DJI Mini 5 Pro puts a 1-inch sensor and LiDAR in a sub-250 g body
DJI's Mini 5 Pro brings a 1-inch 50MP sensor and LiDAR night-sensing to a sub-250g drone — but it isn't sold in the US.
DJI released the Mini 5 Pro on September 16, 2025, making it the first drone in the sub-250-gram Mini line to carry a 1-inch, 50-megapixel sensor — a notable jump from the 1/1.3-inch sensor of the Mini 4 Pro. It adds forward-facing LiDAR plus vision sensors for omnidirectional obstacle sensing in light as low as about 1 lux, enabling night flight and return-to-home in low light even without a GPS signal. At 249.9 grams it stays under the weight threshold that, in many jurisdictions, avoids registration or permit requirements. Consistent with DJI's recent pattern, the Mini 5 Pro launched internationally but is not sold in the US.
Technical Breakdown
- Platform / class: sub-250 g (249.9 g) consumer camera drone
- Sensor: 1-inch 50 MP (up from 1/1.3-inch on the Mini 4 Pro)
- Video: up to 4K/120 fps; 10-bit D-LogM, ~14 stops dynamic range
- Sensing: forward LiDAR + vision + 3D infrared; obstacle avoidance to ~1 lux; low-light RTH
- Endurance: ~36 minutes; 225° gimbal roll for true vertical capture
- US status: not sold in the US at launch
Industry Impact
For creators, a 1-inch sensor under the 250 g line collapses a long-standing trade-off between portability and image quality. For competitors, it raises the bar in the lightweight category DJI already leads. For regulators, sub-250 g drones with night-capable autonomy blur the line between "toy-class" exemptions and genuinely capable aircraft. For US buyers, the Mini 5 Pro is the latest flagship they cannot legally purchase — underscoring how policy, not product, now gates access to DJI's best consumer tech.