I enquired in regards to the weight, and a DJI spokesperson despatched me the next assertion: “The DJI Mini 5 Professional has a design weight of 249.9 grams. Attributable to manufacturing tolerances, the precise weight of the product could range barely inside a variety of ±4 g. Minor weight fluctuations are regular. We advocate that when UK customers are working the drone, native laws are complied with, which could be discovered right here.”
The corporate refers to it as a “near-250g drone”—terminology I might by no means encountered from DJI. Frankly, it feels just a little evasive. This is not simply pedantic nitpicking over just a few grams. I stay within the UK, and the 250-gram threshold determines whether or not you may fly a drone in public parks, on seashores, in cities and cities, close to folks, and in numerous different eventualities with out further certification. Earlier Mini fashions have been slightly below this restrict, and it looks like an oversight through the design course of to not maintain this one comfortably under it, too.
There’s excellent news, although: With UK drone guidelines set to alter initially of 2026, I haven’t got too lengthy to attend till the Mini 5 Professional (and, apparently, the a lot greater DJI Air 3S) turns into utterly authorized to fly in built-up areas, public parks, and near folks.
The tidings for US-based pilots aren’t so cheery, although. As with all of its latest merchandise, DJI is not formally launching the Mini 5 Professional within the US. You may blame the approaching DJI ban, and it is an actual disgrace, as a result of, weight points apart, this can be a unbelievable digital camera drone.
Massive Digicam Upgrades
{Photograph}: Sam Kieldsen
The Mini 5 Professional’s slight weight improve comes with real advantages. The primary enchancment is the digital camera, which now encompasses a 12-MP (or 50 MP in Quad Bayer phrases) 1-inch sensor, a big improve from the smaller sensors in earlier Mini fashions. The picture high quality is edging in the direction of DJI’s Air vary, which is outstanding for a drone this measurement. You are getting professional-level picture high quality in a pocketable drone.
