DJI - Mavic 4 Pro

I want a mavic 4 pro. My mavic zoom is getting tired lol.

If you really love photography, get the Mavic. If you really love FPV, build a custom FPV quad. If you love both, get both. If you only want one drone, a hybrid between those two, get the Avata2.

I just bought mine in Europe and brought in with me . Got me a mavic 4 pro creator edition for €2900 with the tax free. Cant beat it

Get a (used) Mini 4 Pro, or Air 3(S) to start and try - if you like it: Mavic 4 Pro

If money is not an issue, the mavic4 pro with the triple Hasselblad camera is the best option.

I got the Mavic4 Pro on Ebay from Japan a few days ago. No tariff. I will be watching for this too. I need a sub 250g unit.

I bought mine off Amazon. But it came from DJI because I’m in Canada. The nice thing if you get a Canadian unit is they are FCC. They have the longer range.

I got the Mavic 4 Pro creator combo from Amazon.

you argument is valid. personally I dont see a reason to use the mavic 4 pro instead of the mini anyway for real estate. The reason to use it would be the tele lens for me.

That's a really good plan. I went Mini 2 SE to Mavic 4 Pro and felt like it was a great transition. Crazy though how much easier it is to fly M4P compared to M2SE. You'd think it would be harder since it is bigger but complete opposite. Its like a hot knife to butter. Things would be impossible or make the shot totally crap is easy, peasey with M4P. Dipping your toes in before yoloing is a good idea. I'd even recommend that before even flying anything is to play the simulator! Can learn a lot.

I went from Mini 2 SE to Mavic 4 Pro and honestly the Mavic 4 Pro is so much easier to fly than the Mini 2 SE. M4P just cuts through the air like hot knife to butter while the M2SE gets it done but not in every case. I'm sure you'll have a similar experience with the Air 3S.

Mavic 4 Pro with RC Pro 2.

Got mine from Adorama.

I'll stick to my M4 Pro, I dont see any substantial difference at all.

Since it’s 2025, I’d recommend looking at the Mavic 4 Pro. Depending on what and where you plan to shoot, having a sub-250g drone (maybe in addition?) can also be a great advantage due to fewer regulatory restrictions. If lighting conditions are good, the Mini 4 Pro with its 48MP sensor delivers excellent results.

You're absolutely right. I wouldn't recommend blindly copying missions between drones either, especially not in complex terrain. In this case, I wanted to stress-test exactly that: what happens if you do it anyway? And yeah, the results definitely showed some quirks. especially with the Mavic 4 Pro on POI turns and slight altitude inconsistencies. From what I can tell, DJI does reuse the same .flymission structure across models, but how precisely it's interpreted (gimbal, altitude smoothing, etc.) can vary a lot. Even small barometric or GPS differences made the Mavic 4 Pro “dip” where the Mini 4 Pro stayed level. So yeah! definitely not a best practice. But interesting to explore. Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

I just got the mavic 4 pro the other day I’m so glad

Thats for sure just a normal dji drone. They can transmit easily up to 10km with flighttimes around 20-30minutes. The camera angle are typical for a "non professional" pilot. For example: DJI Mini 3 DJI Mavic Air 2s , 3 pro, 4 pro etc... A custom built fpv drones like i fly them, could reach even more distance. some people are using fpv videotransmitting systems on fixed wings. (basically a littel airplane) with an analog ground station its easily possible to reach distances of 40km+ Always funny to see the "drone over the airports" news XD they are having normal signal lights. Guess what. you could start your dji drone 5-10km away from the airport and fly to it. Yes they normally have geofencing, but even for dji drones their are "hacked" firmwares out there. The ukraine and russia are using modified firmwares. They use normal dji drones as mavic 3-4 pro for scouting and custom built fpv drones for throwing the bombs or kamize drones. And someone in the comments mentioned already, there are aswell LTE modules nowadays. In theory with that you can fly unlimited distances as long as you stay close to modern civilsation with LTE antennas. There is a fixed wing video on youtube doing a 100km round trip with LTE from one island to another. Not going to post it, due i don't want to "expose" the other pilot, because this kind of flights from private persons are not permitted at all most of the times. And here is an example from DJI LTE-module: [https://store.dji.com/hu/product/dji-cellular-dongle-lte-usb-modem?vid=112071&set\_region=HU&from=site-nav&\_gl=1%2A1e4l7b6%2A\_up%2AMQ..%2A\_ga%2AMTMyNTYxOTI1Mi4xNzYwNzgzMDQ0%2A\_ga\_HXRDE344GS%2AczE3NjA3ODMwNDMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjA3ODMwNDMkajYwJGwwJGgw](https://store.dji.com/hu/product/dji-cellular-dongle-lte-usb-modem?vid=112071&set_region=HU&from=site-nav&_gl=1%2A1e4l7b6%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AMTMyNTYxOTI1Mi4xNzYwNzgzMDQ0%2A_ga_HXRDE344GS%2AczE3NjA3ODMwNDMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjA3ODMwNDMkajYwJGwwJGgw) # GEO-Fencing dji since 2025: DJI has removed its geofencing software that automatically prevented drone flights in restricted areas, such as near airports and prisons. As of early 2025, the DJI app will now only display warnings for these zones, which pilots can bypass. Therefore, to avoid geofencing, no action is needed because the system is no longer a restriction; however, users are solely responsible for knowing and following all airspace rules and regulations.  How to fly now * **Be aware of restrictions:** Understand that even though the drone will not be blocked, you are responsible for knowing and following all airspace restrictions, such as those around airports, military bases, and government buildings. * **Follow the warnings:** The app will still provide warnings when you are near a restricted area, but these warnings can be dismissed, and the drone will be able to take off. * **Prioritize safety and legality:** It is crucial to avoid flying in restricted areas to comply with local laws and ensure safety, even if the geofencing system has been removed. 

