DJI (Phantom 5) Launch Event Scheduled for November 28

Despite there only being less than 50 days left of 2018, it looks like we’ll be getting a new product from DJI. The drone manufacturer sent out invites yesterday to a release event scheduled for November 28th in Next York City at the Good Morning America studios. DJI is calling the event “Because Life Is Big” and included a trippy illustration of what appears to be a pool from above.

DJI’s invite to an exclusive DJI event in New York

The invitation arrived yesterday by email and reads:

“DJI cordially invites you to join us for a special announcement on November 28th in New York. We’re excited to showcase DJI’s latest technology. we look forward to seeing you!”

Clicking the link to RVSP, it takes you to a DJI event website that says:

“DJI is delighted to invite you to an exclusive event! From 2 pm to 4 pm at Good Morning America Studios.”

After RSVP’ing, DJI tells leaves you with the message:

“Get Ready to Live Big!”

“Because Life Is Big” Is it finally the Phantom 5?

Could it be the release of the new DJI Phantom 5? That is the ‘big’ question everybody is wondering now. It seems that it might be. DJI mentioned early in the year during the Mavic Air event that 2018 was going to be a big year for them. Then the company followed through with the release of the Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom drones in the summer. That event as you all know was originally scheduled to take place on July 18th but got postponed due to mysterious reasons to August 23rd. So with three groundbreaking new drones already released this year, introducing a new Phantom 5 right before the holidays would indeed make 2018 a really big year for DJI.

Welcome to New York

DJI has chosen New York for all their major global drone releases, such as the Spark, Mavic Air, Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom drones. DJI’s ‘Because life is big!’ takes place in New York (at the Good Morning America Studios no less!) as well, which might indicate that the new Phantom 5 is imminent.

The current version of the Phantom line is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 that was quietly released in early May. The original version of the Phantom 4 was released in early 2016, so it seems that it would be due for a replacement.

Out of stock

Today, it surfaced that DJI’s most capable prosumer drone in terms of video image quality, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is out of stock on DJI’s website. You can submit your email to be notified when the drone is back in stock, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

It’s been known for a long time that DJI is working on a replacement of the Phantom 4. Over the last couple of months, we have seen photos of prototypes with an interchangeable lens system. DJI always denied that these images showed the new Phantom 5 or a prototype of the P5, and said instead that these were simply photos of a one-off drone for one of their enterprise customers. However, not many people believed that story. Developing an interchangeable lens system is no simple or inexpensive feat. Anyway, it now seems that we will not have to wait much longer to find out. November is only two weeks away.

If Not The Phantom 5…

Though the Phantom 5 is currently the lead contender to show up on November 28th, there is no way to ever know for sure. Alternatively, DJI could be planning to update its Osmo line-up as they have introduced several new camera models since the release of the Osmo+ and Osmo Pro. In the month prior to the release of the Mavic 2, an image leaked of the drone which featured a more compact looking Osmo in the foreground. Also, just last week it was reported that a new Osmo Pocket Wireless Module just cleared the FCC.

However, with the Phantom 4 V2.0 now being out of stock it would seem to suggest that we are very likely to see the Phantom 5 on the 28th. Given the way things have worked in the past though, we’ll probably see some leaks soon which either confirm or deny this.