Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsHard to find something not to like. But I found one
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
If I had to pick something of course it be more battery life, no geofencing, no remote id (that's the FAA though).
Initial review
Getting to the drone this is a nice step up from the se. The quality still stands apparent. Smooth movements. The controller a pleasure to use. Really good camera carried from the version 3 pro. This adds side obstacle avoidance and unlike the se gets away from the lower quality video footage (which still looks really good even in the se) along with adding obstacle avoidance. While the obstacle avoidance isnt a guarantee as it'll not see smaller branches and wires, nor work in low light it at least adds some extra protection. If you have the version 3 pro this isn't much of a step up for you. Might want to wait for the next model.. If you have the se you'll step up to getting obstacle avoidance and subject tracking. Worth the upgrade. The batteries in the version 3 fit this 4 pro as well. The 4 also adds bottom lights if you come from the se.
Even bring under 250 grams it still has remote id for107 users. I haven't looked deep enough in the application to see if it can be shutoff. Like all dji's the user interface is about the best out there.
The compact size, like all the minis makes it easy to carry. It's very convenient. A breeze to get up and going very quickly probably the best camera for the mini segment. If you have one of the to more be pro drones you'll find yourself still grabbing this for simple smaller size and convenience. This is good enough for my most professional work with adding filters. Beyond this drone you'll have to move to the higher models with aperture control.
No drone is perfect. But this is closer than we've had before to it in this segment.
My main ,(reaching here) complaint is still run time. But the extra processing power and obstacle avoidance takes more juice from the battery. We might be running into limitations at this point In battery science. Like any mini it will have some trouble in higher wind. If you need aperture control you'll have to move up. You can't have everything, but for it's size this drone comes close. Be interesting to see what the next model brings
If you do have the mini 3 or se, you still have a pretty amazing little done. While this is very nice. If the mini 3 se fits your needs I'd be stay there. And the previous minis are becoming really good deals right now. While the obstacle avoidance is nice. It's not exactly a necessity, or add said a guarantee. Look around with the camera as you should be anyway.
Edit: Have to lower from 5 stars to 3. After seeing someone else's hit a tree and one of the legs breaking off, I realized the obstacle avoidance is far from perfect, but worse yet this is made of some really low grade plastic or something. Understand the want of keeping under 250 grams but it can't be made this low quality for this much money. It shouldn't just break. That's ridiculous for this much $.