If you're willing to pay, then get the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo, that's one of the best (without getting into things that need more than open category licensing). Or get the DJI Inspire series, but then you'll need mandatory licenses and training in many places. But that's not a good place to start, and not even a good place to finish if you want to film in crowded areas, over people, etc. In that case the Mini 4 Pro is the one to go for, and it's even a good starter drone for video. Equally important, though, is a set of ND filters and understanding of how to use them, and understanding of D-log file formats, colour grading, and how to have a good workflow to process your video after shooting it. Also plenty of batteries, spare propellers, and the RC2 controller. And third-party insurance (e.g. from Coverdrone) and I recommend the relevant certifications in your country even if they're optional.

I have the Mini 4 and our second sometimes brings the Mavic Pro 4. I really do love my Mini 4, it's so much easier to use. Quick. Decent. If you're looking at the photos on a phone there really isn't much a difference. If it is a high end wedding, I often just hire someone to come with their own Mavic 4 pro.

That's a really small tank bag, if you put a Mini 4 Pro in there with controller it might fit but would be tight and I'd be concerned with damage, especially if you go off road at all. I'm able to get my M4P in a protective hard case inside my Kriega R15 backpack, but it's a bit tight and an R20 would be better. For the Enduristan, I'd think the Neo would be the way to go, but I don't have one to confirm sizing.

This is the dumbest decision they could make without doing any kind of investigation or audit. This is just a perfect example of how impotent and flaccid the US government has become. It’s literally wake. Donald Trump‘s filth energy was rubbed off on the entire country. let’s just see how far back into the Stone Age we go before anybody in the US or an acceptable. Allied state comes up with an affordable drone with professional capabilities. It’s not gonna happen. I’m glad I got my Mavic four Pro when I did I was at Best Buy the other day for something else and I went over to the Drone section and there’s like two no name brand $50 toys their toys. And as somebody who makes a living with my Drone, I find it offensive that the US government the SECFAA nobody is willing to do an investigation or an audit I know because they’re not gonna find anything incriminating DJI has bent over backwards to please them, but these ““ American companies that have Drone starting at like 35 grand and are inferior to the Mavic for are supposed to take the place of like 90% of all Drone act actively owned by part 107 operators. It’s also endangering lives as most fire and police fleets were DJ and should be. They’re the safest most capable Drone sorry everyone else try harder. Please make something worth 3/ quarters of a shit. Make it no more than 6 to 10 grand at most and maybe I’ll buy one. I’d happily buy American if they existed. The fact is they don’t not realistically not for most commercial operators. We’re gonna need a lot of food dries in the next few years. That ballroom is not gonna be 300 million you know that’s like half of what it’s actually gonna cost and you know he’s not paying for it.

Have both. The Avata 2 is AWESOME!! The Mavic is just collecting dust on the shelf..

Upgraded from a Parrot Bebop drone I bought 9 years ago. My god, the switch to M4P was worth the price. Almost overwhelming amount of upgrades.

I just ordered one from Adorama today. They’re an authorized US DJI dealer so should be a safe bet. They get them very occasionally. You can put your email on their stock notification list and just wait…

I love my 4 Pro, I actually prefer 28mm to 24mm most of the time. When I’m doing front shots with my usual camera on a 14-30mm I’m normally at the 30 end for the front shots. I just find the compression a bit more pleasing. Still been able to get plenty of front shots with the 28 too, if space is too tight I probably wouldn’t have gotten it with my old drone at 24mm either

Most capable drone would be probably Mavic 4 Pro but based on your budget, I would say look into used Mavic 3 Pro. Mini 4 Pro is another great option. I do have an extra Mavic 3 for sale if you are in the USA. Let me know.

I think it all really depends on your budget and regulations. In the EU the Mavic 4 pro is a class 2 drone which means you can fly it in A2 and A3 scenarios away from people (30m or 5m in "slow mode") and this won't be an issue since you'll fly above the sea. Keep in mind you can get the A1-A3 certificate together and in some countries it's even free, the A2 certificate is obtained on its own and if I remember correctly it's a bit more expensive. If you only have the A1-A3 you'll be able to fly the Mavic 4 Pro only in A3 scenario, which mean horizontal distance of 150m from urban areas and uninformed people. The Mini series is not great in terms of wind resistance but I think people underestimate their resilience. Still, I -personally- wouldn't risk it. Maybe the better option would be the Air 3: better camera, better wind resistance, better obstacle avoidance and you'll also get a second camera for more zoomed-in and compressed shots. With the high resolutions these drones shoot at I don't think you absolutely need true vertical video, also because in the DJI Fly app you can enable aspect ration overlays so you can always see what the final video will look like (note that you have to edit it as the actual file will be in its original aspect ratio).

I actually thought those 30m in A2 were also for urban areas, but a quick search on the EASA website showed just uninformed people. Keep in mind that, while most rules apply uniformly, some countries in the Union may choose to apply some rules in slightly different ways, so make sure to check Greece's relevant laws in that regard. Regarding the differences between the Mavic 4 Pro and the Air 3s: it's all up to you. You can be a beginner but still like to do post production, in that case the Mavic 4 (or even Mavic 3) D-Log is way better than D-Log M found in cheaper models (in theory D-Log M is not a proper log format, it's more of a flat picture profile). Also both the Mavic 3 and 4 main cameras are Micro 4/3 sensors, so they're larger and work better in low light. From personal experience (I own the original Mavic 3) I can tell you the videos and photos from the main sensor are incredible. I often underestimate my drone for photos, but everytime I take some and look at them later on my PC I'm always blown away by the quality. I think the Air 3s will allow you to have more flexibility in the future if you want to shoot video in more urban areas, since it's a C1 drone, while also costing less than half the price of the Mavic 4 Pro, allowing you to invest in extra batteries or other accessories. Final note: seagulls are extremely territorial, if you fly around for too long a group of them will start hunting your drone. Some people say bright colored decals (like orange) sometimes keep them away, but in any case remember: sport mode and move vertically to avoid them.

