Update January 26, 2017: AirSelfie has announced its Kickstarter campaign has come to a successful close, raising over $600,000 from backers. That is well above the original goal of just $48,000. The company has also announced U.S. pricing for the product, and is currently offering a 30-percent discount for preorder customers. That brings the AirSelfie drone with phone case to about $262, while the drone plus a power bank is available for $272. Preorders are open now.
The AirSelfie is the latest advance in the never-ending technological pursuit of the perfect selfie. The minuscule quadcopter fits in the palm of your hand and slides into a custom phone case for storage and charging. It can only fly for three minutes, but that is enough time for its intended use of capturing a quick group selfie when arms and even selfie sticks can’t extend far enough to get everyone in the picture.
The drone can be controlled with one hand via the app (iOS and Android) and can fly up to 20 meters high. When you’re ready to snap a photo or video, it will hover autonomously — whether indoor or out.
Three flight modes allow you to pilot the AirSelfie with varying degrees of control. The most basic is Selfie mode, where just on-screen buttons move the drone farther away or closer to you. Selfie Motion Control mode allows you to control the drone with a virtual joystick for more flight options. Rotate the phone into landscape orientation to engage Flight mode, which turns your phone into a classic controller, giving you full freedom. Once you find the perfect spot, the AirSelfie will automatically hover.
When you’re done flying, simply pluck the AirSelfie out of the air, which can be done safely with your bare hand. Return it to its case and it will recharge in 30 minutes.
With an integrated camera that shoots five-megapixel stills or HD video, the AirSelfie certainly isn’t intended to compete with the likes of the DJI Mavic. It’s part of a growing number of compact, consumer-oriented selfie drones that put convenience first. The AirSelfie may just be the most convenient yet, thanks to its pocketable design. If you don’t mind a little extra bulk on your phone, you can carry it with you at all times.