Back in 2016, I was at DJI when we launched the first Mavic Pro, and we were buzzing about its foldable design – a game-changer that fit great aerial photography in a backpack. Nine years later, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, released today, May 13, 2025, keeps that iconic foldable frame but packs tech that feels light-years ahead. I have been checking into its specs, and this drone is a beast for creators, with a 100MP Hasselblad camera, a 360° Infinity Gimbal, and a 51-minute flight time. Here is why the Mavic 4 Pro has me excited, plus what you need to know about its features, price, and whether it’s worth the hype.
A Camera Trio That Delivers
The Mavic 4 Pro’s triple-camera system is its heart. The main Hasselblad camera has a 4/3 CMOS sensor pumping out 100MP stills – perfect for cropping or massive prints. It shoots 6K/60fps HDR video with up to 16 stops of dynamic range (as a comparison – my Sony A7C camera has 15). The 28mm focal length and f/2.0-f/11 aperture handle low light like a champ.
Then there is the 70mm medium tele camera (48MP, 1/1.3-inch CMOS) and 168mm tele camera (50MP, 1/1.5-inch CMOS), both with f/2.8 apertures. These let you zoom from wide shots to tight close-ups. The tele’s great for distant subjects, like wildlife, with a stabilized gimbal that keeps shots steady. All three cameras support 4K/60fps HDR, with the main and medium tele hitting 4K/120fps for slow-motion. The 10-bit D-Log and HLG profiles make color grading easy.
That 360° Infinity Gimbal
The Mavic 4 Pro’s gimbal is a first for DJI – 360° rotation and 70° upward tilt. I’ve played with gimbals before, but this one’s a dream for creative shots. The gimbal’s 3-axis stabilization keeps footage rock-solid, even at 25 m/s in Sport Mode.
The RC Pro 2: A Pro’s Best Friend
The DJI RC Pro 2, included in the Creator Combo, is an amazing controller. Its 7-inch Mini-LED screen is bright enough for sunny days (2000 nits), and the rotatable display syncs with the gimbal for vertical shooting – a lifesaver for social media clips. With 128GB built-in storage, a 4-hour battery, and an HDMI port, it’s ready for pro shoots; It is collapsible, which makes it easier to pack than older pro remotes, though at €999 standalone, it’s a pricey upgrade if you compare to standard RC 2 controller.
Flight Performance and Safety
This drone flies for 51 minutes (45 hovering), covering 41 km at up to 27 m/s with a tailwind. I have flown all other older Mavics in bad weather conditions, and the Mavic 4 Pro’s 12 m/s wind resistance feels solid. Its 6654 mAh battery charges in about 51 minutes with the 240W adapter, or 90 minutes for three batteries via the Parallel Charging Hub.
Safety-wise, the omnidirectional binocular vision system, paired with LiDAR and a 0.1-lux low-light sensor, spots obstacles up to 200 m away. I haven´t tested it yet in dim urban settings, but hopefully it should avoid wires and trees better than previous generations Mavics. ActiveTrack 360° keeps subjects locked, even if they go behind bushes. The O4+ transmission stretches 30 km (FCC) with 1080p/60fps live view – crisp and reliable, though urban interference cuts it to 1.5-6 km.
Storage and Extras
The standard Mavic 4 Pro comes with 64GB internal storage, while the 512GB Creator Combo bumps it to 460GB and adds H.264 ALL-I recording for pro editors. I personally stick to SanDisk Pro microSD cards (up to 1TB) for extra space. The QuickTransfer feature lets you pull footage at 80 MB/s over Wi-Fi 6 without powering on the drone – it is. handy when you are rushing to edit. The DJI RC Pro 2 (Creator Combo) has a 7-inch Mini-LED screen and 128GB storage, but the standard RC 2 is plenty for most people.
Pricing and Packages
The Mavic 4 Pro starts at €2,099 for the base model (drone, RC 2, one battery). The Fly More Combo (€2,699) adds two batteries, a charging hub, and a shoulder bag. The 512GB Creator Combo (€3,539) throws in the RC Pro 2, 240W adapter, and 512GB storage. Extras like the Parallel Charging Hub (€89) or Propeller Guards (€39) are sold separately. It’s not cheap, but compared to the Mavic 3 Pro’s launch, the tech justifies the price for pros.
EU and US Regulations
In the EU, the Mavic 4 Pro’s C2 class means you’ll need a Remote Pilot Certificate for A2 operations or stick to A1/A3 rules for lighter restrictions. In the US, Part 107 pilots need to register (it’s over 250g at 1063g) and log maintenance, while hobbyists just register.
Why It Stands Out
The Mavic 4 Pro keeps the foldable design I fell for in 2016 but cranks it up with a 100MP camera, 360° gimbal, and low-light obstacle sensing. It’s heavier than the Mavic 3 (1063g vs. 958g), but the 51-minute flight time and 30 km range make up for it. The Mavic 4 Pro’s Hasselblad and gimbal are tough to beat. For aerial filmmakers, this is a workhorse.
Wrapping Up
The Mavic 4 Pro is the foldable dream we geeked out over in 2016, now with tech that makes every shot epic. Its cameras, gimbal, and flight time are built for creators who want it all without a hangar-sized drone. It’s not perfect—pricey and a bit heavy—but it’s the best Mavic yet. Got thoughts on the Mavic 4 Pro? Hit the comments or find DroneHiTech on Facebook and Instagram. Fly safe!
