Should Xiaomi be worth more than DJI?

Sales of consumer and commercial flying drones picked up speed in 2016. Drone makers DJI and Parrot are one and two in market share, selling high-end devices with an average selling price of $550. Just this month, one of China’s fastest-growing tech companies, cellphone manufacturer Xiaomi, unveiled a more affordable sub-$500 drone with a claimed range of four kilometres and a video camera capable of 4K resolution.

The 4K version can fly for 26 minutes and has a range of almost 4 miles. DJI drones fly for 23-28 minutes depending on the model. The Mi Drone includes a 360-degree camera that can shoot 4K video, and handheld remote which has the option of attaching a smartphone for a streaming view from the drone.

DJI is frequently called the “Apple of drones.” It reportedly owns 70% of the consumer drone market and appeals to high-end tech shoppers. Apple even agreed to display DJI’s new Mavic Pro drones in big “feature bay” displays at over 400 of its brick-and-mortar stores, serving as DJI’s exclusive retailer during the drone’s initial launch in March. DJI employees also visited select Apple Stores to provide training sessions to customers.

In response to DJI’s rapid growth, Xiaomi recently launched the Mi Drone, a 4K drone which only costs $460, its entry into drones. That’s less than half the price of most DJI drones, which cost over $1,000. The Mi Drone represents another way for Xiaomi to diversify beyond its core smartphone business, which has been ceding market share to low-cost rivals like Oppo and Huawei.

Xiaomi’s main strategy is to sell devices with high-end hardware at low-end prices via an online model that eliminates brick-and-mortar markups. That causes it to run on paper-thin margins — its last known operating margin was 1.8% in 2013, and that figure has likely declined due to rising competition in smartphones.

DJI profits might decline if it has to match Xiaomi’s aggressive prices. However, Xiaomi’s Mi Drone still lacks HDR, burst shot, time lapse photos, and obstacle detection — all features which are included in DJI’s Mavic Pro.

Similar to other Xiaomi products, the company didn’t actually create the Mi Drone itself. Instead, it is working with a China-based startup, Flymi, which designed and developed the UAV. Xiaomi is arranging the manufacturing and branding and selling it via its channels.

Should Xiaomi be worth more than DJI? It remains to be seen.

The post Should Xiaomi be worth more than DJI? appeared first on Drone Inner.

Xiaomi drone 4K hand-on review

Xiaomi launched its maiden venture in the fast emerging drone market last year in May. Xiaomi drone 4K and a second variant with a 1080p.

However, ever since, there has been no substantial update on the status of the 4K variant of the UAV. But then, the company crushed all those rumors by listing the Xiaomi Drone 4K on March 3 this year. After more than 400 software optimization and 5 hardware upgrade.What are the big upgrades?

The Xiaomi Mi Drone comes in two boxes actually. There is the main large box containing the drone and accessories, and a smaller box which houses the camera.

One difference between the 4K version and the 1080P version is the color. As you can see the logo and cooling holes are decorated in gold.

The color is the only way to separate them. Xiaomi drone 4K also used folding design, it can be put down when using it. When taking it, we can keep the parallel between stents and its body. Xiaomi drone 4K design is very compact and its camera can be removable in view of convenience.We can put the drone and its accessories in the computer bag when we go out. So we don’t have to take the other bag to pack the Xiaomi Mi drone.

Compared with Mi Drone 1080P version’s self-tightening propeller, Mi Drone 4K version comes with ARA-D quick release propeller which is more safe and stable in fight.

Both version use GPS+ GLONASS (US GPS and Russian GLONASS satellite positioning), dual satellite positioning and optical flow auxiliary localization system.While the Mi drone 4K  is also equipped vision positioning system.

The biggest difference between them is the camera. Xiaomi drone 4k adopts 12MP Sony sensor, up to 3840 * 2160 pixel video resolution and it can support RAW format photographing. Compared with Xiaomi MI Drone 1080p screen, Xiaomi Drone 4K uses TDMA technology image transferring plan, which can not own stronger anti-jamming performance than traditional Wifi solution, and it can improve the transmission distance from 1km to 4km, making players own wider viewing angle.

There’s no big difference between the controllers except for the color. The remote control looks like game handle, mobile phone stents used the capacitor design, making its appearance more concise.

Both versions use 15.2 V / 5100 mah, 77.52 Wh in total. It is using a 4.35V lithium battery, whose capacity has improved 8% around than the common 4.2V in theory. The company claimed the Xiaomi drone 4K can support 26 minutes flying time for it’s lighter.

Compared with Xiaomi MI Drone 1080p, Xiaomi Drone 4K uses two separate IMU and compass sensor, which is rare used in UAV. The flight remote control monitors the mixed data of two roads sensor in the real time and then compare, keeping flying data accurate.

Xiaomi MI Drone 4K is equipped with 3 axis stable gimbal, built in 3 axis accelerometer and 3 axis gyroscope, 3 axis brushless motor drive, bringing as much as 2000 times per second of  data collection and operation compensation, which can make camera pixel level more stable and accurate and finally finish taking videos without shaking.

Below are some photos shot by Xiaomi drone 4K.

DJI has just released a somewhat brand new drone called the Phantom 3 SE priced at $430,which is a good alternative to Xiaomi Drone 4K. So will you go with the DJI Phantom 3 SE or the old version Mi drone 1080P?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Xiaomi drone 4K hand-on review appeared first on Drone Inner.