As a drone photography company, at Aeroshots Drone Services, we have always loved the DJI Phantom series. They are great for real estate drone photography, hyperlapse, asset inspections, roof inspections, 3D mapping. The list is endless! That a small drone like a DJI Phantom 4 can do so much is mind-blowing!
DJI Phantom 5 rumours
We have always been excited to watch out for DJI Phantom 5, the next version of this amazing piece of hardware. Going by the news and rumours, it looks like that there would be no DJI Phantom 5. DJI released a Phantom 4 Pro RTK version recently. However, that seems to the last release for the DJI Phantom series. Barring DJI Phantom 4 RTK, the Phantom 4 has been out of stock for months now with no signs of it ever coming back. The only version that can still be bought at the DJI online store is the Phantom 4 Pro RTK model, which is clearly aimed at commercial and professional users.
There have been several rumours of DJI Phantom 5 being released in 2018 and 2019. However, they have always been just rumours and there is no concrete evidence of its release anytime soon. DJI launched its brand with the Phantom 1, known at the time as Phantom, in January 2013. The iconic design has spawned numerous imitators but DJI has been able to iterate and outdo its competitors time and again, with more than just the Phantom line. Currently, it has a market share of roughly 74%, according to a 2018 Drone Market Sector Report by Skylogic Research.
What do the DJI reps say?
Romeo Durscher, DJI’s Director of Public Safety Integration states in a video presented by Drone Owners Network that Phantom 4 series has reached its end of life.. The product manager responsible for the Phantom 5, of which we have seen various prototypes with interchangeable lenses earlier, has been reassigned to another DJI project. The discontinuation has made many drone pilots unhappy. Phantom 4 Pro is the most commonly used drone for drone photography in Melbourne and other places all over the world. For drone videography, Phantom 4 Pro creates much sharper, crispier and smoother 4K videos compared to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Phantom 4’s ability to hold its ground during very strong winds or gusts is unmatchable.
DJI focussing on Mavic Series?
It could be that DJI is trying to stop the cannibalization of their own products by cutting down on the number of prosumer drones they have on the market, with the goal of prioritizing their Mavic line. This idea is somewhat bolstered by the promotion of the Mavic 2 Pro as an alternative to the Phantom 4 Pro on DJI’s site. We also currently see three different Mavics promoted on the Phantom 4 Pro page as alternatives (the Mavic Pro Platinum, the Mavic 2 Pro, and the Mavic 2 Zoom).
Phantom series crippled because of parts unavailability?
Another idea out there about why production of the Phantom 4 Pro has been discontinued is that DJI simply can’t make the Phantom 4 Pro because they’ve cut key relationships with part suppliers due to the widespread fraud that was recently uncovered at the company.
In case you haven’t heard, back in January DJI uncovered widespread fraud within the company, which they said at the time will cost them up to $150 million. Employees were falsely inflating the costs of parts and materials and pocketing the difference—at least fourteen employees were fired over the discovery. Adding fuel to this theory is a recent Tweet from DJI that reads, in part, “…due to a shortage of parts from a supplier, DJI is unable to manufacture more phantom 4 Pro V2.0 drones until further notice.”
Phantom 5 wishlist
We really hope DJI still continues the Phantom series and releases the Phantom 5. Here is our wish list for the features in the next phantom series
- Interchangeable lens
- Better camera
- Waterproof
- Longer flight time
- Dual battery system
Source: Drone DJ, The Verge