I'd just bought a DJI Mini 4 Pro, and in August 2024 I started a new series: I order stuff online, get it shipped and test it for you. First up, a handful of AliExpress accessories. Were they any good?
The shopping list
The Mini 4 Pro comes in a bag that's not bad, but not comfortable either. So I went looking on AliExpress. First, a carry case designed for the Mini 4 Pro and the DJI RC 2 controller, in waterproof fabric, with five-star reviews. Into the cart.
Next, something that always annoys me when I travel: carrying separate chargers for my iPad, my iPhones and my wife's iPhone. I found a 65 W fast charger with USB-C and USB-A ports, with tens of thousands sold. Would it really be 65 W?
I was also curious about microSD cards. Have you ever bought one on AliExpress? Some carry famous brands, so I picked a Xiaomi-branded card and a 1 TB Sony card, which was really cheap compared to Amazon. Finally, I'd bought a lanyard for the controller before and found it too bulky, so I got a DJI-branded one in blue. All in all, I spent about 36.
Unboxing about a week later
The parcels arrived in about a week, which is getting really fast. The case was smaller than I expected, but the controller, the drone, the batteries (with space for an extra one) and all the spares and leaflets fit neatly. The charger actually has two USB-C ports plus USB-A, and it charged a DJI battery, my Insta360 and an iPhone at the same time. The lanyard looks really well done.
For the microSD cards, I tested them in my Insta360 X4, which needs fast, high-capacity storage. I swapped out the original card and recorded with the Sony and then the Xiaomi, and both were recording fine.
Verdict
I was impressed, especially by the microSD cards and the case, and by the charger too. What I spent on all of this is probably what I would have spent on the case alone on Amazon. Dig a bit and you find the same items selling for double the price elsewhere.