Xiaomi has recently hinted that it is expanding into another space in the tech industry, with the Chinese-based company dropping clues that it will be unveiling a drone very soon.
In a pair of teaser pictures, Xiaomi hinted at the announcement of its first ever drone product, with details to be revealed on May 25, China time.
The announcement is not really a surprising one, given the fact that Xiaomi has stepped into so many industries, including smartphones, smart appliances and smart home devices. Not much is yet known about the upcoming drone ahead of its unveiling, and Xiaomi is not making it easy for information to be acquired before the official announcement.
Android Central, however, spotted a teaser video of the Xiaomi drone on Youku, which is basically the Chinese version of Google's YouTube. The video features a white drone with four balancing legs and four propeller blades, with a ball-shaped camera attached to its middle section. The camera is able to swivel in multiple directions, and it is said that it will be capable of recording 4K videos, which will be a huge plus for drone enthusiasts.
One of the speculations on the Xiaomi drone is that the Mi Band 2, Xiaomi's upcoming wearable, will feature the capability to fly it through gesture-based controls. Xiaomi has previously filed a patent for a drone that flies while tethered to the smart wristband of the user, and this could be the technology that will be found in the Xiaomi drone.
The price of the Xiaomi drone is expected to allow it to compete with the offerings of popular drone manufacturer DJI, so estimates peg the drone's price at about $600. However, given the history of Xiaomi and its habit of releasing powerful products at cheap prices, the price of the Xiaomi drone could be even lower than that. If that happens, DJI and other drone manufacturers could treat Xiaomi's entry into the industry as a threat.
