DJI Mini 5 Pro at a glance:

• Price: from $759/£689
• 1-inch 12.5/50MP CMOS sensor
• 24mm equivalent f/1.8 fixed aperture lens
• Up to 4K/60p 10-bit HDR video
• Omnidirectional obstacle sensing with LiDAR
• 36-minute flight time
• 42GB internal storage
• Website: www.dji.com

Just when it seemed DJI couldn’t cram any more tech into a sub-250g drone, the Mini 5 Pro arrived with a new 1-inch 50MP sensor, a 225° rotating gimbal and omnidirectional obstacle sensing that includes LiDAR for safer night flights. The takeoff weight is interesting as DJI lists it at 249.9g ±4g, which could technically push it over the 250g cut-off. However, it has C0 certification in the EU.

As it arrived before the new drone regulations that came in on 1st January 2026, the Mini 5 Pro doesn’t have UK-specific certification. However, you can still fly the Mini 5 Pro legally in the UK under that C0 mark. However, the new rules also mean that you must now take a test on the CAA website to get a (free) Flyer ID before flying any drone over 100g in weight.

Physically, the Mini 5 Pro looks similar to the Mini 4 Pro, but it’s actually a little bigger at 157 x 95 x 68 mm vs 148 x 94 x 64 mm when folded without propellers, and 304 x 380 x 91 mm vs 298 x 373 x 101 mm when unfolded with propellers.  As usual, the arms fold neatly into the body for easy transport, and conveniently, the drone starts up when they are unfolded.

DJI Mini 5 Pro Key characteristics:

• Bigger Sensor: the 1-inch CMOS sensor captures up to 50MP stills and 4K/60p video
• Vertical Video: the camera can rotate for true vertical shooting
• Night Flying: LiDAR and vision sensors enable obstacle sensing in low light
• Dynamic Gimbal: 225° rotation allows creative angles and flexible framing
• Smart RTH: Return-to-home works even without GPS, using visual positioning

DJI Mini 5 Pro – Features

The Mini 5 Pro’s camera makes a nice step up for the Mini 4 Pro’s with a 1-inch type sensor that enables you to capture 12.5MP or 50MP images. It delivers an impressive level of detail and dynamic range. What’s more, the 50MP raw files are malleable in post-capture editing, and DJI claims up to 14 stops of dynamic range. The colour rendition of the JPEGs and video is also vibrant but not overly saturated, and 10-bit HLG or D-Log M profiles are available for serious grading.

There’s also a good range of video capture options, with support for up to 4K/60p HDR and slow-motion recording at 4K/120p. Meanwhile, the 48mm mode provides a useful 2x digital zoom with minimal quality loss, adding flexibility for tighter compositions when you can’t get as close as you’d like to your subject.

In flight, the Mini 5 Pro holds its position well. Despite its low weight, you may see it being buffeted by a breeze, but the video is smooth. The new omnidirectional obstacle detection system, which combines cameras, LiDAR and infrared sensors, also works well helping to avoid tree branches and other obstacles. It also enables smarter navigation and safer flights at night – the Mini 5 Pro has the required flashing green lights for flying after dark. Meanwhile, the upgraded ActiveTrack 360° system performs well, keeping subjects nicely framed, although I found it sometimes mistakes house windows for cars.

The 225° rotating gimbal is another nice addition. As well as allowing for both horizontal and true vertical shooting, which is great for social content creators, it rotates smoothly for dynamic and impactful videos.

FC9313 · f/1.8 · 1/160s · 8.67mm · ISO120

While the claimed maximum flight time of 36 minutes is very attractive, the most I was able to achieve was 29 minutes (with the low battery warning blaring), while 25-26 minutes is more common. That’s still an impressive flight time, but those wishing for longer flights may be tempted to hunt down the optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus which is claimed to extend it to 52 minutes. However, these batteries are not currently sold in the UK or Europe and they push the drone beyond the 250g weight limit.

If you’ve ever forgotten to install the micro-SD card in a drone, you’ll appreciate the 42GB of onboard storage. That’s genuinely useful as it’s enough capacity for upwards of 600 DNG raw files. The images and videos can be downloaded direct from the drone by connecting it to a computer via the USB-C port on its rear – next to the micro-SD card slot.

FC9313 · f/1.8 · 1/4000s · 8.67mm · ISO200

DJI Mini 5 Pro – Buying Options

The Mini 5 Pro is available in three kits, starting at $759/£689 with the basic RC-N3 controller. The Fly More Combo with the same controller costs $959/£869, while the top-tier kit with the RC2 controller, which has a built-in screen, is $1099/£979. Buying a Fly More Combo adds two extra batteries, a three-battery charging hub, a pack of three ND filters and a handy shoulder bag that fits everything.