I recently did. I rely on my drones for work and I had been planning to replace my main drone this year. With the tariffs and lack of an official US release for the Mavic 4 Pro, I held off for a long while but I finally decided I couldn’t wait any longer. Bought one from US Drone Supply. Looked into getting one from Adorama who also had them in stock but they were more than $500 more expensive there. B&H, my usual preference for photo/video gear hasn’t had any in stock in weeks.

I’ve never been more terrified about the prospect of damaging my drone than I am now. No Care Refresh at this point on a Mavic 3 Cine (maxed out on time for it). Almost all of the local used drone listings are scams and there’s nothing in stores. I had been planning to get the 4 when it was released and here I am…waiting.

Yes. I ordered a Mavic 4 over the weekend. I’m thinking about buying the Avata 2 as well.

I plan to use the Mavic for photography and maybe some video. The Avata just looks really fun. At the same time, the antigravity is releasing in January and looks extremely promising.

This is completely untrue. For hobbyists the sub 250g drones are great but if you know how to colour grade the mavic 4 and inspire series for filming will blow a sub 250g out of the water. The question also surrounded enterprise drones. You ain't mapping a quarry with a mini 4 pro.

In countries like Japan, when you dont have visibility of your drone, you need to get a license for it(Japan being Japan). But weight is also something else. Having the 1.068 kg drone in europe requires a license and other stuff rather to have an smaller one. It would depend on where you are planning to fly it. Currently, I am going to get my Mavic 4 Pro creators bundle.

I also was under the impression no DJI drones were available here in the states. After purchasing and returning a couple of junk drones I called around and found a new Mavic 4 Pro with the new RC2 Pro controller. It came with three intelligent batteries. She’s a perfect drone. I’ve fallen I love with this drone, and so I just purchased a Mini 4 Pro with RC2 controller fly kite combo from Amazon. I was amazed at how many DJI drones are all of a sudden available on Amazon, including: Air 3S and Mavic 4 Pros.

yes mavic 4 pro is probably the best choice

Lots to unpack. First the price. It's a pretty bad price to be honest. At the moment, the best prices come from eBay and specifically South Korean sellers. The risk you take is that it gets hung up in customs or you get a tarriff or import fee. That said, I took my chances and got a Mavic 4 Pro Creator for $3,700 a few weeks ago, and it got here in 3 days with no issues. The Avata 2 fly more is $1010 at the moment on eBay, so it feels like you are paying double to get $75 worth of accessories. Second, the Avata 2 was my second drone. The mini 3 pro was my first. Vastly different experiences, and both have their strengths. The Avata 2 is just fun to fly. The goggles are very immersive, but they can also get fatiguing. I have flown full manual with the controller 3 as well as using the motion controller. I really Iike the motion controller. First flight took a little getting used to. After that, it was like flying a jet. It's fun. I think you will like the Avata 2. If you are looking to do 107 work, yeah... The Avata can be used indoors for that kinda stuff. I would say that a drone with a 3 axis gimbal would generally be more versatile though. If I could only have one, I would take something like a mini 4 pro or Air 3S for 107 stuff. But you won't go wrong with an Avata 2, and it probably won't be your last drone!

How much are you willing to spend? A mini 4 pro with RC2 is by far the way to go if you can afford it. I started with a mini 3 pro years ago, and now I have an Avata 2 and a Mavic 4 Pro Creator. If that's not in the budget, keep working your way down. I do think getting a drone with the RC2 is the way to go. That said, I bought my son a mini 4k, and it's a damned good drone for the money. I would recommend that as well. It's just not nearly as good as a mini 4 pro.

I bought mine from eBay. It was a seller in SK, and it arrived here 3 days later. I recommended that to another Redditor, and he just got his as well. With eBay, the buyer has all the rights. Unless you are buying from someone with negative or no feedback, eBay will guarantee you get what you ordered or refund you. I wasn't worried about that. My bigger concern was getting hung up in customs or facing a tarriff. Fortunately, I was fine, but I also got mine in early July.

No fees or tarriffs, but I don't know If anything changed since the beginning of July. I got the Creator combo for $3700.

Wrong. I have a mavic 4 from South Korea.

Since you live in NY maybe check if DJI-NYC is going to be stocking them? That’s where I got my Mavic 4 without having to deal with any import fees.

Honestly, to the eyes of the public, the Mavic isn't much more impressive than the mini. If you want to look serious, you need an Inspire or an M300. But that's 500% overkill for OP's use cases.

Good luck from the other side where I can just walk in a store and get a Mavic 4 😊

Mavic 4 Pro. Totally worth it if you ask me.

If you're a pro needing low light images, bingo but it's not a huge thing for most of us. I kept my FPV when got my Avata 1 when got my 2 and my Mav 1 when I got the Pro and both of them when I got the Mavic 4 Pro, I got a Neo and a Mini 4 Pro but I won't be going through the hassle and cost of a Mini 5 Pro. I have enough till...they come up with a true optical zoom lens or I break one of mine but in the current conditions I am flying more carefully than ever...slower through forests...less over water...

The mavic 4 pro would be best. The Mavic 3 Pro next, the Air 3s next (the mav3 pro has a very, very useful mid tele lens). None are equivalent to a full frame high end camera. You should try to get some raw images from drone photographers and see if you can print them (after you do your own post processing) at your desired size. Let's see if I can attach one. I think this is from a Mavic 3 Pro if it will attach. 28.9 MB Nope...can't attach DNG files. Let's see about a jpg . Seemed to be selected but don't see it yet... Oh...less than 20MB so...nope.

