DJI shrinks and simplifies its new Mavic Pro drone, giving GoPro's Karma a rival

The top civilian drone maker's latest model is small enough to slip into purses and controllable with just a smartphone. The Mavic Pro represents a significant leap for Chinese start-up DJI, whose Phantom and Inspire offerings dominate the camera drone market. The unveiling of the Mavic Pro on Tuesday, a week after action camera maker GoPro released its Karma drone and a month after Chinese rival Yuneec's launch of its Breeze, sets up a holiday shopping showdown. The drones still carry price tags likely to intimidate to most consumers -- from 500 to 1,200. But with simplified flying controls and slimmer bodies compared with earlier models, the quadcopters are edging away from their enthusiasts-only roots toward a future as mass consumer devices.