DJI Unveils the Mavic 4 Pro: A New Horizon for Foldable Drones

DJI has officially launched its next-generation flagship foldable drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, approximately two years after its predecessor, the Mavic 3 Pro. This new model introduces several innovative features and significant spec upgrades, aiming to redefine what's possible with a compact, high-performance flying camera.

Key Enhancements and Design Evolution:

The Mavic 4 Pro sees a slight increase in takeoff weight, now at 1,063g (2.3lbs) compared to the Mavic 3 Pro's 958g (2.1lbs). This places the drone into the C2 class within the EU regulatory framework. Despite the added mass, the drone boasts a longer maximum flight time, extending from 43 minutes (Mavic 3 Pro) to an impressive 51 minutes thanks to its new 95Wh battery. Its top speed reaches 90 kph (56 mph) in FCC mode, with a maximum range of 41km (25.4 miles). The upgraded DJI O4+ transmission system provides 10-bit HD video transmission over distances up to 30km (18.6 miles) in FCC mode.

The drone's body has undergone a redesign, notably relocating the camera gimbal to the very front. This forward placement of the large gimbal necessitated moving the front-facing LiDAR sensor for obstacle sensing to one of the front arms.

For enhanced safety and precision, the Mavic 4 Pro features six low-light fisheye sensors with a sensitivity of 0.1 lux, enabling omnidirectional obstacle avoidance at speeds up to 18 m/s even in dimly lit conditions. Its advanced ActiveTrack 360° system can maintain focus on a subject even if partially obscured, and the drone can detect vehicles up to 200m away with directional awareness.

In terms of storage, the Mavic 4 Pro now includes high-speed internal storage in addition to a MicroSD card slot. The standard version offers 64GB (approximately 42GB usable), while the Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo provides a generous 512GB (approximately 460GB usable) of internal storage.

The Revolutionary Infinity Gimbal with Triple Cameras:

Two years after the Mavic 3 Pro introduced a triple camera system, the Mavic 4 Pro significantly improves upon this concept with its new "infinity gimbal." This redesigned, spherical camera module can now freely rotate 360° around the roll axis. This groundbreaking capability offers several creative advantages:

Native Vertical Video: The camera can now physically rotate 90° to capture vertical video directly on full sensors.

Dynamic Shots: The Mavic 4 Pro enables clips with a rotating camera or the popular "dutch angle" shot.

Expanded Tilt Range: Because the gimbal is positioned at the very front of the drone, it can now achieve vertical tilts of up to 70° upward.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro camera module integrates three distinct cameras:

28mm Main Hasselblad Camera: This features a 100MP 4/3” CMOS sensor with a variable aperture from f/2.0 to f/11 and focuses from 2m to infinity. This is a significant upgrade from the Mavic 3 Pro's 24mm 20MP 4/3” CMOS with f/2.8-f/11.

70mm Medium-Tele Camera: Maintaining specs similar to the Mavic 3 Pro, it uses a 48MP 1/1.3” CMOS sensor with a fixed f/2.8 aperture, focusing from 3m to infinity.

168mm Tele Camera: This camera sees substantial improvements with a 50MP 1/1.5” CMOS sensor and a fixed f/2.8 aperture, focusing from 3m to infinity. This marks an upgrade from the Mavic 3 Pro's 166mm 12MP 1/2” CMOS with f/3.4.

For still photography, all three cameras support pixel-binning for quarter-resolution output (25MP, 12MP, or 12.5MP), resulting in better low-light performance and faster burst rates. DJI also states that all three image sensors feature dual native ISO.

Advanced Video Capabilities: D-Log, High Resolutions, and Codecs

The Mavic 4 Pro's video capabilities are designed to meet professional demands, offering diverse recording options across all three cameras:

The 28mm main 4/3” Hasselblad camera, benefiting from Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), supports video recording in 6K (6016 x 3384) up to 60fps or 4K up to 120fps. DJI claims this main camera delivers an impressive 16 stops of dynamic range.

The 70mm medium tele camera records video in up to 4K 120fps, with DJI claiming up to 14 stops of dynamic range.

The 168mm tele camera achieves up to 4K 100fps, with DJI stating it has up to 13 stops of dynamic range. (The exact performance of these dynamic range claims will be subject to independent lab tests.)

All cameras support standard video recording frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60fps. Higher frame rates are recorded as slow-motion video, saved at a lower base frame rate.

Crucially, all cameras now feature 10-bit D-Log, D-Log M, and HLG profiles. This ensures consistent, gradable footage across all focal lengths, marking the first time DJI has included its D-Log profile in cameras with sensors smaller than 4/3”.

Regarding video codecs, the drone supports:

H.264 8-bit 4:2:0 (90 Mbps bitrate) – available only for FullHD resolutions.

H.265 (HEVC) 10-bit 4:2:0 (180 Mbps bitrate).

H.264 ALL-I 10-bit 4:2:2 (1,200 Mbps bitrate) – exclusively available on the 512GB Creator Combo model, offering higher quality for professional post-production workflows.

Faster Charging and Seamless Wireless Transfer:

DJI has also significantly improved the drone's power management and data transfer. The new parallel charging hub can fully charge a single battery for the Mavic 4 Pro in a mere 50 minutes, or all three batteries in just 90 minutes when paired with DJI's new 240W power adapter. This hub also doubles as a versatile 100W power bank, perfect for quickly charging laptops or camera batteries in the field. A clever feature allows users to transfer leftover power from multiple low-charge batteries into one with a higher remaining capacity.

For streamlined workflows, the Mavic 4 Pro incorporates QuickTransfer. This feature enables wireless offloading of footage via Wi-Fi 6 at impressive speeds of up to 80MB/s, eliminating the need to remove the drone from its bag. Users can simply wake the Mavic 4 Pro using the DJI Fly app and initiate the file transfer.

Introducing the DJI RC Pro 2 Remote Controller:

To complement the advanced capabilities of the Mavic 4 Pro, DJI has launched the new RC Pro 2 remote controller. This controller features an adjustable and rotatable 7-inch high-bright Mini-LED display. A particularly intuitive feature is that when the display is rotated 90° for vertical use, the drone’s camera automatically rotates to match, offering seamless integration for vertical content creation.

The RC Pro 2 further enhances usability with dual antennas ensuring reliable video transmission. Its integrated collapsible design allows the controller to power on automatically when extended. For extended shoots, it offers up to 4 hours of battery life and includes 128GB of built-in storage. Audio can be recorded directly with the built-in mic or when paired with the DJI Mic. Connectivity options include a MicroSD slot, USB-C, and a full-size HDMI port, providing comprehensive options for external monitors and data management.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro appears to be a significant leap forward, offering cinematographers and drone enthusiasts alike a powerful and versatile tool for aerial capture, complete with enhanced power management, efficient data transfer solutions, and an intuitive new remote controller.