DJI Mavic 4 Pro and RC Pro 2: New Features Unveiled

Good day, folks! Sean here from Air Photography. Today, DJI introduced the highly anticipated Mavic 4 Pro alongside a brand-new Pro Controller, the DJI RC Pro 2. The Mavic 4 Pro brings a host of new features and enhancements, with one of the most significant being its innovative Infinity Gimbal. This gimbal’s unique capabilities are truly impressive.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Infinity Gimbal: Revolutionary Design

The standout feature of the Infinity Gimbal is its ability to perform a complete 360° rotation, enabling creators to capture unique perspectives. You can control the gimbal’s roll using a dial on the back of the controller for full manual control. Alternatively, intelligent flight modes support this roll rotation, including a new Quickshot designed specifically for this feature. Simply set your parameters, and the drone handles the rest. Other modes, such as hyperlapses and waypoint missions, also support gimbal rolling.

The Infinity Gimbal allows filming upward at up to 70°, nearly straight up, which is ideal for capturing perspectives under tree canopies, bridges, or around tall buildings. For the first time in the Mavic series, the gimbal supports true vertical filming, similar to the Mini 4 Pro. In vertical mode, all three cameras remain functional. However, due to the gimbal’s design, vertical mode has some up-and-down limitations. To access the full range of motion in vertical mode, you can select a cropped vertical mode in the settings, similar to the Air 3 series. This mode provides a preview with darkened edges for framing, and the final video is in 4K vertical format, unlike the Air 3’s lower resolution.

Upgraded Camera System

The Mavic 4 Pro’s camera system has received a significant upgrade. The main Hasselblad wide-angle camera now features a next-generation 4/3 sensor, capable of filming 6K at 60 frames per second in HDR and 4K at 120 frames per second for slow motion. It can capture 100-megapixel photos with approximately 16 stops of dynamic range, compared to 12.8 stops on the Mavic 3. These upgrades enhance low-light performance and image detail. The camera supports dual native ISO and a larger f/2 aperture, compared to f/2.8 on the Mavic 3.

The Mavic 4 Pro includes three cameras: the 4/3 Hasselblad, a 70mm telephoto camera with 2.5x zoom and a 1/1.3-inch sensor (capable of 4K at 60 or 120 frames per second), and a 168mm telephoto lens with 6x zoom and a new 1/1.5-inch sensor. You can switch between cameras on the main screen. Footage from all three cameras demonstrates their quality: the Hasselblad offers a wide-angle view, the 70mm provides subtle compression, and the 168mm delivers detailed close-ups. All cameras support normal color profiles, HLG, D-Log, and D-Log M for easier color grading.

The drone’s Explorer Mode allows zooming through all levels up to 24x digital zoom. While image quality degrades at 24x, it’s ideal for scouting locations due to its smooth gimbal control.

Enhanced Design and Performance

The Mavic 4 Pro is one of the quickest drones to deploy. Like the DJI Flip, it powers on automatically when unfolded, a feature that can be disabled in settings. You can also enable auto power-off when folding the drone. The new RC Pro 2 controller powers on when unfolded and connects instantly.

Obstacle avoidance has been upgraded with three high-resolution cameras on the top and bottom, plus front-facing LiDAR on the arms. These sensors offer four times the resolution of the Air 3, detecting smaller obstacles, even in low-light or near-dark conditions. The LIDAR excels at identifying low-texture surfaces like glass or white walls. The system allows the drone to fly at 18 m/s while detecting obstacles.

The Mavic 4 Pro introduces next-generation Return-to-Home functionality, similar to the Air 3S. It can take off and return without satellite connectivity by building a real-time map during its outbound flight. This ensures safe returns in complex environments like balconies or under tree canopies.

With an ultra-wind-resistant design and a high-powered battery, the Mavic 4 Pro achieves speeds of 25 m/s (90 km/h) and up to 51 minutes of flight time. The new O4 Plus transmission system extends the range to 30 km, compared to 15 km on the Mavic 3 Pro, and includes interference optimization for multi-drone scenarios.

Active Track and Battery Improvements

Active Track now offers automatic and manual modes. In manual mode, you can customize tracking from eight directions using the trace wheel for cinematic shots like circling or pulling away. Auto mode adjusts the drone’s path based on the environment and aesthetics, ideal for focusing on activities. It can track vehicles at 100 meters and humans at 25 meters, with improved trajectory planning for vehicles.

The new battery system supports a 240-watt charger that charges three batteries simultaneously in 90 minutes via a charging hub, or a single battery in 51 minutes. USB-C charging is also supported, offering flexibility for travel. The drone’s USB-C port can charge batteries directly. Wi-Fi 6 enhances content transfer speeds to mobile devices, and off-state quick transfer allows footage offloading even when the drone is powered off and stored.

DJI RC Pro 2 Controller

The DJI RC Pro 2 is a game-changer. Despite initial concerns about its size, it’s only slightly larger than the RC2, with a 7-inch mini-LED screen (2,000 nits peak brightness, 1,600 nits sustained) for clear viewing in bright sunlight. The controller powers on with one motion, and its joysticks automatically extend. The rotatable screen adjusts the Fly app and camera for vertical filming, enhancing convenience.

The RC Pro 2 includes a built-in microphone and supports the DJI Mic ecosystem via USB-C or Bluetooth. Audio can be embedded in screen recordings or videos, with noise cancellation options (natural mode retains some ambient sound, while pure mode isolates voices). A dynamic home point feature updates the return location during tracking, ideal for mobile scenarios.

The controller features a customizable dial for camera settings, a 5D button for lens switching, and ports for HDMI, USB-C, and a memory card. With 128 GB of internal storage (expandable), it supports third-party apps and video editing directly on the device. A built-in simulator offers training courses and mimics real flights, including obstacle avoidance, battery usage, and camera settings, with detailed crash playback for learning.

Accessories and Configurations

The Mavic 4 Pro’s shoulder bag, similar to the Air 3S’s but darker and larger, looks sharp. The redesigned gimbal guard snaps on easily. The drone supports all intelligent flight features, including MasterShots, QuickShots, waypoint missions, panoramas, FocusTrack (ActiveTrack, Point of Interest, Spotlight), and cruise control.

The Mavic 4 Pro is available in multiple packages: the base package (drone, one battery, RC2 controller), the FlyMore kit (three batteries, charging hub, carrying case), and the Creator Combo (RC Pro 2, 512 GB internal storage, memory card slot). The RC Pro 2 is compatible with the Mini 4 Pro, Air 3 series, and Mavic 4 Pro.

Conclusion

DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro and RC Pro 2 are incredible additions to their lineup, empowering creators with unprecedented capabilities. If you’re interested in the Mavic 4 Pro, subscribe for in-depth coverage over the coming weeks, including feature tests and comparisons. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in the next video!