Just picked up the standard Mini 4 Pro battery (34 min flight time). Thinking about switching to the bigger one—worth it?
Do it! I’ve got the Mini 4 Pro, and the extra flight time is totally worth it.
I’m using a Mini 3, but yeah, definitely go for the bigger battery. Just make sure it’s new—used ones usually only have 80-90% health left, which isn’t great.
Doesn’t the bigger battery push it over the 249g limit? If you’re in the U.S., that means FAA registration. I’m sticking with the standard batteries for that reason. If you do get one, just make sure it’s legit. Worst case, you can return it.
@Zen
In the U.S., you just pay $5 to register it. Not a huge deal, but in some other countries, the weight change puts you in stricter flight categories.
@Zen
[deleted]
The 47-minute battery is heavier and will push your drone over the 249g limit, meaning you’ll need to register it with the FAA if flying recreationally. If you’re outside the U.S., check your local laws first.
As for buying a used battery—I wouldn’t. You have no idea about its actual condition, how many cycles it’s been through, or if it’s even authentic. Not worth the risk.
Edited for accuracy.
@Hollis
You don’t need a Part 107 just for flying a drone over 250g recreationally. Just a TRUST certification and FAA registration for remote ID.
Paxton said:
@Hollis
You don’t need a Part 107 just for flying a drone over 250g recreationally. Just a TRUST certification and FAA registration for remote ID.
Yeah, my bad—I mixed that up with commercial flights. Thanks for catching that!
Good to know. I didn’t realize switching back to the standard battery would mess with the drone’s remote ID.
I fly a Mini 4 Pro and have four regular batteries. I also bring an Anker Solix 522 power station so I can recharge in the field and fly all day. As long as the battery is cool, I throw it on the charger as soon as I land.
When I upgrade to the Air 3 next week, I’ll have to register since those batteries are bigger, but for now, avoiding FAA paperwork is nice. Also, I didn’t get anywhere near the advertised 47 minutes with the bigger battery—maybe 25 at best—so I returned mine and stuck with the standard ones.
@Darby
Isn’t charging right after a flight bad for the battery? Pretty sure DJI says not to do that.
Kerry said:
@Darby
Isn’t charging right after a flight bad for the battery? Pretty sure DJI says not to do that.
Yeah, if the battery is hot, I let it cool first. Right now, it’s cold here in Northern California, so I haven’t had to worry about that. But yeah, in warmer weather, I’d definitely wait before charging.
Technically worth it, but just keep in mind the extra weight means FAA registration.
I bought one once and didn’t really notice a difference. Maybe as the battery ages, but I marked mine to compare over time.
I wouldn’t buy a used battery.