Is DJI about to unveil a foldable drone called the Mavic? A recent report from drone-enthusiast site Heliguy certainly suggests such a move, and it’s backed up its claim with a bunch of images it says show the new flying machine.
In contrast to its current range of Phantom copters, the Mavic – a name that DJI trademarked in August – is reported to be a small and light entry-level machine, and, thanks to its foldability, highly portable.
As shown in the images – obtained from an unnamed source – the folding mechanism allows you to move the machine’s arms, legs, and rotors into its main body, producing a compact shape for easier storage and transportation.
The rumored drone is said to feature a 4K camera with a 2-axis gimbal for smooth shooting and an Android-powered remote controller with an LCD display. It reportedly weighs 1.43 pounds, less than half that of DJI’s Phantom 4 machine.
As Heliguy points out, Mavic looks like DJI’s pitch for drone newbies on the hunt for an affordable device, a market the company hasn’t targeted up to now. Yuneec has done it with its $500 selfie-centered Breeze copter; Mavic could be DJI’s equivalent.
An unveil date is rumored for September 15, a tantalizing prospect considering GoPro’s much-anticipated Karma copter, which is also foldable, is likely to be unveiled just four days later.
And if the Mavic really is a thing, there’s a good chance it’ll be flying into the Photokina photographic show in Cologne, Germany, on September 20, giving visitors a chance to actually try the copter out. We’ll keep you posted.
