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Tom's Guide
26-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I gave the DJI Mavic 4 Pro 5 stars but you still can't buy it in the US — I'd recommend these 3 drones instead
The DJI Mavic 4 Pro made headlines when DJI first announced it in May just gone. I was one of the first people to review what I call the most powerful consumer drone yet, and I was floored by its 100MP Hasselblad camera, smooth 6K/60fps video, long flight time, and new RC Pro 2 controller. But the drone also made headlines for another reason... DJI announced that it wouldn't be making the Mavic 4 Pro available in the U.S. market upon its global launch. This didn't come as a surprise to many drone pilots who have been aware of talks of a DJI ban circulating for over a year, but that doesn't stop it from being an absolute bummer. The Mavic 4 Pro is a mind-blowing drone, and many users in the U.K., Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world have been lucky enough to fly or own it. But for Americans who can't get the drone (yet, that may change in the future), fret not. I'm a licensed drone pilot, and I test the best drones, and there are alternatives from DJI available. They may not all be as powerful as the Mavic 4 Pro, as that drone has set a new standard, but they're still extremely good. The first alternative on this list is, of course, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, the Mavic 4 Pro's predecessor. With the RC controller, it's priced similarly to the Mavic 4 Pro: it'll set you back by $2,199 / £2,367. While its successor captures 6K/60fps footage, the Mavic 3 Pro captures 5.1K/50fps, which is still fantastic and extremely smooth. It's got 10-bit D-Log M too to capture a wide dynamic range and 1.07 billion individual hues for more freedom in post-production and while color grading. Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance is also at play here, letting you fly with more confidence. The Mavic 3 Pro's flight time stands at 43 minutes (8 minutes fewer than the Mavic 4 Pro), so you can undertake long flights. With three cameras that capture detailed stills, 5.1K/50fps video, a three-axis mechanical gimbal for stabilizing footage, a long flight time, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and other goodies, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a fantastic Mavic 4 Pro alternative. It's the drone that comes closest to DJI's latest creation. Similar to its successor, the Mavic 3 Pro utilizes three cameras (with a three-axis mechanical gimbal for stabilizing footage): 48MP Medium Tele, 20MP Hasselblad and 12MP Tele. It's excellent for any kind of landscape and nature shot, really. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The DJI Air 3S sits at the top of our best drones buying guide, and it's my favorite drone — I rarely go anywhere without it. Again, not as advanced as the DJI Mavic 4 Pr,o but I believe it's the next best thing. It's extremely easy to fly with either the RC-N3 or the RC-2 controller, and it captures stunning 4K/60fps footage, detailed RAW photos, and a wide dynamic range in D-Log M. Unlike the Mavic series, the Air 3S utilizes two cameras — 12MP/50MP Wide-Angle and 48MP Medium Tele — and the photos it captures are incredibly detailed, even while using the drone's 9x digital zoom. Its flight time is two minutes longer than the Mavic 3 Pro's, too! The new DJI Air 3S is an outstanding drone with a dual-camera system that lets aerial videographers and travel photographers capture wide-angle and medium telephoto shots. With a large 1-inch sensor, next-gen obstacle avoidance, 42GB internal storage, and superb low-light performance, this is the best 4K/60fps drone money can buy right now. You also get 42GB of internal storage and a slot for a microSD card, and omnidirectional obstacle sensors to avoid crashing into objects. The Air 3S is also a more affordable alternative to the Mavic series, so if you want to save money while waiting for the Mavic 4 Pro but still want a highly capable drone, I'd recommend the Air 3S any day. See sample footage and images in my full DJI Air 3S review. This one's a bit of a wild card, as the DJI Flip is what I'd describe as a cheap drone — its price tag is nearly a third of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro! But that doesn't mean you should underestimate the Flip. It's a great budget alternative if, again, you want to save for the Mavic 4 Pro. It's the easiest drone to get a hang of, and I'd recommend getting the RC-2 controller for it (700-nits of brightness packed into its touchscreen) for easy and comfortable flying. And if you're a Star Wars fan, I think you'll really enjoy its design as it looks like a droid. Unlike the Air 3S, the Flip has just one camera that takes 48MP stills, and they look absolutely beautiful. A three-axis mechanical gimbal is at play here, again, so you don't have to worry about footage being shaky. Again, the drone captures 4K/60fps footage or FHD/100fps slow-mo footage. The DJI Flip is a solid mid-range drone, perfect for those looking to upgrade from older DJI models. It captures detailed 48MP stills in all lighting conditions, and records gorgeous 4K/60fps footage. It's great for content creators as it features many shooting modes, plus it's built really well and sports a slick design. What I love about the Flip is that it's under 249g, so you don't necessarily need to register with the F.A.A. in the U.S. or the C.A.A. in the U.K. to fly it — unlike the other two drones on this list. Although it's lightweight, you'll have to be mindful of gusts of wind as they can knock the Flip off course. Obstacle avoidance is also limited to front-facing only, so you'll need to watch for hindrances. See sample footage and images in my full DJI Flip review. So, while you wait for the DJI Mavic 4 Pro to hopefully land in the U.S. market someday, is there any drone you'll be buying to pass the time? Or to step up your aerial photography skills before taking to the sky with the Mavic 4 Pro? Let me know in the comments below!
Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested the new DJI RC Pro 2 drone controller — and it's a beast for content creation on the fly
As our in-house drones expert, I look after our best drones buying guide and I test the latest drones by pushing them to the limit. That includes analyzing every single feature, scrutinizing image/video quality, build quality, and checking if battery claims are correct. But what good is a drone without a controller? There are a few types of drone controllers: The last of these, the DJI RC Pro 2, is brand new, and it accompanied the launch of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. It's the first drone I've ever given a 5-star rating too, and there are many reasons for it. 100MP Hasselblad stills, 6K/60fps video, next-gen obstacle avoidance, and the RC Pro 2. The DJI RC Pro 2 is made for professionals, and it's the brand's most advanced consumer controller yet. Its 7-inch mini LED touchscreen is highly responsive and sports a peak brightness of 2,000 nits (and a 1,600 nits sustained brightness). There's an HDMI port for streaming, built-in mics, rotatable display for instant vertical shooting, and more. The RC Pro 2 is the brand's most powerful consumer controller yet, and it doesn't come cheap. Currently not available in the U.S. (as DJI continues to assess its market strategy in line with the local conditions), it retails for £879 in the U.K. But for those who want to elevate their flying experience, it's well worth the premium — let me show you why. Unlike the DJI RC-N3, the DJI RC-2 and so on, the DJI RC Pro 2 features a flip-up screen and pulling it up reveals the collapsible joysticks and buttons. This also wakes up the controller (and puts it to sleep when you push the screen down), so you don't need to press a specific button to power up anymore. It takes a step out of the prep process so you can get to flying almost instantly. There's no sugarcoating it: the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is an expensive drone, retailing for £1,879 in the U.K. for the drone and the RC-2 controller. If you want the RC Pro 2, you can get the Creator Combo which also adds 512GB of internal storage to the drone, for £3,209. Good news is that the RC Pro 2 is compatible with other drones that support vertical shooting — like the Air 3S, Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro. What's even better is that the RC Pro 2 syncs with the drone's gimbal, so rotating it vertically puts the drone into vertical shooting mode, negating the need to manually toggle the orientation. I think this is a very underrated feature. I constantly swapped between horizontal and vertical shooting, and the RC Pro 2's screen's rotation feels as smooth as butter. The RC Pro 2 is also the brightest consumer controller. It has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits and a sustained brightness of 1,600 nits (the maximum brightness that a display can maintain for an extended period of time without overheating). For context, the RC-2 has a max brightness of 700 nits. This is why I could view the screen even on an extremely sunny day. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It also accurately displays 10-bit D-Log/D-Log M colors just as the drone records them — and what you'd see when editing the footage in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. Overall, the RC Pro 2 makes for a fantastic viewing experience that's unlike any other. There's a solid reason why the DJI RC Pro 2 is part of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo: it's a beast for videography and content creation. First of all, it features Dynamic Home Point Support. For example, if you're controlling your drone from a moving vehicle, the RC Pro 2 will constantly update the home point in real-time so when you need to land it, it'll land close to where your vehicle has stopped. You also get an HDMI port which you can use to livestream what your drone is seeing (or your recorded footage) on to a larger screen, like one of the best TVs. There's 128GB of internal storage too as well as a slot for a microSD card. And what I really like is that the RC Pro 2 has a built-in mic so you can record audio while flying. The controller's compatible with the DJI mic series, such as the DJI Mic 2 and DJI Mic Mini, but if you don't have access to these, at least you can record directly to the controller. To top it all, for the first time, the RC Pro 2 has third-party app support which makes it work like a regular tablet. You can download video editing apps onto the controller and edit footage for quick sharing to social media. This also means that you don't have to wait until going back to your laptop to start the post-production process. Since the