I’ve spent the last two weeks flying the DJI Mini 5 Pro in different conditions, crowded cityscapes, open countryside, coastal winds, and even during golden hour low-light shots. On paper, it’s an upgrade from the Mini 4 Pro, but the real question is how it performs when you actually rely on it. Here’s how it holds up.
What’s in the Box?
| Item | Quantity |
| DJI Mini 5 Pro (drone) | 1 |
| DJI RC-N3 Remote Controller | 1 |
| Intelligent Flight Battery | 1 |
| Storage Cover for the drone | 1 |
| RC-N Series RC Cable (USB-C connector) | 1 |
| RC-N Series RC Cable (Lightning connector) | 1 |
| Spare Propeller (pair) | 1 Pair |
| USB-C to USB-C Data Cable | 1 |
Design and Portability
The Mini series has always been about portability, and the Mini 5 Pro sticks to that formula. At under 249g, I didn’t need to worry about registration hassles in most regions. It folds down small enough to fit into a sling bag, which made it the easiest drone I’ve carried on bike rides and treks.
Build feels slightly sturdier than the Mini 4 Pro. The propellers are quieter, and the gimbal cover design is finally less fiddly, a tiny but important detail when you’re setting up quickly outdoors.
Setup and Controls
Out of the box, setup took barely 10 minutes. Firmware updates were quick, and the DJI Fly app recognized the drone instantly. I tested both with the DJI RC 2 controller (with built-in screen) and my phone. The RC 2 felt far more immersive since I didn’t have to deal with phone notifications mid-flight.
The new customizable function buttons on the controller were surprisingly useful. I set one for switching between portrait and landscape, and another for obstacle avoidance toggling, saved me a lot of taps.
Camera and Image Quality
The headline here is the 1-inch CMOS sensor, which is a major leap from previous Minis. In practice, that means:
- Daylight shots: Crisp, vibrant, and with impressive dynamic range. Shooting city skylines with bright skies and shadowy streets didn’t blow out details.
- Low light: This is where I noticed the biggest improvement. Twilight and early night shots had far less noise compared to my Mini 3 Pro. Streetlights had controlled flares, and footage didn’t turn into mush.
- Video: 4K at 100fps is now smooth enough for cinematic slow-mos. D-Log M color profile gave me more grading flexibility.
- Zoom: 2x lossless zoom in 4K looked solid. Anything beyond that was usable but not ideal for pro work.
Flight Performance
I pushed the drone in different conditions:
- Wind resistance: On a coastal ride, gusts hit around 35 km/h. The Mini 5 Pro stayed stable, with only minimal drift warnings. It’s not an Air 3, but it’s reliable for its size.
- Battery life: Averaged 32–34 minutes per standard battery. With the Plus battery, I got around 46 minutes, though that tips it over 249g. Over 15 days, this was consistently in line with DJI’s claims.
- Signal strength: Using DJI O4 transmission, I never lost signal within 2 km even in semi-urban environments. Latency was barely noticeable.
Intelligent Features Tested
- ActiveTrack 6.0: Smooth tracking while I was biking at ~25 km/h. It handled trees and poles decently, but occasionally lost me in tighter lanes.
- Waypoint missions: Setting up routes was easy, and the drone followed paths with precision. Great for repeat shots during my testing period.
- Obstacle sensing: Now with omnidirectional sensors. During my tests, it dodged wires, trees, and street signs impressively well. It even slowed down automatically when approaching walls.
- Vertical shooting: Social media creators will love this. I tested vertical reels at a riverside camp, and the framing was spot-on without the need for post-cropping.
Downsides Noticed
- Price creep: This is no longer “entry-level affordable.” With RC 2, it comes close to Air 3 territory.
- Low-light tracking: ActiveTrack worked less reliably at night, it sometimes lost subjects in darker backgrounds.
- Noise: While quieter than older models, it’s still noticeable in very silent locations (like forests). Not a dealbreaker, but not invisible either.
comparison of DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro.
I’ve lined up the key differences so you can quickly see where the new model improves and where it stays similar.
| Feature | DJI Mini 4 Pro | DJI Mini 5 Pro |
| Weight | <249g | <249g (same, unless using Plus battery) |
| Sensor | 1/1.3″ CMOS (48 MP) | 1″ CMOS (48 MP) → better low-light and dynamic range |
| Video Resolution | Up to 4K 100fps, 10-bit D-Log M, HLG | Up to 4K 120fps, 10-bit D-Log M, HLG |
| Zoom | 2x in 4K, 3x in 1080p | 2x lossless in 4K, digital zoom still available |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Omnidirectional (excellent already) | Improved omnidirectional sensors, more precise |
| Transmission | DJI O4, 20km range | DJI O4, 20km range (same) |
| Flight Time | 34 min (standard), 45 min (Plus) | 34 min (standard), 46 min (Plus) → slightly better |
| Controller | RC 2 supported | RC 2 supported (same) |
| ActiveTrack | ActiveTrack 5.0 | ActiveTrack 6.0 → smoother tracking |
| Vertical Shooting | Native vertical shooting | Native vertical shooting (same) |
| Build Quality | Lightweight, plastic feel | Sturdier arms & propeller design, quieter |
| Price at launch | Lower (~$759 with RC 2) | Higher (~$869 with RC 2) |
What Stayed the Same
Transmission is still DJI O4, which is already rock-solid up to 20 km. Both support the RC 2 controller, both have omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and both can shoot vertically without cropping. In these areas, you’re not missing anything if you stick with the Mini 4 Pro
Final Verdict After 15 Days
The DJI Mini 5 Pro feels like the first Mini that’s genuinely “Pro”, especially with its 1-inch sensor and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. It’s versatile enough for travel creators, social media shooters, and even semi-professional videographers who don’t want to lug around heavier drones. If you’re upgrading from a Mini 3 or anything older, the leap is significant in camera quality and safety features. But if you already own a Mini 4 Pro, the jump feels less urgent unless you need that 1-inch sensor for low light work.
