It’s a crazy week. Last week GoPro unveiled their newest gadget, the GoPro KARMA, to the world and just a couple of days later, DJI comes across with their newest gadget –  The DJI MAVIC Pro!

What meant to be the benchmark of the semi-pro drone market, the DJI Phantom 4, seems to be replaced by the DJI Marvic. For a long time there was no doubt that Phantom 4 is the drone of the drone for semiprofessional users. After last week, when GoPro launched the Karma Pro, it seemed to be a good opponent to fight the Phantom 4 with it’s new drone architecture for better portability. In my latest drone post I tried to compare the GoPro Karma with the DJI Phantom 4, not knowing that there is already a stronger DJI weapon in the pipeline, waiting for it’s launch.

dji-mavic-pro-1-1170x508

So next I better hold the KARMA against the MAVIC PRO. So the new segment of foldable drones, which was created and owned by GoPro as of last week, has now to be shared with the market leader DJI. So what are the main differences between both products, keeping in mind that GoPro’s KARMA is much more as a equipment box with the handle grip and removable GoPro camera.

 

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FOR THE FULL COMPARISON – READ THE FULL POST

 

Comparing both drones:

Package Size: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Small size and backpack included but still bigger.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Smallest drone size on the market so far.

 

Drone Size: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Convenient backpack but still bigger.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]Almost fits into the pocket of your trouser.

 

Weight: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Convenient backpack but still bigger.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] 743g

 

Camera: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Attachable GoPro Cameras 4/5. More functions, better quality and fps.

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Bolted. 4K Ultra HD Video at 30fps or 1080 / 96fps .

 

Obstacle avoidance system: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Not available.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Available.

 

Follow me funtion: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Not available.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Available.

 

Pre-programmed flight paths: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] 4

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Able to record and program

 

Flight time: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] 20 min.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] 27 min. at 0 wind and 15.5 mph. Normal flight mode 21 min.

 

Speed: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] 35 mph

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] up to 65 mph

 

Controler: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Small and easy to use controller. Bright touchscreen works fine even in sunlight.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Small controller which works with cell phone as screen. All important functions will be displayed over the controller display while camera and is displayed on mobile screen. Res 1080.

 

Social Media live stream: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] No information 

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Stream to Facebook Live, Periscope and YouTube via the DJI companion app

 

Usage: Karma/Phantom: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] The Karma is build on simplicity and easy to use handling. It depends on the consumer needs. Fly paths is a good function to let the drone do the flight job while the consumer can focus on the camera.

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] With build in beginner mode the drone seems to be very easy to use, also for unexperienced pilots. During your flight time a beginner mode will turn hard movements into soft and guaranty best picture quality.

 

Stabilizer Grip: Karma/Mavic Pro

[icon name=”thumbs-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Removable stabilizer and handle included.

[icon name=thumbs-down” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Not included. DJ Oslo needed as an extra tool for another approx. 300 $.

So, it seems that the DJI MARVIC is the better choice of both drones. But, that is hard to tell as it really depends on the consumer needs. The GoPro comes as an entire removable camera equipment set, holding a high performance outdoor camera (Hero5), a handle grip stabilizer and a drone. Where the DJI Marvic is only a drone. In package size smaller, but with the DJI handle grip OSMO close to what GoPro has.

In terms of functions, i.e. Follow me and Obstacle avoidance DJI will the better choice. I assume that GoPro will provide at least Follow me as an update soon where Obstacle avoidance is maybe harder to implement in the first model.

All insides are taken from various test and reviews which came out lately. Hopefully I will own one in the near future. Bookings for both are open by the end of October. That gives me some more time to think about it 🙂

 

 

Casey Neistat had his hands on both. the GoPro Karma & DJI Mavic, lately. Check out his thoughts about the new DJI gadget.