DJI's New Foldable Drone Does A One-Up On GoPro
Chinese drone maker DJI has turned the heat on GoPro with its latest launch, the Mavic Pro. Launched on the heels of GoPro's foldable Karma drone, the Mavic Pro is a powerful yet extremely small, portable drone - in fact so small that it fits into one hand.
While the drone's size is significantly smaller than DJI's earlier models, the Mavic Pro has retained the advanced features present in the company's popular Phantom series. The drone has sensors in the back and the front, provides obstacle avoidance and features such as autonomous landing and subject tracking, many of which are missing in Karma.
Mavic Pro comes inbuilt with a 12-megapixel camera that can shoot 4K video at 30 fps as well as full 1080p HD at 96 fps. The drone offers 27 minutes of flight on a single charge and has top speed of 40 miles per hour. Karma offers 20 minutes of flight and doesn't have a camera, requiring additional purchase of a compatible GoPro camera.
Other new features in Mavic Pro includes a "terrain mode" that allows the drone to fly at a specified height, automatically moving up or down as the altitude changes. The drone also has selfie feature - it clicks a photograph when the user makes a "frame" gesture. Another feature has Mavic Pro focusing on the user when the user waves or gestures at the drone.
The drone comes with a wireless remote control that can be synced with a smartphone allowing the user to see live feed from the drone. The controller itself has been reduced in size and has simplified controls. The drone offers several pre-set modes including a "tap-to-fly" mode.
Priced at a somewhat prohibitive $999 for an all-in unit and $750 without the controller, the drone might not quite be for the casual customer.
"Our intention has never been to make the cheapest product," said Adam Lisberg DJI's head U.S. spokesperson explaining the pricing. "It's been to make the best."
Karma is priced at $799, with GoPro offering bundled deals of $1,100 for the drone and a GoPro camera.
