Latest news with #Mavic4Pro
Nikkei Asia
3 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
DJI skips US for new flagship drone amid tariffs, security scrutiny
GUANGZHOU -- Top Chinese drone maker DJI will not release the latest model in its flagship line in the U.S., a decision likely related to American tariffs on Chinese goods as well as a clampdown on the company over security fears. The Mavic 4 Pro, which went on sale in China and other markets on May 13, has three cameras -- including wide-angle and telephoto, with the main one boasting a 100-megapixel sensor -- that can rotate 360 degrees in flight. It has been priced at around $2,000 in other markets.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
New Mavic 4 Pro Is A World Beater, For Warriors As Well As Filmmakers
This month, Chinese drone makers DJI launched their long awaited Mavic 4 Pro quadcopter. As expected, the latest version of the company's flagship product is packed with upgrades and new features. If you want swooping aerial shots capturing crisp 6K video, this is your drone. But there is also a huge community of military Mavic users on both sides of the war in Ukraine waiting to get their hands on the new technology too. Based on the specifications and reviews so far, the Mavic 4 Pro will set a new standard in drone cinematography. It will also make an extremely effective war machine. DJI, based in Shenzhen, China, insist that their drones are for peaceful use only and have reapteadly condemned their use in warfare. They have banned sales in both Ukraine and Russia. But DJI commands around 70% of the global consumer drone market for good reason. Their products are world beaters which open affordable drone photography to even the least skilled consumer. Their drones, in particular the Mavic series which fold up small enough to fit in cargo pocket, give every squad their own aerial reconnaissance capability and have been extremely popular with both sides. They regularly top the lists of equipment requested by soldiers. Russian military blogger Alexey Rogozin stated that the "Mavic (quadcopter) has already become the de facto standard in reconnaissance for the parties to the conflict in Ukraine." In fact, the name 'Mavic' has become a generic term for battlefield quadcopters, much to DJI's dismay. Both armies have a small industry devoted to 'hacking' the drones, modifying the firmware to get around limitations imposed by the makers and prevent them from being tracked. The small drones have transformed artillery fire, by finding hidden targets and enabling commanders to adjust their aim, doing far more damage with fewer rounds. They are also lethal bombers. Mavics with simple drop hardware rain down grenades on enemy positions with deadly precision, dropping munitions into foxholes and trenches or vehicle hatches. We have also seen dogfights in which quadcopters take out opposing drones by ramming: the preferred tactic is to approach from above in the enemy's blind spot, so they break their rotors against the attacker's body and plunge to the ground. More recently, Mavics armed with sawn-off shotgun attachments have taken on the role of interceptors shooting down enemy scouts and bombers. The new Mavic 4 Pro will be superior to its predecessor for all types of military operation. The big selling point of the Mavic 4 Pro is its improved optics, with three separate cameras including a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad with a brand new 100MP sensor. Military operators may be more interested in the long-range camera, with a 50MP 1/1.5-inch sensor and a 168mm lens boasting a 'specifically optimized gimbal algorithm tailored for its telephoto optics to deliver unparalleled image quality and stability in long-range aerial photography.' Enthusiastic reviewers say the camera should be great for tracking wildlife and is likely to be equally good for finding elusive targets. The Mavic 4 Pro also outperforms its predecessor in flight, with a top speed of 56 mph versus 47 mph for the Mavic 3 Pro, and an enhanced battery and battery aerodynamics stretching the flight time from 43 minutes to 51. The increased speed will translate into greater payload capacity, as well as the ability to choose to intercept or run in a dogfight. The greater endurance is crucial in reconnaissance: when the enemy is a 15-minute flight away, more battery capacity translates directly into more minutes over the target area. Another new feature is the Infinity Gimbal which gives 360-degree rotation plus the ability to look upwards at a 70-degree angle. Operators can check