New DJI Smart Controller - Quick Look

by FliteTest | January 11, 2019 | (2) Posted in News

To answer the age-old problem of using a screen outdoors, DJI has made a big bright in-built screen.

Leading drone company DJI has just released a brand new remote control transmitter for its current generation of aerial cameras. It’s called the Smart Controller and features an ultra-bright display screen which replaces the need for pilots to use their smartphones. Here’s a quick read article we made to provide you with the essentials. 




How Much Does it Cost?

The DJI Smart Controller comes in at a somewhat eye-watering price point of $649. For comparison, the Mavic Air, complete with the standard controller and accessory pack, is just $799. Worth it? Is it just a built-in phone? Well, the new screen does have a purpose.


What Makes this Controller ‘Smart’?

As anyone who’s flown one of DJI’s drones will know, the controller that comes supplied with most of today’s DJI Mavics, Airs and Sparks requires a smartphone or tablet. Without one, you can’t see your live first-person-view (FPV) feed from the aircraft. The problem with this is that flying with your phone can be a drain on battery life. It can also be fiddly to set up and difficult to view in the bright daylight. 


The company has unveiled a new controller with an in-built, super-bright display to help combat this problem. 


There device is slightly bigger than the standard DJI remote and features the familiar removable thumbsticks that are now fairly commonplace. 


The key feature, though, is the screen. It’s a modest size - 5.5 in - but can display Full HD video beamed down from the drone. The controller looks bigger than it actually is, but that’s probably a good thing for ergonomic comfort and portability. 


As this controller is designed to be used in the great outdoors, the screen has been designed to far outshine the average smartphone with an output of 1,000 cd/m2. That’s about twice the brightness of your standard iPhone. 


Without wanting to make this article too long for you to read, here are some of the main stats:


Specs at a Glance

  • 5.5-inch 1080p Display
  • OcuSync 2.0
  • -20℃ to 40℃ operating temperatures
  • Customized Android system and ability to use third-party applications. 
  • DJI Go Share feature


If you want to find out more about the new Smart Controller, here’s a link to DJI’s product page.

What do you think? Is it too pricey or will it be a hit! Let us know in the comments!


Images by DJI


Article by James Whomsley

Editor of FliteTest.com

Contact: james@flitetest.com

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/projectairaviation 

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New DJI Smart Controller - Quick Look