Last week, DJI unveiled its new Mini 5 Pro drone, their latest entry in their lineup of lightweight drones that officially weigh less than 250 grams. The release is a major one as it raises the bar for many capabilities for lightweight drones – TechRadar, it should be noted, points out some ambiguity about the exact weight – with improved imaging capabilities and obstacle avoidance capabilities, among other improvements. Crucially, though, there are still questions about when or if it will be available to consumers in the United States, and for the time being, it is only available for those outside of the U.S. 

For those who have been able to check out this latest release, though, the reviews have been largely positive. According to the company, this drone features the first 50MP one-inch sensor in a mini camera drone, which they say will capture high-quality details in imagery even under low light conditions. Reviewers who have been able to test the new release note that the camera closes the gap between what is possible for this compared to DJI’s AI and Mavic lineups, with one saying the Mini 5 Pro “takes cues from both the Air and Mavic drone lineups to craft something that straddles the line between a beginner and professional-end drone.”

DJI also made improvements for this release with regard to maneuvering and return-to-home capabilities in nighttime and low-light settings. This Mini 5 Pro features a forward-facing lidar along with multiple vision sensors for nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing. In city nightscapes, it actively detects and avoids obstacles and returns paths for worry-free night flying. With sufficient light, it can memorize flight routes, enabling safe takeoff and return even without a satellite signal,” DJI says in its official release.

DJI refers to these capabilities as “Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing,” which provides more safety for those completing night photography options. As an example, they state that, thanks to the forward-facing lidar, the drone will detect obstacles such as tall buildings in low-light conditions and intelligently maneuver upward to ensure safer returns to home. 

As alluded to above, though, one of the biggest stories to come out of this release doesn’t have much to do with the actual drone itself, but rather its availability (or lack thereof), in the United States. This has become part of the new normal for DJI releases, given various regulatory hurdles currently in place and potentially greater restrictions –  up to and including a potential de facto ban – in the country. 

There is currently a deadline for December 23, 2025, for a security audit on their products before potentially being added to the FCC Covered list. That placement would effectively prevent these products from being sold in the United States entirely. The drone will likely show up on Amazon through third-party resellers, like the Mavic 4 Pro did earlier this year, but American pilots would likely have to pay more for these and live with less warranty coverage, as DJI’s warranties are generally tied to the region in which the unit was officially sold.

For the time being, the DJI Mini 5 Pro’s use is largely limited to those outside the United States, and it has uses for both hobbyists and those in commercial spaces, particularly in photography and videography. In addition to the features mentioned above, the drone also includes a 225° rotating gimbal, providing more potential for dynamic roll shots. For those starting in the commercial space and looking for a portable option, this new release meets the highest bar for the class available today – just not yet for those in the United States.