DJI - Mavic 4 Pro

you argument is valid. personally I dont see a reason to use the mavic 4 pro instead of the mini anyway for real estate. The reason to use it would be the tele lens for me.

The best drone is the one that you use the most. The Air 3S is superior, but the M4P is more portable. I have an Air 3 and often just pick up the Neo since I can quickly throw it into my pocket... I'd say: If your main focus is traveling and your audience is either social media, friends and family on WhatsApp or other mobile-first consumers, then M4P. If your main focus is cinematic footage of more sophisticated environments with a dynamic camera system, then 3S. Can't go wrong with either one.

Since it's 2025, I'd recommend looking at the Mavic 4 Pro. Depending on what and where you plan to shoot, having a sub-250g drone (maybe in addition?) can also be a great advantage due to fewer regulatory restrictions. If lighting conditions are good, the Mini 4 Pro with its 48MP sensor delivers excellent results.

If you're willing to pay, then get the Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo, that's one of the best (without getting into things that need more than open category licensing). Or get the DJI Inspire series, but then you'll need mandatory licenses and training in many places. But that's not a good place to start, and not even a good place to finish if you want to film in crowded areas, over people, etc. In that case the Mini 4 Pro is the one to go for, and it's even a good starter drone for video. Equally important, though, is a set of ND filters and understanding of how to use them, and understanding of D-log file formats, colour grading, and how to have a good workflow to process your video after shooting it. Also plenty of batteries, spare propellers, and the RC2 controller. And third-party insurance (e.g. from Coverdrone) and I recommend the relevant certifications in your country even if they're optional.

My mini 4 pro has handled some quite astonishing winds. If you're trying to hover it will struggle but if you're flying forwards it's surprising what it can handle. I've seen it bouncing around what looks like half a meter at a time in all directions but the picture is rock steady. The M4P is also very quiet. Of all my drones it's the stealthiest, by the time it's 10 or so meters away you can barely hear it. People just don't notice it unless you are right down on top of them. If the wind is very strong it won't be happy about descending straight into the wind, it has to use full power to stay int he air so can't reduce power to any of the props to come down. If this happens to you try zig zagging it back, or fly slowly away and descend then bring it back home almost at ground level. I've never had to do the with the M4P but I have with my Neo.

Got mine from Adorama.

If you're in the US my recommendation is to just order from Adorama. I got the M4P Fly More Bundle, all batteries arrived intact and box was factory sealed and drone un-activated. About 4 weeks from order placed to shipped (if they're still taking preorders) and didn't have to deal with customs myself. Downside is you do pay the post-tariff prices.

If money is not an issue, the mavic4 pro with the triple Hasselblad camera is the best option.

I have the Mini 4 and our second sometimes brings the Mavic Pro 4. I really do love my Mini 4, it's so much easier to use. Quick. Decent. If you're looking at the photos on a phone there really isn't much a difference. If it is a high end wedding, I often just hire someone to come with their own Mavic 4 pro.

I went from Mini 2 SE to Mavic 4 Pro and honestly the Mavic 4 Pro is so much easier to fly than the Mini 2 SE. M4P just cuts through the air like hot knife to butter while the M2SE gets it done but not in every case. I'm sure you'll have a similar experience with the Air 3S.

I don't. Im fortunate enough that the loss of a $1000 drone isn't that big of a deal for me. My first M4P got wrecked and I just purchased a new one (drone only since I had the controller and batteries) I think you can put it on your homeowners policy though

This guy is just butthurt that the Flip is 85% as capable as his M4P for 50% the price lol.

The M4P is a little beast and just perfected upon the previous generations. It's like buying a base model car it's good and does the job but the top trim gives you some features that you didn't realize you wanted till you used them. The M4P having a downward light that's auto or manually turned on was like the chef's kiss IMO. I tell family and friends buy the Mini 3 to start and test the waters if drones are for you and you want more upgrade to the M4P if you have budget constraints grab a used M3P w/RC or save for the M4P because the Mini 3 is still so great lol.

Have both. The Avata 2 is AWESOME!! The Mavic is just collecting dust on the shelf..

It feels like the M4P batteries last longer. I haven't flown the 3s enough to say for sure, but from what I have done there's not a lot in it either way.

Mavic 4 Pro with RC Pro 2.

Btw i returned m4p because i didn't wanted a drone with open propeller. I only realized it when i started flying it. If i would my choice would be Air 3s.

I got the Mavic4 Pro on Ebay from Japan a few days ago. No tariff. I will be watching for this too. I need a sub 250g unit.