the blind spot above their drone in a way that was impossible with earlier versions and will change dogfight tactics. When the U.S. Army was looking for tactical reconnaissance quadcopters for its Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) role, it specified two new features which did not then exist: night time obstacle avoidance, and advanced autonomy features. The Mavic 4 Pro delivers both. The new drone has LIDAR obstacle avoidance as well as six omnidirectional fisheye sensors that work in low light equivalent to full moonlight. One reviewer found the Mavic 4 Pro had no trouble flying around trees and buildings that would have been risky with the earlier model. Because LIDAR does not rely on visible light, obstacle avoidance works in the dark. The Mavic 4 Pro has what the makers call 'intelligent autonomy'. This includes an advanced return-to-home function: the drone builds a visual map of its outbound route which it can follow even if GPS is lost. It can negotiate complex return paths through urban terrain on its own, a capability which one reviewer tested and found 'truly remarkable." '360° gimbal and LiDAR obstacle sensing blew my mind,' wrote T3's reviewer, giving it five stars and a platinum award.. The ActiveTrack function has also been upgraded. This allows the operator to lock on to a subject for hands-free operation, so solo filmmakers can shoot themselves skiing or biking or climbing. The drone can now keep tracking even when the subject disappears behind an object and follow while avoiding obstacles. 'The Mavic 4 Pro stayed locked on a car driving at up to 30 mph with full obstacle avoidance,' noted Engadget. 'When filming the bike rider, the Mavic 4 Pro chose interesting and random routes around trees that often yielded cinematic greatness.' While the new drone may be an upgrade, it will also bring issues for military users. A whole infrastructure of both software and hardware support has grown up around the existing models. The Russian Firmware 1001 hack had already been through 46 versions in 2024, and extensive work will be needed to update this for the new drone. New repair shop equipment and spare parts supply chains will be needed to keep the new drones flying. One Russian blogger complained that they had 'fallen into the trap' of becoming reliant on the Mavic 3 and complained about Russia's continuing inability to produce anything to rival it. The new drone is available from DJI for $2,500 in Europe but is not being sold in the United States. This is not just because of tariff uncertainties for China but also because of ongoing political tensions. Drone blogger Sally French aka The Drone Girl suggests that we are now entering a 'Drone Cold War' which will see the U.S. cut off from Chinese drones and components. Like the Russians and Ukrainians, American drone users may need to see agents in third parties to get hold of the hottest thing in drone hardware. There products may be used in wars, but DJI shows no intention of ever producing actual military hardware. If they did, there is no doubt that the giant company could produce extremely capable and increasingly autonomous drones by the million. A Drone Cold War is one thing, a real drone war with China might be something else.
WIRED
24-05-2025
- Business
- WIRED
DJI Mavic Pro Review: Powerful and Easy to Use
Having reviewed dozens of drones of all shapes, sizes, and prices, I'd recently come to the conclusion that smaller, lighter, and cheaper drones were the way to go for 90 percent of consumers. Premium drones, with all their equipment and flight regulations, just didn't make sense. But then DJI launched its new premium-priced, jumbo-size flagship consumer drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, and made me fall in love all over again. Yes, this drone is seriously impressive. But before I deep-dive the phenomenally good camera and ridiculously long range, it's important to note that the Mavic 4 Pro will not be officially available in the US. Yet. As well as ongoing issues around flight restrictions and security, a DJI spokesperson told WIRED, 'Like many global companies, we have had to adjust our market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved. While we do not have a timeline for when we can introduce the product to the US market, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution.' The Mavic 4 Pro is, however, listed on B&H Photo for $2,699, which is teasingly optimistic. It's not for sale, yet, but there is at least some hope. Focal Hero So what makes the Mavic 4 Pro great? It's mostly down to the