If you’re searching for the most accurate DJI drone release history, you’ve come to the right place. From the groundbreaking Phantom 1 in 2013 to the brand-new DJI Neo 2 in 2025, DJI has redefined aerial photography and videography year after year. This article provides a list of DJI drones in order, with confirmed DJI drone release dates 2025 and beyond, plus key updates for every major model.
DJI have come a long way since 2013. Here’s a complete DJI drone history timeline, which I’ll update as new drones are released.
DJI Drone Release Timeline with Key Features
| Drone Model | Release Date | Key Updates / New Features |
|---|---|---|
Phantom 1 | Jan 2013 | First ready-to-fly consumer quadcopter, integrated GPS for stable flight, mount for GoPro camera. |
Phantom 2 / Vision / Vision+ | 2013–2014 | Larger battery, longer flight time, Vision line introduced built-in camera + Wi-Fi FPV. |
Inspire 1 | Nov 2014 | 4K camera on 3-axis gimbal, retractable landing gear, dual remote support (pilot + camera operator). |
Phantom 3 | Apr 2015 | 2.7K / 4K camera options, improved gimbal, Lightbridge transmission (longer HD video feed). |
Phantom 4 | Mar 2016 | First DJI drone with obstacle avoidance, tap-to-fly, ActiveTrack. |
Mavic Pro | Sep 2016 | First foldable DJI drone, OcuSync transmission, 27-min flight time, 4K stabilized camera. |
Inspire 2 | Nov 2016 | Dual batteries, top speed 94 km/h, interchangeable Zenmuse cameras, ProRes / CinemaDNG recording. |
Spark | May 2017 | Palm-launch/gesture controls, very compact, 1080p camera. |
Mavic Pro Platinum | Aug 2017 | Quieter flight, longer battery life (30 mins vs 27 mins). |
Mavic Air | Jan 2018 | Compact foldable design, 4K 100 Mbps video, forward/backward/under sensors. |
Mavic 2 Pro / Zoom | Aug 2018 | Pro: Hasselblad camera w/ 1-inch sensor. Zoom: 2x optical zoom lens. Both: omnidirectional sensors. |
Mavic Mini | Oct 2019 (sales Nov) | First sub-250g DJI drone, 2.7K camera, ultra-lightweight for easier regulations. |
Mavic Air 2 | Apr 2020 | 48MP stills, 4K 60fps video, OcuSync 2.0, improved battery (34 mins). |
Mini 2 | Nov 2020 | 4K video upgrade, RAW photos, OcuSync 2.0 transmission. |
Mini SE | Early 2021 | Budget version of Mini 2, but retains lightweight build and 2.7K camera. |
Air 2S | Apr 2021 | 1-inch sensor, 5.4K video, upgraded APAS 4.0 obstacle avoidance. |
Mavic 3 / Cine | Nov 2021 | Dual-camera system (4/3 Hasselblad + telephoto), up to 46-min flight time, Apple ProRes (Cine). |
Mavic 3 Enterprise / Thermal | Sep 2022 | Mapping and industrial use, thermal imaging option, mechanical shutter camera. |
Avata (FPV drone) | Aug 2022 | Cinewhoop-style FPV drone, ducted propellers, immersive DJI Goggles 2. |
Mavic 3 Classic | Nov 2022 | Cheaper version of Mavic 3, only Hasselblad 4/3 camera (no telephoto). |
Mavic 3 Pro / Cine | May 2023 | First triple-camera DJI drone (Hasselblad + medium tele + telephoto), Cine adds ProRes. |
Mini 4 Pro | Sep 2023 | Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance (first in Mini line), 4K 100fps slow-mo, ActiveTrack 360. |
DJI Inspire 3 | Apr 2023 | DJI’s flagship cinema drone. Full-frame 8K sensor, interchangeable lenses, dual-control system, and RTK positioning for pro filmmaking. |
Matrice 350 RTK | May 2023 | Enterprise drone, improved weatherproofing (IP55), upgraded transmission, 55-min flight time. |
Air 3 | Jul 2023 | Dual-camera system (wide + 3x tele), OcuSync 4.0, 46-min flight time. |
Avata 2 | Apr 2024 | Successor to the original Avata FPV drone, featuring a 1/1.3″ sensor, improved flight time, new Goggles 3, and O4 video transmission. |
Neo | Sep 2024 | DJI’s lightest drone at 135g, Palm takeoff, 4K/30fps video, 12MP photos, AI subject tracking, 10 km video transmission via OcuSync 4 |
Air 3S | Oct 2024 | Dual-camera system (50MP wide + 48MP tele), 4K/60fps HDR video, 45-min flight, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, ActiveTrack 360. |
Flip | Jan 2025 | Compact, foldable drone under 249g with a 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor, 4K/60fps HDR video, AI tracking, and palm takeoff. |
Mavic 4 Pro | May 2025 | Improved triple-camera system, AI-powered subject tracking, upgraded low-light imaging. |
Matrice 400 | Jun 2025 | Industrial heavy-lift drone, longer endurance, multi-payload capability. |
Mini 5 Pro | Sep 2025 | 1-inch sensor in lightweight Mini body, AI tracking, enhanced wind resistance. |
Neo 2 | Nov 2025 | Enhanced obstacle sensing, upgraded 2-axis gimbal, 4K 60 fps video, faster connectivity, improved tracking performance. |
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Rumoured Release for 2026
Here’s one that I’m really looking forward to, and something I’ll be saving my pocket money for. The DJI Avata 360, a 360-degree FPV camera drone, is similar to the Antigravity A1.
