Having reviewed dozens of drones of all shapes, sizes, and costs, I would just lately come to the conclusion that smaller, lighter, and cheaper drones have been the way in which to go for 90 % of shoppers. Premium drones, with all their gear and flight rules, simply did not make sense. However then DJI launched its new premium-priced, jumbo-size flagship shopper drone, the Mavic 4 Professional, and made me fall in love once more. Sure, this drone is critically spectacular.
However earlier than I deep-dive the phenomenally good digicam and ridiculously lengthy vary, it is vital to notice that the Mavic 4 Professional is not going to be formally accessible within the US. But. In addition to ongoing points round flight restrictions and safety, a DJI spokesperson advised WIRED, “Like many world firms, we’ve needed to regulate our market technique as native circumstances and the trade setting have developed. Whereas we wouldn’t have a timeline for once we can introduce the product to the US market, we’re carefully monitoring the scenario and actively exploring each potential resolution.”
The Mavic 4 Professional is, nevertheless, listed on B&H Picture for $2,699, which is teasingly optimistic. It’s not on the market, but, however there may be no less than some hope.
Focal Hero
So what makes the Mavic 4 Professional nice? It is principally all the way down to the digicam. Or cameras, I ought to say. Identical to its predecessor, the Mavic 3 Professional (9/10 WIRED Recommends), the Mavic 4 Professional has three cameras. There’s an ultra-high-spec wide-angle digicam partnered with barely lower-spec medium-telephoto and telephoto cameras. The trio’s equal focal lengths are 28 mm, 70 mm and 168 mm, respectively.
They’re all enhancements over the Mavic 3 Professional’s cameras. And the star of the present incorporates a new 4/3 sensor able to 100 MP images and 6K video seize at as much as 60 fps (or 4K at 120 fps, for slick slow-motion playback), with an astounding 16 stops of dynamic vary. It additionally has an adjustable aperture, permitting pilots to choose something between f/2.0 and f/11.0.
The opposite cameras’ sensors are just a little smaller in dimension, their video is restricted to 4K decision, and their apertures are mounted at f/2.8, however all three cameras can seize video at 10-bit high quality utilizing the D-Log, D-Log M, or HLG shade profiles. In different phrases, all are constructed for pro-quality aerial film making.
And higher but, it’s all mounted on a very new design of gimbal that is in a position to freely rotate and tilt. Not solely does this imply it may be pointed straight upward, it might additionally rotate to seize true portrait-oriented content material, completely formatted for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts.
All the above makes the inventive capabilities of the Mavic 4 Professional one thing to behold. It’s a unbelievable aerial digicam in virtually any lighting circumstances (the 28-mm Hasselblad is especially succesful at night-time, as an example) and its vary of movement and selection of focal lengths makes it extremely versatile. If there’s one thing else this completed in shopper drones, image-quality sensible, I’ve but to come across it.
Flight Membership
The drone’s flight capabilities are spectacular, too, proper all the way down to new time-saving touches like the actual fact it routinely powers on when unfolded. Battery life is now 51 minutes, a notable enchancment over the Mavic 3 Professional’s 43 minutes, whereas the extra aerodynamic design of the drone makes flight each quicker and quieter.
The 4 Professional can be the primary Mavic mannequin to return with a front-facing Lidar sensor, which, when teamed up with the low-light imaginative and prescient sensors that poke out in all instructions, provides this drone much more situational consciousness and anti-collision functionality, even in less-than-ideal lighting circumstances. This works properly with its monitoring capabilities, which permit it to precisely hold the digicam focussed on folks, boats, and automobiles whereas being flown both manually or autonomously.
Return to dwelling capabilities have additionally been upgraded. The drone’s enhanced visible abilities now let it routinely fly again to its take-off level with out the usage of GPS. I used to be additionally in a position to transfer the house level to the present controller place quite than the take-off level, which is a useful characteristic to have for those who’re piloting the drone from a transferring automotive or boat.
Controller Improve
DJI despatched me each a daily RC 2 controller and the brand new RC 2 Professional controller ($1,299) to check with the Mavic 4 Professional, and whereas the previous works properly sufficient, the RC 2 Professional actually improves the expertise. Its display screen is bigger and brighter and may rotate via 90 levels to behave extra like a smartphone (it runs on Android, so you’ll be able to set up third-party apps), and it powers on routinely if you elevate the display screen from the physique. This motion additionally leads to the 2 thumb sticks popping up, that means you don’t need to screw them on every time you employ the controller.
{Photograph}: Chris Haslam
All in all, the Mavic 4 Professional represents a serious improve over its already spectacular predecessor and makes the thought of proudly owning a bigger drone as soon as once more very interesting. Whereas it’s true that heavier drones are topic to loads of (usually tiresome) restrictions in comparison with ultra-lightweight fashions, however the further paperwork and care round flight areas looks as if a worth value paying after they carry out in addition to this does.
As for the precise worth of the Mavic 4 Professional, I’d name it costly however good worth—supplied you’re going to really make use of this drone’s huge array of capabilities. For those who’re simply in search of one thing to get within the air and seize a number of handsome photographs, the less expensive DJI Mini 4 Professional (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is all you want. If you need the pliability and energy to create one thing particular, the Mavic 4 Professional has it—and extra.
I simply hope DJI is ready to navigate across the ongoing uncertainty of the Trump administration’s tariffs, because it’d be a real disgrace if this good drone weren’t accessible within the US.
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