If you want something good and not care about price get the mavic but if you do care about price then get the dji mini 3 or 4 pro remember to ALWAYS do the training flight simulater when you buy a new drone you will need to

I'm not sure what the threshold is for disturbing the birds or how high you plan on flying. that being said... if you need a good 7x zoom, mavic 4 pro if all you need is a good wide sensor, minis have a much lower profile if you want a thermal drone those are usually enterprise models, anywhere from 2-5x more expensive than consumer drones

This is the dumbest decision they could make without doing any kind of investigation or audit. This is just a perfect example of how impotent and flaccid the US government has become. It's literally wake. Donald Trump's filth energy was rubbed off on the entire country. let's just see how far back into the Stone Age we go before anybody in the US or an acceptable. Allied state comes up with an affordable drone with professional capabilities. It's not gonna happen. I'm glad I got my Mavic four Pro when I did I was at Best Buy the other day for something else and I went over to the Drone section and there's like two no name brand $50 toys their toys. And as somebody who makes a living with my Drone, I find it offensive that the US government the SECFAA nobody is willing to do an investigation or an audit I know because they're not gonna find anything incriminating DJI has bent over backwards to please them, but these "" American companies that have Drone starting at like 35 grand and are inferior to the Mavic for are supposed to take the place of like 90% of all Drone act actively owned by part 107 operators. It's also endangering lives as most fire and police fleets were DJ and should be. They're the safest most capable Drone sorry everyone else try harder. Please make something worth 3/ quarters of a shit. Make it no more than 6 to 10 grand at most and maybe I'll buy one. I'd happily buy American if they existed. The fact is they don't not realistically not for most commercial operators. We're gonna need a lot of food dries in the next few years. That ballroom is not gonna be 300 million you know that's like half of what it's actually gonna cost and you know he's not paying for it.

I just got the mavic 4 pro the other day I'm so glad

I bought mine off Amazon. But it came from DJI because I'm in Canada. The nice thing if you get a Canadian unit is they are FCC. They have the longer range.

I'd for the m4p or m5p just for the obstacle sensing, is very helpful when starting out, also the RC2 is really worth it, makes the whole experience more enjoyable, and you'd want to fly more often

That's a really small tank bag, if you put a Mini 4 Pro in there with controller it might fit but would be tight and I'd be concerned with damage, especially if you go off road at all. I'm able to get my M4P in a protective hard case inside my Kriega R15 backpack, but it's a bit tight and an R20 would be better. For the Enduristan, I'd think the Neo would be the way to go, but I don't have one to confirm sizing.

That's a really good plan. I went Mini 2 SE to Mavic 4 Pro and felt like it was a great transition. Crazy though how much easier it is to fly M4P compared to M2SE. You'd think it would be harder since it is bigger but complete opposite. Its like a hot knife to butter. Things would be impossible or make the shot totally crap is easy, peasey with M4P. Dipping your toes in before yoloing is a good idea. I'd even recommend that before even flying anything is to play the simulator! Can learn a lot.

Get a (used) Mini 4 Pro, or Air 3(S) to start and try - if you like it: Mavic 4 Pro

Have an Atom2 as backup to my M4P. Minor differences in tech but honestly, shoots great video and flies great. Feels cheaper in the hand but for far less $$$ vs the M4P; the difference is negligible. Even does some automated video shots that the M4P doesn't.

the A3s and M4P are the same tech internally. The A3s is better in windy since it's heavier. I do like M4P(fly more +) on long hikes since it weighs less (around 500g less). Depends on what you want to do both are solid if you want to drive and fly go A3s if you like to hike and fly M4P

You're absolutely right. I wouldn't recommend blindly copying missions between drones either, especially not in complex terrain. In this case, I wanted to stress-test exactly that: what happens if you do it anyway? And yeah, the results definitely showed some quirks. especially with the Mavic 4 Pro on POI turns and slight altitude inconsistencies. From what I can tell, DJI does reuse the same .flymission structure across models, but how precisely it's interpreted (gimbal, altitude smoothing, etc.) can vary a lot. Even small barometric or GPS differences made the Mavic 4 Pro "dip" where the Mini 4 Pro stayed level. So yeah! definitely not a best practice. But interesting to explore. Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

I'll stick to my M4 Pro, I dont see any substantial difference at all.

The cool thing about the Air 3 is the dual camera, and the cool thing about the M4P is the true vertical camera. If your audience is on the phone, doing vertical shots make sense. I've read here that you're mainly concerned about the camera quality. Fortunately, both of these cameras are good enough that *you* will be bottleneck as a beginner. Post editing, subject, lighting, camera angle and drone movements will have a greater effect on the overall outcome than just the technical camera sensor quality. Even if you're shooting on such a high level that the camera sensor will make a difference, WhatsApp will eat up that difference.

POTENSIC Atom2 is backup to my M4P

Upgraded from a Parrot Bebop drone I bought 9 years ago. My god, the switch to M4P was worth the price. Almost overwhelming amount of upgrades.