As far as drones go, the DJI Phantom line really is the iconic design of the industry. The Phantom 4 Pro+ was as good as it gets for more than a year after the quadcopter was announced.
Note: Our initial review posted in November, 2017. We reviewed the Phantom 4 Pro+, with the display built into the controller.
New: Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
DJI has released an update to this great drone, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is updated in mostly the same way that the Mavic Pro Platinum improves over the original Mavic Pro. To be specific, new propellers and updated ESCs create more efficient and quieter flight. The big update that many of us are excited for is the inclusion of OcuSync, which adds multi-remote connectivity and a wireless connection to the DJI Goggles.
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Phantom drones
Before we dive in, just wanted to point you toward our DJI Phantom drones guide. If you care to see the history and evolution of the Phantom line, this is it.
Overview
DJI Phantom 4 Pro and Pro+
November 2016
Release DateWhen you think about drones, it's possible that the first image that comes to mind is the iconic design of the DJI Phantom line. DJI knows it, continually iterating their Phantom drones to be some of the best high-end consumer class quadcopters on the market. That trend continued in the fall of 2016, launching the Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Pro+ alongside the Inspire 2.
The difference between the Phantom 4 Pro and the Phantom 4 Pro+ is the inclusion of a 5.5-inch built-in display on the remote of the Pro+. It's a good looking, Android powered display, but it's the only difference between the two machines.
There are two variants of this drone, the Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Pro+. The Plus model includes a built-in display on the remote control, otherwise, they are the same machine.
The standard color of the Phantom line is white with some grey accents. There is a new Obsidian version available – it looks amazing, but is the same drone on the inside.
Obstacle avoidance sensors are on almost all sides of this drone. When active, the drone will prevent a crash in all directions except upward. The forward and downward sensors can also help maneuver the craft, to skirt around obstacles and for precision landings.
The camera is on a 3-axis gimbal and packs 4K recording in a 1-inch CMOS sensor at 20 MP. One of the best on the market, on a consumer level.
When it comes time to travel, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro does not fold down, you simply install the camera gimbal lock and protector (that’s just one piece) and then quick release the propellers.