DJI Mini 5 Pro Has a Bigger Sensor, Better Gimbal, and Pro Features https://petapixel.com/2025/09/17/dji-mini-5-pro-has-a-bigger-sensor-better-gimbal-and-professional-features/ #sub250gramdrone #compactdrone #djimini5pro #Equipment #aerial #gimbal #drone #News #dji

Autel Aims at DJI, Launches EVO Nano and EVO Lite Compact Drones

Autel Robotics has announced the EVO Nano and EVO Lite drones that are designed for beginner enthusiasts and compete directly against the DJI Mini 2 and Air 2S. In particular, the Nano is the first sub-250 gram drone to offer obstacle avoidance.

Autel Robotics might not be as household of a name as DJI, but the Seattle-based and China-owned company won a lawsuit against DJI in May of 2020 involving the design of its most recent run of quadcopters. Victory in that lawsuit may explain why Autel's drones look remarkably similar to the ones DJI has been marketing and selling for years.

The Nano is armed with a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor that is capable of capturing 50-megapixel or a 1/2-inch sensor 48-megapixel photos (depending on model between the Nano and Nano+) and uses a large f/1.9 aperture to offer what Autel touts as superior noise reduction capability and the ability to operate in low light conditions. It is also capable of tracking subjects using a combination of phase and contrast detection autofocus, and the company also claims wide dynamic range that will show details in both highlights and shadows.

The Nano weighs 249-pounds and features three-way obstacle avoidance -- a first for a sub-250 gram drone.

Additionally, it has a flight range with live video transmission of up to 6.2 miles, has a 30-minute flight time, and can shoot 4K video. It will be available in four colors: Autel Orange, Arctic White, Deep Space Gray, and Blazing Red

The EVO Lite offers the choice between a 1/1.28-inch sensor capable of 50-megapixel photos a one-inch CMOS sensor capable of 20-megapixel photos -- either the Lite or Lite +. It is armed with Autel's "intelligent moonlight algorithm" that it says allows the drone to capture crisp and vibrant details at night with low noise, even at high ISO settings. It also comes with an adjustable aperture with a range of f/2.8 through f/11 and is capable of capturing 4K HDR content and 6K video at up to 30 frames per second.

The Lite also has what Autel claims is the world's first four-axis gimbal design that promises the ability to orient the camera sideways to capture vertical videos that would be specifically shared on mobile devices. The EVO Lite weighs 820 grams, but shares the same 6.2-mile transmission, 30-minute flight time, and three-way obstacle avoidance found in the Nano. It will be available in three colors: Autel Orange, Arctic White, and Deep Space Gray.

Both drones will, as expected, ship with various automatic modes for different cinematic motions that can be captured via an aerial perspecitive.

The EVO Nano will start at $649 while the Nano+ will cost $799. The EVO Lite series will start $1,149 while the Lite+ will cost $1,249. The availability of the drones was not clear, but expect them to come to market soon.

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FIMI Launches the X8 Mini Drone, Competes Directly with the DJI Mini 2

While DJI has not been particularly challenged in the drone space in recent years, that doesn't mean others aren't trying. FIMI, a Xiaomi brand, has announced the X8 Mini, a direct competitor to the DJI Mini 2.

As originally noted by Drone DJ and reported by DPReview, side-by-side with DJI's latest, the X8 Mini looks extremely similar. It's not just the design of the X8 Mini, which is looks almost identical in how it is designed, but also the unfolded size which is basically the same.

Both boast sub-250 gram weights (though the X8 Mini is even lighter at just 245 grams), support for 12-megapixel photos and 4K video at up to 30 frames per second at 100 Mbps, and both drones can shoot in both JPEG and RAW.

While the camera system might be the same, DJI was able to grab the lion's share of the drone market thanks mainly to how easy its products are to operate and how well they stabilize footage. To that end, FIMI has integrated a three-axis gimbal to smooth footage and also built-in multiple special features powered by onboard software.

First, it has a special night mode that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make photos and videos look better. While not stated, the note about a night mode powered by AI sounds familiar, especially considering that FIMI is a Xiaomi brand. It would not be surprising to see the X8 Mini integrate the night-mode AI that is found in the Xiaomi Mi 11 that is the first smartphone implementation of BlinkAI's impressive technology.

It also supports timelapse, panorama stitching, live streaming, and other one-tap video modes.

As noted, the X8 Mini is very light at just 245 grams, but that is only the case when it is equipped with a specific "pro" battery. According to Drone DJ, the M8 Mini weighs closer to 258 grams with the standard battery, with a difference of about 200MAh and a couple of minutes of flight time between them for that 11 grams of weight difference. It's not much of a tradeoff in either direction and will likely just come down to individual preference, though the more robust battery does put the drone above 250 grams, and that places it in a different legal flight category.

The FIMI X8 Mini is expected to launch on April 18 for $494. It's currently available on AliExpress but is expected to hit U.S. retailers soon.

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