GoPro Karma Drone Vs. DJI Mavic Pro Drone
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GoPro’s first drone the GoPro Karma Drone, and DJI’s newest release the DJI Mavic Pro Drone, were both released within a few days of each other and have been very talked about aerial machines since the day they were announced.
Both the drones feature a foldable body along with a variety of flying and camera features, and have been subject to comparisons to figure out which drone is actually better! Here’s an overview of all their features and how they compare to each other:
Body and design
A common factor that both the drones share is that they have been built keeping portability and compactness in mind. Both can be folded up when not in use, so storing and carrying them is easy.
The GoPro Karma Drone weighs 2.22lbs (1006g), while the Mavic Pro weighs just 1.62lbs (734g). When folded, the Mavic Pro becomes the size 83x83x198mm, and in comparison the Karma measures bigger at 89.9×224.3×356.2mm.
Flying features
When it comes to the maximum flying speed of both the drones, the DJI Mavic Pro can fly at up to 40 mph (65 kph) when in Sport mode and the GoPro Karma at 35 mph (56.3 kph).
The Mavic Pro claims to have a flying time of around 27 minutes, and on the other hand the Karma can only fly for up to 20 minutes.
The maximum control distance for the GoPro Karma Drone is 1.86 miles (3 km), while the DJI Mavic Pro has a distance of 4.3 miles (7 km), which is almost twice than that of the GoPro.
Camera
The biggest difference between the two when it comes to the drone’s cameras is the fact that the Mavic Pro uses a built-in camera, while a GoPro camera has to be attached to the Karma for recording aerial videos and pictures.
The DJI Mavic Pro’s camera uses 1/2.3-inch, 12-megapixel CMOS sensors, and can record in 4K at 30 fps, as well as 1080p HD at 96 fp, while taking pictures in 12MP.
On the other hand, the GoPro Karma Drone is compatible with the GoPro Hero 4 Black and Hero 4 Silver, as well as the newly released GoPro Hero 5 Black and GoPro Hero 5 Session. If you use the latest GoPro Hero5 Black action camera with the drone, then the camera also uses 1/2.3-inch, 12-megapixel CMOS sensors and can record videos in amazing 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 120fps.
Stabilizer
Both these new drones come equipped with a gimbal with 3-axis stabilization for smooth pictures and videos. The Karma drone’s range of motion is -90° to 0° up and down, while the Mavic Pro has a wider range of motion of -90° to +30° (pitch), as well as the ability to roll.
A difference between the two is that the stabilizer on the GoPro Karma is detachable and can be used with its other device, the Karma Grip as well.
Remote controller
The DJI Mavic Drone can be flown using the compact new remote controller that even gives tactile feedback to warn the flier of obstacles around. It features an LCD screen with essential flight info on it, but a smartphone can also be mounted on a foldable mount on the controller, which slides away when not in use, and can be used to view what the drone’s camera is recording.
The DJI remote controller also uses the new OcuSync encrypted transmission system that can live stream at 1080p video resolution to Facebook Live, Periscope and YouTube using the DJI GO app.
The GoPro Karma Controller on the other hand, features a brand new design that is similar to game controllers for a familiar feel. Instead of having multiple controls on the body, the Karma Controller features a clean and sleek shape with a clamshell design. It has a built-in 5-inch touchscreen that allows users to view what they are recording in 720p and has a maximum brightness of 900 nits.
The controller has a long battery life of about 4 hours, and can be completely charged in approximately 2.5 hours.
Intelligent Flight Modes
When it comes to the flying, the DJI Mavic Pro has been created to provide more of an automatic flying experience without really having much flying skills. The Karma though offers more features geared towards manual controlled flight.
The DJI Mavic Pro has special awareness features like obstacle avoidance and Flight Autonomy guidance system. Obstacle avoidance combined with sensor redundancy increases the flight’s safety and consistency, and the drone is capable of avoiding an obstacle from as far away as 49 ft. (15m). Flight Autonomy also means that the drone can hover more precisely, and can also automatically land back to where it took off.
It also has an Active Track mode that lets you shoot like a pro and makes the drone track the person you tell it to. In this mode, the drone can ‘Trace’ the subject by following behind, leading in the front, or circling around it, it can ‘Profile’ the subject by flying along it, or ‘Spotlight’ by focusing only on the subject while you fly it around.
With the Gesture Mode, you can conveniently take a selfie by making a particular gesture when the drone is pointing at you, while the Tripod Mode makes the drone fly slower to just 2.2 mph (3.6 km/h) for easier flying indoors. Another new addition is the Terrain Follow Mode, where the Mavic Pro keeps a level height from the ground, between 1 ft. (0.3 m) to 33 ft. (10 m), allowing it to not fly too close to the ground.
The GoPro Karma drone does offer various automatic operating modes, like Dronie for zoomed in selfies, Cable cam for switching from one pre-defined point to another, Reveal that pans till the subject is in focus, and Orbit that takes a continuous circular pan around the subject.
GoPro has also taken the time to ensure that the drone is safe for their fliers, since it has built in no-fly zones, as well as an immediate Land button that ensures the drone returns back immediately. You also wouldn’t lose your drone or break any law unknowingly.
Price
The GoPro Karma Drone can be bought for $799 alone, or it can also be bought as a bundle with the Hero 5 Session for $999, and with the GoPro Hero 5 for $1,099.
The DJI Mavic Pro costs much lesser than that at $749 for just the drone and $999 for the drone as well as the remote controller.
Conclusion
Although GoPro has been a dominant name in the action camera industry, their recent slow sales and DJI’s dominance in the drone ad quadcopter industry, may have overshadowed the Karma Drone. Even though a lot of hype was created around the Karma, DJI’s Mavic Pro seems to have swooped in and taken all the spotlight and attention.
The DJI Mavic Pro has better features in important categories, is equipped with better intelligent flight modes, and also has a much lower price without the need for a separate camera, and has definitely made it to the top of everyone’s number one drone list!
