DJI just released a new Mavic Smart Controller with a built-in CrystalSky display, which brings a new DJI rumor to life about the CrystalSky monitor it uses.
Why? The new Smart Controller isn’t using the original CrystalSky that is available on the DJI website. Hackers are already dismantling the DJI Smart Controller to get at the CrystalSky inside, and what they’ve found is an all-new CrystalSky device….we’ll call it CrystalSky 2 for the purposes of this article.
Due to the US Government shutdown, the Smart Controller didn’t receive it’s FCC clearance in time for CES2019, so US consumers will have to wait a little longer to buy it.
Related: 37 Countries You Can Order Mavic 2 Smart Controller TODAY
The new display, which is technically an Android tablet, uses an upgraded processor that is 2x faster than the original CrystalSky. Antutu, a software tool for measuring phone and tablet processing power, ranks RAM, on-board storage, CPU and more to come up with a performance score.
The new CrystalSky 2 in the Mavic Smart Controller has an Antutu score almost double the original CrystalSky monitor.
THe original CrystalSky operated with a Rockchip 3288 has been replaced in the new, more powerful, Smart Controller with a Rockchip 3399. Anyone who owns an Android box for their tv watching knows how quickly the processing power can fall behind the software being developed.
We’ve been wondering for some time now when the CrystalSky refresh would take place, but we’re a little surprised that DJI went with the lower brightness screen in the Smart Controller.
The original CrystalSky comes in two flavors of brightness: High and Ultra. The High Brightness CrystalSky (which is actually the lower brightness of the two) lists a screen brigthtness of 1000 nits….about 2x brighter than an iPhone or iPad.
With 2000 nits, the Ultra Brightness CrystalSky is 2x brighter than the High Brightness model and more than 4x brighter than an iPhone.
Because an upgrade to the CrystalSky has been expected, we’ve been advising readers who were thinking about buying to hold off a little while longer. There’s nothing worse than buying yesterday’s technology right before it gets replaced.
The Mavic Smart Controller won’t be for everyone, though.
We aren’t really keen that it uses the lower brightness screen for one thing. And many experienced drone operators who’ve been using larger displays, like an iPad or iPad mini, won’t be keen to step down to a much smaller display.
One of the first clue that an actual CrystalSky 2 is about to arrive will be price drops at 3rd party retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama. (We recommend you sign up for B&H Deal Zone emails here. Last week they did a one day price drop on the Mavic Pro bringing it down to $649).
We’ll be keeping our ear to the ground, because we do think the chances of new CrystalSky 2 appearing before spring are very good.
Are you considering the Mavic Smart Controller? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and we could share your thoughts in an upcoming article.