controller uses a custom Android OS, you can install APKs via the built-in browser or a microSD card. I tested this out by downloading Adobe Lightroom Classic for photo editing and it worked like a charm. The screen shows 10-bit colors which means it can show 1.07 billion individual hues, and it's extremely responsive too, which makes editing a cinch. I even downloaded Qobuz so that I could listen to music while editing! So, should you buy or skip the DJI RC Pro 2? It depends on a few things. If you're in the U.S., you're out of luck (for now) but I hope that changes soon. If you're in the U.K. and want a controller that makes content creation easier and flying more intuitive, then yes, it's worth the money. The fact that you can use third-party apps to quickly edit content, listen to music while doing so, or even watch some YouTube videos in between editing sprees, makes the RC Pro 2 a force to be reckoned with. I'm already looking forward to using it more over the weekend.
Tom's Guide
17-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested this new DJI drone that combines aerial and mirrorless camera prowess — and I can't get enough of it
It shouldn't come as a surprise that, right now, DJI is dominating the consumer drones market. The Chinese tech giant has put out one hit product after another with the likes of the DJI Air 3S, the DJI Neo, and the DJI Flip. As the in-house drones expert, I've covered these products extensively, often raving about how the Air 3S brings me unbridled joy, and that I can't stop thinking about flying the Neo. And just when I thought it couldn't get better, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro took flight. On average, I review four or five products a week, and it isn't often that a product blows me away. The DJI Mavic 4 Pro improves on its predecessor by introducing 6K/60fps video, 100MP stills powered by a Hasselblad camera, and a brand new RC Pro 2 controller that makes flying a breeze. With a long flight time and 5-star performance across the board, it's the ideal drone for commercial and personal use — as long as you don't mind the weight restrictions. A 5-star rating isn't a common occurrence at Tom's Guide, but the Mavic 4 Pro earned the rare rating from me for a number of reasons, like its 100MP Hasselblad camera, 6K/60fps video capabilities, and ease of use, and we need to talk about that new RC Pro 2 controller, and we will in this feature. The Mavic 4 Pro is nothing short of a flying Hasselblad — let me show you why. Before I get into why I've fallen head over heels for the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, I want to talk about the new DJI RC Pro 2 controller. You can get the drone with the RC-2 controller (which you can see in my DJI Air 3S review) which is great in its own right, but you can always opt for the Creator Combo which adds 512GB of internal storage to the drone and comes with the RC Pro 2 — and I believe it's worth the extra spend. The RC Pro 2 improves on its predecessor by introducing a flip-up screen which hides the joysticks. The 7-inch mini LED touchscreen is large and its ability to flip out makes for better viewing. It's also extremely bright at 2000 nits. For context, the first-gen RC Pro is rated at 1000 nits while the RC-2 is rated at 700. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. DJI has designed the RC Pro 2 to display colors and footage as accurately and true to life as possible, and if you're shooting in D-Log/D-Log M, the screen will show exactly what the RAW footage looks like. Another design choice I really like that makes flying intuitive is that the drone's gimbal rotates if the screen is rotated at a 90° angle for vertical viewing. The Mavic 4 Pro supports 4K vertical recording, and you don't need to manually change the shooting setting from horizontal to vertical — just flip the screen. That is cool. There's also an HDMI port for streaming and built-in mics, and there's enough to talk about that I could dedicate a whole article just to the controller (and I will). We all know the name Hasselblad. My editor described the Hasselblad X2D 100C as "the Koenigsegg of cameras" — and he isn't wrong. The brand oozes luxury, and its cameras don't come cheap. You may also know that DJI owns Hasselblad (and if you didn't, you do now). And I fully believe that the DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the cheapest way of getting a (flying) Hasselblad. The drone has three cameras, and one of them is the main Hasselblad cam. The Mavic 4 Pro is fitted with a 4/3-inch Micro Four Thirds 100MP Hasselblad CMOS sensor. This is the most advanced camera on a consumer drone (yet), and it takes stunning photos with lots and lots of detail and (very) faithful color reproduction. A