This was the week DJI fought back with evidence. An independent US cybersecurity firm bought DJI gear off the shelf, tested it for five months, and found nothing; the FCC comment docket crossed 3,000; and the FAA turned 11 World Cup stadiums into no-drone zones with FBI seizure authority. Five stories — in priority order, with our take on each.
This was the week the FCC fight stopped being only about DJI. Autel filed a reply that publicly broke ranks, Michigan's 15-bill state-drone-ban package collapsed in committee, and DJI quietly engineered the Air 4 into a sub-250g class that sidesteps the FCC pathway entirely. Six stories — in priority order, with our take on each.
DJI used two weeks to anoint the Pocket 4P as a cinema product at Cannes rather than a consumer product at its own event, absorb a fourth US-block casualty with Osmo Mobile 8P, watch the FCC fight enter its most adversarial phase, and collect NAB hardware that validates the pivot. Here's what happened — in priority order, with our take on each.
The rumors were true, and the wait is finally over. The DJI Mini 5 Pro has officially arrived, and it is nothing short of a revolution for the sub-250g drone category. Available now on Amazon starting at $759, this new powerhouse packs features we previously only dreamed of in the Mavic series.
The 1-Inch Sensor Revolution
For years, the "Holy Grail" of micro drones has been a 1-inch sensor. The Mini 3 and 4 Pros came close with their 1/1.3-inch sensors, but the Mini 5 Pro finally crosses that threshold. This means significantly better low-light performance, higher dynamic range, and professional-grade footage that can actually match larger cinema cameras.
Why LiDAR Changes Everything
Perhaps the most surprising addition is the integration of LiDAR technology. Unlike traditional vision-based sensors that struggle in low light or complex textures, LiDAR provides active laser scanning of the environment. This means the Mini 5 Pro offers true night-time obstacle avoidance—a first for the Mini series and a feature that puts it on par with the Mavic 3 Pro. Flying in dim conditions just got infinitely safer.
Unprecedented Battery Life
Battery anxiety might finally be a thing of the past. The Mini 5 Pro boasts a staggering 52 minutes of flight time with the Plus battery (45 mins with standard). Compared to the Mini 4 Pro's 34/45 minutes, this is a massive leap that allows for serious long-exposure photography and extended hyperlapses without constantly landing to swap packs.
Price & Availability
You can order the DJI Mini 5 Pro today. Prices start at $759 for the base kit (with RC-N3 controller) and go up to $959 for the Fly More Combo with the DJI RC 3.
Is this the new king of micro drones? With specs like these, it’s hard to argue otherwise.