Xiaomi's first venture into the industry of unmanned aerial vehicles has taken off with the launch of the Mi Drone.
The quadcopter adopts a three-axis gimbal and a camera capable of shooting 4K videos. The unit goes with a remote control that connects with the Mi smartphone.
Resembling a dragonfly, the Mi Drone was not made entirely by Xiaomi. Instead, third-party maker Fimi Technology was responsible for manufacturing the device, while Xiaomi took charge of marketing and promotion under its brand.
According to The Verge, one of the main advantages of the Mi Drone is its "modularity and serviceability."
The camera and rotors of Xiaomi's new drone are all detachable. Similarly, the 5,100mAh battery can be replaced and allows the device to fly for 27 minutes per charge. The Verge noted that this feature is "at the high end of what most consumer quadcopters offer."
The drone adopts a visual positioning system that enables it to keep a stable flight in environments with little to no satellite signal. Standard flight modes such as takeoff, return to home and landing are also offered.
The 4K UAV is available at 2,999 yuan or about $460, while the 1080p version is retailing at 2,499 yuan or $380. This price range is said to be nearly half the cost of other drones with the same features, specifically those from the likes of DJI.
DJI, currently the world's biggest drone manufacturer, sells its 4K-ready UAVs for about $1,000. With this new competition from Xiaomi, analysts are expecting a more exciting market for drones.
Xiaomi rolled out the entry-level 1080p Mi Drone through the Mi Home app on May 26. China.org reported that the live-stream launch was watched by more than 560,000 online users.
Meanwhile, the 4K version will be ready for testing through an open beta program by the end of July.