picture paints a thousand words, they say, so I'll let the gallery above do the talking. These are some of the best photos I've taken with a drone (or camera, even) so far. The compilation of footage above was shot in 4K/60fps with the main Hasselblad camera, and I don't think I've seen smoother footage from a drone before. You can also shoot in 6K/60fps and 4K/120fps slow motion. What's even better is that the Hasselblad camera captures 10-bit 4:2:2 video, which means it's capable of capturing 1.07 billion individual hues. I should, however, point out that the Mavic 4 Pro isn't currently available to buy in the U.S. DJI confirmed that it has had to "adjust [its] market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved." So while pilots in the rainy British isles, Europe, Australia and most other parts of the world can enjoy all the goodies the Mavic 4 Pro has to offer, Americans can't. And that's a real shame. I sincerely hope that changes. The Mavic 4 Pro is the ultimate drone and it's a game-changer in the field of aerial photography. I would hate for anyone to miss out on this drone. No other piece of tech has given me such an adrenaline rush as the Mavic 4 Pro has — and I can't wait to take off again.
Engadget
13-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
DJI Mavic 4 Pro review: A new standard for consumer drones
DJI's much-awaited Mavic 4 Pro drone has launched, but there's bad news. Due to Trump's tariffs and other market uncertainties (like a potential DJI ban), it's not yet on sale in America and there's no word on when it will be, or for what price. That will disappoint US buyers, because the Mavic 4 Pro is the most technologically advanced consumer drone ever. With a triple-camera system housed in a wild-looking round gimbal, it can shoot up to 6K at 60 fps with 16 stops of dynamic range, beating any drone and even most cameras. DJI also boosted top speed, battery life and range, while improving obstacle avoidance in low light via a new LiDAR system. Plus, the company introduced an all-new RC Pro 2 controller with a useful new foldable design. I've had the Mavic 4 Pro for a couple of weeks now and it performs even better than the specs would suggest. Though a bit expensive, this drone is so polished and capable that nothing else remotely compares to it. 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 The trademark feature, as we've seen from leaks and a teaser last week, is the big round triple-camera 'Infinity Gimbal' module at the front. The idea is to allow the gimbal to rotate freely for improved stabilization and interesting camera angles. It boosts the tilt-up angle from 60 to 70 degrees and lets the gimbal rotate at any angle, allowing off-kilter 'Dutch' camera angles for more interesting shots. And of course, it can rotate 90 degrees to deliver full-resolution vertical video for social media. With that new housing and slightly larger batteries, the 2.3 pound Mavic 4 Pro is 0.2 pounds heavier than the Mavic 3 Pro. The propeller arms have been updated so they can be folded and unfolded in any order, unlike the previous model. The body is also more aerodynamic to boost efficiency and speed. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Tucked in the left propeller arm is a forward-facing LiDAR sensor that greatly aids nighttime obstacle detection. The drone also has six omnidirectional fisheye sensors that work in as little as 0.1 lux, which is equivalent to a night sky lit by a full moon. Where the Mavic 3 Pro had just 8GB of internal memory, the standard Mavic 4 Pro is equipped with 64GB of storage (42GB usable), and the Creator Combo version comes with a generous 512GB of high-speed storage (460GB usable). Both models have a microSD card slot as well. DJI's new RC2 Pro screen controller folds up and flips sideways. (Steve Dent for Engadget) The Mavic 4 Pro ships with the RC2 screen controller first seen with the Air 3 in the basic and Fly More kits. However, DJI also introduced the RC2 Pro, a controller unlike any I've seen before. The bright 7-inch HDR display folds up to provide a multi-angle view and the joysticks now collapse into the body. It has a full complement of controls for flying and camera operations, including a button that flips the camera 90 degrees. The RC2 Pro also has an HDMI and a USB-C port, along with Wi-Fi 6 support for high-speed data transfers. The new 95Wh batteries are rated to offer up to 51 minutes of flight time, or around 40-45 minutes in typical use. That's a significant boost from the 30-35 minute real-world battery life on the Mavic 3 Pro. Better still, they charge faster than ever at 51 minutes for one battery (via USB-C) or 90 minutes for three with the Fly More kit charger. The Mavic 4 Pro can now hit 56 