15% for non-plus and 17% for Ebay plus members brings down the Newly released Mini 5 to under 1K.
So, not the FLY MORE PLUS package?
No unfortunately
It was available for $1,499.00 but it sold out yesterday.
They may well get more back in stock Tuesday, after the public holiday Monday.
Over the 250g limit. Limits you a lot
It’s not
It has been classified by CASA, it was rejected as a sub 250g class drone.
https://dronexl.co/2025/10/02/casa-dji-mini-5-pro-australia-…
unfortunately this has been rejected as a micro RPA by CASA
Sure bro, I'll just put a 249g sticker on my matrice then 😂
What type of restriction is actuality applied? Does someone come to you to weight your drone?
Over the 250g limit. Limits you a lot
How does it limit you a lot, apart from having to stay 5.5km away from a controlled airport? What other limitations are there?
If used for non-commercial purposes (which is the market the Mini is aimed at), CASA says:
If you are flying for sport or recreation, you don’t need
- any type of licensing or accreditation
- to register your drone.
If the drone or model aircraft weighs more than 25 kg, you’ll need to apply for an approval to fly.
If used for commercial purposes, the requirements for Micro RPA (250g or less) and Very small RPA (250g-2kg) are the same.
Finally, someone talking sense.
That’s exactly the conclusion I came to when looking a couple years ago. The sub 250 only seems to have less restrictions near airports. You still can’t fly in the area near an airport that’s the path of the runway, the drone won’t physically fly.
more issues when travelling overseas for sure
honestly, this is basically no different for probably 99.9% of drone users. the ones flying closer than 5.5km an airport are probably breaking a lot more rules anyway
No it doesn't. Have a read of CASA regs.
Damn with that I got a feeling the price might fall a bit more wishful thinking 🙂
EASA allowing a ±3% manufacturing tolerance is really how I expect most regulatory bodies should have handled it. Pretty disappointing how CASA and most other government bodies have chosen not to allow for it.
the real disappointing fact is why DJI didn't make it a few grams lighter, I would rather have a smaller battery than a drone that I cannot fly when on holidays :(
Exactly. DJI is an advanced drone manufacturing company, they could have trim a bit of features and material here and there to keep it under 249g.
the + or - tolerance means a variable range. what has been reported is that nearly all models tested are above the weight classification. What you should be seeing is drone weights in the 247-253 range to match that tolerance. What has been reported is they are all in the 252-253 range meaning the label was just BS to try and sneak in under the regulatory limit.
CASA have disgraced themselves here. 1329 road deaths in the past year (15 year high) and the authorities don't bother to police 2 tonne vehicles that travel a few km's over the speed limit (apparently speed kills). Yet they feel compelled to intervene because a piece of plastic weighs 2 grams over specification? Mindless bureaucracy.
What the hell are you talking about? CASA not involved in road rules. And when CASA (as well as FAA and other aviation authorities) have clear cut rules, and DJI has fallen on the wrong side of the rules, it's CASA's fault? Get a grip.
So explain why the European Union Aviation Safety Authority has approved it. Why are they wrong for allowing for minor tolerances of up to 3%?
Common sense and reasoned thinking still have their place. This is just mindless beaurocratic wankery.
Who said EASA is wrong? That's their rules, their rules allow for a tolerance. Australia's doesn't. Neither does the US, UK, Canada and many other jurisdictions.
Why is it the regulator's fault? Clear rules imposed. DJI needs to design to those rules that have been set out. They appear not to have.
They try to claim the mini 5 is 249.9 with a +/- 4g tolerance. Funny thing, I've been following this for a bit, I have rarely seen someone report their mini 5 is less than 250g, everyone is reporting 252-253g. So it's 249.9g with a +4g marketing tolerance. In actual reality it's a 252g drone with a +2g variation. This is just plain misleading advertising.
