I’m thinking of getting the DJI Mini 3 Pro or Mini 4 Pro for YouTube videos and aerial shots of work sites. I like that they have larger sensors and obstacle avoidance, but I’m on a tight budget. Would I be okay with the DJI Mini 4K instead, even though it doesn’t have obstacle sensors? What do you all think?
This forum gets a lot of questions about which drone to pick. You might find answers in the main thread about drone recommendations if one is pinned. If this was flagged by mistake, don’t worry—your post is still visible.
If you’re new to flying, I’d go for one with collision avoidance. It really helps when you’re still learning, as you might not always be fully aware of your surroundings. Even experienced pilots make mistakes sometimes, so it’s a good safety net. And if you’re in the States, consider getting your Part 107 license too—it’s helpful for any commercial work.
@Rory
Yeah, I think it might be safer to spend extra for collision avoidance. I just hope the $400 difference between this and the Mini 4K is worth it.
Ray said:
@Rory
Yeah, I think it might be safer to spend extra for collision avoidance. I just hope the $400 difference between this and the Mini 4K is worth it.
It’s definitely worth it, especially if you ever need to use the Return to Home feature. Without sensors, it might crash into something on its way back if you’re flying low.
@Storm
That makes sense. I’ll keep that in mind.
I started with one of those cheap $50 drones to get used to flying. I just got my Mini 4K, and I think if you’re careful and take it slow, you can avoid most obstacles without sensors. Just practice a lot.
It depends on how tricky your flying environments are. Obstacle sensors are great for big objects, but they can miss smaller or thin ones, especially in poor lighting. They also might not detect obstacles above or right next to the drone, so you’ll still need to be cautious.
@Westley
I read that the Mini 4 Pro has sensors that can detect obstacles in all directions. That sounds like a big plus.