camera. Or cameras, I should say. Just like its predecessor, the Mavic 3 Pro (9/10 WIRED Recommends), the Mavic 4 Pro has three cameras. There's an ultra-high-spec wide-angle camera partnered with slightly lower-spec medium-telephoto and telephoto cameras. The trio's equivalent focal lengths are 28 mm, 70 mm and 168 mm, respectively. They're all improvements over the Mavic 3 Pro's cameras. And the star of the show features a new 4/3 sensor capable of 100 MP photographs and 6K video capture at up to 60 fps (or 4K at 120 fps, for slick slow-motion playback), with an astounding 16 stops of dynamic range. It also has an adjustable aperture, allowing pilots to pick anything between f/2.0 and f/11.0. The other cameras' sensors are a little smaller in size, their video is limited to 4K resolution, and their apertures are fixed at f/2.8, but all three cameras can capture video at 10-bit quality using the D-Log, D-Log M, or HLG color profiles. In other words, all are built for pro-quality aerial movie making. And better yet, it is all mounted on a completely new design of gimbal that's able to freely rotate and tilt. Not only does this mean it can be pointed directly upward, it can also rotate to capture true portrait-oriented content, perfectly formatted for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. All of the above makes the creative capabilities of the Mavic 4 Pro something to behold. It's a fantastic aerial camera in almost any lighting conditions (the 28-mm Hasselblad is particularly capable at night-time, for instance) and its range of motion and choice of focal lengths makes it incredibly versatile. If there's something else this accomplished in consumer drones, image-quality wise, I've yet to encounter it. Flight Club The drone's flight capabilities are impressive, too, right down to new time-saving touches like the fact it automatically powers on when unfolded. Battery life is now 51 minutes, a notable improvement over the Mavic 3 Pro's 43 minutes, while the more aerodynamic design of the drone makes flight both faster and quieter. The 4 Pro is also the first Mavic model to come with a front-facing Lidar sensor, which, when teamed up with the low-light vision sensors that poke out in all directions, gives this drone a lot more situational awareness and anti-collision capability, even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. This works well with its tracking capabilities, which allow it to accurately keep the camera focussed on people, boats, and vehicles while being flown either manually or autonomously. Return to home capabilities have also been upgraded. The drone's enhanced visual skills now let it automatically fly back to its take-off point without the use of GPS. I was also able to move the home point to the current controller position rather than the take-off point, which is a handy feature to have if you're piloting the drone from a moving car or boat. Controller Upgrade DJI sent me both a regular RC 2 controller and the new RC 2 Pro controller ($1,299) to test with the Mavic 4 Pro, and while the former works well enough, the RC 2 Pro really improves the experience. Its screen is larger and brighter and can rotate through 90 degrees to act more like a smartphone (it runs on Android, so you can install third-party apps), and it powers on automatically when you lift the screen from the body. This movement also results in the two thumb sticks popping up, meaning you don't have to screw them on each time you use the controller. Photograph: Chris Haslam All in all, the Mavic 4 Pro represents a major upgrade over its already impressive predecessor and makes the idea of owning a larger drone once again very appealing. While it's true that heavier drones are subject to a lot of (often tiresome) restrictions compared to ultra-lightweight models, but the extra paperwork and care around flight locations seems like a price worth paying when they perform as well as this does. As for the actual price of the Mavic 4 Pro, I'd call it expensive but good value—provided you're going to actually make use of this drone's vast array of capabilities. If you're just looking for something to get in the air and capture a few good-looking shots, the much cheaper DJI Mini 4 Pro (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is all you need. If you want the flexibility and power to create something special, the Mavic 4 Pro has it—and more. I just hope DJI is able to navigate around the ongoing uncertainty of the Trump administration's tariffs, as it'd be a true shame if this brilliant drone were not available in the US.
