Last Updated on January 13, 2019
Features
- 1-inch 20MP Exmor R CMOS sensor
- DCI 4K (4096×2160) up to 60fps
- 14 fps Burst Mode Shooting at 20 MP
- 4.3mi (7km) long-range control
- 5 Direction Obstacle Sensing
- 30-minute Flight time
- Remote Controller with Built-in Screen
- Return to Home and Gesture Mode
Phantom 4 Pro Introduction Video
Phantom 4 Pro Overview
The Phantom series of DJI is arguably one of the best when it comes to consumer drones. This year, the company just unveiled an upgrade of the Phantom 4 drone, the Phantom 4 Pro. One of its standout features from the previous version is its ability to fly at 31 mph without having to disengage the crash avoidance feature. The camera got an upgrade as well in the form of a larger sensor. Not only that, the Phantom 4 Pro has better obstacle avoidance, better battery life and more intelligent flight modes.
Design & Features
The camera is one of the major upgrades with the Phantom 4 Pro. It has a one-inch sensor capable of shooting 20-megapixel still photos. With a larger sensor, the Pro’s camera has 11.6 stops of dynamic range enabling it to resolve the difference between light and dark. This allows for clearer images even if the sky is really bright. The Phantom 4 Pro’s camera is capable of shooting 4K at a speed of 60fps and a bitrate of 100Mbps.
Obstacle avoidance in the Phantom 4 Pro is also better. Although the previous version had it, it only worked when the drone was moving forward. This time, all four sides of the drone have been fitted with sensors which allows it to “see” any obstacle whether it’s moving sideways or backwards. Also, the collision detection feature doesn’t need to be turned off when flying at top speed.
If in the past, Phantom drones were paired with remotes that used mobile devices for screens, this time there’s a remote available with a built-in display. The display measures 5.5 inches and has a bright screen and is a touch display as well. A path can be drawn on the screen and the drone will follow that route.
Battery life is also one other improvement from the Phantom 4. This time, the Pro can fly up to 30 minutes which is five minutes more than the one that preceded it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- It has a better camera. The Phantom 4 Pro is equipped with a larger sensor that has a dynamic range of 11.6 stops. With this kind of range, the sensor of the camera is better able to differentiate between light and dark thus resulting in brilliant images despite bright conditions.
- It has an improved obstacle avoidance feature. The previous Phantom did have this feature but it had to be turned off in order for the drone to fly at top speed. This time, the drone is fitted with sensors on all sides for better crash avoidance.
- It has a slightly longer battery life. A five-minute increase may not be considered that much of an upgrade, but any drone that can stay up in the air for as long as possible is always welcome.
- It has a remote with a built-in display. This can be both a pro and a con, actually. For one, it doesn’t really come with the Pro – you have to buy the Phantom 4 Pro+ thus further increasing the amount you need to pay for owning this particular model.
Cons
- It is costly. The Phantom 4 Pro will retail for $1,499 which is quite pricey – and this still requires you to use your device as a screen. If you need to the remote with display, you will have to pay $1,800.
- It doesn’t come bundled with the remote with built-in display. While it’s nice that DJI offered a remote that features its own built-in display that is also a touchscreen, the remote doesn’t come with the $1,499 version – you have to spend $1,800 for the Pro+ to get the remote with display.
Final Thoughts
The Phantom 4 Pro is clearly better than the model it succeeded. What’s not to love about a drone that can stay up in the air for longer, avoid obstacles no matter what direction it’s flying in, and take good photos even in bright skies? The Pro definitely has features that are enough to entice drone enthusiasts, but the cost is too high. Also, you need to get the Pro+ if you want the remote with a built-in display.
Then again, DJI is one of the best names in the drone industry – if not the best – and they consistently put out models that customers love. So the deal here is this: if you have the money, this drone makes a good investment. Otherwise, DJI has cheaper options that are still worth it. Or, there’s always choosing a drone from a competing company.
