The DJI Phantom 4 (released in March 2016) was a landmark drone that introduced "computer vision" to the consumer market. It was the first DJI drone capable of sensing and avoiding obstacles automatically.
While the original Phantom 4 is now discontinued and support has largely ended (as of July 2023), it remains a robust platform for those who still own one or find them on the used market.
🛠 Key Specifications
Feature Specification
Max Flight Time Approx. 28 minutes
Max Speed 45 mph (72 kph) in Sport Mode
Weight 1380 g (with battery and props)
Satellite Systems GPS / GLONASS
Obstacle Sensing Forward-facing (0.7 – 15 meters)
Transmission Range 3.1 miles (5 km) FCC / 2.2 miles (3.5 km) CE
📷 Camera Capabilities
The Phantom 4's camera was a significant step up from the Phantom 3 series, featuring a redesigned lens that reduced distortion by 36% and chromatic aberration by 56%.
Sensor: 1/2.3” CMOS; 12.4 Megapixels.
Video: 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 120fps (for slow-motion).
Bitrate: 60 Mbps.
Lens: 20mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 with a 94
∘
FOV.
Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW), MP4, and MOV.
🚀 Advanced Features (At Launch)
Obstacle Avoidance: Two forward-facing vision sensors allowed the drone to "see" in 3D and react to objects by hovering or flying around them.
ActiveTrack: Allowed users to tap a subject (like a person or bike) on their screen, and the drone would automatically follow and keep them in frame without a separate tracker.
TapFly: You could tap a spot on your screen, and the drone would fly there smoothly while avoiding obstacles.
Sport Mode: A new mode at the time that tilted the drone further forward to reach higher speeds, making it much more agile for racing or following fast cars.
⚠️ Current Status (2026)
Discontinued: The original Phantom 4 is no longer in production. It was followed by the Phantom 4 Pro, Advanced, and Pro V2.0.
End of Support: DJI officially ended maintenance and technical support for the original Phantom 4 in July 2023.
Legacy Value: Despite being older, its mechanical build and stability in wind make it a favorite for some mapping and agricultural tasks, though newer models like the Mavic 3 series offer better portability and camera quality.