Yeah I hardly fly my M4P that I upgraded to last year, skipping this one.

Mini3, mini3 pro, mini4 pro and now the mavic 4 pro

Mavic 4 Pro. Stunning stills and video quality.

Nope just lowered the exposure a bit, and brought back the shadows in post. The dynamic range is ridiculous on the mavic 4 pro. I honestly think the advertised 16 stops is pretty accurate. The stacked exposure videos are amazing

Great Review. I also like that the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo now has Dynamic Homepoint which is great for footage from a moving platform. This helps with the flight time because the RTH is always calculated between the drone and homepoint.

Dynamic Homepoint is only available on Enterprise drones. I think early DJI recreational drones had this functionality but then stopped offering it but it’s back now on the Mavic 4 Pro. I’m originally from North America but have been living in 🇨🇳for over 12 years now and I have the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo with what’s called Enhanced Transmission which the drone and controller comes with 4G/LTE modules that basically give you unlimited range. We can fly beyond visual line of sight over here as there are not the same restrictions as the rest of the world. I’ve tested the range and it gives you full control of the drone anywhere you have cellular service. I did a post a while back because I didn’t know about the bonus 4G control with the link to the post below. https://preview.redd.it/fyoxubae5hof1.jpeg?width=2193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d07c9bf24ce15fc718877db1180fee0b9a523f1a [https://www.reddit.com/r/dji/s/hHt9aQvAuX](https://www.reddit.com/r/dji/s/hHt9aQvAuX)

I’ve had the Air 2S, Mavic 3 Pro Cine, Air 3S and now the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo. They are all amazing drones and can take spectacular footage. I have my Air 2S and 3S to family members who were visiting me but have kept the 2 Mavic Pros. I kept them because I needed the DLOG and manual camera control and most importantly the adjustable aperture. The Cine also shoots in ProRes 4.2.2 but the 4 Pro Creator shoots in ALL-I which I’m still getting used to plus some clients insist on the ProRes 4.2.2 raw footage. Mostly I just use them for a hobby and social media posts. So if it’s a commercial or professional requirement. I have to go with the Mavic 4 Pro but if it’s only mostly social media stuff. I’d go with the Air 3S in my humble opinion but only you can decide what’s best for you. Cheers mate. https://preview.redd.it/nq9jfp042jdf1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ea64b61d775c8afd451d892ca95666a1ef63468 I’m getting older so I also needed the bigger screen controller. 😬

1. doesn’t the Air 3S have DLOG? The Air 3S doesn’t have DLOG. The larger dynamic is normally only with DLOG but DJI has a unknown feature only on the Mavic 4 Pro which is called Daul Gain ISO Fusion or Fusion HDR. This hidden feature on the Mavic 4 Pro is only activated when using DLOG-M with auto everything or Auto ISO. I’ve used this hidden feature and it works great because it lets even the most inexperienced user take professional quality footage and now I only use DLOG-M for personal usage on the Mavic 4 Pro. 2. Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo ALL-I H.264 vs Mavic 4 Pro H.265. My experience is the ALL-I is a little quicker to edit but I just got a new PC and it makes this timing difference negligible. Further more I like using H.265 because it uses less space for storage. The supposed better image or video quality of Using ALL-I H.264 vs H.265 can’t really be seen in my humble opinion and now I always use H.265 for more efficient smaller storage. 3. How do I see the effects of an adjustable aperture? Is an adjustable aperture really necessary? I found that having an adjustable aperture gives me a better control of the exposure on a sunny day and also allows me to control what is in focus for my image. I don’t need to use filters to decrease the light on sunny bright days because I can just use a smaller aperture setting. In summary of the questions I answered. If all I did was social media posts and was younger with a limited budget. I would go with a mini 4 Pro but if I had a bit more money. I’d get the Air 3S because it is more stable in windy conditions plus the Air 3S has internal cooling fans which is important for high temperature environments. If I had a little more money. I’d get the Mavic 3 Pro because of the better camera control and adjustable aperture and it is even better with windy weather compared to the Air 3S. If I had money to burn and was younger. I’d definitely get the Mavic 4 Pro Fly More package. Because I’m older and can afford it. I got the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo because I really needed the larger screen size controller because my eyes aren’t what they used to be. I’m originally from North America but here’s a city about 1.5-2 hours away from where I live. Sorry for the poor image quality because it’s a screenshot from a video. https://preview.redd.it/h1cfdqr3cpdf1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7885833d85909019f3d6f319a4e8e01cb51cd6a9 Cheers mate,

The Creator Combo has the H.264 ALL-I, built in 512gb SSD, additional camera settings not available on the regular version and the biggest thing I needed the most is the upgraded controller RC Pro 2 which has a much bigger and brighter screen for my old eyes. There’s some other features but those are the main features only on the Creator Combo.

