Whether you're going to use a drone for professional filming or you just want one for personal enjoyment, the DJI Mini 4 has you covered. It's simple enough for a newbie to handle (after watching a few tutorial videos to make sure you know what you're doing) but has features and functionality that professionals demand. Either way, it's equipped to take your drone filming to an entirely new level.

DJI has long been the industry leader in both commercial and personal drones. And for many years they had two categories of personal drones - the Pro models for professionals and the Mini models for amateurs/hobbyists. The Mini was more portable but didn't have a lot of the really amazing features of the pro model. However, with this new Mini 4 the gap has gotten much smaller and it's more about what you want out of your drone and not about having to sacrifice on features.

Speaking specifically about the DJI Mini 4 and this package, here are some of the highlights and reasons why I absolutely love and recommend this Fly More Combo Plus Drone & RC2 Remote Package to anyone looking to invest in a top notch drone...

First, let's talk about what you're getting in this package:
1) The RC2 Remote - THIS is the way you should control your drone! Yes, you can use the other remotes with your phone, but having a dedicated remote WITH a screen makes everything so much easier. No more having to put your phone in a mount and open the app and then you can't use your phone for other stuff, etc. The remote is simply amazing and one of the best upgrades ever for DJI Drones.
2) You get THREE Flight Battery Plus batteries AND a Two-Way Charging Hub which allows you extremely long flying time and the absolute most convenient ways to charge your batteries (and the RC Remote via the passthrough charging the hub provides).
3) A Shoulder Bag custom designed to transport your DJI 4 Mini drone. You don't want to throw this stuff around in just any bag. With this bag you know your drone is safe during transport.
4) Lots of propellers, screws, a gimbal protector, and basically all the necessary accessories for your drone.

So, yeah, this package really sets you up for a great flying experience. But all those extra things would mean nothing if the drone itself didn't live up to expectations, but this thing actually surpasses them. This drone is so tiny but yet so powerful. It can film in up to 4K at 60FPS and HDR for stunning videos. And you can have the amount of control you want over filming, whether you're a beginning filmmaker or hobbyist who wants to just stick to the Auto settings or you're a pro who wants to film in HLG or even 10-Bit D-Log M for color grading during editing. You can manually adjust all video settings or just let the intelligent auto settings take over.

The same goes for maneuvering the drone. This drone is so easy to control and has several flight modes to get the most out of it for what you're filming and your level of comfort. But then it also has a lot of built in auto-modes that will allow you to basically push a button and designate a filming subject and then let the drone on its own film a lot of different footage with common pro moves that you can use.

It also has all the safety tech built in you could possibly imagine in such a tiny drone. The obstacle avoidance basically covers the drone in a full 360 bubble so you're protected on all sides. (It can't sense small things like power lines or tree branches, but does a great job avoiding a tree or a building.) It has a return to home feature that will bring it back to it's take off spot within a foot or so and it will kick in automatically if you lose transmission or the battery is too low. It also has an augmented reality built into the screen on the remote to see the path for that.

It has some super cool tracking features built into it that allow you to track a person or car or boat and can either follow them or parallel them. And in following mode, that can be following them from front or back and with a quick swipe of the finger will circle and move from an inside or outside ring to change the viewing distance and angle.

The camera on this thing produces some of the best footage you'll ever see on a drone. It's so smooth and it has a great axis for full control of angles. And it can even be switched to film in vertical mode for all those super cool Tik Tok videos you want to make. As a content creator this thing is opening up a ton of new possibilities for me and what's even better is how it's setup to even allow a beginner to get professional looking footage to use.

I could go on and on about this thing - it just really has so many features built into it, it's unbelievable, but you can read all about all those features in other places. Let me just say that my personal experience with the drone has been stellar. It does everything I wanted it to do and so much more. DJI put everything I would have wished for in a drone into this Mini 4 and then they threw in a bunch of other features I wouldn't have thought to ask for but that I love. This excellent drone is perfect for someone's first drone as it's so easy to learn and get going out of the box but still has tons of professional features they can learn and grow into. And for those who are already professionals, I think you'll find this drone is one of the best DJI has ever built and has everything you need to do your thing too!

I was an early adopter of the original Mavic Mini in 2019. At the time, having just sold my Phantom 3, I was completely floored with how much DJI was able to do with a drone weighing less than 250g (assuming no modifications). I absolutely loved that drone and took it with me almost every time I traveled. Fast forward three generations, and the Mavic Mini 4 Pro is an even more capable sub 250g (with regular intelligent flight battery installed) drone. It checks every box for the things I wished for when I had my original Mavic Mini, making it the current best all around recreational UAV, in my opinion.

So what did I have on my wish list back then that the Mavic Mini 4 Pro delivers on? The first thing was flight distance. The Mavic Mini had a maximum flight distance of about 2.5 miles and that was a bit optimistic. I always fly within VLOS, but noticed that under bridges or near trees the video feed to the controller/ my phone would cut out. Luckily RTH would kick in and I would easily regain control of the drone once the video feed was restored. With the RC2 controller and O4 video transmission system, this issue is a thing of the past. The Mavic Mini 4 Pro boasts a flight distance of up to 20 km (~12.4 miles). I am able to fly from inside my home in a medium to strong interference suburban landscape with no control or video transmission issues. Color me impressed. Speaking of the RC2 controller, it’s a must have. One thing that deterred me from pulling out my Mavic Mini at times was the need to attach my phone to the controller, launch the app, and wait for it to connect before flying. The RC2’s built-in screen makes it so convenient to whip the drone out for a quick photo or video anywhere.

