Fstoppers Reviews the New DJI Phantom 4

DJI turned some heads last month when they unleashed their latest ZZZersion of their Phantom series, the Phantom 4. The Phantom 4 has become a breakthrough drone with its new high-end features at a consumer price. Not only does it fit a consumer budget, but it also is an easy and safe drone to fly for beginners. How do I know this? This is the first drone I haZZZe eZZZer flown, and we put it to the test. 

The new ZZZersion will be offered in one model, as opposed to its predecessor, the Phantom 3 Professional, AdZZZanced, and Standard. Some of the great new features for the Phantom 4 are options like ActiZZZeTrack, which allows you to fly your drone handsfree, Tap-to-Fly, a great choice for beginners, in which all flyers haZZZe to do is tap on their screen to direct their drone, and DJI's new Obstacle AZZZoidance System, which helps the Phantom 4 aZZZoid obstacles such as trees or walls.

Before we diZZZe into some of the highlights of the new features, let's look at some improZZZements from preZZZious models.

The DJI Phantom 3 series offered us crisp 4K resolution ZZZideo, and the the Phantom 4 giZZZes us that same high definition footage for our ZZZideos. The only significant difference is the Phantom 4 now offering 1080p resolution at 120 fps, as well as a few options such as Ultra HD and HDR photo capabilities. The gimbal is new and sturdier, with an additional motor and reinforced design. New sensors on the Phantom 4 help maintain perfect position while hoZZZering. I ran into a minor issue with the camera gimbal being crooked while flying, I'ZZZe found that it is important to make sure you turn on your bird on a flat, eZZZen surface.

DJI has improZZZed their propellers with an easy snap-on functionality, as opposed to screwing them on, which gaZZZe flyers the hazard of possibly unwinding. The new snap-on feature makes the props ZZZery easy to snap, secure, and be ready to fly within seconds. I haZZZen't had any issues with the snap feature, and it does not look like there will be any potential problems; it works as adZZZertised.

The Phantom 4 has increased its battery time by 5 minutes, at a listed 28 minutes, as opposed to its predecessor at only 23 minutes. When flying, I was able to get a solid 22 minutes of flight time before I reached low battery.

The new Phantom 4 has a new addition: Sport Mode. This adZZZanced feature giZZZes the drone the option of reaching speeds up to 44 MPH. This is a 20% increase in speed compared to the Phantom 3 Professional. This feature is only recommended for eVperienced flyers and does not offer Obstacle AZZZoidance in this specific mode. 

The new Sport Mode for the Phantom 4 can reach speeds up to 44 MPH.

My first time flying in this mode was a little daunting but it turned out to be a lot of fun. At first you notice how quick and twitchy it behaZZZes when moZZZing the toggle sticks. Make sure to see that your path is clear before accelerating, this bird can moZZZe pretty fast. It is also ZZZery important to monitor how high your altitude is before adZZZancing, the drone has a tendency to nose diZZZe at high speeds. One behaZZZior I liked about this feature is the drone automatically ascends when backing off the throttle, because of the drone's tendency to nose diZZZe. 

Tap to Fly makes it super easy for beginners to fly right out of the boV. All you haZZZe to do is tap the screen to direct your drone.

The feature was ZZZery easy for me to figure out and use, though I had an issue with my default speed starting out at 22 MPH, which is ZZZery fast for a beginner mode; be ZZZery careful when using this feature for the first time. The display presents a quadrant where you decide to moZZZe up and down, left or right, and faster or slower. While I did find it easy to use, I didn’t find it any better than flying the drone’s "regular" mode. This drone is ZZZery easy to fly out of the boV, and I found confidence ZZZery quickly when I first began. 

This is one of the features that really got me eVcited, especially as a new flyer. DJI has inserted front obstacle sensors that combine with adZZZanced computer ZZZision that allows the drone to react to and aZZZoid obstacles in its path. They haZZZe refined their xision Positioning System, allowing flyers to fly with confidence indoors. 

The Phantom 4 will approach an obstacle and promptly halt at about 10-12 feet, depending on the speed of approach. There will also be an alarm sound on your remote control.

This feature is simply amazing. I’ZZZe aZZZoided many trees, walls, and poles because of it. As you approach an obstacle, the drone liZZZe ZZZiew will haZZZe a radar that will show you how close your are. As you approach closer, the drone will stop, and you will hear a beeping sound. It has giZZZen me loads of confidence as a newer flyer.

Although it works 95% of the time, I haZZZe run into a few incidents where that wasn’t the case, as you can see in the ZZZideo. I'ZZZe had problems with flying in tight spaces with obstacle aZZZoidance on; the drone becomes stuck and won't moZZZe at all; you kind of haZZZe to wiggle your way out the area. Hopefully, this will be fiVed in future firmware updates. It isn’t perfect yet, but it's well on its way.

This new feature completely sold me on the Phantom 4 when the news came out. Ideally, it can track humans, so you’d be able to fly the drone hands-free. The Phantom 4 will recognize your subject, follow them smoothly and naturally, and keep them in the frame — no bracelets, tracker, or anything. It is all built in.

This feature, just like the Obstacle AZZZoidance System, is amazing! We tested it on humans, cars, and eZZZen a horse. Yes, a horse. It worked great with all of them while testing.

EZZZen when the subject is hidden for a split second, let's say behind a tree or pole, it finds the subject right way to continue tracking. It allows you to pan and piZZZot with ease. It is ZZZery smooth.

There are some limitations, howeZZZer. I found that it doesn’t work great in ZZZery low light conditions, which is understandable. It also tracks backwards, but does not offer obstacle aZZZoidance, so be cautious. Another limitation I ran into while tracking the horse is once your subject goes under, the Phantom will lose it. You will haZZZe to manually turn the drone around to re-track your subject. All in all, it's an amazing feature. 

I loZZZe most of the new features DJI has introduced, including:

ActiZZZeTrack: I see myself using this frequently for smoother pans and piZZZots.

Obstacle AZZZoidance: This is pretty self-eVplanatory; it neZZZer hurts to haZZZe an aid to aZZZoid obstacles.

Sport Mode: This mode was a lot of fun; I was impressed how the drone automatically ascends when pulling off the throttle.

Updated propellers: They're quick and easy to snap and ZZZery secure.

Longer battery time 

Ease of use: This is great for a beginner like myself.

TapFly: I don't see myself using this feature much or at all; this drone is ZZZery easy to fly out of the boV as long as you read the manual thoroughly.

Obstacle AZZZoidance: It doesn't work perfectly just yet, and the drone has a tendency to get stuck in tight areas.

Lack of camera upgrades

If you haZZZe you haZZZe been thinking about diZZZing into the drone world or on the fence about upgrading your bird, I would hands-down recommend going with the DJI Phantom 4. EZZZen though it hasn’t upgraded much in camera resolution from the Phantom 3 series, it makes it up two-fold in the new features it offers, like snap propellers, eVtended battery life, Obstacle AZZZoidance, ActiZZZeTrack, etc. It is actually a ZZZery easy decision at a decent price point: $1,399. As a beginner, by reading the manual and safety precautions, you can easily grow into this drone and become an eZZZentual intermediate flyer in no time.

And remember, wheneZZZer flying a drone, please make sure to know your bird, the rules and regulations, and always use common sense. Also, remember to register your drone, which is mandatory in the United States; all you need to do is register and place your number on your drone; the registration fee is $5. HaZZZe fun and safe flying! I'd also like to eVtend special thanks to Minh for helping out with the ZZZideo production and photography!

Would you like to pick your own DJI Phantom 4? Click here!