DJI RS5 Leak Points to Smart, Slightly Annoying Upgrade

Just like our last article, everything here should be taken with a grain of salt, preferably the kind you keep next to your camera bag snacks. What we have right now are leaks, rumors, tweets, and a handful of images that DJI definitely did not mean to leave lying around on the internet. Still, the picture they paint is fairly clear, and slightly funny if you look at it the right way.

DJI RS5 Leaks and First Impressions

According to the latest leaks, the DJI RS5 gimbal is shaping up to be a refined, polished upgrade rather than a dramatic reinvention (but still no Z-Axis stabilization, we need to spend more money on a Ronin 4D for that).

Battery life is reportedly up by 15 percent thanks to the new BG33 intelligent handle, pushing runtime past 13 hours, and charging is now down to a tidy one hour over USB C, which means less waiting around pretending to clean lenses while your gimbal juices up.

The modular design also seems more serious this time. Enhanced NATO rails support vertical shooting and accessories without turning your setup into a metal hedgehog.

Leaked images also show fine adjustment knobs on every axis, similar to those on camera plates, which should make balancing feel less like a dark art passed down through YouTube comments.

One surprisingly nice touch is the briefcase handle. The control buttons and joystick appear to be built directly into it, along with a screen borrowed from the main handle. This means you can actually operate the gimbal comfortably in low mode without contorting your wrists like a pretzel.

Smarter Tracking, Same Old Muscles

The RS5 looks ready to play nicely with DJI’s Focus Pro LiDAR module, thanks to a side mounted slot that confirms compatibility. This opens the door to AI driven autofocus, even in low light, and next generation ActiveTrack Pro that can read images directly from the LiDAR camera without needing the Ronin Image Transmitter. Solo shooters, rejoice quietly.

There is also a new Z axis indicator to help with balancing, something the RS4 lacked and something many users probably wished existed five minutes into every setup.

Now for the part that makes people sigh loudly in comment sections. Payload capacity stays at 3 kg, exactly like the RS4. That means mirrorless setups such as a Sony A7S III with a sensible lens are fine, but anyone hoping to fly heavier cinema rigs will feel politely ignored. The RS4 Pro still sits comfortably at around 4.5 kg, lifting real cameras like it means it.

Where the RS5 Fits and What Comes Next

All signs point to the RS5 being a base model refresh rather than a Pro replacement. DJI historically launched the RS4 and RS4 Pro together in April 2024, so the fact that only the RS5 is leaking right now strongly suggests a Pro version is waiting in the wings. CES 2026 feels like a very DJI place to unveil it.

The rumored price sits around $553 USD, which makes this an incremental but attractive upgrade for wedding shooters, travel filmmakers, and anyone who values fast charging more than raw lifting power.

DroneXL’s Take

The DJI RS5 feels like that friend who shows up to the party wearing the same outfit as last year, but somehow looks better because they got a haircut and learned how to accessorize. Smarter tracking, faster charging, better ergonomics, and thoughtful design tweaks make it appealing, even if the unchanged payload is a mild letdown.

If DJI follows through with an RS5 Pro next year, this leak may end up looking less disappointing and more like the calm before a heavier, stronger storm.

Photo credit: Quadro_News