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You might think that a cheap drone is your best first drone – and I've said that very thing about the DJI Mini 4K, a superb sub-$300 / £300 beginner drone.
But what if I was to tell you that paying extra for a drone that has one particular feature could transform your flying experience – and it's a feature that'll likely increase the drone's lifespan too.
The feature I'm referring to is object sensing, and it can be found in the new DJI Mini 5 Pro. But the Mini 5 Pro is three times the price of the Mini 4K – so surely it's overkill? Not necessarily. Let me explain...
Buy cheap, buy twice
If you're looking for your first drone and just want a simple and fun flying experience, you might think that the Mini 4K, or similarly priced alternatives like the Potensic Atom 2, will tick those boxes.
They're both excellent starter drones. You'll get smooth stabilized 4K video with these low-cost models, a variety of automated flight moves for dynamic aerial videos, plus decent wind resistance and battery life.
However, having flown such models for countless hours, I've realized that I'm not pushing myself when it comes to developing my flying skills. The reason? Following a few collisions with tree branches and the like in my early days, I've adopted a cautious piloting approach.
Frankly, it's a miracle my Mini 4K is still operating, following the mishaps I've had with it, and now I pilot it with care.
That underlying fear of a collision spoils the experience. Put simply, you won't want to push these simple beginner drones to the limit, and taking the cautious approach limits where you fly and the kinds of aerial videos you can make.
The Mini 5 Pro, on the other hand, features omnidirectional object sensing and LiDAR – and after spending several hours flying the drone I can report that it works extremely well.
I've flown through tree cover and over lakes – the kind of moves I daren't try to pull off with the Mini 4K. Thanks to the Mini 5 Pro's capabilities, I've avoided collisions so far – check out some of my Mini 5 Pro clips below, which include tracking sequences through woodland where the drone auto navigates overhanging branches.
Not only is the Mini 5 Pro more likely to last me for years of service than a drone like the Mini 4K, I'm more confident piloting it – and I'm finally enjoying the thrilling flying experiences I've been looking for. The fact that it has a best-in-class camera, which is even more capable than those on pricier models like the Air 3S, is the icing on the cake.
You can push a drone like the Mini 5 Pro harder thanks to its object sensing, and it should last longer. Yes, the initial outlay is bigger, but you're more likely to fully embrace the fun and excitement of drone piloting, and that's why it's my top pick for most people.
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