I’ve gone from the following drones. Air 2S, Mavic 3 Pro Cine, Air 3S and now Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo. Gave away my Air 2S/3S to family members who were visiting but kept both Mavics. I say just use whatever you want but one thing you missed on the Mavic 4 Pro is the dynamic home point which I have been waiting for a long time. This feature not only continuously updates your RTH based on your controller location. It allows you to fly further and makes water footage from a boat much more user friendly. There’s also the longer range of control and where I live. I have the version of drone with Enhanced Transmission Control which uses 4G/LTE giving us beyond visual line of sight capabilities which is also allowed for us. Even the regular drone has the new O4+ transmission system which allows you to fly over 10km away in CE mode. The tracking and low light conditions for flying are also better than anything I have previously owned. Newer technologies will always have better capabilities in my humble opinion. However, I found any of the drones I’ve owned to all be extraordinary pieces of technology even today. I only updated my drones because I just wanted to push the envelope. I kept the Mavic 3 Pro because I sometimes need to get ProRes 4.2.2 raw footage when requested. Plus I like having a 2nd drone as a backup and for visiting family or friends to fly with so they can get their own footage. The Mavic 4 Pro is also the fastest and quietest drone I’ve had too. https://preview.redd.it/nvd15e93xkmf1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c8eb2afc662a00a20b301cd8412c34995339fc4 Ok

I've had 5x Mavic 4 Pros, kept 1 for work and sold 4 of them for $1000+ profit each. Some of us certainly are winning!

The mavic 4 pro and the mini 5 pro are the last DJI drones to receive FCC clearance. This means (unless the government gets off their ass, audits DJI and explicitly approves of their security measures... which they won't for political reasons) new DJI drones will not receive authorization in the US to fly. They will be added to a ban list and blacklisted from operating under FCC frequencies and RID rules. You will only be able to fly as a tourist and you will not be able to register or fly them commercially or recreationally as a citizen. The ban isn't on sales, its a ban on operational ability. DJI Care is not available for users in the US, and they must be shipped back to the country they were purchased in to take advantage of the Care refresh. Claims made from the US from drones bought in Korea, Europe, Australia, etc are invalid and DJI will not honor them unless you can return them to the origin country before claiming refresh care.

All things considered (price, performance, quality etc.), the Air 3S is the best value proposition DJI has ever offered, and in my opinion it's not even close. So that gets my vote. It also nicely balances weight and performance while staying under the 900g limit which makes drone flying a lot more difficult while traveling. The Mavic 4 Pro is objectively the best drone DJI has made aside from the Inspire/Matrice series, but they are extremely expensive and most users do not take advantage of what you are paying for when you buy one of them. The Mini series has a unique value proposition centered around the 250g/C0 weight limit, but make many performance compromises to do so, particularly with regards to the air frame.

You need to provide some more information, but generally speaking: 1) If you are wanting to fly with minimal or no licensing/registration requirements and in neighborhoods (depending where you live), then your only choice is the Mini series. The Mini 5 Pro is expected later this year with a significant upgrade to a 1" sensor, otherwise Mini 4 Pro is the way to go there. 2) If you don't plan on doing much post processing and if your client delivery resolution is 4K or below (I'm guessing it's 1080P or less for real estate work), then you will not be using what you are paying for in the large 4/3 sensor Mavic 3 (Mavic 4 will be announced in April, just around the corner here). In that case, go with the Air 3S for the 1" sensor which also matches the sensor size of your P4P. The Air 3S is the best overall drone on the market right now by far, assuming you do not have very specific requirements and aren't doing advanced editing on 10bit LOG footage needing every last drop of DR. I imagine whatever licensing/permissions you need to fly your P4P in neighborhoods will carry over, so that side of things might not be an issue at all for you. 3) If you are an advanced user doing heavy post processing and extracting every last little bit of detail and dynamic range out of your shots, and always shoot 10bit LOG, then the 4/3 sensor from the Mavic 3 or upcoming 4 might appeal to you. The M3 can also shoot in 5.4K if you need resolution greater than 4K for anything. The stills photos are also better than the quad bayer 1" or 1/1.3" sensors used on the other drones. If you do any travelling to Europe, note that the cutoff there for 'relaxed' drone rules is 900g, and the Mavic series is heavier than that (Air series is below that threshold). It would be helpful to know a little more about your use case, specifically with your delivery requirements and how much post processing you do on both the photo and video side. If the end usage of all your work is web-sized images and low resolution video viewed on platforms that destroy the quality of it anyway, you don't need to pay up for a Mavic 3/4.

I have the mini 3 pro still good enough for when a mini is needed. I have the Mavic 4 pro as well for other uses. I was originally thinking I would buy a mini 5 just because but now I’m thinking I will get the Antigravity instead. Way more options with 360°

Mini 4 pro is what you want. I have a Mavic 4 pro, an air 3s, and a mini 4 pro. They are all excellent, but the mini 4 pro’s size factor makes it such a breeze to take anywhere. Just get an ND filter set to help with your sunrise/sunset shots. It also is surprisingly stable in moderate wind. I use the rc pro 2 controller with all 3 of my drones, which is very convenient. Good luck and fly safely!

Yes, just the size and convenience factor on the go. I would have to say the air 3s is probably my favorite overall…it is very well balanced. I fly the mavic 4 pro a lot though because we have a lot of pretty high winds at our ranch, and it is very stable in wind. If I’m traveling and taking a drone with me I grab the mini 4 pro- no brainer…but if I am not traveling and there is no wind, it’s the air 3s every time! Hope this helps!

The mini is very very quiet…that’s another reason I like it when using away from home. I would not call the mavic 4 pro loud. It is actually quieter than my old mavic 3 (which is still a great drone!). The mavic 4 pro is very powerful and fast, so there is some noise, but I find it to be a very pleasant, low pitched, voice of authority type noise, like a muscle car. While the specs don’t make the air 3s seem much bigger than the mini, it’s a different thing when you’re holding both of them. The mini is amazingly small. Not much bigger than your hand. Although the air 3s is not a large drone, the mini is a dwarf in comparison. Every time I get out the mini, I am still astounded that a drone this size can perform like it does. It seems like a little toy, but it is actually a beast in performance. Watch some of the range tests on YouTube…incredible!

Just bought a Mavic 4 Pro.

It was to say that I bought mine to avoid the mess with the ban. DJI drones are already banned from public sector jobs and the potential replacements are way out of the small business market ability to purchase. I would get a DJI drone if you want one before the ban takes place.

