Having reviewed dozens of drones of all shapes, sizes, and costs, I would not too long ago come to the conclusion that smaller, lighter, and cheaper drones have been the best way to go for 90 p.c of customers. Premium drones, with all their tools 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 yet again. Sure, this drone is severely spectacular.
However earlier than I deep-dive the phenomenally good digital camera and ridiculously lengthy vary, it is essential 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 international corporations, we now have needed to regulate our market technique as native situations and the trade setting have developed. Whereas we should not have a timeline for after we can introduce the product to the US market, we’re intently monitoring the scenario and actively exploring each doable answer.”
The Mavic 4 Professional is, nevertheless, listed on B&H Photograph for $2,699, which is teasingly optimistic. It’s not on the market, but, however there’s not less than some hope.
Focal Hero
So what makes the Mavic 4 Professional nice? It is principally all the way down to the digital camera. Or cameras, I ought to say. Similar 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 digital camera 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 includes 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 select something between f/2.0 and f/11.0.
The opposite cameras’ sensors are somewhat smaller in dimension, their video is restricted to 4K decision, and their apertures are fastened 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 capable of freely rotate and tilt. Not solely does this imply it may be pointed straight upward, it may additionally rotate to seize true portrait-oriented content material, completely formatted for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts.
The entire above makes the artistic capabilities of the Mavic 4 Professional one thing to behold. It’s a unbelievable aerial digital camera in virtually any lighting situations (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 also 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 situations. This works effectively with its monitoring capabilities, which permit it to precisely preserve the digital camera focussed on individuals, boats, and automobiles whereas being flown both manually or autonomously.
Return to residence 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 capable of transfer the house level to the present controller place relatively than the take-off level, which is a helpful characteristic to have when you’re piloting the drone from a transferring automotive or boat.
Controller Improve
DJI despatched me each an everyday 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 effectively sufficient, the RC 2 Professional actually improves the expertise. Its display is bigger and brighter and may rotate by way of 90 levels to behave extra like a smartphone (it runs on Android, so you may set up third-party apps), and it powers on routinely while you raise the display from the physique. This motion additionally ends in the 2 thumb sticks popping up, that means you don’t need to screw them on every time you utilize 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 a variety of (typically tiresome) restrictions in comparison with ultra-lightweight fashions, however the additional paperwork and care round flight places looks like a value price paying once they carry out in addition to this does.
As for the precise value of the Mavic 4 Professional, I’d name it costly however good worth—supplied you’re going to truly make use of this drone’s huge array of capabilities. If you happen to’re simply on the lookout for one thing to get within the air and seize a couple of handsome pictures, the less expensive DJI Mini 4 Professional (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is all you want. In order for you the flexibleness 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 sensible drone weren’t accessible within the US.
