I enquired in regards to the weight, and a DJI spokesperson despatched me the next assertion: “The DJI Mini 5 Professional has a design weight of 249.9 grams. Resulting from manufacturing tolerances, the precise weight of the product might range barely inside a variety of ±4 g. Minor weight fluctuations are regular. We suggest that when UK customers are working the drone, native laws are complied with, which may be discovered right here.”
The corporate refers to it as a “near-250g drone”—terminology I might by no means encountered from DJI. Frankly, it feels just a little evasive. This is not simply pedantic nitpicking over a number of grams. I dwell within the UK, and the 250-gram threshold determines whether or not you possibly can fly a drone in public parks, on seashores, in cities and cities, close to folks, and in numerous different eventualities with out extra certification. Earlier Mini fashions have been just below this restrict, and it looks as if an oversight through the design course of to not hold this one comfortably under it, too.
There’s excellent news, although: With UK drone guidelines set to vary at first of 2026, I haven’t got too lengthy to attend till the Mini 5 Professional (and, apparently, the a lot larger DJI Air 3S) turns into utterly authorized to fly in built-up areas, public parks, and near folks.
The tidings for US-based pilots aren’t so cheery, although. As with all of its current merchandise, DJI is not formally launching the Mini 5 Professional within the US. You may blame the approaching DJI ban, and it is an actual disgrace, as a result of, weight points apart, this can be a implausible digicam drone.
Large Digicam Upgrades
{Photograph}: Sam Kieldsen
The Mini 5 Professional’s slight weight improve comes with real advantages. The principle enchancment is the digicam, which now contains a 12-MP (or 50 MP in Quad Bayer phrases) 1-inch sensor, a big improve from the smaller sensors in earlier Mini fashions. The picture high quality is edging in direction of DJI’s Air vary, which is outstanding for a drone this dimension. You are getting professional-level picture high quality in a pocketable drone.
