After a six month delay, GoPro has finally brought its new GoPro Karma drone out to the market. Yet, as the GoPro’s founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman ensured, this device “is much more than a drone.” Let’s see what is so great about it?
Karma’s design resolves four of the most annoying problems of its direct competitor, the DJI Phantom 4, regarding portability, versatility, simplicity, and price.
First of all, GoPro Karma is much smaller than its predecessors. The Karma also comes with a backpack as standard! It can hold the drone, the controller, the stabilizing mount Karma Grip (a gimbal attached to the head of the drone), the camera and a charger.
Secondly, the Karma drone is more than just a drone. The device has the battery-powered Karma Grip, a stabilizer that controls the camera, for hand-held use, but this can also be attached to any GoPro compatible accessories for, hands-free operation, or attached to the head of the drone.
Thirdly, the device is ready to use in seconds. You have to unfold the propeller arms and the landing gear, and it’s ready to fly. Thanks to the remote control it looks like a video game controller with a built-in display. This device already wins the hearts of many drones’ aficionados!
Fourthly, the drone is cheaper than other competing products. The new standalone GoPro Karma Drone, without the camera, will cost interested buyers $799. However, if consumers decide to get the Karma bundled with a Hero 5 Black camera, the price will go up to $1099.99 and $999.99, depending on the GoPro Hero 5 variant that goes with it.
The next generation of action cameras is coming. Stay tuned, because the Karma Drone in the US and Europe the Karma will go on sale on October 23rd, 2016.
