I had the Mini 2, and it was great for years, but it crashed recently because of a gimbal error. I use apps like ODM, DroneLink, and Litchi for personal stuff, not business. Now, I’m looking to buy a new drone. The Mini 4 Pro (M4P) is well-regarded but doesn’t have SDK support, which I need for the apps I use. I compared it to the Mini 3 Pro (M3P), and they seem similar, except the M4P has full obstacle avoidance, which isn’t a big deal for me. The M4P also has antennas in its landing legs for better distance, which could matter. I asked DJI about SDK, but they couldn’t give me a timeline and suggested I buy another drone. Now that DJI doesn’t sell the M3P anymore, I looked on eBay, but new ones are almost as expensive as the M4P. So now, I’m thinking about getting a used drone. It’s been a bit frustrating. What do you all think? Will DJI ever release the SDK for the M4P? Should I take the chance on the M4P, even without SDK support? Anyone near Pittsburgh thinking about upgrading from the M3P to the M4P?
DJI tends to promise SDK support and then not release it fully, or at all. The M3P is a better deal if you can find it used and use the generic controller with your phone for 3rd party apps. The DJI RC with a screen probably won’t support 3rd party apps.
@Meade
I was thinking of getting the screen (RC1) for certain missions and using my RCN1 from the Mini 2 for 3rd party apps. It means unbinding and rebinding the drone every time, but that’s not too bad. Has anyone else tried this? From what I’ve read, the Mini 2 controller works with Ocusync 2 and 3, but not 4… so it could be an issue if I go with the M4P.
@Bennet
Yeah, you’ll need a new controller for the M4P. I also use two controllers and don’t have issues unbinding or rebinding. Just be aware that you’ll need internet access if you exceed the 5 takeoffs limit with an unbound controller.
@Meade
Thanks for confirming the dual controller setup and the 5 takeoffs limit. One more thing—if you were using the M3P, can you still use the DJI app like you would with your phone on the RC1 controller? I might prefer using the new controller but 3D printing a holder for my phone.
@Bennet
With the RC-1, you can only use the DJI app, and it launches automatically in kiosk mode. You can adjust some settings like screen brightness or volume, but you can’t use other apps. As for the RC-N1, you can attach your phone using the built-in mount. If your phone is too big, you may need to 3D print an adapter.
It’s probably just the ribbon cable that’s snapped on your Mini 2. You should try fixing it. Good luck!
Daryn said:
It’s probably just the ribbon cable that’s snapped on your Mini 2. You should try fixing it. Good luck!
Thanks! I’ve already taken it apart but didn’t see any obvious damage. The error I got was related to the IMU and gimbal. I was thinking about replacing the ribbon cable, but I’ve been given the green light to get a new drone, so I’m just going for it now. The 48MP upgrade is tempting from the Mini 2. I might revisit fixing it later. Appreciate the help.
@Bennet
The IMU issue is tricky, but the gimbal sounds like a ribbon cable problem. I’d still go for the upgrade, but look into fixing the Mini 2 too. If you have any pictures of the ribbon cable, feel free to upload them, and I can take a look.