced from $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 range of consumer drones, DJI describes the Mini 3 as its entry-level model. Above you’ll find the Mini 3 Pro and the new Air 3, both of which are referred to as “advanced” drones, and the Mavic 3 Pro is the current flagship of the range.

The Mini 4 Pro would replace the Mini 3 Pro (and likely drive a price drop for its predecessor until retail supplies run out) as a drone that combines pro-level features with the all-important sub-250-gram design.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: New Features and Upgrades

Little is known for certain, but the Mini 4 Pro appears to be in the testing phase of development. Videos published on X (formerly Twitter) by Igor Bogdanov, which has a strong track record of drone and action camera leaks, appears to show a more advanced obstacle avoidance system than that of the Mini 3 Pro. This could mean omnidirectional avoidance technology, as 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 real, it seems development is somewhat advanced and a release date won’t be too far off.

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 connectivity technology, plus support for the new and more powerful RC 2 controller.

Improvements to the camera would always be welcome, but we can’t see DJI changing this much as any major upgrade would see the Mini 4 Pro encroach on the new Air 3. Likewise, a few extra minutes of flight time would be appreciated posed, 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 appear in late September.

Elsewhere, drone YouTuber The drone nerd also says a late-September launch looks likely, especially with the new remote identification rule coming into effect in the US midway through this month. DJI would certainly see strong initial sales if its new sub-250 gram drone arrived just a few weeks later.

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

In terms of price, 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 nicely 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 publish an image claims to show the Mini 4 Pro. The quality isn’t great, but we can see how the shape of the front-facing obstacle avoidance system is different from the Mini 3 Pro.

It appears that there is a second set of sensors behind the ones pointing forward. These can point upwards and therefore allow for omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, where the drone can look in all directions and restrain itself from flying into objects above, both in front and behind.

This would be a nice added feature and bring the Mini 4 Pro’s obstacle avoidance technology in line with the more expensive Air 3 and Mavic 3 Pro. It might not be enough to convince Mini 3 Pro owners to upgrade though, so hopefully DJI has more up its sleeve, possibly in the form of camera improvements, longer flight time and improved transmission technology.