Over the last year one drone trend has been consistent: the certain drone rumors have decreased significantly.
At the start of 2019 there was still a lot of speculation that a Phantom 5 quadcopter was being developed with a system of interchangable lenses. DJI eventually chimed in and said it was a custom ‘one-off’ model for a commercial client. Many readers took that announcement with a grain of salt, but since then the rumor has all but died.
The rumor was partly fueled by the fact that the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 was no longer available for purchase in the DJI online store.
But that all changed earlier this month when DJI asked us, and other affiliates, to submit requests to review the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 drone. At first it looked like an error, possibly an outdated item on the website but we confirmed it shortly after.
Which means DJI will be reintroducing the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 in January 2020 to the cheers of fixed wing quadcopter fans everywhere.
Pricing for the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 drone still depends on the status of anti-China trade tariffs for US buyers. If you’re in the US, expect to pay $1729 for the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 Standard Kit and $2199 for the Phantom 4 Pro+ V2.0 Kit which includes a screen for the RC.
If you’re outside of the US, prices are much improved. In Canada, for example, the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 Standard Kit is $1499 ($230 less) and the Phantom 4 Pro+ V2.0 is $1799 ($400 less).
These tariff price differences are significant, and are no doubt eating into DJI’s sales numbers in the United States. We can only guess at how many drone buyers are holding off until the trade dispute is resolved before purchasing a Chinese made drone.
Fans of the Phantom Series appreciate the robust airframe with fixed arms and gimbal-protecting landing gear as well as the Phantom’s legendary performance in windy situations. But it’s the Phantom 4 Pro’s camera that is the big differentiator.
Unike the Mavic 2 Pro, which can film 4K at 30fps, the
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 can record 4K video at 60fps which means pilots are in a better place for capturing slow motion.
Both the Mavic 2 Pro and the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 sport 20 megapixel sensors. But the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 consistently beats the Mavic 2 Pro in real life still image comparisons and low light results.
The Mavic 2 Pro has the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 beat when it comes to weight and size for transport, but for more serious photographers it all comes down to camera performance.
So it will be interested to see the re-launch of the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 and what sales look like, even before the tariffs are resolved.
What about you? Are you still considering a fixed-wing quadcopter like the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0or are you waiting until prices ‘relax’ to buy a drone?
Let us know in the comments below, and we could feature your thoughts in a future article!