Leaked promotional images suggest DJI is looking to release its first 360° camera drone, featuring dual 1/1.1″ sensors with 8K 360° capture, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and a potential release in early 2026.
Want to know more about DJI Drone image sensor sizes and how they make a difference? Read my article about ‘What you Need to Know About Image Sensor Sizes‘.
Other Notable DJI Drone Variants and Enterprise Models
You might have noticed that some models are missing from the main timeline! While it covers DJI’s list of consumer drones in order of production, the company has also created a wide range of special editions, professional variants, enterprise drones, and educational models.
This section highlights these additional drones for anyone interested in the complete picture of DJI’s evolution.
Phantom Series Variants
DJI’s Phantom lineup is one of the most recognisable in drone history. Beyond the main models, several enhanced and region-specific versions were released:
- Phantom 2 Vision+ (2014) – Added an integrated 3-axis gimbal camera to the Phantom 2.
- Phantom 4 Pro / Pro+ (2016) – Introduced a 1″ sensor and obstacle avoidance on all sides.
- Phantom 4 Advanced (2017) – A lighter version of the Pro with fewer sensors.
- Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 (2018) – Improved motors and quieter propellers.
- Phantom 4 RTK (2018) – Designed for mapping and surveying with centimetre-level accuracy.
Mavic Series Variants
The Mavic line spawned many spin-offs for both consumers and professionals:
- Mavic 3 Cine (2021) – Premium edition with Apple ProRes video and 1TB internal SSD.
- Mavic 3 Classic (2022) – Cost-reduced version with a single camera.
- Mavic 3 Pro / Cine (2023) – Triple-camera system; the Cine edition adds ProRes recording.
- Mavic 3 Enterprise / Thermal / Multispectral (2022–2023) – Specialised for mapping, inspection, and agriculture.
- Mavic Air 2S (2021) – Combined the compact Air design with a 1″ sensor.
- Mavic Mini SE (2021) – Budget-friendly sub-250g model for beginners.
Inspire Series Updates
DJI’s Inspire drones are built for professional cinematography:
- Inspire 1 RAW (2015) – Upgraded Zenmuse X5R camera supporting lossless RAW video.
- Inspire 2 (2016) – Dual battery system and high-end codec support (CinemaDNG, ProRes).
- Inspire 3 (2023) – Full-frame 8K camera, RTK positioning, and advanced obstacle sensing.
I’m particularly excited about the image sensor size in this latest model. A full-frame camera image sensor makes a huge difference to image quality.
Enterprise & Industrial Models
DJI has expanded heavily into commercial, agricultural, and industrial applications:
- Matrice 200 / 210 Series (2017) – Rugged design for inspections and mapping.
- Matrice 300 RTK (2020) – Long endurance (55 min flight time), AI inspection tools.
- Matrice 350 RTK (2023) – Upgraded control link and payload support.
- Matrice 30 / 30T (2022) – Compact foldable enterprise drone with hybrid zoom.
- Agras Series (T16, T30, T40, T50) – Agricultural spraying and seeding drones.
