Today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, DJI announced the release of a new smart controller.
It is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, which removes the need for you to carry your smartphone with you to use your drone. According to DJI, the screen is twice is bright as the average smartphone, which will make it easier for pilots to see in bright sunlight.
The controller will initially only work with the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom but future updates should allow it to work with Mavic Pro originals. It uses a 5.8ghz frequency to avoid environmental interference and works at a range of up to 5 miles (8 kilometers). The remote has a built-in microphone allowing the user to narrate what’s happening on screen. The Smart Controller can also playback 4K video at 60 frames a second, allowing you to review your footage in its native resolution (something not possible on most smartphones).
Downsides
Low battery life
Those big screens are battery killers! On a full charge, you should be able to get 2.5 hours of use out of this controller before having to recharge (but to be fair, is far greater than the battery life of most drones). The Smart Controllers battery is not removable and takes about two hours to fully charge.
Extremely expensive
The launch price is fairly hefty at $650. Until it comes down in price, it’s hard to imagine this having widespread appeal.
Check out Alex’s full review in the video below:
Check out some of our other product reviews:
