DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Should You Upgrade in 2025?
- gear4greatness
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Should You Upgrade in 2025?
DJI has once again raised the bar for compact drones. The DJI Mini 5 Pro has officially landed in Canada, sparking the big question among creators: is it worth upgrading from the DJI Mini 4 Pro?
Both are ultra-portable, sub-250g drones that give creators freedom from many flight restrictions. But the Mini 5 Pro takes some big leaps forward — and Canadian buyers can take advantage right now, while U.S. buyers are still stuck waiting due to politics and trade delays.
Let’s dive into the details and see whether this upgrade is worth your investment.
📷 Camera Upgrades
The camera is where DJI made the boldest moves with the Mini 5 Pro.
Mini 5 Pro – Sporting a brand-new 1-inch CMOS sensor, it delivers 50MP stills and up to 4K/120fps video. This is a massive improvement in low-light performance, giving you cleaner shadows, sharper night shots, and the ability to shoot cinematic slow-motion in a travel-friendly form. The jump to a 1-inch sensor puts it closer to pro-level drones, even while keeping it under 250g.
Mini 4 Pro – Equipped with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, it handles 48MP stills and 4K/100fps video. It’s still a very capable camera for daylight or casual use, but when the light drops, noise and dynamic range limitations show.
Verdict: If image quality is your top priority, especially in varied conditions, the Mini 5 Pro is a major upgrade.
🚁 Flight & Portability
One of the main reasons creators love the Mini line is how easy it is to travel with.
Mini 5 Pro – Weighing 249.9g (with ±4g tolerance), it still qualifies under Canada’s sub-250g category when using the standard battery. That means fewer restrictions and hassle-free flights. Flight time is improved to 36 minutes, which helps creators capture more shots on a single charge.
Mini 4 Pro – Also sits at 249g, making it regulation-friendly. Flight endurance is slightly shorter at ~34 minutes. It’s still a strong performer, but you’ll squeeze out fewer flights per session compared to the Mini 5 Pro.
Verdict: Both drones are ultra-portable and travel-ready, but the Mini 5 Pro offers a touch more flight time to maximize your shooting opportunities.
🎮 Safety & Intelligent Features
DJI’s Mini line isn’t just about small size — it’s about making advanced features available in a tiny frame.
Mini 5 Pro – Adds LiDAR technology to its omnidirectional obstacle sensing, making navigation safer and more accurate in complex environments. ActiveTrack has been upgraded for smoother subject tracking, and QuickShots have been refined for more creative automated clips.
Mini 4 Pro – Already had strong omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, but without the LiDAR enhancements. It remains reliable, but less future-proof as DJI continues advancing intelligent flight safety.
Verdict: The Mini 5 Pro is smarter and safer, giving creators more confidence to push their flights further.
💰 Price in Canada
Mini 5 Pro – Launches at CAD $1,099 to $1,579, depending on whether you choose the standard kit or the Fly More Combo with extra batteries and accessories.
Mini 4 Pro – Now discounted at many Canadian retailers, often available under CAD $1,000, making it a strong budget choice.
Verdict: If cost is your main factor, the Mini 4 Pro remains the bargain. But if you want cutting-edge features and the best possible image quality in the smallest package, the Mini 5 Pro justifies its price.
✅ Final Thoughts
For Canadian creators, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is more than just a refresh — it’s a genuine leap forward. The jump to a 1-inch sensor, improved slow-motion video, longer flight time, and smarter safety features make it the most powerful sub-250g drone on the market.
If you already own the Mini 4 Pro and mostly shoot in bright daylight, you can keep flying without rushing to upgrade. But if low-light performance, advanced obstacle avoidance, and pro-level video matter to your work, the Mini 5 Pro is a worthy investment.
The bigger story? Canadian creators can buy it right now. U.S. creators, once again, are waiting because of political and trade roadblocks — just as we saw with the DJI 360. For once, Canada is ahead, and that makes the Mini 5 Pro launch especially exciting north of the border.
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Should You Upgrade in 2025?