Are those lidar sensors on the front? I guess it'll have about the same safety sensors as the Mavic 4 pro, so I won't be crashing it into the power lines over our property anymore.

I’m planning on purchasing the Mavic 4 Pro next month out of country. I’ve done my research and understand all of the current issues with DJI refresh. I’m retired and travel abroad as much as possible. This purchase would be my third DJI drone. I have the original Mavic mini and a Neo. You should be fine using the Mini 4 Pro. I plan to purchase one before the end of the year. I truly believe that the U.S. government will officially issue a ban on all new Chinese made drones at the beginning of next year.

I got my Mavic four from Japan and I live in Chicago within like 3 days it was super fast and free shipping

Just bought a Mavic 4 pro on eBay.

It depends entirely on your requirements. While there are some advantages to the better camera on the maverick, unless your client is going to run the video on large screens there may be no practical difference. Your skill as a videographer and editor will make much more of a difference than the camera. As others have pointed out, the Air is a great compromise, but depending on where you need to fly, the Mini 4 Pro may have advantages. One of the challenges in an urban environment is operating over people. Unless you have a category UAV or a waiver, you can’t legally fly over uninvolved people. In an urban setting that can be a challenge. A category 1 drone needs to be under 250g with prop guards and remote ID. The only current option to get there in the DJI lineup is a Neo with an external RID module, but the photo/video quality isn’t as good as the air or mini, and that’s a bit of a limitation for pro photographers. (On a related note, if someone from DJI is reading this, please poke your product management with a sharp stick and wake them up. The new DJI Flip is one firmware change away from being an awesome option that 107 pilots like me — who already own a M4P and Neo — would buy in a heartbeat. Please add the option to turn on Remote ID in the USA so we can fly it as a Category 1 UAV.) Category 2 essentially requires a parachute which right now is stupid expensive. Your other option is to apply for a waiver. I won’t go into all the details in case OOP isn’t important to you. But if it is, an M4P with extended battery, prop guards, and an anti-collision light is still light enough to operate over people and moving vehicles under a 107 waiver without requiring a parachute. Flight times and wind handling will decrease, but in an urban area that might make the difference between being able to legally get your shots or not. Just buy the extended batteries because they turn RID on. On the other hand, if OOP isn’t an issue, then in the USA under 107 an Air is probably a better choice. And, if you have any interest in popping north of the border, do yourself a favour and take an M4P with standard batteries. Being under 250g in Canada will make your life much, much easier. Remember that the best camera in the world isn’t going to help if you can’t get it where you need it.

It depends entirely on your requirements. While there are some advantages to the better camera on the maverick, unless your client is going to run the video on large screens there may be no practical difference. Your skill as a videographer and editor will make much more of a difference than the camera. As others have pointed out, the Air is a great compromise, but depending on where you need to fly, the Mini 4 Pro may have advantages. One of the challenges in an urban environment is operating over people. Unless you have a category UAV or a waiver, you can’t legally fly over uninvolved people. In an urban setting that can be a challenge. A category 1 drone needs to be under 250g with prop guards and remote ID. The only current option to get there in the DJI lineup is a Neo with an external RID module, but the photo/video quality isn’t as good as the air or mini, and that’s a bit of a limitation for pro photographers. (On a related note, if someone from DJI is reading this, please poke your product management with a sharp stick and wake them up. The new DJI Flip is one firmware change away from being an awesome option that 107 pilots like me — who already own a M4P and Neo — would buy in a heartbeat. Please add the option to turn on Remote ID in the USA so we can fly it as a Category 1 UAV.) Category 2 essentially requires a parachute which right now is stupid expensive. Your other option is to apply for a waiver. I won’t go into all the details in case OOP isn’t important to you. But if it is, an M4P with extended battery, prop guards, and an anti-collision light is still light enough to operate over people and moving vehicles under a 107 waiver without requiring a parachute. Flight times and wind handling will decrease, but in an urban area that might make the difference between being able to legally get your shots or not. Just buy the extended batteries because they turn RID on. On the other hand, if OOP isn’t an issue, then in the USA under 107 an Air is probably a better choice. And, if you have any interest in popping north of the border, do yourself a favour and take an M4P with standard batteries. Being under 250g in Canada will make your life much, much easier. Remember that the best camera in the world isn’t going to help if you can’t get it where you need it.

Ignore the hype. Pro is about getting paid for the work you produce, not the drone you fly. Some people need the big sensor on the Mavic. Some do very well with a Mini 4 Pro. Some shoot professionally with a little whoop. Think about where you are going to fly. For video, where is it going to be shown? Online streaming training? You’ll probably not notice a quality difference between the drones. But your drone choice may make a difference where you can fly. For example, under 107 you can apply for a waiver for OOP. If you fly an Air or Mavic, you’ll probably need an ATSM-rated parachute for an OOP waiver. ($1k-ish). With a Mini 4 Pro, you’ll likely get away with extended batteries, prop guards and a strobe (but with reduced performance). People don’t usually think of the Avata 2 as “pro” but with a small strobe stuck on it, it’s light enough for waiver OOP without a parachute, doesn’t suffer the performance issues of prop guards like the M4P, and the camera quality is just as good. They’re also really fun to fly. There are people using the Neo for pro work. The camera is lower quality, but slap an RID module on it and under 107 you have a cat 1 drone. No waiver required. Total it, send the bits back to DJI, and refresh is $30. They’re also surprisingly difficult to break. On the other hand, if OOP isn’t an issue, the Air 3S is an awesome machine and should handle wind better. But, if you’re going to pop into Canada, do yourself a favour and take a <250g drone.