mph (90 km/h) in sport mode without obstacle detection, up from 47 mph before, which will be a big help for filming motor vehicles. Top speed in normal mode with tracking and obstacle detection is also faster at 40 mph. It's still a big SUV of a drone, though, so it lacks the agility of DJI's Mini 4 Pro. And with no prop guards, it's not advisable to maneuver around people or in tight spaces like the Avata 2. Noise from the Mavic 4 Pro is unchanged from the Mavic 3 Pro at 83 dB. However, the frequency is lower and less bothersome, especially when it's flying close to people — so, er, props to DJI for that improvement. With the new O4+ transmission system, the Mavic 4 Pro now offers up to 18.6 miles (30 km) of video transmission range, double that of the Mavic 3 Pro. Though most pilots won't venture that far away, I found the Mavic 4 Pro less susceptible to interference and dropouts than before. It also supports bright 10-bit HDR 1080p live video transmission for a higher-quality backup capture and better visibility in sunlight. Subject tracking is available via the ActiveTrack 360 function (first seen on the Mini 4 Pro), which allows you to manually control the camera position while keeping your subject in frame. It's also designed to keep subjects in focus even if they're partially obscured. I tested it with a car, mountain bike and while walking to see how it worked at various speeds. The Mavic 4 Pro stayed locked on a car driving at up to 30 mph with full obstacle avoidance. When filming the bike rider, the Mavic 4 Pro chose interesting and random routes around trees that often yielded cinematic greatness. That behavior also caused a crash into a small tree branch, but luckily, it caused no visible or functional damage. The drone also worked well as a vlogging tool, following me on a preset ActiveTrack 360 path. Later, I took the Mavic 4 Pro out at night to test the LiDAR and low-light sensors, flying it up around trees and next to buildings. That would have been risky with past models, but it successfully detected and avoided all obstacles in my testing. The low-light capability will also help you bring the drone home safely at night, as long as you remember that the LiDAR only works in the forward direction. Return-to-home now functions without GPS in sufficient light, as the Mavic 4 Pro can memorize flight paths. With its new camera system, the Mavic 4 Pro has the best video quality I've seen on any consumer drone. The main Hasselblad-branded 28mm wide camera has a 100-megapixel , dual ISO 4/3 sensor that supports 6K 60 fps or 4K 120 fps capture along with DJI's professional D-Log and D-LogM modes to max out dynamic range. It also delivers up to 100MP photos. The Mavic 4 Pro is one of few drones with a variable aperture (f/2.0 to f/11) for better depth of field control and more usability in sunlight. The Infinity Gimbal also houses a 70mm medium telephoto lens with a 1/1.3-inch sensor like the one on the Mini 4 Pro. Plus, there's a longer 168mm camera with a 1/1.5-inch sensor that should be ideal for things like wildlife tracking. Both feature an f/2.8 aperture, 4K 60p video and D-Log/D-LogM and HDR, along with subject-tracking AF and dual native ISO. 6K and 4K video quality on the Hasselblad camera is incredibly sharp and color-accurate, while providing good dynamic range, particularly with sky and cloud details. Switching over to D-Log mode further boosts dynamic range, but makes color correction a bit trickier. I liked using D-LogM to get a good balance between ease of adjustment and dynamic range. The base Mavic 4 Pro captures H.265 video up to 180 Mbps, but the Creator Combo version — with its faster internal storage — also supports 1,200 Mbps H.264 All-I for easier editing. However, DJI dropped the ProRes 4:2:2 HQ option that was available on the Cine version of the Mavic 3 Pro. Where the Mavic 4 Pro really beats other drones is in low light, thanks to the native dual ISO capability. When shooting a cityscape at dusk at ISO 6400 and up, grain was easy to tamp down with a bit of noise reduction. And if shooting at dawn or dusk, the D-Log mode provides enough dynamic range to balance light sky and dark ground areas. Photo quality is also outstanding in the 100MP mode with so much detail that I could zoom in and clearly see tiny objects. For low-light shooting, though, it's best to stick with 25MP to reduce noise. DJI's RAW DNG capture makes it easy to fine-tune photos shot in contrasty lighting conditions. The 70mm (3x) 1/1.3-inch telephoto camera is great for taking portraits or getting in tighter when shooting landscapes. With support for 4K at up to 120 fps and D-Log or D-LogM, it can easily be mixed and matched with footage from the main camera, though detail and low-light capability isn't as good. The 168mm 1/1.5-inch camera produces mediocre video quality, but it's great for capturing wildlife. The Mavic 4 Pro is a great example of how DJI stays far ahead of rivals by consistently updating and perfecting its products. 