Having reviewed dozens of drones of all shapes, sizes, and costs, I might not too long ago come to the conclusion that smaller, lighter, and cheaper drones have been the way in which to go for 90 p.c of shoppers. Premium drones, with all their tools and flight laws, simply did not make sense. However then DJI launched its new premium-priced, jumbo-size flagship client drone, the Mavic 4 Professional, and made me fall in love over 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 informed WIRED, “Like many global companies, we have had to adjust our market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved. While we do not have a timeline for when we can introduce the product to the US market, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution.”
The Mavic 4 Professional is, nonetheless, listed on B&H Photograph for $2,699, which is teasingly optimistic. It’s not on the market, but, however there may be at the least some hope.
Focal Hero
So what makes the Mavic 4 Professional nice? It is largely right down to the digital camera. Or cameras, I ought to say. Identical 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 incorporates a new 4/3 sensor able to 100 MP pictures 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 a bit of 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 coloration profiles. In different phrases, all are constructed for pro-quality aerial film making.
And higher but, it’s all mounted on a totally new design of gimbal that is in a position to freely rotate and tilt. Not solely does this imply it may be pointed instantly upward, it could actually additionally rotate to seize true portrait-oriented content material, completely formatted for the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts.
All the above makes the inventive capabilities of the Mavic 4 Professional one thing to behold. It’s a implausible aerial digital camera in nearly any lighting situations (the 28-mm Hasselblad is especially succesful at night-time, as an illustration) and its vary of movement and selection of focal lengths makes it extremely versatile. If there’s one thing else this achieved in client drones, image-quality smart, I’ve but to come across it.
Flight Membership
The drone’s flight capabilities are spectacular, too, proper right down to new time-saving touches like the actual fact it mechanically 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 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 folks, boats, and autos whereas being flown both manually or autonomously.
Return to dwelling capabilities have additionally been upgraded. The drone’s enhanced visible abilities now let it mechanically fly again to its take-off level with out using GPS. I used to be additionally in a position to transfer the house level to the present controller place fairly than the take-off level, which is a helpful function to have in the event you’re piloting the drone from a transferring automobile or boat.
Controller Improve
DJI despatched me each a daily 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 might rotate by means 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 mechanically whenever you carry the display from the physique. This motion additionally ends in the 2 thumb sticks popping up, that means you don’t should screw them on every time you employ the controller.
{Photograph}: Chris Haslam
All in all, the Mavic 4 Professional represents a significant improve over its already spectacular predecessor and makes the concept of proudly owning a bigger drone as soon as once more very interesting. Whereas it’s true that heavier drones are topic to plenty of (usually tiresome) restrictions in comparison with ultra-lightweight fashions, however the additional paperwork and care round flight areas looks as if a value value 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. When you’re simply on the lookout for one thing to get within the air and seize a number of handsome photographs, the less expensive DJI Mini 4 Professional (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is all you want. In order for you the pliability 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 good drone weren’t accessible within the US.