WIRED
24-05-2025
- Business
- WIRED
DJI's New Flagship Drone Is Astonishingly Powerful and Easy to Use
Having reviewed dozens of drones of all shapes, sizes, and prices, I'd recently come to the conclusion that smaller, lighter, and cheaper drones were the way to go for 90 percent of consumers. Premium drones, with all their equipment and flight regulations, just didn't make sense. But then DJI launched its new premium-priced, jumbo-size flagship consumer drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, and made me fall in love all over again. Yes, this drone is seriously impressive. But before I deep-dive the phenomenally good camera and ridiculously long range, it's important to note that the Mavic 4 Pro will not be officially available in the US. Yet. As well as ongoing issues around flight restrictions and security, a DJI spokesperson told WIRED, 'Like many global companies, we have had to adjust our market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved. While we do not have a timeline for when we can introduce the product to the US market, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution.' The Mavic 4 Pro is, however, listed on B&H Photo for $2,699, which is teasingly optimistic. It's not for sale, yet, but there is at least some hope. Focal Hero So what makes the Mavic 4 Pro great? It's mostly down to the camera. Or cameras, I should say. Just like its predecessor, the Mavic 3 Pro (9/10 WIRED Recommends), the Mavic 4 Pro has three cameras. There's an ultra-high-spec wide-angle camera partnered with slightly lower-spec medium-telephoto and telephoto cameras. The trio's equivalent focal lengths are 28 mm, 70 mm and 168 mm, respectively. They're all improvements over the Mavic 3 Pro's cameras. And the star of the show features a new 4/3 sensor capable of 100 MP photographs and 6K video capture at up to 60 fps (or 4K at 120 fps, for slick slow-motion playback), with an astounding 16 stops of dynamic range. It also has an adjustable aperture, allowing pilots to pick anything between f/2.0 and f/11.0. The other cameras' sensors are a little smaller in size, their video is limited to 4K resolution, and their apertures are fixed at f/2.8, but all three cameras can capture video at 10-bit quality using the D-Log, D-Log M, or HLG color profiles. In other words, all are built for pro-quality aerial movie making. And better yet, it is all mounted on a completely new design of gimbal that's able to freely rotate and tilt. Not only does this mean it can be pointed directly upward, it can also rotate to capture true portrait-oriented content, perfectly formatted for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. All of the above makes the creative capabilities of the Mavic 4 Pro something to behold. It's a fantastic aerial camera in almost any lighting conditions (the 28-mm Hasselblad is particularly capable at night-time, for instance) and its range of motion and choice of focal lengths makes it incredibly versatile. If there's something else this accomplished in consumer drones, image-quality wise, I've yet to encounter it. Flight Club The drone's flight capabilities are impressive, too, right down to new time-saving touches like the fact it automatically powers on when unfolded. Battery life is now 51 minutes, a notable improvement over the Mavic 3 Pro's 43 minutes, while the more aerodynamic design of the drone makes flight both faster and quieter. The 4 Pro is also the first Mavic model to come with a front-facing Lidar sensor, which, when teamed up with the low-light vision sensors that poke out in all directions, gives this drone a lot more situational awareness and anti-collision capability, even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. This works well with its tracking capabilities, which allow it to accurately keep the camera focussed on people, boats, and vehicles while being flown either manually or autonomously. Return to home capabilities have also been upgraded. The drone's enhanced visual skills now let it automatically fly back to its take-off point without the use of GPS. I was also able to move the home point to the current controller position rather than the take-off point, which is a handy feature to have if you're piloting the drone from a moving car or boat. Controller Upgrade DJI sent me both a regular RC 2 controller and the new RC 2 Pro controller ($1,299) to test with the Mavic 4 Pro, and while the former works well enough, the RC 2 Pro really improves the experience. Its screen is larger and brighter and can rotate through 90 degrees to act more like a smartphone (it runs on Android, so you can install third-party apps), and it powers on automatically when you lift the screen from the body. This movement also results in the two thumb sticks popping up, meaning you don't have to screw them on each time you use the controller. Photograph: Chris Haslam All in all, the Mavic 4 Pro represents a major upgrade over its already impressive predecessor and makes the idea of owning a larger drone once again very appealing. While it's true that heavier drones are subject to a lot of (often tiresome) restrictions compared to ultra-lightweight models, but the extra paperwork and care around flight locations seems like a price worth paying when they perform as well as this does. As for the actual price of the Mavic 4 Pro, I'd call it expensive but good value—provided you're going to actually make use of this drone's vast array of capabilities. If you're just looking for something to get in the air and capture a few good-looking shots, the much cheaper DJI Mini 4 Pro (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is all you need. If you want the flexibility and power to create something special, the Mavic 4 Pro has it—and more. I just hope DJI is able to navigate around the ongoing uncertainty of the Trump administration's tariffs, as it'd be a true shame if this brilliant drone were not available in the US.
