(Update: price leaked) Xiaomi’s next product will swoosh over your head

Update, May 24: More details about Xiaomi’s new drone leaked out ahead of tomorrow’s unveiling. Sources cited by Bloomberg say the Mi Drone will be manufactured by FIMI Technology and it will record 4K video. As expected, Xiaomi will price it very competitively. The device will sell for 4000 yuan or around $610. That might seem expensive, but it’s actually 20% cheaper than a similar 4K drone from market leader DJI.

Original post, May 23: From the road, to the kitchen counter, to the skies. You can now add a drone to the ever-growing list of products that Xiaomi manufactures, either directly or through its network of partners and investees.

The Mi Drone will be unveiled on May 25, according to a teaser from Hugo Barra, but we already know what it will look like, thanks to a teaser that surfaced on Youku.

The brief teaser reveals a rather conventional-looking quadcopter equipped with a built-in camera of spherical shape. The large camera is mounted on a pivot and it looks like it’s able to capture video from 360 degrees.

The video promises that more details will be revealed on the evening of May 25 at a live launch event.

From older reports, we expect the Xiaomi drone to capture 4K content; users will be able to control it through a dedicated smartphone app or even a Mi Band wearable.

As more consumers and businesses become aware of the potential of drones, the electronics industry is looking at the field for new avenues of growth. Component makers like Qualcomm already have dedicated drone solutions, which should make them even more accessible. Drones are also becoming more intelligent, thanks to the inclusion of technologies that were initially developed for mobile applications, like Google’s Tango or Intel’s RealSense.

Xiaomi always aims to undercut competitors through low prices, regardless if we’re talking about smartphones, big screen TVs, or air purifies. Should DJI be worried?

Let us know your thoughts!