I have owned the DJI Mini 4 Pro since mid-2024, and it has been one of the best drones I have ever flown. Compact, capable, and light enough to stay sub-250g, it became my default travel drone almost overnight. So when DJI released the Mini 5 Pro, I wanted to answer the question most Mini 4 Pro owners are actually asking: not just what is new, but whether the upgrade makes financial sense and how to make it happen without spending a fortune.
I have already written about whether I would personally make the switch from my Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S. This article is different. It is specifically for Mini 4 Pro owners who want a straight answer on what they are gaining, what it will cost them in real terms, and whether the jump is worth making.
What the Mini 5 Pro Actually Improves
The headline upgrade is the camera. The Mini 5 Pro moves from a 1/1.3-inch sensor to a full 1-inch CMOS sensor, which is a significant step up in image quality. If you want to understand what that means in practice, my drone camera sensor sizes guide explains it in detail.
The short version: a larger sensor captures more light, resulting in noticeably cleaner images in low-light conditions and greater dynamic range in high-contrast scenes like golden-hour coastal shots. If you have ever pushed the Mini 4 Pro in dim conditions and been disappointed by the grain, the Mini 5 Pro addresses that directly.
Beyond the sensor, here are the upgrades that make a real difference day-to-day:
Forward-facing LiDAR. This gives the Mini 5 Pro genuine obstacle sensing in low-light environments where the Mini 4 Pro’s vision sensors struggle. Flying through woodland at dusk, around coastal cliffs, or into tighter spaces is meaningfully safer.
Smart Return to Home that navigates obstacles. The Mini 4 Pro’s return to home climbs to a set altitude and flies in a straight line. The Mini 5 Pro can actually route around trees and structures on the way back. Anyone who has lost their stomach watching their drone ascend into overhanging branches will appreciate this immediately.
42GB of internal storage. The Mini 4 Pro has 2GB built in. That is not a typo. The Mini 5 Pro’s 42GB means you can fly a full day of 4K footage before you even think about a memory card, which changes your entire packing and workflow.
4K at 120fps. The Mini 4 Pro shoots 4K at 100fps in slow motion. The Mini 5 Pro hits 120fps, matching the standard most content creators now target for smooth slow-motion footage.
Auto power-on when unfolding the arms. Small thing, huge quality-of-life improvement. You unfold, it wakes up. No fumbling for a power button during golden hour.
Gimbal rotation shooting. The gimbal can now roll independently, allowing Dutch angle shots and creative tilts in flight. This is a genuine creative addition, not just a spec bump.
Combined gimbal and propeller guard. One accessory that does both jobs, clips on cleanly, and is far less faff to attach than the Mini 4 Pro’s separate guard system.
Extended flight time. Two extra minutes, taking it from 34 to 36 minutes. Not dramatic, but consistent extra time in the air over a full day of shooting adds up.
Side button for quick file transfer or palm takeoff. A small feature that removes a step from the transfer workflow, and palm takeoff without needing to find flat ground is genuinely useful on coastal terrain.
ND filters included in the Fly More Combo. The Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo does not include ND filters. The Mini 5 Pro does. If you are serious about video, you will need NDs regardless, so this is a meaningful cost saving built into the bundle.
What Stays the Same
Both drones sit at or under 250g. That matters because it keeps them in the same regulatory category under UK drone law, meaning you do not need any additional qualifications to fly the Mini 5 Pro if you are already legal with the Mini 4 Pro. If you are not sure about the current rules, my guide to UK drone licensing in 2026 covers exactly what you need.
The RC-N3 and RC 2 controllers are compatible with both drones, so if you are already using the RC 2, you do not need to buy a new controller. I covered connecting multiple DJI drones to the RC 2 separately, which is relevant if you are planning to keep the Mini 4 Pro alongside the Mini 5 Pro. For those starting fresh and deciding which controller to go for, my DJI RC 2 vs RC-N3 comparison is worth reading first.
The Funding Angle: Making the Upgrade Almost Free
Here is where this comparison gets more interesting than most. The Mini 4 Pro has held its used value surprisingly well. As of 2026, a Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo in good condition is selling for between £450 and £550 on eBay and platforms like MPB. If you bought yours at launch and have looked after it, you are sitting on an asset.
The Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo retails at around £979. Sell your Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo for £550, and you are looking at a net upgrade cost of under £430 rather than starting from zero. That changes the conversation entirely. Selling accessories will also give you a meaningful boost. For example, I have ND filters, carry cases and landing pads which, if sold alongside, could net me another £130. With an additional clearout of unused items from my attic, I’ve almost funded my Mini 5 Pro for free.
My honest view: if you can justify the spend, yes, it is worth upgrading. The camera alone is a meaningful step forward if you care about your footage. The internal storage improvement solves a real frustration. The smarter obstacle avoidance and auto return to home make flying in complex UK landscapes genuinely less stressful. And the additional QOL features, power-on, gimbal rotation, combined guard, make the Mini 5 Pro feel like a more mature product all round.
If you are flying casually and happy with your Mini 4 Pro footage, there is no urgent reason to jump. But if you are creating travel or landscape content and pushing the Mini 4 Pro in tricky conditions, the upgrade is noticeable where it counts.
Is This Worth Thinking About From a Regulatory Angle?
If you are buying a Mini 5 Pro new in the UK in 2026, good news. All drones placed on the UK market from 1 January 2026 bear a UK class mark, which determines where and how you can fly. Given the Mini 5 Pro weighs ~250g, I can confirm it is considered UK0 class, meaning you can fly over uninvolved people in the A1 subcategory without needing an A2 CofC. That is a meaningfully better position than a legacy drone of the same weight. You can check the full class mark framework and what each category permits on the CAA’s official class marks page. DJI Forum.
For a broader picture of where the Mini 5 Pro sits in DJI’s full product history, the complete DJI drone timeline from 2013 to 2026 puts it in context alongside every other model DJI has ever released.
So, Should You Upgrade?
Here is my honest take, having flown the Mini 4 Pro extensively and spent a lot of time weighing up whether the Mini 5 Pro is worth the jump.
If you fly regularly and care about the quality of your footage, upgrade. The Mini 5 Pro is a better drone in almost every meaningful way and the gap in image quality alone justifies it for anyone serious about travel photography or videography. The 1-inch sensor, smarter obstacle avoidance, 42GB of internal storage and the general refinement of the flying experience all add up to something that feels like a proper generational step rather than a minor spec bump.
If you fly occasionally, shoot basic video and are happy with your results, there is no urgent reason to move. The Mini 4 Pro is still an excellent drone and will continue to be for years.
The smartest route either way is to sell your Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo first. With used combos currently fetching between £450 and £550, you can bring the real cost of the upgrade down to under £500 rather than absorbing the full retail price. I am planning to do exactly that, clearing out a few other things gathering dust in the attic to help justify it alongside the sale.
My own situation is that I travel a lot and want better images and video to show for it, which makes the Mini 5 Pro a straightforward decision for me. I am also seriously looking at the DJI Avata 360 as an alternative, though that is a very different drone for a very different kind of flying. If that comparison interests you, I will be covering it separately.
Whichever way you go, the sub-250g class of drone has never been more capable. The only question is whether right now is your moment to step up.