The drone section of CES 2017 was one of the coolest areas of the show and DJI was king of the drones (as opposed to DaKingInDaNorf). The company showed off its latest and greatest, including the Mavic Pro and Phantom 4 Pro. Since my brother is a freelance drone photographer in addition to being a fine musician, I checked out the latest DJI models on his behalf…and also because drones are pretty cool.
The DJI Mavic Pro was especially fascinating. In addition to being a full-featured drone, it’s foldable. It can break down to 83 x 83 x 198 centimeters, making it perfect for travel. Here’s the official press blurb, along with some photos I snapped.
The DJI Mavic Pro is a small yet powerful drone that turns the sky into your creative canvas easily and without worry, helping you make every moment an aerial moment. Its compact size hides a high degree of complexity that makes it one of DJI’s most sophisticated flying cameras ever. 24 high-performance computing cores, an all-new transmission system with a 4.3mi (7km) range, 5 vision sensors, and a 4K camera stabilized by a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, are at your command with just a push of your thumb or a tap of your finger.
The company also displayed the Phantom 4 Pro, the latest in that venerable series. While it doesn’t have the foldable coolness of the Mavic 4 Pro, the Phantom 4 Pro is a more capable drone. It also sports a sweet controller with a substantial screen. Here are the official particulars accompanied by some photos I shot.
A 5.5-inch 1080p screen integrated with the Phantom 4 Pro + offers 1000 cd/m2 of brightness, more than twice as bright as conventional smart devices. As the DJI GO app is built into the screen, hardware and software can be fully optimized, allowing you to edit and share instantly. A five-hour battery life makes the Phantom 4 Pro + a complete aerial imaging solution. The integrated upgraded Lightbridge HD video transmission system supports dual frequencies for greater interference resistance and a maximum video transmission range of 4.3mi (7km).
The Mavic Pro starts at $999, while the Phantom 4 Pro starts at $1,499. As I spent way more time in the drone section of CES 2017 than I expected, stay tuned for more CES 2017 drone coverage in the near future.