That’s exactly my plan. I’m currently using my mini 2 and now I’m planning to upgrade to the Mavic 4 pro for commercial use. I’ll probably have my first customer shooting in two or three weeks. Do you think it’ll be difficult to adapt to the M4P or will the switch be easy?

I've basically stopped using my Mavic and use my Mini 3 Pro for most things now. Wind resistance isn't quite as good, but image quality is more than good enough and being under 250 g makes flying a lot easier (in Canada, might be different where you are). Some people assume 'bigger is better'. I've seen that in photography, where my Nikon D800 with huge lens gets more respect than a smaller camera. (So sometimes I'll being the bigger camera for show, use it for a few pictures while mostly using a smaller camera, and let people assume that the best pictures were taken with the bigger camera when in reality all the pictures came from the smaller easier-to-carry camera.)

If you want something good and not care about price get the mavic but if you do care about price then get the dji mini 3 or 4 pro remember to ALWAYS do the training flight simulater when you buy a new drone you will need to

Mavics are so good!

A Mavic isn’t really going all-out. If you had the choice of hiring someone who could only bring a Mini or someone who had a Mavic, who would seem more serious to you? Who would you hire?

I have a Neo and a m4p and I feel like had I waited a month I’d have gotten this instead of both of them..ultimately though I’m beyond happy with my m4p and the Neo was cool as my first drone

The Neo’s camera was underwhelming which is the main reason why I upgraded to the m4p but the flips camera is very similar to the m4p and the price is what would have sold me on the flip..you got that fly more combo for an incredible price

My niece is learning on a neo with rc2, and now my m4p. She has only been flying for less than a week, and she says the mini 4 pro is easier to fly. Can’t go wrong with either.

This is why I decided on the 3s. I originally bought the m4P but returned it. I’m planning on doing real estate photography (I’m in central Florida, so the market is insane). I was worried about stability in wind, especially near houses

The M4P is a little beast and just perfected upon the previous generations. It's like buying a base model car it's good and does the job but the top trim gives you some features that you didn't realize you wanted till you used them. The M4P having a downward light that's auto or manually turned on was like the chef's kiss IMO. I tell family and friends buy the Mini 3 to start and test the waters if drones are for you and you want more upgrade to the M4P if you have budget constraints grab a used M3P w/RC or save for the M4P because the Mini 3 is still so great lol.

POTENSIC Atom2 is backup to my M4P

Btw i returned m4p because i didn’t wanted a drone with open propeller. I only realized it when i started flying it. If i would my choice would be Air 3s.

Just got the M4P 2 days ago to replace my OG Mavic Air. Love it so far. Got the refurbished fly more plus version from DJI with the extendo batteries for under 1k and added 2 year refresh. I don’t regret it.

I don't. Im fortunate enough that the loss of a $1000 drone isn't that big of a deal for me. My first M4P got wrecked and I just purchased a new one (drone only since I had the controller and batteries) I think you can put it on your homeowners policy though

The best drone is the one that you use the most. The Air 3S is superior, but the M4P is more portable. I have an Air 3 and often just pick up the Neo since I can quickly throw it into my pocket… I’d say: If your main focus is traveling and your audience is either social media, friends and family on WhatsApp or other mobile-first consumers, then M4P. If your main focus is cinematic footage of more sophisticated environments with a dynamic camera system, then 3S. Can’t go wrong with either one.

The cool thing about the Air 3 is the dual camera, and the cool thing about the M4P is the true vertical camera. If your audience is on the phone, doing vertical shots make sense. I’ve read here that you’re mainly concerned about the camera quality. Fortunately, both of these cameras are good enough that *you* will be bottleneck as a beginner. Post editing, subject, lighting, camera angle and drone movements will have a greater effect on the overall outcome than just the technical camera sensor quality. Even if you’re shooting on such a high level that the camera sensor will make a difference, WhatsApp will eat up that difference.

I'd for the m4p or m5p just for the obstacle sensing, is very helpful when starting out, also the RC2 is really worth it, makes the whole experience more enjoyable, and you'd want to fly more often

This guy is just butthurt that the Flip is 85% as capable as his M4P for 50% the price lol.

I have an Air 3s and a M4P (and a Neo). The M4P / RC-2 / batteries pack down into a small light case, the 3 batteries charge quickly (on my 100w charger), it takes great video, it's sub250 so doesn't need registering if that's a thing where you are, and it's very inconspicuous - once it gets 3-4 metres away from people they don't hear it unless they're trying to and if it's up in the sky doing its thing rather than zooming up and down through a park people just don't notice it. It gets tossed around a little bit in the wind but the picture is stable and so long as the drone is moving rather than trying to hover it looks after itself. It's my goto drone for day to day stuff. The Air3s feels a lot more solid and powerful and substantial and doesn't seem to notice winds that would make the M4P complain. The batteries are physically about 3 times the size of the M4P ones and take about 3 times as long to charge, the bag it all lives in is about twice the size and weight of the M4P bag. It has to be a lot further away before people can't hear it, it needs to be registered, and I've heard that the 3 batteries of the flymore combo are just under the limit of how much LiPo battery you're allowed to take on a plane. It's my goto drone for chasing cars at our local dirt track because it doesn't get distracted and it's fast - an Air3s in sport mode is not only faster than the M4P in sport mode, it's faster than an Avata 2 in sport mode. Flying them the same way doing the same thing on the same day at the track It feels like I get more time out of the M4P batteries. I see you bought the same kit I did - you'll love it :) The Neo just for comparison comes with goggles and 3 batteries and the motion controller but not with a case and it REALLY doesn't like windy days. It's my goto drone for chilling and having fun but it's a PITA to take it anywhere because goggles and no case and low wind tolerance, and everyone knows it's there because it sounds like an angry mosquito so you have to stay away from people. I've seen a couple of people say that as it is a ducted propeller drone like the Avata 2 if you rotate it 180 degrees while it's moving then try to go back where you came from through the air it just disturbed it will stall a propellor and drop out of the sky just like an A2 (the yaw spin that people talk about), but I haven't found any videos of a Neo doing it (tbh I haven't looked).

