DJI Is, without question, the leading maker of camera drones worldwide. Its latest quadcopter, the Mini 5 Pro, looks like the best 249g class drone to date. Content creators, video producers, and photographers who live or work abroad are likely in for a real treat. The new drone is a serious upgrade to the previous Mini 4 Pro, and its headline upgrades include a larger 50MP Type 1 format image sensor and the addition of LiDAR to its obstacle avoidance system.

New Features in Detail

The Mini 5 Pro is a 249g drone, a weight class that was originally developed in direct response to regulatory requirements. In the US and many other countries, drones that weigh less than 250 grams don't have to be registered with a government agency and are allowed to be used in more places than heavier drones. DJI released its first Mavic Mini ultra-light drone back in 2019 and has improved upon the series with each subsequent release.

And the Mini 5 Pro follows the trend. Its camera includes an oversized (for a small drone) image sensor, one with the same Type 1 surface area (roughly 65% larger than the Type 1/1.3 in the Mini 4 Pro), 50MP resolution, and 4K60 HDR capture as the larger Air 3S. The camera is mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that twists to shift between portrait and landscape capture, but even that comes with a new twist. The Mini 5 Pro adds a video shot that rolls the gimbal by 225 degrees, a type of camera move I've not yet seen in a consumer drone.

The flight hardware takes a leap forward as well. The Mini 4 Pro already had 360-degree obstacle avoidance and detection, and the Mini 5 Pro adds forward LiDAR to the mix. DJI says this will improve safety at twilight and for night flights. The new drone also remembers its current flight path, so it can return to the launch point even if it loses communication with GPS satellites.

And battery life is better, the Mini 5 Pro gets 36 minutes per charge with its standard battery and 52 minutes of flight time with an optional extended life cell, up from 45 minutes for the Mini 4 Pro. The extended battery pushes the weight over 249g, but pilots will appreciate the extra flight time.

Delayed Availability Is the New Normal for DJI in the US

As mentioned, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is going on sale internationally today, but it is not coming to the US. This is pretty much standard operating procedure for DJI releases in 2025. The Mavic 4 Pro went on sale in May, and while a few units made it to retail shelves stateside during its first few days on sale, US residents who missed that window are stuck importing from another region or buying on eBay at a markup.

What's worse, reports indicate that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stopped at least one user's Mavic 4 Pro from entering the US. I spoke to Eric Thurber, a professional photographer and videographer based in San Francisco, last month after his video on the matter went viral. Thurber imported a Mavic 4 Pro, accidentally dropped it and broke its gimbal, and since it was an import, had to send it off to DJI's Canadian repair facility to replace its gimbal. DJI fixed it without a problem, but the drone was held by CBP for three months before being returned to DJI.

Unfortunately, this just seems to be the new normal for DJI, and not just for drones. While they are now available at US retailers, its recent dual-lens Osmo 360 video camera and Mic 3 wireless audio system launched in other regions ahead of the US. Neither was a lengthy delay, just a few weeks, but the same isn't true for DJI drones. The Mavic 4 Pro is not available from DJI or authorized retail partners in the States, and while the Air 3S is listed on its virtual storefront, it's been out of stock continuously for a similar interval.

DJI Is, without question, the leading maker of camera drones worldwide. Its latest quadcopter, the Mini 5 Pro, looks like the best 249g class drone to date. Content creators, video producers, and photographers who live or work abroad are likely in for a real treat. The new drone is a serious upgrade to the previous Mini 4 Pro, and its headline upgrades include a larger 50MP Type 1 format image sensor and the addition of LiDAR to its obstacle avoidance system.

New Features in Detail

The Mini 5 Pro is a 249g drone, a weight class that was originally developed in direct response to regulatory requirements. In the US and many other countries, drones that weigh less than 250 grams don't have to be registered with a government agency and are allowed to be used in more places than heavier drones. DJI released its first Mavic Mini ultra-light drone back in 2019 and has improved upon the series with each subsequent release.

And the Mini 5 Pro follows the trend. Its camera includes an oversized (for a small drone) image sensor, one with the same Type 1 surface area (roughly 65% larger than the Type 1/1.3 in the Mini 4 Pro), 50MP resolution, and 4K60 HDR capture as the larger Air 3S. The camera is mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that twists to shift between portrait and landscape capture, but even that comes with a new twist. The Mini 5 Pro adds a video shot that rolls the gimbal by 225 degrees, a type of camera move I've not yet seen in a consumer drone.

The flight hardware takes a leap forward as well. The Mini 4 Pro already had 360-degree obstacle avoidance and detection, and the Mini 5 Pro adds forward LiDAR to the mix. DJI says this will improve safety at twilight and for night flights. The new drone also remembers its current flight path, so it can return to the launch point even if it loses communication with GPS satellites.

And battery life is better, the Mini 5 Pro gets 36 minutes per charge with its standard battery and 52 minutes of flight time with an optional extended life cell, up from 45 minutes for the Mini 4 Pro. The extended battery pushes the weight over 249g, but pilots will appreciate the extra flight time.

Delayed Availability Is the New Normal for DJI in the US

As mentioned, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is going on sale internationally today, but it is not coming to the US. This is pretty much standard operating procedure for DJI releases in 2025. The Mavic 4 Pro went on sale in May, and while a few units made it to retail shelves stateside during its first few days on sale, US residents who missed that window are stuck importing from another region or buying on eBay at a markup.

What's worse, reports indicate that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stopped at least one user's Mavic 4 Pro from entering the US. I spoke to Eric Thurber, a professional photographer and videographer based in San Francisco, last month after his video on the matter went viral. Thurber imported a Mavic 4 Pro, accidentally dropped it and broke its gimbal, and since it was an import, had to send it off to DJI's Canadian repair facility to replace its gimbal. DJI fixed it without a problem, but the drone was held by CBP for three months before being returned to DJI.

Unfortunately, this just seems to be the new normal for DJI, and not just for drones. While they are now available at US retailers, its recent dual-lens Osmo 360 video camera and Mic 3 wireless audio system launched in other regions ahead of the US. Neither was a lengthy delay, just a few weeks, but the same isn't true for DJI drones. The Mavic 4 Pro is not available from DJI or authorized retail partners in the States, and while the Air 3S is listed on its virtual storefront, it's been out of stock continuously for a similar interval.