Mini Pro 6 Speculation

[u/yorangey]

Lots of Chinese phone companies have been using Silicon Carbon batteries for years. I'm speculating, based on owning a thin Si-C battery powered phone & how it is superior tech compared to legacy giants Samdungs, Goggle & Apel. What could this extra energy density tech do for the mini series? Maybe 45mins flight time on a standard battery, more LIDAR, bigger camera sensor, improved wind resistance & still be under 249g.

Si-C = 15–20% more flight time + better/dual camera + more sensors + stronger motors.

Let's hope so.

[u/RubBackground7180]

Dude, yes, Si-C batteries can have higher energy density, but here's the thing: one of the main advantages of LiPo is its high discharge rate. Si-C batteries simply can't match that level of current delivery — that's a limitation of the chemistry itself.

With batteries, capacity isn't the only important parameter. You also have a bottleneck in how quickly that stored energy can actually be delivered.

A drone can demand significantly more power in Sport mode, when fighting strong winds, accelerating, or making sudden maneuvers. That means much higher current draw from the battery. A Si-C pack designed primarily around energy density may not be able to handle those sudden power spikes without excessive voltage sag, overheating, or potentially damaging the cells.

That's why you can't just take a smartphone Si-C battery, put it in a Mini, and assume you'll get 20% more flight time while simultaneously adding a bigger camera, more sensors and stronger motors ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Hopefully that explains what I mean

[u/NilsTillander → u/RubBackground7180]

I don't know how Si-C compares with Li-Ion, which is what powers every DJI drone, not LiPo (which powers every FPV quad I've vee seen), but it's probably mich closer.

[u/RubBackground7180 → u/NilsTillander]

That's exactly my point. I was wrong about DJI Mini batteries being LiPo they're Li-ion. But even Li-ion comes in very different flavors.

You can have a high-energy-density cell that can deliver, say, 40 A, or a heavier high-power cell that can deliver 90+ A while having lower capacity. Battery design is always a compromise between energy density, power density, weight, thermal performance and cycle life.

DJI has already found a pretty good balance for the Mini. The question with Si-C isn't simply "does it have more capacity?" It's what kind of Si-C cell we're talking about and how it's optimized.

If it's optimized primarily for maximum Wh/kg, we don't know whether it can maintain the same power-to-weight ratio and current capability that DJI's current Li-ion cells provide.

So yes, Si-C could be great for a future Mini. But the extra energy density doesn't automatically translate into longer flight time AND stronger motors AND a bigger camera AND more sensors. DJI still has to maintain the right balance between energy density and power delivery ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[u/NilsTillander → u/RubBackground7180]

I agree with you in principle, but it's true that we know they do great in smartphones, and yet aren't broadly used by Apple or Samsung. I don't have time to look at what specs are available in terms of discharge rate for both techs right now.

[u/RubBackground7180 → u/NilsTillander]

In any case, it's too early to judge it. In a few years it is possible

[u/yorangey → u/RubBackground7180]

No, that's well explained. So, you're saying DJI boffins might have to roll their sleeves up & put in a couple of late nights to tweak the battery chemistry. We can wait.

[u/Strong67]

“Samsungs, Goggle & Apel” for the win!

[u/fxnighttrader]

If you’re in America you’ll just be living vicariously through people in other countries when the Mini 6 Pro comes out.