Xiaomi Will Launch Its Own Drone Soon
Xiaomi is on an introducing spree with new products being launched one after the other. Following the main declaration of MIUI 8 ROM and Mi Max smartphone and partnership with Google for its Mi Box in the U.S.,
Xiaomi is all set to enter a new product group this month. The Chinese electronics giant teased on its official MIUI forum an image of its first drone, which will be launching in China on May 25.
The Chinese language firm, familiar for making low cost but highly effective smartphones, makes a ton of different devices, together with a kid-oriented smartwatch, a 4K-ready media box, a fitness band, a rice cooker and a self-balancing scooter.
"Something wonderful and cool is flying to us very soon," Xiaomi forum moderator Vincent Khoo wrote in an English-language tease on the company's public discussion forum.
The event is expected to be live streamed, and the latest teaser almost absolutely indicates to a drone, showing a camera connected to a gimbal. Xiaomi earlier had put up a picture of a wooden-copter, a toy famous among kids, further indicating to the rumors. The company has also put up a post on the MIUI forum, mentioning a new flying product coming soon. The news about Xiaomi working on drones began pouring in when it patented a technology that is used to control drones with gestures and Mi Bands. A few days earlier, a Xiaomi drone app was also leaked revealing that the upcoming drone will be able to shoot 4K videos at 30fps.
The ability to shoot 4K videos tips a high-end drone, rather than a basic one that was previously estimated. However, this is just pure speculation and there haven't been any leaks giving us tech specifications about the drone. With this, Xiaomi enters into another consumer tech segment. The company already has its footprints in smart ACs, smart TVs, set-top boxes, rice cookers, Wi-Fi routers, air purifiers and now drones.
This month, Xiaomi introduced the Mi Max with a huge 6.44-inch display and showcased the MIUI 8. It is now taking beta registrations, and the first developer ROM will be made available on June 17. The company even launched its first Android TV set top box - Mi Box-at Google I/O, which is now underway.
With all these specs, Xiaomi isn't going to price the Mi Drone like its other Mi products at a reasonable range. According to GSM Arena, the Mi Drone could cost as much as ¥3,999, which approximately translates to about $610 in the U.S. or Rs. 41,000 in India.
Details about tablets and Smartphone can be ventured to a large degree. However, the specification of drones is difficult since most manufacturers bring in their innovations. Rumors about the drone from Xiaomi have been floating for a long time but it is only now that it has been publically confirmed.
The device will have much application in the rescue tasks and surveillance. However Xiaomi will be concentrating on budget mid-segment markets, this one will target high-end consumers as well.