After years in the action camera game, GoPro is getting into the drone business with its nifty new little gadget, the GoPro Karma. It goes up against a competitor, the DJI Mavic Pro, which was announced a week apart from the Karma. Between the two of them, the GoPro Karma seems to be the better option, and here's why.
Wired magazine tested the two camera drones, and even though it's not perfect, they would recommend the GoPro Karma to anyone interested in buying their first drone. They found that the Karma is just the better camera -- not just drone -- for its value: other than being a GoPro drone, it also does function as a detachable action cam. And you can stick a GoPro you already own on the Karma.
The GoPro Karma's built-in GoPro takes wonderful stable 4K video on a drone that's foldable and easy to lug around. The only issue with the Karma is the build and specs of the drone: it's bigger and heavier than the DJI Mavic Pro, at least twice the size.
It doesn't fly as high or as far as the Mavic and it just isn't as agile in flight. The GoPro Karma does have some neat tricks you can try, such as a drone selfie or an orbiting maneuver that sees it circle an object while taking video.
And the GoPro camera attached to the GoPro Karma is the best of its kind. USA Today agrees that the video quality the GoPro Karma takes is arguably the best in the market, despite the drone's physical shortcomings.
It's a must-get for anyone who doesn't already have a drone but already travels and adventures around with a GoPro camera. The GoPro Karma drone and all its peripherals -- except the actual GoPro camera -- will run you around $800, if you already own a GoPro Hero.
If not, the Karma drone and the Hero camera can be bought bundled together for $1,000 (for a Hero5 Session) or $1,100 (for a Hero5 Black). An extra $150 will net you two years of GoPro Care insurance, which is a pretty sweet deal.