How the GoPro Karma Compares to the DJI Phantom 4

GoPro ’s new flying camera arrangement , Karma , bet surprisingly awesome . It ’s not your average quadcopter , thanks to a cunning folding design and a removable stabiliser you may apply on its own . But is it enough to dethronethe best - selling DJI Phantom 4 ? That entirely look on who ’s flying it .

There ’s so much about the Karma system that just screams GoPro . Its big selling pointis versatility . you could fly it over the shoreline to scope out wave , and then , after it lands , rend out the stabiliser and take your friends play on the beach . And then , you may strap the stabiliser onto your chest and enamour some rad surfing video . At the remnant of the day , the whole gismo folds up and fits neatly into a backpack . This is a very appealing software program for some adrenaline junkies — specially at the comparatively humble price of $ 800 without a GoPro , or $ 1,100 with the new 4K - quick GoPro Hero 5 Black . ( Obviously , the type of GoPro you install on the Karma will define your video recording resolution . ) The DJI Phantom 4 with a 4 M camera is presently on sale for $ 1,200 .

In a sense , GoPro ’s Karma design accost the most teasing problems with the DJI Phantom 4 : portability , versatility , and simplicity . The Phantom 4 is minuscule than its predecessors , but you ’ll take to blast outan additional $ 200for DJI ’s gawky multifunctional backpack if you want to port it around conveniently . The Phantom 4 come with an excellent 4 K camera , but it ’s bolted to the poke so you ca n’t really employ it on the ground . To put it bluntly , flying the Phantom 4 requires a lot of moving parts , while the Karma is opine to be as easy as push a button and play a video game .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

The Phantom 4 is loaded with feature , which is part of why it ’s sometimes a nuisance to use . The drone has an obstacle avoidance arrangement , whichI learned the hard waydoesn’t body of work in every scenario . The Phantom 4 also has a embarrassment of flight of stairs modes , which can be confusing to inexperienced pilot film . And the Phantom 4 require that you to clamp your smartphone or tablet to the controller — and plug it in — every meter you pilot . That ’s just apparently vexatious .

None of this is to say that the Phantom 4 sucks . It ’s in reality a bang-up gadget ! It ’s tight ! With a top speed of 45 miles - per - hour , the Phantom 4 would fume the Karma and its top pep pill of 35 miles - per - hour in a race .

More to the gunpoint , in experient custody , the Phantom 4 seems to be a lot more capable . For good example , the Karma astonishingly does n’t ave a follow me feature . Even though rumor mongers were positive that follow me would be central to the Karma arrangement , GoPro did n’t even observe the approximation in its declaration . As for pre - programmed flight path , GoPro offer precisely four , which seem unsubdivided to employ than DJI ’s , even if they do n’t offer quite the versatility of programmed movement .

William Duplessie

Without having flown the Karma , it ’s impossible to make an orchard apple tree - to - apples comparison between GoPro ’s new radio-controlled aircraft and the celebrated Phantom 4 . And maybe an apples - to - apples equivalence is the wrong way to see which lagger you should buy . The Karma and the Phantom 4 are actually moderately different contrivance , when you really think about it . The Karma is clearly design for adventurers who want a radio-controlled aircraft that ’s soft to aviate and even easy to have a bun in the oven around . The Phantom 4 is for multitude who are willing to give simpleness and portability in favor of fancy features like watch over me and obstacle avoidance .

In a elbow room , the difference between the Karma and the Phantom 4 is a chip like the dispute between a full point - and - shoot camera and a DSLR . Each have their pros and cons as well as their own captive audiences . If you already own a GoPro and love have it on adventures , the Karma is a pretty cheap way to get it airborne . If you ’re hoping to pull in excess money by capture professional aery footage of homes for sale , the Phantom 4 might be a good option .

Of course , it will take a true chief - to - caput flight of stairs run with the Karma and the Phantom 4 to see which is the good . We hope to get our mitt on each pilotless aircraft in the follow hebdomad so that we can put them through the paces . And since GoPro loves to brag about its dedication to making rugged gadgets , we ’ll plausibly break apart the Karma to see how it apply up . ( We’vealready break up the Phantom 4 . ) in advance of those stress tests , though , it sure look like GoPro has managed to build a truly unequaled poke . Or at least it will be unique for a few days , until DJIreleases its rumor fold drone for beginners .

Starship Test 9