The likes of DJI and Yuneec have been dominating the consumer drone market for several years now. But it looks as though another rival could be rising in China. Xiaomi, more famous across consumer technology for its smartphones, headphones and connected wristbands, is about to launch its first drone.
Xiamo’s offering, barely displayed in the teaser above, appears to share some features with Chinese rival Yuneec’s Typhoon H. Whether the new drone will be some kind of collaboration between the two companies remains to be seen.
Google translate tells us that the poster suggests the drone’s unveiling will be streamed live on the Xiaomi’s website on May 25th.
At the very least, the poster confirms that a drone is coming. Its specifications and target audience are still a mystery. Having said that, there have been several leaks before this official teaser. These include a Xiaomi app accidentally released for 4K video recording on a drone, and a number of patents suggesting potential technologies that will be incorporated.
Xiaomi patents discovered in China portray a quadcopter being controlled with a connected wrist band, such as the company’s Mi Band fitness tracker. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen gesture controls used with drones. But there’s certainly room for improvement there.
Malek Murison is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for tech trends and innovation. He handles product reviews, major releases and keeps an eye on the enthusiast market for DroneLife.
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I will be very interested in buying a Mi drone, either model, or even perhaps both. Will you let me know where,when I can purchase? Thank you for entertaining my questions. Best Regards, Charles Peck