Engadget
24-05-2025
- Engadget
Engadget review recap: DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Sony WH-1000XM6, ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and more
The biggest tech events in May and June may be software focused, but there's plenty of hardware going through the wringer here at Engadget. Over the last two weeks alone, we've put a drone, gaming display, headphones and a gaming tablet through their paces. If you missed any of that, or our latest game analysis and EV test drive, keeping scrolling to catch up on our latest reviews. DJI's Mavic 4 Pro is the most technologically advanced consumer drone I've seen, with improvements in video quality, obstacle detection, tracking, battery life and range. However, it's not yet on sale in the US. $2,360 at DJI Reporter Steve Dent reviews a lot of drones at Engadget. So when he uses descriptors like "a new standard," "the most technologically advanced drone I've seen" and "the best video quality," everyone needs to take note. After his tests, Steve argued that the Mavic 4 Pro is further proof of how DJI continues to outpace its rivals. "It's an improvement over the Mavic 3 Pro in nearly every area, and as mentioned, it doesn't really have any competition in the consumer space," he said. "The closest alternative in price and capability is Autel's Evo II Pro 6K, but that drone has a single-camera system with a smaller sensor, less endurance and shorter range." The crown is safe once again. Sony has managed to overhaul its flagship headphones in all the right ways that keep the 1000X line atop our best headphones list. $448 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $450 at Best Buy$450 at Sony Electronics Sony's latest flagship headphones were hardly a secret by the time they officially arrived last week, but thankfully, the three-year wait for the upgrade was well worth it. The company managed to improve its already great over-ear headphones yet again, with updates to sound quality, noise cancellation and overall comfort. "The only real downside is the price continues to go up: the M6 is $50 more than the M5 was at launch," I wrote. "When you combine their performance with Sony's ever-growing list of features, the 1000XM6 are the best headphones you can buy right now." The ROG Flow Z13 fills the gap between traditional gaming laptops and portable workstations, but its keyboard and price are hard to love. $2,300 at Best Buy If you're looking for a gaming tablet to replace your laptop, there are some perks to the ROG Flow Z13. However, there are also some drawbacks, mainly the flimsy keyboard that makes typing on anything other than a table or desk quite cumbersome. "It's got a funky build and unapologetically aggressive styling," senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford explained. "But unless you have a very particular set of requirements, it doesn't fit neatly into most people's lives as an equivalent laptop." The 27 UltraGear is a phenomenal OLED gaming monitor, and it proves that 480Hz screens aren't all just hype. $800 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $870 at Macy's$800 at Best Buy It may have taken writing a review to get senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardwar to understand the hype around 480Hz gaming displays, but I'd argue the sacrifice was well worth it. The LG 27 UltraGear is a powerhouse, right down to the future-proof DisplayPort 2.1 connection. It's expensive though, and besides the OLED panel, it's not much of a looker. But that performance, it'll make you forget where you are. "The real world melted away — I was fully inside Rocket League's absurd soccer arena," he described. "When the match ended, it took me a few minutes to reacclimatize to reality." Contributor Tim Stevens spent some time behind the wheel of Hyundai's three-row Ioniq 9 EV SUV. Pricing for the more premium trims ventures into Rivian territory, but Tim argues the Ioniq 9 is the more practical choice for the rigors of daily life over the R1S. "The Ioniq 9 has a stance more like a Volvo station wagon than a gigantic family hauler, but make no mistake, it's the latter," he said. "That's immediately evident as soon as you climb into the third row." Senior gaming editor Jessica Conditt took Remedy's co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak for a spin. While the game enticed her to keep playing after almost three hours with two strangers, it could still use some polish before next month's launch. "All of the issues I have with Firebreak can be fine-tuned before the game launches this summer, and I have faith in Remedy to do so," she observed. " Firebreak is poised to be a thoughtful and focused entry in the co-op shooter genre, and it's already an inviting extension of Remedy's darkest and silliest sensibilities.