AIRCRAFT
| Weight (Battery & Propellers Included) | 1388 g |
|---|---|
| Diagonal Size (Propellers Excluded) | 350 mm |
| Max Ascent Speed | S-mode: 6 m/s; P-mode: 5 m/s |
| Max Descent Speed | S-mode: 4 m/s; P-mode: 3 m/s |
| Max Speed | 45 mph (72 kph) (S-mode); 36 mph (58 kph) (A-mode); 31 mph (50 kph) (P-mode) |
| Max Tilt Angle | 42° (S-mode); 35° (A-mode); 25° (P-mode) |
| Max Angular Speed | 250°/s (S-mode); 150°/s (A-mode) |
| Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level | 19685 ft (6000 m) |
| Max Flight Time | Approx. 30 minutes |
| Operating Temperature | 32° to 104° F ( 0° to 40° C) |
| Satellite Positioning Systems | GPS/GLONASS |
| GPS Hover Accuracy Range | Vertical: ±0.1 m (With Vision Positioning); ±0.5 m (With GPS Positioning) Horizontal: ±0.3 m (With Vision Positioning); ±1.5 m (With GPS Positioning) |
VISION SYSTEM
| Velocity Range | ≤31 mph (50 kph) at 6.6 ft (2 m) above ground |
|---|---|
| Altitude Range | 0 – 33 ft (0 – 10 m) |
| Operating Range | 0 – 33 ft (0 – 10 m) |
| Obstacle Sensory Range | 2 – 98 ft (0.7 – 30 m) |
| FOV | 60°(Horizontal), ±54°(Vertical) |
| Detection Frequency | 10Hz |
| Operating Environment | Surfaces with clear patterns and adequate lighting (> 15 lux) |
CAMERA
| Sensor | 1’’ CMOS; Effective pixels: 20M |
|---|---|
| Lens | FOV (Field of View) 84°, 8.8 mm / 24 mm (35 mm format equivalent), f/2.8 – f/11. auto focus at 1 m – ∞ |
| ISO Range | Video: 100 – 3200 (Auto); 100 – 6400 (Manual) Photo: 100 – 3200 (Auto); 100- 12800 (Manual) |
| Mechanical Shutter | 8 – 1/2000 s |
| Electronic Shutter | 8 – 1/8000 s |
| Max Image Size | 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 5472 × 3648 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4864 × 3648 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 5472 × 3078 |
| PIV Image Size | ・4096 × 2160 (4096 × 2160 24/25/30/48/50p) ・3840 × 2160 (3840 × 2160 24/25/30/48/50/60p) ・2720 × 1530 (2720 × 1530 24/25/30/48/50/60p) ・1920 × 1080 (1920 × 1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p) ・1280 × 720 (1280 × 720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p) |
| Still Photography Modes | Single Shot Burst Shooting: 3/5/7/10/14 frames Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV Bias Interval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/30/60 s |
| Video Recording Modes | H.265 ・C4K：4096×2160 24/25/30p @100Mbps ・4K：3840×2160 24/25/30p @100Mbps ・2.7K：2720×1530 24/25/30p @65Mbps2720×1530 48/50/60p @80Mbps ・FHD：1920×1080 24/25/30p @50Mbps 1920×1080 48/50/60p @65Mbps 1920×1080 120p @100Mbps ・HD： 1280×720 24/25/30p @25Mbps 1280×720 48/50/60p @35Mbps 1280×720 120p @60Mbps H.264 2720×1530 48/50/60p @100Mbps 1920×1080 48/50/60 @80Mbps 1920×1080 120p @100Mbps 1280×720 48/50/60p @45Mbps 1280×720 120p @80Mbps |
| Video Storage Bitrate | 100 Mbps |
| Supported File Systems | FAT32 (≤ 32 GB); exFAT (> 32 GB) |
| Photo | JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG + DNG |
| Video | MP4/MOV (AVC/H.264；HEVC/H.265) |
| Supported SD Cards | Micro SD, Max Capacity: 128GB. Write speed ≥15MB/s, class 10 or UHS-1 rating required |
| Operating Temperature | 32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C) |
CHARGER
| Voltage | 17.4 V |
|---|---|
| Rated Power | 100 W |
Unboxing the Phantom 4 Pro
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