Here is the thing though, if I had a mini 5 my regulatory issues wouldn't be with CASA. Even if it's over 250g it's easy enough to comply with 250g+ rules in your home country. The reason I seek a sub-250 drone is because it makes travelling a lot easier, avoiding registration/pilot testing rules, so it's actually the other regulatory bodies that are potentially more problematic when I travel. But sure, I'll let them know it's their fault for DJI' design faults.
@qazwsx: For noobs like me, how does the -250 req make it easier for travel? Is it mainly what you have said - registration and having a pilot's license? In Australia flying recreationally it doesn't seem that big a deal unless I'm missing something - I wouldn't fly near an airport anyway.
Valid point, but the good thing is they are about as good at physically enforcing drone laws as they are at physically enforcing speeding laws.
Side note - the BYD ute weighs almost 3 tonnes. That legitimately scares the shit out of me as a fellow road user.
3 Tonnes? To be exact the new dual cab BYD Shark 6 is 2710kg and for reference a Ford Raptor is 2510kg (and the new dual cab Ford Ranger Super Duty is 2675kg). Sounds like all the crap I got about how much heavier my Model 3 Performance is than other "real" sports cars. Yes, EVs are generally heavier, but the difference is not as much as people think (and getting closer all the time with battery improvements)
Since when does CASA govern the road rules? Nothing wrong with CASA sticking to the hard rule of less than 250g, otherwise drone companies can start pushing the boundary e.g. next DJI Mini 6 is 260g, DJI Mini 7 270g, etc.
Unpopular opinion and neg me all you want but this really isn't on CASA. The limit is the limit. It's really a big fail on behalf of DJI for not manufacturing it under the 250g limit. Its not like manufacturing sub 250g drones is new territory for them.
Nope, your opinion is popular. Rule is rule, DJI could have done better.
All because of a jingle and a 3 gram speaker. That’s hilarious and stupid.
Next minute DJI releases the Mini 5 Pro Max Lite edition…
Definitely not worth the risk for me. My neighbour's daughter is a total Karen. Doesn't even live there and had a go at me flying my mini 4 over my own roof checking tiles and gutters. She said no drones are allowed at all. I had to bring up the sub 250g rules which allows me to do so. im sure being over 250g even by 4g could be an issue for me if she complains.
Only drone is back in stock.
Flymore is OOS.
waiting for the Mini 5 Pro Minus, hopefully under 250g :)
I wonder if DJI could release a smaller battery and make it under 250g compliant.
Is it worth the extra cost over the DJI Mini 3 Drone with DJI RC? I got it for $469.50
but I still haven't opened it yet. I got it from this deal- https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/920951
i have the mini 3 (only drone i own), thats a great price, its a very solid drone. what it does lack is obstacle avoidance and any form of tracking features which would be nice sometimes, but really depends on your usage plans. if you just want to fly around and film things while you are static the mini 3 is perfectly adequete
Version 5 is out? I must have been living under a rock.
My guess is DJI will try to clear out current stock at a discount before releasing a tweaked design that's under the 250g limit.
I tossed up whether I would wait for the 5 or just get the 4 as I wanted to record my house build from drone. glad I went with the 4 as the loss of micro classification for the 5 would have been an absolute bitch for me (we use within 5.5k's of an airport).
mini 4 pro is the better drone if you travel or live near an airport. may aswell get an air 3/3s and not have to worry about the wind if your going to get the 5 pro.
mini 4 pro is the better drone if you travel or live near an airport.
That really depends on the individual. I am not really interested in flying around my house so even if an airport was 5.5km away it would make no difference.
I use my camera-oriented drone in scenic areas which tend to be far away from airports with control towers anyway, so it's not an issue whatsoever for my use. The Mini 5 Pro would absolutely be better than the 4 for me.
becomes more of an issue if you intend to travel with your drone, losing the micro classifications means in many other countries you are under stricter regulations like mandatory registration.
Should've just thrown in an extra eBay coupon for Plus members for $150 off (~10% extra)