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DJI Mini 5 Pro First Look Review

This DJI Mini 5 Pro first look review takes a closer look at DJI’s fifth-generation ultra-compact professional drone, which arrives with one of the most significant updates in the Mini series to date. DJI has thrown out the rule book on what’s possible in a sub 250g aircraft by adding a larger 1-inch sensor, forward-facing LiDAR for nightscape omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, along with a new medium telephoto mode, and a whole lot more.

For this initial review we’ve put together a comprehensive specs comparison table between the Mini 4 Pro and the new Mini 5 Pro, as well as a drone-only vs combo comparison, which makes it easy to see what’s been updated and what is included at a glance. We also take a deeper dive into the new features and look at new gimbal rotation, portrait optimisation, and the upgraded O4+ transmission, all of which make for a better experience with safer flights.

Whether you’re considering an upgrade from a previous compact drone, or sizing up the Mini Pro for your needs, join us as we explore one of the most compelling releases in the pocket-friendly Pro range so far, starting out with the price.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Release Date and Price

The DJI Mini 5 Pro release date is the 17th September 2025 and it arrives at £689.00 for the drone-only, or £979.00 for the Fly More Combo (RC2). Pricing is similar to the outgoing model and in keeping with the status of the professional mini series, especially considering the features, which we explore next.

Mini 5 Pro Top 10 Features

The DJI Mini 5 Pro packs a huge amount of technology into its sub-250g body. We’ve picked out 10 of the most notable features that make it such an accomplished option for everyday aerial content creation, especially compared to the previous generation.

1. Flexible Gimbal Rotation provides 225° of movement for more dynamic angles and true vertical shooting without cropping.
2. 1-inch Sensor captures 50MP stills and 4K/120fps video with greater detail and low-light performance.
3. 48mm Med-tele Mode offers a natural perspective for portraits and tighter framing from the air.
4. DJI’s Latest Portrait Technology optimises skin tones and brightness for more accurate environmental portraits.
5. Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing adds forward-facing LiDAR and vision sensors to make night flying safer.
6. O4+ Video Transmission delivers stable 1080p feeds at up to 20km with stronger anti-interference.
7. Stronger Flight Power allows operation at altitudes up to 6000m with an improved thrust-to-weight ratio.
8. Longer Operating Time reaches up to 36 minutes with the standard flight battery
9. Upgraded ActiveTrack 360° brings smarter tracking modes for cycling, hiking and action sports.
10. Better-looking Images from up to 14 stops of dynamic range and 10-bit recording for colour-rich footage.

Although there are other features, these are key to making this such an accomplished option for creators who want a pocketable drone for their content. We look at some of these in more detail next, to see how they make it a better experience in the real world.

Forward-facing LiDAR

One of the best upgrades in the DJI Mini 5 Pro is the addition of forward-facing LiDAR previously seen in the DJI Air 3S. It is an exciting technology similar to LiDAR found in self driving cars, and it works alongside the vision sensors to improve safety especially when flying at night.

Unlike traditional optical sensors that need ambient light to detect obstacles, LiDAR can sense objects even in extremely dark conditions where illumination drops below one lux. This means if you’re flying in an area with very little light, such as a street or over fields after sunset, the drone can still identify obstacles in its path and stop in time before a calamity.

LiDAR also adds an extra layer of safety during return-to-home (RTH) operations. If the vision system is less effective at night, the Mini 5 Pro uses LiDAR to detect obstacles ahead and automatically adjust altitude to avoid them. While this doesn’t make it invincible as it is affected by bright light or a dirty sensor, it does mean much safer night flights compared with previous models.

Pro-Level Imaging from a 1-Inch Sensor

The decision (and ability) to add a new 1-inch sensor to the Mini 5 pro is a significant one, which enhances image quality and is a first for the Mini series. This larger sensor captures 50 megapixel stills at a maximum resolution of 8192 x 6144, which is a noticeable improvement for anyone who wants print-ready results, or crops their images. You also get more options for burst shooting and bracketing, including 12MP or 50MP single shots, up to 7-frame AEB, and timed shooting up to 60 seconds.

Video sees similar benefits and the Mini 5 Pro can now record 4K at up to 120fps for smooth slow-motion playback, or 1080p at up to 240fps if you want even greater slow motion effects. 4K footage supports HDR recording with up to 14 stops of dynamic range, which is very impressive for such a small device, and it helps to retain more detail in high-contrast such as sunrises or backlit subjects.

Low-light performance is another benefit as the sensor allows more light to be captured, while the maximum ISO extends to 12,800 in normal video modes and ISO 3,200 in D-Log M and HLG. This means night shots, cityscapes, and low light scenes are recorded with less noise and more detail.

The 1-inch sensor is perhaps the single most compelling reason to consider an upgrade.

Sample portrait at 23mm equivalent. Camera settings: 1/400 sec. f/1.8. ISO 200.

48mm Med-Tele Mode for Natural Portraits

The Mini 5 Pro boasts a new 48mm medium telephoto mode, which effectively provides a 2x zoom without any digital cropping like previous drones had. This field of view works well for portraits and environmental shots where you want the subject to stand out naturally against the background.

