KitZone

Camera drone DJI Mini 4 Pro

DJI Mini 4 Pro From £689/$759 Makes the case for staying light, but does it live up to the Pro tag? w w w.dji.com

1 Though it is made of plastic and obviously light in the hand, the hinges feel reassuringly strong. 2 The camera is similar to its predecessor, at least as far as the physical hardware is concerned. 3 The all-round obstacle sensors can be used for avoiding objects when heading sideways.

The Mini 4 Pro appears to be a refinement rather than an out-and-out replacement of DJI’s already popular Mini 3 Pro model. When launching that generation of drones, the world’s most successful drone manufacturer made clear that it considered it possible to offer three distinct tiers in the ultralight (below 250g) category.

The generational number hasn’t advanced at the same time but it isn’t a surprise that it’s the Pro that changes first. So how can what is –or, at least, should be –DJI’s best option under 250g keep itself ahead of the pack? The drone powerhouse has decided that it’s the software and AI, rather than the camera sensor, that are worthy of attention. That’s certainly something that chimes with not just the wider drone industry, but the world in general.

The AI, by the way, is a broad generalisation for the tech that can both avoid collisions and help track a subject for smooth shots. Collision sensors are one thing but the way a drone uses them is quite another, so we’re keen to find out whether the software is gimmicky or useful, and whether the drone truly lives up to the ‘Pro’ tag. The other crucial question for many readers, no doubt, is whether the Mini 4 Pro is of interest to photographers and videographers already equipped with its predecessor. For the record, that includes me, having previously chosen to spend my own money on a Mini 3 Pro.

With that my mind, and hoping the rain would hold off, I headed out with the Mini 4 Pro to see what it was made of.