DJI Mini 5 Leakage suggests that beginner drone could soon land with two major upgrades

A new DJI Mini 5 -Drone seems to be in the works
Online leaks suggest that it could have lidar sensors
DJI seems to test the drone in front of a summer launch

DJI is not one to rest on his laurels. The Mini 4 Pro is possibly at the top of the bill in our round-up of the best drones you can buy right now, but new pictures leaked online seems to show that the manufacturer is well in the process of developing a successor.

The images shared on Dronexl appear to show DJI Mini 5 tested on public streets in China. Included in an article written by Jasper Ellens, a reliable drone industrial source, the grainy shots have a quadcopter similar to the Mini 4 Pro, albeit with a larger front camera lens, and what seems to be a pair of Lidar sensors above.

This backs up a previous post from Ellens, which was shared on X in December 2024, which claims that Mini 5 will contain Lidar sensors and “stronger (vented) engines”.

Front-facing Lidar sensors would give the new model a more effective collision waiver system. As we saw on Air 3’s last year, Lidar is better able to navigate obstacles and terrain at night compared to Standard Vision Tech. Their presence on Mini 5 would be a first for any under-250G drone, provided the rumored model remains within the same weight class as previous versions.

The depicted drone also has guards around its blades, although these could be in place as a safety measure during testing rather than a permanent function.

While DJI has not officially announced a release date for Mini 5, the appearance of a test unit publicly suggests that the company is in the later stages of development. Some sources expect the new drone to break the coverage in the summer of 2025. A reveal around August or September would fit DJI’s established launch cycles, marking two years since the DJI Mini 4 Pro hit the market.

Other features remain the subject of much speculation. Some sites have reported that the DJI Mini 5 could contain a 1-inch sensor and a 50-minute flight time, both of which would be a significant step up from 1/1.3-inch sensor and 34-minute flight time for the DJI Mini 4 Pro. That said, there is little in the way of harsh evidence to support these claims at this time.

I have been extremely skeptical of the release of a #Djimini5. I couldn’t find any reason why they had to update Mini 4 without exceeding the 249 grammar. But today I stand corrected. This summer we see a new mini with Lidar and stronger (vented) engines. Cheers pic.twitter.com/v3kcsasjfoDecember 10, 2024

Lidar, Lidar?

(Image Credit: Dronexl)

Mini 5 is not the only upcoming DJI drone to get Lidar capacities. The recent Intel also suggests that the Mavic 4 Pro will benefit from improved obstacle examination sensor. This may indicate that DJI has managed to develop a more compact Lidar module that can be more easily packed in drones across its range.

While its presence on a under-250g would be a game election, it is whether Lidar alone will justify an upgrade for owners of the Mini 4 Pro, still seen. It would certainly be another feather in a well -tighted bow, but Lidar is of limited need for users who only fly their drones in open space on clear days.

Of course, it is not the only rumor upgrade to the DJI Mini 5. Stronger or more efficient engines could give the drone improved performance under all conditions, while improved flight times would take the series meaningfully forward where the Mini 4 Pro did not. A 1-inch sensor also points to clearer low light image processing.

Overall, these improvements would make a stronger case to invest in the new model. If it’s really in testing already, we shouldn’t have too long to wait for more specific specifications. If former DJI drone development cycles are something to pass by, leaked info about Mini 5 will not be in short supply.

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