GoPro unveiled its most-awaited Karma drone and action movie camera maker, setting a tough competition in the drone market with its new features and capabilities. DJI's Phantom 4 drone also has features that can make the competition tougher.
Drone enthusiasts are expecting that the GoPro Karma will address issues found in the DJI Phantom 4 drone. The direct comparison between the two will bring answers to that particular concern.
The Karma is lighter and well-designed, as it only occupies a small volume when folded up and has the advantage of being carried anywhere after folding up with an option of a backpack. The backpack has all the space to hold up various drone-related devices: camera, charger, controller and a stabilizing mount called the Karma grip.
DJI's drone doesn't come with any backpack. Instead, an extra USD 200 can bring users with additional transport compatibility. Nonetheless, the drone remains heavier compared to that of GoPro.
The Karma is provided with a camera mounting place where new GoPro cameras - Hero 4, Hero 5 Black or Hero 5 Session, can be mounted. The company offers bundled options with cameras, including either Hero 5 Black or Hero 5 Session with an additional cost of USD 200 to USD 300. GoPro claims that the new Hero 5 Black camera is waterproof and it features 4K video recording, Bluetooth, GPS and voice control.
The GoPro Karma could be more versatile. It comes with the Karma Grip to make handheld use more comfortable. It can also be attached to the drone's head or to other GoPro accessories. The DJI's grip Osmo, on the other hand, has an integrated 4K camera and costs $560.
The Karma is easy to fly-by - it has unfolding propeller arms and landing gear and with a press of the remote control, it's ready to fly. The DJI's Phantom 4 has to be connected with a smartphone or tablet to fly, which is quite tedious task whenever the smartphone is used for other purposes while flying.
According to iTechPost, DJI's Phantom 4 is more expensive than the GoPro's Karma. The price of Phantom 4 is USD 1199 compared to the Karma's USD 1099 price tag, which already includes the new Hero 5 action camera. The Phantom 4, however, has two important features programmed in it - Follow me mode and Collision advance mode, both of which isn't available in the Karma.
