Categories : Beijing, China-based electronics manufacturer Xiaomi has revealed its Mi Drone, a new quadcopter running at a price of about $381 or $457, depending on the model.
Via Facebook Live, Hugo Barra, the company’s vice president, today unboxed the Mi Drone, which will be offered with a 1080p ($381) or 4K ($457) camera.
According to the company, Lei Jun – founder, chairman and CEO – believes that “high-quality technology doesn’t need to cost a fortune.” Xiaomi also offers devices such as phones, headphones and fitness trackers, including its Mi Band, which retails for $14.99.
Xiaomi’s product description on YouTube says the new quadcopter boasts a battery providing 27 minutes of flight time; a three-axis gimbal stabilizing up to 2,000 vibrations per second; and GPS, GLONASS and vision-based positioning capabilities.
In addition, the drone offers autpilot options, such as automatic takeoff and landing or waypoint flight planning, and will automatically return to home and stay away from no-fly areas. The quadcopter, which Xiaomi says has a “modular design,” also includes retractable landing gear.
For comparison’s sake, in the world of other quadcopters manufactured in China, both DJI’s Phantom 3 Professional, which offers 4K video and a 23-minute maximum flight time, and Yuneec’s Typhoon 4K, which features 4K video and a flight time of up to 25 minutes, currently run at roughly $1,000.
According to an article from The Verge, the 1080p version of the Mi Drone is currently being crowdfunded on Xiaomi’s Mi Home app, and the 4K version will likely be available for beta testing by the end of July.
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