DJI Mavic 4 Pro Review: Hasselblad-powered Camera with Infinity Gimbal

DJI Mavic 4 Pro – this is how you make a flagship consumer drone

The aerial photography landscape continues to evolve at a wild pace, with each new drone iteration pushing the limits of what’s possible in the skies. DJI’s latest offering, the Mavic 4 Pro, represents a huge upgrade in drone technology, establishing itself as the company’s most sophisticated consumer-level camera drone to date. As a triple-lens flagship model, it aims to satisfy the demands of professional photographers, videographers, and content creators who require exceptional image quality, versatility, and reliability in a portable form factor.

This review examines how the Mavic 4 Pro earns its “flagship” designation across multiple dimensions, from its impressive camera system to its innovative gimbal design, advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities, and extended flight performance.

Build and Design

The Mavic 4 Pro maintains DJI’s signature foldable design philosophy, allowing for exceptional portability despite its professional-grade capabilities. The drone’s arms fold neatly against its body, creating a compact package that easily fits into the included shoulder bag. Unlike previous models, the Mavic 4 Pro features a clever power-on mechanism – simply unfold the arms to activate the drone, streamlining the pre-flight process significantly. We’ve seen this feature on the DJI Air 3s and DJI Flip, which DJI have picked up to give more comfort on operating the DJI Mavic 4 Pro on the get go.

Built with premium materials, the drone shows quality from every angle. The body houses three distinct cameras, with the primary Hasselblad-engineered camera prominently featured at the front. The drone’s design incorporates forward-facing LiDAR on the right arm, complementing the six vision sensors distributed throughout the body to enable its impressive obstacle sensing capabilities.

What truly distinguishes the Mavic 4 Pro’s physical design is the revolutionary Infinity Gimbal system, which represents a complete rethinking of drone camera movement mechanics. This innovative approach enables the camera to achieve movements previously impossible on consumer drones, setting a new standard for aerial cinematography. I will discuss more about the Infinity Gimbal system later in this article.

Flagship Imaging Performance

The imaging system on the Mavic 4 Pro represents DJI’s most ambitious implementation yet, featuring a triple-camera array that delivers unprecedented versatility for aerial photography and videography. We’ve seen dual-camera setup from the DJI Mavic Air 3s, and the Mavic 4 just topped this with its flagship setup, especially with its main camera.

At the heart of this system is the 28mm Hasselblad-engineered main camera, featuring an all-new 4/3 CMOS sensor. This primary camera delivers stunning 100MP photos or 25MP images with pixel binning for enhanced low-light performance. The variable aperture (F2.0-F11) offers exceptional control over depth of field and exposure, rivaling the capabilities of professional mirrorless cameras.

Video capabilities are equally impressive, with 6K/60fps HDR recording that captures an astonishing 16 stops of dynamic range. This extraordinary range allows the camera to simultaneously retain details in the brightest highlights and darkest shadows – particularly valuable for challenging lighting scenarios like sunrise or sunset shoots. The ability to record 4K footage at 120fps enables smooth slow-motion playback while maintaining exceptional detail.

Complementing the main camera are two telephoto options that extend the drone’s creative possibilities. The 70mm medium telephoto camera utilizes a 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor with an F2.8 aperture, capturing 48MP photos and 4K/60fps HDR video with 14 stops of dynamic range. For more distant subjects, the 168mm telephoto camera employs a 1/1.5″ CMOS sensor, also with an F2.8 aperture, delivering 50MP photos and 4K/60fps HDR video with 13 stops of dynamic range.

This comprehensive camera system ensures consistent image quality across all focal lengths – a significant improvement over previous generations where secondary cameras often delivered noticeably inferior results. All three cameras support D-Log/D-Log M and HLG color modes, providing professional color grading flexibility.

When testing the drone during golden hour conditions, the main camera’s 16-stop dynamic range proves transformative, capturing both the delicate hues of the sky and the intricate details of shadowed landscapes in a single exposure. The drone’s cameras performed excellently when we brought it to Nueva Ecija to take videos and photos below.

Night photography is equally impressive, with the large sensor gathering sufficient light to produce clear, detailed images that would require significant post-processing with lesser drones. This featured proved to be very useful when we took these videos during Maundy Thursday dusk procession and Easter morning celebration in Cabanatuan City.

Infinity Gimbal

Perhaps the most revolutionary feature of the Mavic 4 Pro is its Infinity Gimbal, which fundamentally reimagines what’s possible with drone camera movement. Previous drone gimbals primarily focused on stabilization along limited axes of movement, but the Infinity Gimbal introduces 360° rotation capability along the roll axis combined with a 70° tilt range.

