The sub-250g DJI Mini 5 Pro has landed – and it raises the bar for beginner drones

• First DJI Mini drone with a 1-inch sensor, yet still under 250g
• Camera can rotate up to 225 degrees to support vertical shooting
• Price starts at £679 / AU$1,119 (US pricing and availability TBC)

DJI just raised the bar for beginner drones with its new Mini 5 Pro. The latest flagship model is the first in the 'Mini' series with a (larger) 1-inch sensor for improved 4K video up to 120fps, 50MP stills and cinematic 10-bit video with D-Log M color profile and 14EV dynamic range.

The gimbal camera has a versatile range of motion, too – up to 225 degrees roll rotation, which enables vertical shooting. Combined with DJI's one-click QuickShots moves and improved 360° ActiveTrack skills, the Mini 5 Pro promises next-level aerial images.

Safety features also receive a boost – omnidirectional object sensing is boosted by front-facing LiDAR for improved nighttime return-to-home skills, while flight time lasts up to 36 minutes on a full charge.

Crucially, DJI has been able to place this additional hardware, which delivers improved performance, in a drone that still officially weighs less than 250g. There's slight ambiguity on its actual weight which can be ±4g depending on the batch you get, so it could be up to 254g, however the Mini 5 Pro is officially in the restriction-free C0 category in Europe.

I've had a hands-on with the flagship Mini drone – check out my DJI Mini 5 Pro first impressions now, and then look out for my full verdict once I've spent more time with it.

Put simply, though, it's a safe bet that the Mini 5 Pro will be regarded as the best beginner drone available. Even better – the price point is surprisingly affordable…

Setting the bar for beginner drones, but the same DJI / US issue strikes

The standard DJI Mini 5 Pro bundle costs £679 / AU1,1119 and the Fly More Combo (DJI RC-N3) is £869 / AU$1,419, while the Fly More Combo (DJI RC2) costs £979 / AU$1,699.

You'll notice there's no US pricing above. That's because DJI's stance amidst its potential US ban and tariffs is as follows:

‘The DJI Mini 5 Pro will not be available officially in the United States upon its global launch on September 17. DJI remains dedicated to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions.’

Like recent DJI products such as the Mavic 4 Pro, it seems unlikely the Mini 5 Pro will appear at DJI's official US store. There's a chance that independent retailers will stock the Mini 5 Pro, but at launch we simply don't know when or if the Mini 5 Pro will make it to the US.

That's bad news for US pilots. At 249.9g, the Mini 5 Pro pushes the boundaries for what is possible in a restriction-free camera drone, refining the previous best Mini 4 Pro with that larger 1-inch sensor and enhanced flight and safety features.

There are niche alternatives on the horizon with a unique set of skills, including the Antigravity A1 by Insta360 with its 360-degree camera, and the waterproof HoverAir Aqua, which can take off from and land on water.

However, for me it's the DJI Mini 5 Pro that looks like the complete package, and it's hard to see where DJI can further improve in a future successor while keeping it to that magic sub-250g weight.

Stay tuned for my in-depth verdict, coming soon. In the meantime, let me know what you think about DJI's latest mini drone in the comments below.

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