The next item on my wishlist was intelligent flight modes. If you’ve ever tried, you know it is difficult to get stable, quality video while flying manually, especially if you are the subject and riding a bike, driving, etc. The Mavic Mini 4 has features such as ActiveTrack 360, waypoints, night mode, and cruise control that allow you to get super smooth video, most notably when you are simultaneously the pilot and subject.

This leads perfectly into the next and final wish list item, that being obstacle avoidance. On multiple occasions with my Mavic Mini, I did crash due to an inability to juggle both piloting the drone and focusing on getting a good photo or video. I also let a friend try flying it and he slammed into his dad’s car, putting a good dent in it. Luckily, the Mavic Mini got right back up and kept going like nothing had happened. Resilience after crashing is definitely something these drones have going for them. The 360 degree obstacle avoidance from the Mavic Mini 4 Pro’s omnidirectional binocular vision system provides a safety blanket to prevent crashes, property damage, or injury. It makes the intelligent flight modes more practical as the drone will automatically be looking out for obstacles and either stop or maneuver around them based on your preference. Of course, there are limitations to this system as it is disabled in sport mode, at night, and struggles with smaller objects like tree branches.

With the Mavic Mini 4 Pro’s mix of portability and features, it does everything that I want and need from a recreational drone. At this price point, I think it’s an excellent value as it includes features only previously seen on higher end UAVs. Of course, if you’re looking for the absolute best in photo or video quality, you’ll probably want to consider other DJI drones instead.

One final thing to note if you’re purchasing this bundle. The intelligent flight plus batteries do bring the takeoff weight of the Mavic Mini 4 Pro above 250g. This does mean that you need to register your drone with the FAA and pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). This only costs $5 (at the time of this review) for a three year registration and takes a total of about 30 minutes of your time, but it is important in the event you do ever get questioned while flying.

Bought the Fly More Combo Plus hoping for the larger batteries and also knowing it would transit my ID instead of having to buy a transmitter for an additional cost. I don't fly for any sort of business just to goof around and see the forest around my house. Could I have purchased a much cheaper option? Yep and I have a couple of times but none of my previous purchases really match the build quality of the DJI Mini 4 Pro. You can turn this on and once it links to satellites its ready to go, no calibration needed. I have had other drones with tons of features but all required some sort of calibration process when first powered on and really I just wanted to be able to turn it on and go. This drone allows that. Plus the RC 2 controller has a bright easy to use screen which doesn't need a cell phone. Plus it just feels well made and solid. My previous drone controllers needed your cell phone and would always lose the link between the controller and the phone while my drone was up in the air. Never a good feeling thinking your investment is flying away and there is nothing you can do about it. The RC2 controls are easy, there are tons of features, and all in easy to understand prompts. I was hoping I didn't get lost in a weird clunky app or some language translation that took a while to decipher. None of that is the case here it is easy to understand and follow and is effort free to use. I am surprised at how far this drone goes and never loses a signal or even loses bars of strength. Overall I was worried I would get another clunky drone that required some elaborate calibration each time I turned it on and instead this is power up and play. I really like how agile it is and quick to respond. Also, I like that it has sensors built in that warn you as you are getting close to objects. It did take a couple of minutes trying to figure out how to land and take off and I admit I needed some Google time to look for videos from other users showing me what I was doing wrong.
Drawbacks are really just the included battery charger as it charges one battery at a time in series even though all can be plugged in at the same time. I know you can get better chargers but for the price of this drone it should really include all you need. If that is the only drawback though then it is a true winner which it is.
It would be cool if DJI created some sort of chart that shows each customer what additional requirements or accessories are needed or even useful depending on exactly which drone they buy. If that chart included links to get FAA Certified according to what you plan to do along with additional requirements like the link to the TRUST certificate and even if you have all that maybe suggestions for accessories like some sort of light that your drone emits that can be seen over 3 miles which is also an FAA requirement for flying at night. I had no idea until today about this last requirement. That is an additional purchase but if everything was spelled out in an easy to understand format for customers it would make it more simple and effortless to purchase the correct drone. That being said, this drone is amazing, the camera takes incredibly clear photos and videos, just make sure the memory stick you purchase is high speed or the controller will use it but send you a warning your memory card is too slow.
Would I buy the Mini 4 PRO again? Definitely

After doing thorough research, I decided to invest in the DJI Mini 4Pro with the RC N2 Controller. I have read that drone users have encountered connectivity issues between the RC Controller (without a built-in screen) and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. I own the Pro Max.

I sought advice from multiple forums and contacted DJI technical support. It became clear that this problem arises from the USB-C configuration of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro/Max. Interestingly, the standard iPhone 15 doesn't experience the same issue.

Instead of going through the hassle of returning it if it didn't work, I bought the combo with the RC 2 (built-in screen). The screen is clear and I don’t have to worry about using my cell phone.

This drone is truly outstanding, offering a multitude of modes that help capture exceptional videos right out of the box. The ability to switch to portrait mode is a game changer, enhancing the viewing experience on social media as most people use their cell phones to see their social media sites.

You should buy the combo, which includes three batteries. It's important to have extra batteries, as one is not enough. You should also consider investing in a landing pad to protect the propellers if you have to land on tall grass or dirt.

Note: If you are purchasing the drone for recreational use, be cautious when opting for the combo plus, which includes longer battery life but increases the drone's weight. If the weight exceeds 249g, you would need to register it with the FAA. Keeping the weight under 249g means it does not need to be registered with the FAA.

I hope this information helps others who are trying to decide which drone to purchase!