This expanded freedom of movement enables a previously impossible range of cinematic effects. During our testing, flying along river or our subdivision area while executing a barrel roll creates a disorienting yet perfectly controlled shot that would typically require special effects in post-production. While this will not be able to compete with FPV drones that will allow you to physically execute such a feat, you can now somewhat do so with the Infinity Gimbal on this drone, albeit slower (but more cinematic) in execution.

The ability to smoothly transition from forward flight to an upward 70° tilt while maintaining perfect stability offers filmmakers new creative possibilities for dramatic reveal shots. 

Flying through structures further demonstrates the gimbal’s capabilities, with the camera able to maintain focus on a subject while the drone navigates complex environments. The seamless transition to vertical shooting mode also proves invaluable for social media content creators who need portrait orientation footage without quality compromises. While the gimbal is somewhat limited in its movements at portrait mode, this still gives a good perspective option especially for those who are into creating vertical video contents.

The precision and smoothness of the gimbal’s movement are particularly impressive, with no noticeable jitter or hesitation even during complex maneuvers. This stability, combined with the expanded range of motion, makes the Mavic 4 Pro a legitimate tool for professional cinematography rather than merely an advanced consumer drone.

0.1 Lux Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing

Safety features often receive less attention than camera specifications, but the Mavic 4 Pro’s obstacle avoidance system represents a significant advancement that enhances both safety and creative possibilities. The drone incorporates six specialized low-light vision sensors and a forward-facing LiDAR system mounted on the right arm, enabling effective obstacle detection even in near-darkness.

This “0.1 Lux Nightscape” system (0.1 lux being roughly equivalent to the illumination from a quarter moon) functions effectively in conditions where previous drones would be essentially blind. During night testing, which I bravely did so,  the drone successfully detected and avoided obstacles at speeds up to 18m/s – significantly faster than previous generations.

The system’s capabilities become particularly evident when filming under streetlights and phone lines (especially here in the Philippines), where the drone can detect vehicles from approximately 30 meters altitude, depending on the specific brightness of the illumination. This enhanced perception enables safe operation in conditions that would typically ground other drones.

Two critical safety improvements stand out: First, the Mavic 4 Pro can perform takeoff and return-to-home functions without GPS, relying instead on its vision system – invaluable in signal-challenged environments. Second, the forward-facing LiDAR significantly improves nighttime return safety, allowing the drone to detect and bypass obstacles by ascending during the return process, even when the night vision system might be compromised.

Perhaps most impressively, in near-pitch-black environments (below 0.1 lux), the LiDAR system still enables the drone to perceive its surroundings sufficiently to stop in time when encountering obstacles. This dramatically extends the drone’s operational window and provides pilots with greater confidence during challenging lighting conditions.

Flight Performance and Battery Life

The Mavic 4 Pro sets new standards for flight performance in a consumer drone. Powered by a substantial 95Wh battery, it achieves an impressive 51-minute maximum flight time under ideal conditions – a significant improvement over previous generations. I was able to fly this one for about 45 minutes before deciding to swap its battery to a newly charged one. This extended endurance enables complex shooting sessions without frequent battery changes, greatly enhancing productivity for professional users.

The drone’s maximum flight speed of 25m/s (approximately 90km/h) provides sufficient velocity for dynamic action shots while maintaining stability. With a maximum flight distance of 41km (limited by battery capacity rather than control range), the Mavic 4 Pro offers exceptional flexibility for long-distance filming projects.

The ultra-low wind resistance configuration proves particularly valuable in challenging conditions, allowing the drone to maintain stability and precise positioning even in environments that would ground lesser drones. This resilience extends the practical operational window significantly.

Battery management represents another area of significant improvement. The 240W desktop charger and parallel charging hub can charge three batteries simultaneously, requiring only 90 minutes to charge all three from empty. A single battery reaches full charge in just 43 minutes, minimizing downtime between flights.

Flight Experience

The overall flight experience with the Mavic 4 Pro benefits tremendously from DJI’s advanced O4+ video transmission system. With a maximum transmission distance of 30km (under FCC regulations), the system provides exceptional range while delivering 10-bit end-to-end video transmission. This ensures that the live feed accurately represents the final footage, enabling more precise composition and exposure decisions during flight. I did not dare to fly this farther than 3 kilometers because of two reasons: (1) I am flying a PhP118,00 worth of review loan unit; (2) whole confident of DJI’s claims, I feel that I am still not “pro” enough to fly this drone.

The transmission system also features improved interference optimization for multi-drone scenarios, allowing filmmakers to operate several drones simultaneously without signal degradation. This capability proves invaluable for complex productions requiring multiple camera angles.

