Is the Mini 5 Pro a sub-250g drone?

[Bad Santa]

You are arguing legality, rather than capability. My point was that a simple FW update could have made the drone consistent with the original User Manual, such that it would not broadcast RID with the standard battery. Surely, that was their original intent, until the drone got too fat!

Yes, they could have a FW update that does that but it would violate law to do so since the drone will reliably come in at over 249g with the standard battery (which seems silly to say because most come with the extended battery, thus making it the standard).

 

[anotherlab]

You are arguing legality, rather than capability. My point was that a simple FW update could have made the drone consistent with the original User Manual, such that it would not broadcast RID with the standard battery. Surely, that was their original intent, until the drone got too fat!

That's a distinction without meaning. Yes, they could make a firmware that disables RID, but they could not legally release it.

The Mini 5 did receive FCC certification, and DJI can sell it in the US. They chose not to release it.

 

[GadgetGuy]

That's a distinction without meaning. Yes, they could make a firmware that disables RID, but they could not legally release it.

The Mini 5 did receive FCC certification, and DJI can sell it in the US. They chose not to release it.

Except FAA regulations do not apply to the drone because the manufacturer is intentionally not selling the drone in the United States, whether previously certified or not. It would therefore not be illegal for DJI to set the FW consistent with the original User Manual. U.S. pilots could then always add an external RID module to make it FAA compliant.

Yes, they could have a FW update that does that but it would violate law to do so since the drone will reliably come in at over 249g with the standard battery (which seems silly to say because most come with the extended battery, thus making it the standard).

In case you are unaware, the Mini 5 Pro is only sold in the EU with the Intelligent Flight (standard) battery. It cannot be purchased with the Plus battery, and you cannot buy a separate Plus battery in the EU.