The drone community is buzzing with excitement—and a hint of frustration—as leaked footage of the highly anticipated DJI Mavic 4 Pro surfaced online this week. The unboxing video, shared by tech enthusiast Jasper Ellens on X (formerly Twitter), offers the first clear look at the drone’s sleek design and accessories. But the excitement is tempered by fresh reports suggesting the release date, initially rumored for late April, could be pushed to mid-May.
First Glimpse: Unboxing the Mavic 4 Pro
In the now-viral video, Ellens reveals a compact, matte-black box emblazoned with the iconic DJI logo. Inside, the Mavic 4 Pro appears slimmer than its predecessor, with redesigned foldable arms and a camera module rumored to house a 1-inch sensor and dual telephoto lenses. The package also includes updated RC-N3 controllers, ND filters, and a charging hub compatible with USB-C.
“The build quality looks premium, and the gimbal system seems more robust,” Ellens notes in the clip, though he stops short of powering the device on. Speculation about improved obstacle avoidance and 50-minute flight time has since flooded forums, with many praising the drone’s portability.
Delay Reports: A May Release on the Horizon?
While fans dissect the unboxing footage, industry insiders are debating a potential delay. A leaked email published by DroneXL claims DJI has postponed the launch to May 13, citing “supply chain adjustments” and last-minute software tweaks. The email, allegedly from a European distributor, aligns with murmurs from retailers about revised preorder timelines.
This isn’t the first time DJI has delayed a flagship product. The Mavic 3 Pro faced similar setbacks in 2023 due to chip shortages. However, the delay has split opinions online. “DJI is prioritizing quality over rushed releases,” argued @Quadro_News in a tweet, while others, like @loic_white, countered, “They’re losing ground to competitors like Autel and Skydio” here.
TikTok Teasers and Fan Reactions
Meanwhile, TikTok creator @matheoleto shared a cryptic clip of a drone silhouette against a sunset, captioning it, “Mavic 4 Pro? 👀” The teaser racked up 500k views overnight, with comments ranging from “Take my money!” to “Just announce it already!”
DJI has yet to confirm the delay or the authenticity of the leaks. Analysts suggest the company may be awaiting regulatory approvals or refining its new ActiveTrack 6.0 AI system. Either way, the stakes are high: The Mavic series accounts for over 60% of DJI’s consumer revenue, per 2024 financial reports.
What’s Next for Drone Enthusiasts?
If the May 13 date holds, the Mavic 4 Pro could debut just in time for summer filming seasons. Expected to retail at $2,199, it’s poised to compete with Sony’s Airpeak S1 and Autel’s EVO Max 8T. But for now, the waiting game continues.
As one Reddit user quipped, “DJI’s leaks are better marketing than most companies’ actual ads.” Whether that strategy pays off—or backfires—remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for updates.
📸 Featured image credit: Jasper Ellens/X