The intelligent tracking capabilities further enhance the flight experience. This is perfect for subject focus flights – great for content creators focused on motoring/car; and even wedding film makers. The ActiveTrack 360° feature provides comprehensive subject tracking, including specialized car mode with direction recognition. The system can identify and track vehicles from up to 200 meters away, even smaller automobiles, enabling complex tracking shots with minimal pilot intervention.

The Birds Subject Focusing feature allows pilots to select bird targets whether perched or in flight, with the Spotlight mode continuously following the subject while enabling independent camera control. This capability dramatically simplifies wildlife photography, though it’s worth emphasizing that all bird photography should be conducted from a respectful distance without disturbing the animals, adhering to wildlife protection regulations. While I did not get to try this on birds (unfortunately), I got to try it on a herd of goats.

The quick transfer capabilities also streamline the post-flight workflow. Using high-speed Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, the drone supports off-state quick transfer, allowing users to power down the drone after shooting and access footage directly through the Fly app without powering the drone back on. This convenient feature saves time and battery life when reviewing or transferring footage.

DJI RC Pro 2

The Mavic 4 Pro’s capabilities are further enhanced by the optional DJI RC Pro 2 controller, which represents a significant upgrade over the standard remote. Featuring a brilliant 7-inch Mini-LED display with 2000 nits peak brightness, the controller provides exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. This high-brightness display proves particularly valuable when evaluating D-Log footage, as it accurately represents the true color information captured by the drone.

The controller’s thoughtful design incorporates both a foldable screen and stashable joysticks, improving portability without sacrificing ergonomics. The screen can be rotated to support vertical shooting, aligning perfectly with the drone’s ability to capture portrait-oriented content. This, in my opinion, is one of its best features.

Additional professional features include a built-in microphone compatible with the DJI Mic series, enabling pilots to record voice notes or commentary during flights. With 4 hours of battery life, 128GB of internal storage, and support for third-party apps, the RC Pro 2 functions as a comprehensive control hub rather than a simple remote.

One particularly innovative feature is the dynamic home point capability, which proves invaluable when filming from moving vehicles. This function continuously updates the drone’s return point based on the controller’s position, ensuring safe and accurate returns when shooting from cars or other mobile platforms.

The controller’s user interface is intuitive, with critical information clearly displayed and advanced settings easily accessible. The sleep mode activated by folding the screen enables quick power-on for subsequent flights, minimizing setup time and maximizing field efficiency.

Price and Availability

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro officially launched today, May 13, 2025. It is available in three configurations to accommodate different user needs and budgets:

• DJI Mavic 4 Pro (Drone, DJI RC 2): PHP 114,790.00
• DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2): PHP 140,890.00 – includes three Intelligent Flight Batteries and a DJI Mavic Shoulder Bag
• DJI Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo (DJI RC Pro 2): PHP 181,290.00 – includes three Intelligent Flight Batteries, the premium DJI RC Pro 2 controller, and additional accessories

While representing a significant investment, these price points actually deliver exceptional value considering the professional capabilities offered. The Fly More Combo, in particular, provides essential accessories for extended shooting sessions at a more favorable price than purchasing components separately. If you find the DJI Mavic 4 Pro expensive for the features it provides, then it might not be something for you or for your needs.

Verdict

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro establishes a new benchmark for what’s possible in a portable drone system. By successfully addressing the limitations of previous models while introducing genuinely innovative features, DJI has created a truly flagship aerial imaging platform that meets the needs of both professional cinematographers and advanced enthusiasts.

The triple-camera system delivers exceptional image quality across multiple focal lengths, providing versatility previously unavailable in a single drone. The revolutionary Infinity Gimbal opens new creative possibilities, enabling shots that would have been impossible with conventional designs. The advanced obstacle sensing system significantly extends operational capabilities into challenging lighting conditions, while the improved battery life and transmission range provide the endurance needed for professional productions.

When paired with the RC Pro 2 controller, the system becomes a comprehensive aerial cinematography package capable of delivering results that rival dedicated camera systems costing significantly more. The intuitive operation and intelligent features reduce the technical barriers to creating professional-quality content, allowing pilots to focus on creative decisions rather than complex operation.

While the premium price point will place the Mavic 4 Pro beyond the reach of casual users, those who require professional-grade aerial imaging capabilities will find it represents a sound investment. For filmmakers, photographers, and content creators seeking the ultimate portable aerial imaging system, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro sets a new standard that competitors will struggle to match.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro doesn’t merely iterate on previous designs – it fundamentally reimagines what’s possible in a consumer drone, delivering capabilities that were previously the exclusive domain of specialized professional equipment. In doing so, it earns its flagship designation not through marketing hyperbole, but through genuine technical innovation and exceptional performance across every dimension.

Giancarlo Viterbo

Founder, Chief Editor, and Sales Lead at Gadget Pilipinas | Website

Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.