DJI Mini 4 Pro

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a folding consumer drone with a takeoff weight under 249 g — just below the 250 g line that triggers registration for recreational flying in the US and Canada. The EU registers the operator of any camera drone whatever it weighs, and the UK and Japan register from 100 g. Released in September 2023, it is the first Mini-series drone with omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and the first to support vertical 4K video natively. It targets casual consumers, travellers, and creators who want to fly legally with minimal regulatory friction.

The Plus battery breaks the weight exemption. DJI’s own specification notes that takeoff weight exceeds 249 g when the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus is fitted. The 45-minute flight time everyone quotes comes from that battery, so the headline endurance and the sub-250 g status cannot both be true on the same flight. Fly the standard battery if the threshold is why you bought it.

Aircraft Specifications

All figures are DJI’s published specifications, checked against the manufacturer’s specification page on 29 September 2026. FlightBrief has not flown the aircraft.

Battery

Camera

Transmission and Obstacle Sensing

Use Cases

Travel photography where sub-250 g weight avoids registration for recreational flying in the US and Canada, and reduces gear burden. Casual consumer use for family events, property photography, and social content. Entry-level real estate photography where 4K and a decent sensor are sufficient and budget matters.

Market Context

The Mini 4 Pro has no serious direct competitor at sub-250 g with omnidirectional obstacle sensing. Autel’s EVO Nano+ was the nearest, and Autel ended its whole consumer range in July 2025. The cheaper DJI Mini 4K and Potensic ATOM 2 have no obstacle avoidance at all.

Against DJI’s own Air 3, the comparison is closer than the price gap suggests: both use a 1/1.3-inch 48 MP sensor at f/1.7 and 24 mm equivalent, and both use O4 transmission. What the Air 3 adds is a second 70 mm camera, longer endurance and better wind resistance; what the Mini 4 Pro keeps is the weight exemption. If the 250 g threshold matters in your market, that outweighs the rest.

DJI’s US regulatory status does not affect civilian consumer use, but the company is on the FCC Covered List and the Mini 4 Pro is not eligible for federal procurement. Agencies should start from the Blue UAS Cleared List.