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. 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 lack of US availability is a major issue that's bound to cause a furor with drone enthusiasts in the States. And there's still a great risk that sales of DJI drones will be completely banned in America by the end of the year. The company insists that its drones pose no national security risk and says it welcomes any scrutiny. The Mavic 4 Pro is now on sale in most regions except the United States starting at €2,099 or £1,879 (about $2,360) with the RC2 controller. You can also get it in the Fly More kit with the RC2 controller, a bag, three batteries and a charger for £2,459 and €2,699 ($3,040). The Creator Combo, which includes everything in the Fly More kit plus the RC2 Pro controller, 512GB of storage and All-I video capture, is €3,539 (£3,209) or about $3,980. The RC2 Pro controller by itself is €999 and €879 (about $1,125).
CNET
13-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
DJI Mavic 4 Pro Tested: The Best Camera Drone for Photo Pros, but Not in the US
DJI has remained the leader in camera-equipped drones since the company's Phantom series launched in 2013 and its latest model, the Mavic 4 Pro, will only cement its position as the go-to option for aerial filmmakers. From its innovative new gimbal system to its impressive zoom skills and image quality, the Mavic 4 Pro offers an extremely powerful package for amateurs and professionals alike to capture stunning imagery from the air. I've flown the Mavic 4 Pro and I'm impressed with its image quality from all of its cameras, the new "infinity gimbal" and the drone's overall ease of use. But it asks a lofty price in return, with the new drone starting at £1,879 in the UK and the Fly More Creator Combo that includes three batteries and the company's new RC Pro 2 controller (as reviewed) costing a princely £3,209. At launch, the Mavic 4 Pro will not be available in the US. I asked DJI about this and a company spokesperson had this to say: "The DJI Mavic 4 Pro will not be available for sale in the US upon its global launch on May 13. 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." For reference, those UK prices convert to $2,499 and $4,268, respectively. The Fly More Creator Combo includes the drone, three batteries with fast charging cradle and the controller with built-in LCD display. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Its price puts the drone out of range for those of you simply wanting to take your first steps into capturing aerial footage to send to your friends on Instagram. Instead, the Mavic 4 Pro is squarely aimed at more serious content creators as well as video production professionals who want an extremely capable flying camera but don't quite want the expense -- and setup hassle -- of DJI's more cinema-focused Inspire series. DJI Mavic 4 Pro: New gimbal, new cameras At the heart of the Mavic 4 Pro is a redesigned gimbal. Instead of a square camera unit sitting below the drone, the new "Infinity Gimbal," as DJI calls it, is more of a sphere that sits right on the front. It can freely shoot forward, down, to the sides and even upward. It offers a much wider range of motion than previous DJI drones, and it opens more creative shooting options while flying. I especially enjoyed shooting footage looking upward as the sun came from behind the clouds. At slow speeds, the propellers were not visible in frame, although I found that when I flew faster, the gimbal's adjusted position made propeller movement more noticeable in my footage. The new Infinity Gimbal allows for a much greater range of movement than was possible on previous models. Andrew Lanxon/CNET The gimbal houses three cameras: a main camera with a 4/3-size CMOS sensor and a 28mm equivalent field of view, a medium telephoto camera with a 70mm equivalent focal length and a longer telephoto camera with a 168mm equivalent focal length for very zoomed-in shots. The main camera offers resolutions up to 6K at 60 frames per second and can take stills up to 100 megapixels in size in DNG raw format. Its relatively large sensor size allows it to capture more light, allowing for better dynamic range (DJI promises "up to" 16 stops) and better image quality in low light. In practice, I found video and stills from this camera looked superb, with crisp details, even exposures and accurate colors. The variable f/2 to f/11 aperture allows for narrow aperture shots, turning bright points of light -- like the sun -- into attractive 10-point star bursts, which looked amazing. Stills shot in raw were sharp with lots of latitude for deep editing in Adobe Lightroom. The variable aperture allowed me to create an authentic 10-point star on this still image of the sun peeking out from behind a cloud. Andrew Lanxon/CNET At 70mm zoom, footage still looks pin-sharp, and I even found the 168mm zoom lens to provide great-looking video as well. I wasn't impressed with the zoom on the previous Mavic 3 Pro, finding it generally too low-quality to be usable for anything other than casual Instagram posts. The Mavic 4 Pro's zooms are different beasts altogether, providing footage that looks good enough for all but the most demanding of commercial clients. Taken with the 70mm lens, this image remains pin sharp. By shooting in DNG raw I was able to adjust the white balance afterward to create a pleasing, warmer tone. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Even using the longest 168mm zoom lens, images still look clear and sharp. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Better yet, all three cameras allow you to shoot at 4K resolution in 10-bit D-Log color profiles, which is useful for those who want to add your own cinematic color grades to your aerial footage. DJI Mavic 4 Pro: Flying, controller and battery life The Mavic 4 Pro flies like any other drone from the company's back catalogue, so those of you who've spent any time with a previous model will already be familiar with the controls. While the drone is aimed more at professionals and enthusiastic amateurs, it's simple enough to learn even if this is your first foray into aerial photography. To help beginners -- as well as helping the more reckless among you -- there is the usual array of sensors on all sides to help it avoid colliding with obstacles in front, behind, above or below. These continue to work as well as I found them on previous models, consistently identifying -- and avoiding -- potential objects including trees, branches, power lines and people. Basically, anything that it could smash into. The controller is comfortable to hold while the huge display offers a bright, clear view as you fly. I much prefer using this simply having to connect my phone to use as the viewfinder. Andrew Lanxon/CNET There's also a slew of intelligent flight modes, including object tracking and programmable flight plans, all of which are pretty much the same as on DJI's other models. The Mavic 4 Pro can be bought with the company's new RC Pro 2 controller, which has its own built-in adjustable 7-inch display. It's basically like slapping an iPad Mini onto the controller, and it means you don't have to mess with trying to hook your phone up to use as the display. I really like it and found the big, bright screen a great way to monitor my footage while the drone was in the air. The controller has various dedicated controls for using the cameras along with a new HDMI out port for hooking up an external monitor -- handy if your project director, client or just your mate wants a better view of what you're doing. In terms of flying time, DJI claims you'll get up to 51 minutes of flight from a fully-charged battery. That's a solid step up over the 46 minutes of promised flight time on the last Mavic Pro, but in reality, you can expect that number to be quite a bit lower. I flew mostly in moderate winds and at higher speeds, and generally found that I achieved flight times closer to 30 minutes. Still, that's not a bad amount of airtime, especially if you opt for the Fly More combo, which comes with three batteries and a 100-watt fast-charger that juices them back up extremely quickly. With sensors on all sides, the Mavic 4 Pro can avoid obstacles in any direction. Andrew Lanxon/CNET The drone weighs 1,063 grams (2.3 pounds), so all fliers in the US will need to register themselves -- and the drone -- with the FAA (assuming you can buy one at all, that is), whether you plan to use it commercially. Drone laws differ significantly between countries (and even within states in the US), so be sure you check your local laws before taking flight and ensure you always operate a drone safely. DJI Mavic 4 Pro: Should you buy it? The Mavic 4 Pro's upgrades over the previous Mavic 3 Pro are significant. The newly designed gimbal allows for shots simply not possible with other models, while the overall image quality -- especially from the zoom lenses -- is a big step up. While its high price means this isn't a drone for those of you simply wanting to add some aerial excitement to your TikToks, the Mavic 4 Pro is a superb option for video professionals who want to add some truly cinematic drone footage to their image-making arsenal. That is, if you live somewhere, you can buy it.
