Latest news with #Mavic4Pro
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!
Nikkei Asia
30-05-2025
- 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
28-05-2025
- 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.