It feels like the M4P batteries last longer. I haven't flown the 3s enough to say for sure, but from what I have done there's not a lot in it either way.

I should mention I have the bigger batteries for the M3P :)

My mini 4 pro has handled some quite astonishing winds. If you're trying to hover it will struggle but if you're flying forwards it's surprising what it can handle. I've seen it bouncing around what looks like half a meter at a time in all directions but the picture is rock steady. The M4P is also very quiet. Of all my drones it's the stealthiest, by the time it's 10 or so meters away you can barely hear it. People just don't notice it unless you are right down on top of them. If the wind is very strong it won't be happy about descending straight into the wind, it has to use full power to stay int he air so can't reduce power to any of the props to come down. If this happens to you try zig zagging it back, or fly slowly away and descend then bring it back home almost at ground level. I've never had to do the with the M4P but I have with my Neo.

the A3s and M4P are the same tech internally. The A3s is better in windy since it's heavier. I do like M4P(fly more +) on long hikes since it weighs less (around 500g less). Depends on what you want to do both are solid if you want to drive and fly go A3s if you like to hike and fly M4P

Whatever you pick, go in accepting there will be at least some step down in quality from DSLR purely due to physics (sensor size, megapixels, smaller lenses, etc). You're basically compromising on image quality for the versatility of having an airborne camera. Expect photos similar to an iPhone 15/16 Pro in that price range, maybe slightly better with the Air 3S. Doesn't mean they're bad photos, but zoomed in side by side you'll notice pixels sooner on the drone shots. If you can get past that, Mini 4 Pro is best for on-the-go use, and is extremely light and about the size of a wide angle lens. Air 3S is best for better wind resistance, lens versatility (wide angle and telephoto), and I feel like the images look slightly less grainy than the M4P and are slightly sharper in lower light. But the tradeoff is that it's 1.5-2x larger in all dimensions, louder, and 3x heavier. M4P is my travel drone, A3S is my at-home drone.

I live in saskatchewan, the M4P will give you a cold warning after some time flying in our cold winters. Hardly is there a good day in the winter to go fly due to the wind, weather etc. It is a great drone, I love it, but I hardly ever get a chance to go fly around these days with work and poor weather. Hope that changes in the summer time. I have however flown a mini 2 in -43⁰C for about 20 minutes and it faired very well, no warnings, just icing on the props. I think the sensors and extra wires in the M4P don't take the cold very well. Before flying in the winter: keep your batteries in a warm spot, not too warm, maybe body temperature. This will allow the batteries to last longer. When your done flying, put the drone into the bag, the bag will slowly bring the drone back up to room temperature, and won't cause moisture to build up behind the lense due to heating up too quick

Very good point. A few months ago i tried using my M4P while holding through a slightly wooded path. The M4P couldn’t make it more than 20ft without having to stop.

How does the 2x zoom work? There's only one lens so it should be a digital crop? The images from the M5P are so much better than the M4P with the zoom though

I recommend the m4p

I wouldn't be down voting the Flip... I just think for 1500 dollars he could probably get a NEO and a M4P but if he couldn't manage that he could get a NEO and a 4K with nice RC and have the best of both worlds!! 😂 And he could take them both on vacation for sure

Yeah for 1500 bucks he would have three batteries with 31 minutes on each one. Which is a good amount of flying time for someone just wanting to fly around on vacation and snap shots. I feel like my M4P packs just as easy as my NEO

I've come across the Canadian border now twice, with a new M4P each time. Make sure your new drone is "used" out of the packaging and in a beat-up aftermarket case. One time it was ignored completely during my crossing, and the next one they asked about and I said "I've had the M4P for over a year now..." Which is a truthful statement, just nit referring *directly* to this particular M4P. I also brought up my YouTube channel full of footage of the M4P following me around desert hikes, and that ended the discussion.

Funny design, maybe.... https://preview.redd.it/7fvqfa7lo7ee1.jpeg?width=225&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00ddeb4adbaf3e6d7261279d03c7db073fc5afce I've the M4P, but if I didn't have it, I would probably consider getting it, even with less wind resistance and even with a larger battery, less autonomy. I think it's something between the Neo and the M4P and that might be the reason, there wasn't much need for it to exist.

Well you stated “entry level” so this way it keeps you budget reasonable. If you can afford a bigger budget and want to gamble that you will be flying your drone regularly in a years time then I would either wait for another couple of weeks and go for the new pro 5 with the RC2 controller or the excellent pro 4. You can use a standard controller with your phone attached for those as well, that would reduce your initial outlay and then upgrade to the RC2 controller at a later date

Fingers crossed that it will be really early September. I just sold my 4 Pro the other day for a pretty good amount on eBay (only lost about £200 on it from what I paid on jt) knowing this was rumoured very soon and was said to have a 1 inch sensor.

Either is fine for the most part if you’re not pixel peeping. The 5 has a larger sensor which would make it better in low light. You would get less noise at higher iso. But if you are in the United states if you want to fly it dawn or dusk (30mins before sunrise and 30s after sunset) you would need to add an RID module and an air collision strobe light. That would put it over 250 grams and you would have to register it. (The rule is weight at takeoff). If you wanted to fly at night you would need to get a waiver from the FAA. So if you’re not shooting in low light the 4 pro would be fine.

dji 4 pro bought it as my first drone and I'm not dissapointed ... but be aware and buy dji refresh it can save you loot of trouble and money