Alas, the much-hyped DJI announcement of May 15th came and went without much fanfare, or without a replacement for the Phantom 4. Really, we waited patiently and sat by our computer screens for a GoPro underwater camera competitor? I’m running to Best Buy now to get me some… never mind, I’ll order via Amazon Prime, as I can wait a few hours for my Amazon drone to deliver. Said with tongue firmly in cheek…
What Happened to the Phantom 4?
When asked why the Phantom 4 Pro is out of stock, Adam Lisberg from the manufacturer DJI Drone’s answered:
“We have a shortage of parts from a supplier, which leaves us unable to manufacture more Phantom 4 drones until further notice. We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause our customers, and we would urge them to look at drones in the Mavic series as an alternative in the meantime.”
From our knowledge of the drone industry, as of this writing, there is no firm date for a new announcement of a Phantom 5, “if” the Phantom 4 will be back in stock, or any alternatives for this “daily workhouse” segment of the market. As soon as we learn more, we will be sure to share that news with you here. For now, let the rumors keep flying, or droning on, whichever you prefer.
What are Some Alternatives to the Phantom 4?
When DJI launched the Phantom 4 back in March 2016, it quickly became the veritable workhorse of the commercial drone market. Then, shortly after, two versions of Mavic 2 were launched. Due to the reasons stated above, no more Phantom 4s will be manufactured in the foreseeable future. Therefore, other options should be examined to see if they can perform as well.
Depending on your budget, if you need a good, reliable, daily workhorse drone for inspection, mapping, modeling, aerial photos, videos, or thermal imaging, try the Mavic 2 Pro or Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual.
Mavic 2 Pro vs Phantom 4 Pro
Since the Mavic drones are similar, let’s just compare the closest to the Phantom 4, both Pro models.
| Model: | Mavic 2 Pro | Phantom 4 Pro |
| Price: | $1,449.00 | $1,499.00 |
| Size: | 2 lbs. (foldable) | 3 lbs. (not foldable) |
| Focal Length: | 28 mm | 24 mm |
| Setup Time: | 1 min. 13 sec | 1 min. 10 sec |
| Flight Time: | 31 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Max Speed: | 45 mph | 45 mph |
| Range: | 8 km | 7 km |
Of course, The Mavic 2 Pro and the Phantom 4 Pro depicted in this comparison are both basic models. At least for the Mavic 2 Pro, upgrades are available to add, like goggles, a remote controller with built-in LCD, and a Fly More combo.
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