DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro: What Matters for Building Inspections?
- Hammer Missions
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
DJI’s Mini series has always been about packing professional-grade features into a lightweight, portable design. With the release of the DJI Mini 5 Pro, many operators are asking whether it’s worth the upgrade from the DJI Mini 4 Pro — especially for those working in facade inspections, building assessments, and mapping workflows. Here’s a breakdown of the most relevant differences.
1. Camera and Imaging
Mini 4 Pro: 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, capable of 48MP stills. A solid performer for capturing building facades and roof details.
Mini 5 Pro: Upgrades to a 1-inch 50MP CMOS sensor with f/1.8 aperture, meaning sharper details, better depth, and significantly improved low-light performance. This makes it especially valuable for projects where lighting conditions aren’t ideal (e.g., shaded facades, early morning or late afternoon flights).
Verdict: For inspection-grade imaging, the Mini 5 Pro is a step up, especially if detail and clarity are critical.
2. Obstacle Avoidance and Safety
Mini 4 Pro: Advanced obstacle avoidance with multiple sensors, reliable in most environments.
Mini 5 Pro: Introduces nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, using a combination of LiDAR and vision sensors for 360° awareness — even in low light. This provides greater peace of mind when flying close to structures such as high-rise facades.
Verdict: The Mini 5 Pro offers stronger safety in complex urban environments, reducing the risk of collisions when working in tight or poorly lit spaces.
Flight Safety and Navigation
Mini 4 Pro: Features Smart RTH (Return-to-Home) with GPS support.
Mini 5 Pro: Adds a next-gen Smart RTH system that can memorise flight paths and return safely even when satellite signals are weak or unavailable (e.g., takeoffs from balconies or close to tall structures).
Verdict: For city inspections, the Mini 5 Pro provides a noticeable upgrade in reliability.
4. Transmission and Connectivity
Mini 4 Pro: O4 transmission with up to 20 km range.
Mini 5 Pro: Upgrades to O4+ transmission, with improved anti-interference performance, especially useful in dense urban areas where signal congestion is common.
Verdict: The Mini 5 Pro gives you more confidence when operating in signal-heavy environments like New York or London.
5. Internal Storage
Mini 4 Pro: 2GB internal storage.
Mini 5 Pro: 42GB internal storage.
Why it matters: For inspection missions, larger internal storage is especially useful as a backup when memory cards aren’t available or fail — ensuring you don’t lose critical facade or roof data.
6. Portability and Compliance
Both drones remain under 250g, making them lightweight, portable, and easier to comply with certain regulations. The Mini 5 Pro is C0-certified in the EU, enabling smoother compliance for European operators.
Verdict: No significant difference for portability, but compliance benefits may matter depending on your region.
DJI Mini 5 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro: Which Drone Is Right for You?
Choose the Mini 4 Pro if… you need a reliable, proven platform today — with existing Hammer Missions support.
Choose the Mini 5 Pro if… low-light performance, enhanced obstacle sensing, and safer urban navigation are priorities, and you’re willing to wait for inspection software to catch up.
👉 Still comparing your options? Check out our drone comparison spreadsheet to see which models best fit inspection workflows.
Feature | DJI Mini 4 Pro | DJI Mini 5 Pro | Why It Matters for Inspections |
Camera Sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS, 48MP | 1-inch CMOS, 50MP, f/1.8 | Larger sensor = sharper detail, better low-light performance. |
Obstacle Sensing | Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance | Omnidirectional + LiDAR, works in low light | Safer flights near facades and in shaded/low-light conditions. |
Return-to-Home (RTH) | Smart RTH (GPS-based) | Next-gen Smart RTH, memorizes routes, works without satellite | Critical for urban flights where GPS signals are weak. |
Video Transmission | O4, up to 20 km | O4+, 20 km, stronger anti-interference | More reliable signal in dense urban environments. |
Weight | 249.9g | 249g | Lightweight, portable, and regulation-friendly. |
Compliance | Not C0-certified | C0-certified (EU) | Easier regulatory compliance for European operators. |
Internal Storage | 2GB | 42GB | Ensures inspections can continue even if an SD card fails or fills up. |
Hammer Missions Support | ✅ Supported | ❌ Not yet supported | Hammer Missions currently works with Mini 4 Pro only. |
Hammer Missions Compatibility
At present, Hammer Missions software supports the DJI Mini 4 Pro for inspection and mapping workflows. While the Mini 5 Pro is not yet integrated, we’re keeping a close eye on its development and potential future compatibility.
For teams looking to deploy today, the Mini 4 Pro remains the most dependable option within the Hammer Missions ecosystem.
Want to see the drones in action? Watch a quick breakdown here:
About Us
Hammer Missions is a software AI firm helping companies in the built environment leverage drones and AI for assessing existing conditions. Having seen 5000+ projects, we're pleased to be working with leading firms in AEC to streamline and scale the process of facade inspections. If you're looking to learn more about how AI can automate and accelerate your building assessment projects, please get in touch with us below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Looking to improve your drone inspections? Get in touch with us!