FPV & Racing Drones
DJI entered the FPV (first-person view) market to bring cinematic speed and immersion:
- DJI FPV Drone (2021) – DJI’s first hybrid racing/cinematic FPV platform.
- DJI Avata (2022) – Compact cinewhoop-style FPV drone for indoor and agile flying.
Educational & Toy Drones
For beginners and schools, DJI partnered with Ryze Tech to create affordable, programmable drones:
- Ryze Tello (2018) – Mini drone with DJI flight tech, programmable via Scratch and Python.
- RoboMaster TT (2021) – Enhanced educational drone combining Tello features with IoT and coding tools.
Experimental & Region-Specific Models
Some DJI drones were released in limited markets or as tech demos:
- Mavic 2 Zoom Enterprise Dual (2018) – Combined RGB and thermal cameras.
- Spark Alpine White Edition (2018) – Special cosmetic version.
- Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian (2017) – Limited-edition colour variant.
As you can see, DJI’s lineup extends far beyond its flagship consumer drones, spanning cinematography, industry, agriculture, education, and racing.
The History of DJI Drones
DJI (Da-Jiang Innovations) is a Chinese tech company founded in 2006 by Frank Wang (Wang Tao), then a student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His early interest in flight control led him to build prototypes in his dorm, and then gradually move to Shenzhen to scale up.
In its early years, DJI sold flight controllers and components for hobbyists and researchers. Over time, it began producing complete unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), integrating GPS, stabilised gimbals, better control systems, sensors, and imaging.
Later, DJI introduced more portable and foldable designs with the Mavic series (starting with the Mavic Pro in 2016), compact “Mini” variants, and enterprise/industrial lines (e.g. Matrice, Inspire) for inspection, mapping, film production, etc. DJI also pushed forward obstacle avoidance, sensor integration, better transmission systems (e.g. OcuSync), and improvements in image quality, flight time, and autonomy.
More recently, DJI continues launching advanced consumer drones (e.g. triple-camera Mavic 3 Pro / Cine, the newer Mavic 4 Pro) and small lightweight drones (Mini series) while also expanding its enterprise offerings.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: The Latest Evolution in The DJI Drone Lineup
DJI continues to push the boundaries of portable drone technology with the release of the Mini 5 Pro. This latest edition brings significant upgrades in camera quality, flight performance, and safety features, making it a versatile option for both hobbyists and content creators who want professional-level capabilities in a sub-250g drone.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Key Upgrades
- Camera: Equipped with a 1-inch 50MP CMOS sensor, the Mini 5 Pro captures detailed images and videos, enhancing low-light performance.
- Video Capabilities: Offers 4K video recording at up to 120fps, providing smooth and high-quality footage.
- Gimbal: Features a 225° rotating gimbal, enabling versatile shooting angles and true vertical shooting for social media content.
- Obstacle Avoidance: Incorporates omnidirectional obstacle sensing with LiDAR, enhancing safety during flights.
- Flight Time: Provides up to 36 minutes of flight time, allowing for extended shooting sessions.
- Weight: Weighs 249.9g, keeping it under the 250g limit for regulatory advantages in certain regions.
For a more in-depth analysis and personal insights on whether the Mini 5 Pro can replace your current drones, check out my full review here: Will I Be Upgrading to the DJI Mini 5 Pro? Can It Replace My Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – DJI Drones History & Latest Releases
Conclusion: Navigating the DJI Drone Landscape
DJI has continually set the standard in drone innovation, evolving from the Phantom series to the latest Mini 5 Pro. With advancements in camera technology, flight capabilities, and AI features, DJI drones cater to a diverse range of users, from hobbyists to professionals. Whether you’re capturing cinematic footage or exploring aerial photography, understanding the nuances of each model can help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re capturing cinematic footage or exploring aerial photography, understanding the nuances of each model, and how DJI’s geofencing and no-fly zone system works, can help you make an informed decision.
To further enhance your drone experience, consider the following resources:
- DJI RC2 vs RC-N3: Which Controller Should You Buy for Your DJI Drone?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right controller for your needs. - Drone Insurance UK: Benefits, Coverage Options & Comparison of Top Providers
Understand the importance of drone insurance and compare top providers in the UK. - UK Drone Laws Explained (2025/26): The Simple Guide Anyone Can Understand
Stay informed about the latest drone regulations in the UK to fly safely and legally.
Feel free to explore these articles to deepen your understanding and make the most of your drone experience.