The Drone You've Been Waiting For Is Finally Here!

DJI has been making high-quality, budget-friendly drones for the better part of a decade now. Last year, they surprised us all with the portable Mavic Pro. But if you thought that was small, think again.

2017 is DJI Spark’s year. It redefines the drone market by introducing loads of new features in something the size of a smartphone!

Yup, you read that right.

On Thursday, DJI launched their brand new mini drone - the DJI Spark. Weighing just 300 grams (!!), the Spark can actually take off from the palm of your hand. When you're done, you can just slip it back into your back pocket - it's that small!

But in case the size isn't enough to convince you, here are a few more reasons why you should be excited for it.

1. It's Smartphone Small, And Smartphone Simple

When DJI designed the Spark, they weren't just looking at creating something ultra-portable. They wanted to make a drone that anybody could use. Not only can you control the Spark from your phone, but you can even use hand gestures to tell it what you want. Once you're done filming, just edit and share the footage directly from your smartphone. How cool is that? Fuss free selfies!

2. You Don't Need A Pilot's License

A lot of people don't think drones are worth buying because flying it is difficult. And yes, flying IS difficult to a lot of us. Not to mention, you now need a permit from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) if you want to fly a drone weighing more than 20kg. With the Spark though, flying is as easy as ABC. You can simply just point on the screen where you want it to go and let the drone do the rest with its amazing TapFly technology. Plus, the Spark is smart enough to avoid colliding with objects in its way.

3. Good Value For Money

US$500 (RM2,137). That's how much you're expected to pay for this toy. It may sound like a lot of money, but in a different perspective, it’s cheaper than an iPhone. And look at it this way: drones are expensive things, and it's not uncommon to find high-end ones selling for the same amount of money you'd spend on a car down payment. So, for less than RM2,200, you get a small smart drone that is powerful enough to capture stunning images. That's pretty good value for money, right?

4. More High Tech Than You Think

A compact piece of gadget equipped with a 2km HD Wi-Fi Video Transmission range is definitely worth a praise. Also, the Spark is also able to launch from your palm after recognising your face. Plus, you can take group photos without manually controlling it. And to top it all off, you can send the Spark to a spot and wait for you to show up just by tapping on your phone screen. Pretty crazy!

5. Impressive Camera!

OK, maybe not so impressive as compared to modern smartphone HDR cameras. Still, for a budget drone, this thing packs a punch. Its 12MP camera is able to capture video at a decent 1080p at 30 frames per second. Also, not forgetting that integrated Mechanical Gimbal that will give you that buttery smooth HD video. That’s definitely a good deal.

Not convinced? There are plenty of previews on YouTube that might tip you over the edge. Check out the videos produced by popular YouTubers Casey Neistat and Marques Brownlee here: