The Retirement of DJI's Phantom 4 Pro
Video Credit: DJI Technology Co.
Stop the presses! The time has come. DJI has finally given the ax to another one of its models: the revered Phantom 4 Pro. Currently, the Phantom 4 Pro page greets you with this message: “The Phantom 4 Pro is no longer in production. For the latest in DJI technology, please view our product recommendation below. This news may come as a surprise, but DJI has been in the process of EOL-ing their Phantom 4 line of drones since last year when they discontinued the original Phantom 4.
DJI officially terminated the Phantom 4 on April 30th, 2017, a little over a year after its release, which was 3 years ago in March of 2016. The Phantom 4 Pro was released only several months after that in November 2016. While these iterations of the Phantom 4 are no longer available, the V2.0 technically still is. A trip to the DJI shop website reveals that the drone is currently out of stock. While some people believe this to be a sign that the Phantom 5 is on its way, others are hypothesizing that the stall of production may be due to internal changes within DJI.
In response to a tweet asking about the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, DJI Support responded that they would not be able to manufacture anymore “due to a shortage of parts from a supplier”. According to UAV Coach, “the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 has been out of stock since November of last year,” which was around the time more rumors regarding the release of the Phantom 5 were emerging along with DJI’s “big” announcement. Unfortunately, DJI’s “Because Life is Big” New York event did not reveal the Phantom 5 as was hoped, but the rumors surrounding the event did reveal that a new shaker in the drone industry was overdue.
Screenshots from Twitter and the DJI online store
For a while now, the drone community has been on the edge of its seat, ready and waiting for any news from DJI about the release of the next version of its Phantom legacy. The continued discontinuation of Phantom 4 products could still be a sign of what’s to come. We’re barely a quarter into the new year, so there’s still plenty of time left for grand reveals.
When do you think the Phantom 5 will be released? What do you think will be its highlight features? Feel free to share your thoughts.
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