The longer reach plus DJI’s updated portrait optimisation technology creates more flattering results straight out of camera with a subtle addition for creators who capture people in scenery.

Sample portrait 2 at 23mm equivalent. Camera settings: 1/320 sec. f/1.8. ISO 100.

O4+ Video Transmission

DJI’s latest O4+ video transmission system delivers a live feed of up to 1080p at 60fps, giving you a sharp and responsive view while flying. The system has upgraded antennas with two transmitters and four receivers, which improves stability with a stronger signal, even in busy environments.

Range is capped to 10km under CE regulations for the UK, which is more than enough for legal flights that must maintain visual line of sight. with 04+ the signal is clearer even when flying in suburban or semi-urban locations where interference tends to be an issue.

Stronger anti-interference reduces dropouts and latency, which makes it easier to compose shots, as well as speeding up downloads via Wi-Fi 6 at up to 100MB/s, so your footage is transferred more quickly once the aircraft has landed.

DJI Mini 4 Pro vs DJI Mini 5 Pro Specs Comparison

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a big update, with DJI able to add a 1-inch sensor in the Mini series for the first time. But there’s much more that’s new and improved, as the DJI Mini 4 Pro vs DJI Mini 5 Pro Specs Comparison below highlights.

From the table we can see that the most obvious change is the larger 1-inch sensor. That’s bigger than the Mini 4 Pro’s 1/1.3-inch sensor, and it shows in low light, with better detail and an improved overall look of both stills and video. It now records 4K at 120 fps and gives you up to 14 stops of dynamic range, so there’s more flexibility whether shooting clips for publishing or grading footage afterwards during post.

The Mini 5 Pro climbs and drops faster, holds out better in stronger winds, and can fly up to 6000 m with the standard battery, all without going over 250 g.

Safety is another area that’s been improved and DJI has added forward-facing LiDAR alongside the existing vision sensors, so it’s more confident at night and in dim conditions which you get in sunrise or sunset. The gimbal is updated too, with 225° roll rotation and proper vertical shooting, so you’re no longer limited to cropped footage when filming for vertical social channels

Internal storage has jumped from 2 GB to 42 GB, file transfers are quicker with Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth has been updated to 5.4.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Vs Fly More Combo What’s included

Choosing between the DJI Mini 5 Pro, or the Fly More Combo with the RC 2 controller comes down to what you already have and how often you’ll need more power from the additional batteries.

Both include the same aircraft with its new 1-inch sensor and upgraded safety features, but the other contents differ as the table below shows. For many aerial creators the extras in the Combo are well worth it as you don’t want to run out of power in an epic situation.

Quick Fire Content Creation

The Mini 5 Pro makes content creation smooth, whether creating for your own social media channels or working on client projects. ActiveTrack 360° is updated, which now allows for customisable tracking with more stable results and safer performance. It can automatically adapt to activities like cycling or hiking, keeping the subject cleanly framed, even when the speed or direction changes.

MasterShots is available, which is well known for ready-made templates to capture portraits, close-ups, or landscape sequences without needing extensive piloting skills. If you want smaller or quicker clips, QuickShots includes Rotate, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, and Asteroid, so it is incredibly easy to make engaging short films with very little knowhow.

Panoramic shooting is also supported, with a Free Panorama mode that stitches together multiple images for ultra wide-angle views, which are big enough to print large if you want to.

Once you’ve finished DJI’s Off-State QuickTransfer means that you don’t even need to power the drone up to copy over files. As long as the drone is within Bluetooth range, you can wake it up remotely through the DJI Fly app and transfer at up to 100MB/s over Wi-Fi 6, saving time when you’re on location.

This is the smartest and easiest Mini series drone to date, and it makes engaging content really easy, even for beginners, which brings us neatly onto who it’s for.

Who is the Mini 5 Pro for?

Beginners and professionals who want a powerful, compact, and portable drone, which is capable of capturing high-quality aerial photos and videos will benefit from the numerous updates the Mini 5 Pro offers. It is still under 250g, offers improved image quality, and adds safer flights, making it an all-round win.

If you want the best image quality possible from a pocketable aircraft, with 4K/60fps HDR video, up to 14 stops of dynamic range and True Vertical Shooting this is probably the very best option available.

It also adds DJI’s portrait optimisation technology, which provides great results for scenic portraits and slightly more close-up shots, especially thanks to the new 48mm Med-Tele mode, which benefits from higher resolution than the digital zoom on previous DJI Mini Pro series.

You can order your own DJI Mini series drone today and enjoy free delivery on both the DJI Mini 5 Pro or DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo (RC2).

The cost of upgrading can also be offset by selling us your unwanted camera gear. Get an instant free trade-in quote now to see how much you could save.

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By Nick Dautlich on 17/09/2025

Nick Dautlich

Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer

Nick Dautlich is the Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer at Park Cameras, with over 15 years of photography experience. A Sony Imaging Professional and expert reviewer, Nick has worked with major brands such as Canon, Sony and Nikon. His work is also featured on Vanguard World UK’s website, Capture Landscapes, and Shutter Evolve. Nick’s photography includes National Trust projects and magazine covers and he is passionate about landscapes and storytelling. Nick also enjoys hiking and teaching his children about nature. Learn more on his profile page.