Drones
DJI Mini 4 Pro or Mini 5 Pro: which one to rent?
Both fit in a pocket and weigh less than 250 grams with their standard battery - this is the threshold which exempts you from training in France, and it is crossed as soon as you change the battery. So the real question is not “which one is better”, but what you are filming.
The table, line by line
21 comparable characteristics, of which 19 differ and 2 are identical. The values in bold are those which separate the two devices.
| Characteristic | Rental DJI - Mini 4 Pro | Rental DJI - Mini 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Takeoff weight | < 249 g (with battery, propellers and microSD card) | 249.9 g ± 4 g (maximum declared mass, standard battery) |
| European class | C0 (model MT4MFVD, MTOM 249 g) — a C1 MT4MFVDB variant at 342 g exists; the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus takes the device above 249 g | C0 (model MT5MFND) |
| Sensor | CMOS 1/1.3 inch — 48 Mpx, f/1.7 | 1-inch CMOS — 50 Mpx, f/1.8 |
| Photo resolution | 48 Mpx (8064 × 6048) — JPEG and DNG (RAW) | 50 Mpx (8192 × 6144) — JPEG and DNG (RAW) |
| Max video | 4K (3840 × 2160) up to 100 fps | 4K (3840 × 2160) up to 120 fps |
| Slow motion | 4K at 100 fps / Full HD at 200 fps | 4K at 120 fps / Full HD at 240 fps |
| Color profiles | D-Log M and HLG, 10-bit 4:2:0 (H.265) | D-Log M and HLG, 10-bit 4:2:0 (H.265) |
| Max video bitrate | 150 Mb/s | 130 Mb/s |
| Obstacle detection | Omnidirectional — dual vision sensor + 3D infrared sensor | Omnidirectional — dual vision sensor + front LiDAR + 3D infrared detection system (0.3 to 8 m, under the device) |
| LiDAR | Not equipped | Frontal — measuring range 0.5 to 25 m at night (reflectivity greater than 10%), field 60° × 60° |
| Video transmission | DJI O4 — 10 km max in Europe (CE), live preview 1080p at 60 fps | DJI O4+ — 10 km max in Europe (CE), live preview 1080p at 60 fps |
| Autonomy | 34 min (standard Intelligent Flight battery) | 36 min (standard Intelligent Flight battery) |
| Maximum speed | 16 m/s, or 57.6 km/h (Sport mode) | 18 m/s, or 64.8 km/h (Sport mode) |
| Storage | 2 GB internal + microSD card (cards recommended by DJI up to 512 GB) | 42 GB internal + microSD card (cards recommended by DJI up to 1 TB) |
| Wind resistance | 10.7 m/s | 12 m/s |
| Carrycot | 3-axis mechanical stabilization — controllable tilt from −90° to +60° | 3-axis mechanical stabilization — 225° rotation, tilt controllable from −90° to +55° |
| Vertical shooting | Native, no cropping | Native, by rotation of the gimbal, without cropping |
| Maximum flight altitude | 4,000 m above sea level | 6,000 m above sea level |
| Dimensions (folded) | 148 × 94 × 64 mm (folded, without propellers) | 157 × 95 × 68mm |
| Battery | 2,590 mAh — 18.96 Wh | 2788 mAh — 19.52 Wh |
| Zoom | Digital — 1× to 3× in 12 Mpx and 4K, 1× to 4× in Full HD | Digital — 1× to 3× in 12 Mpx and 4K, 1× to 4× in Full HD |
For whom, the DJI Mini 4 Pro?
The Mini 4 Pro remains the choice for peace of mind: it does everything correctly, is controlled without thinking, and its autonomy is enough for a day of filming with two batteries.
See the sheet and availability of DJI Mini 4 Pro
For whom, the DJI Mini 5 Pro?
The Mini 5 Pro goes up a notch where it can be seen in the image: a larger sensor copes better with weak light, and slow motion opens up shots that the other does not allow.
See the sheet and availability of DJI Mini 5 Pro
What the table doesn't say
Over three days of rental, the price difference is measured in a few euros per day. If your shoot includes a single scene at the end of the day or slow motion, take Mini 5 Pro. Otherwise the Mini 4 Pro will do exactly the job.
The automations won't decide between you either: MasterShots, QuickShots, ActiveTrack and Waypoints are there on both sides, with the same logic of use. A beginner gets clean shots the first time with either.
The announced autonomy deserves the same perspective. The 34 and 36 minutes are measured in ideal conditions; add wind, direction changes and a return to the takeoff point, and both models return a few minutes. Two minutes apart will not change your day: bring at least two batteries, whatever the model.
Finally, for a real estate capture or a one-off event, both are suitable without reservation. It is the availability on the desired dates and the budget which will decide, not the technical sheet.
The regulations do not depend on the model
Both devices weigh less than 250 grams with their standard battery and fall into class C0, which simplifies the procedures – but nothing else. The threshold does not exempt you from registering as an operator: the exemption assumes a device without a sensor capable of collecting personal data, and both carry a camera. Prohibited areas, distance from people, ban on flying over an assembly and maximum height apply in the same way, and an area opened last week can be closed today: the check is done before each flight. Everything is detailed in our guide to drone regulations in France.
However, one point separates the two models, and it is not in the table. The Mini 4 Pro can be rented with the “XXL Batteries” option at €4 per rental: thus equipped, it exceeds 250 g and no longer meets the conditions for its C0 class. The A1/A3 training certificate – free, online – then becomes compulsory before the flight, and overflight of people who are not taking part in the flight is no longer authorized. The class label affixed by the manufacturer does not change. The Mini 5 Pro does not offer this option. The details are in our article AlphaTango: who registers when you rent a drone?
Rent rather than buy
No painting replaces a theft. If hesitation persists, book the two two weeks apart and compare them on your own plans: this is what rental allows and what purchase prohibits. A weekend of filming, a wedding or a real estate capture do not in any case justify fixing the price of a drone, nor assuming maintenance and discounts - batteries, updates and maintenance remain on our side.
At Fox Rider, breakage and theft insurance is included in the rental price of cameras and drones. The material is shipped the day before by Chronopost everywhere in France, or to be collected in Lyon. The rest of the range is on the page drones for rental.