DJI has delivered new firmware for several popular older models including the Mini 3 Pro, the Mini 2, and the Mavic Air 2 even though many thought these drones had reached the end of their lives.

It's good news for owners, proving that DJI has not abandoned these models even though some are several generations behind (there is a Mini 5 Pro now, for example), and shows the company is still serving the needs of American consumers, who are unable to buy the latest DJI drone models.

• Official details of new firmware for oldest drones below
• DJI Fly updates available from DJI downloads

Also on the list of drones with an update is the DJI Mini 2, which was released back in 2020 and hadn't seen a software update in well over three years. Many might think of that as the end of life for a relatively inexpensive device (not many of us still have phones that old if we use the camera on them).

While the Mini 2 was impressive in its day, delivering 4K video and RAW photos to the 249g highly portable market, as well as reliable video at a (theoretical) 10km transmission range. The 12MP sensor isn't where DJI stopped, though.

DJI's Mini drones now stretch to the Mini 5 Pro, which has a 50MP camera, and much larger 1-inch sensor, slow-motion 4K, AI subject tracking, and obstacle sensing and avoidance tech.

The Mavic Air 2 last saw any firmware change in 2023, and the Air 2S in 2024, and both models have been superseded.

So why the changes? Well there might well be some issues, and there may be some necessities to keep working with newer phone operating systems (DJI Fly is also getting newer versions on both iOS and Android).

It's also very good news for both the American market, where the very latest DJI models are not allowed past customs at the moment, and for those looking for a good resale value. With fresh firmware, confidence in buying a used DJI Mini 2 will stay high and you can see that reflected in relatively high used prices.

It's not clear, of course, what has been changed. In the past DJI has added new features by firmware (8K video to the Osmo, vertical video to the Neo). Known issues usually just means software patches (DJI hasn't said "App and OS compatibility" though you can bet that compatibility with the latest phones and apps will have been dealt with).

Either way uploading the firmware takes a few minutes before a device restart.

Personal tip: do it at home, in the warm, where you've got a good internet connection. Far too often I've literally done it in a field! It will be offered automatically by your DJI Fly app.

It's not just older drones getting newer firmware

The delivery of firmware is especially interesting for older drones, but DJI has also been delivering for more recent devices, including the Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, and Mavic 4 Pro.

These are arguably the most high-end consumer drones, and again all it's about is "Fixing known issues."

DJI is delivering the updates around the world, including the USA, where some of these drones are under threat of being taken from the shelves because the tech is too good (LiDAR collision sensors are being reviewed as 'military' by the FCC).

DJI's firmware rollout isn't just about drones

DJI has been delivering a batch of updates for other tech too. Three of the company's remote controls with built-in screens (DJI RC, RC 2, and RC Pro 2) have all seen updates in recent days too.

The updates

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I've been flying drones a lot of my life, and have reviewed all of these DJI drones and a good deal more. You'll find my current favorites in the best camera drones and best beginners drones guides.

Last week, a fisherman went viral after sharing dramatic footage of a fin whale bursting through the surface of the sea during a feeding frenzy off the coast of West Wales.

Rhys Morgan, an oil refinery shift team leader and avid fisherman, was on a fishing excursion near the Celtic Deep, a 100m depression in the sea floor close to the Pembrokeshire coastline, when the whale appeared.

“When they [whales] pop up near the boat, you really do feel small out there,” Morgan told The Guardian, after explaining that he “always” has his drone to hand when out fishing, having bought one in 2025.

However, what Morgan didn’t share with The Guardian, nor in the Instagram post that included the incredible footage, was which drone he uses. We do know from a hashtag included in that Instagram post that he uses a DJI drone, but the exact model remains unknown.

Watch: fishermen Rhys Morgan used a DJI drone to capture this fin whale feeding off the West Wales coast

We do know that Rhys Morgan regularly uses a DJI Air 3S – a drone we recommend for its all-round flexibility – and this is the one we would use in this scenario. This drone balances optical power, stealth, and flight capabilities well, making it a good choice for filming wildlife like whales.

The UK government says all marine wildlife watchers must stay at least 100m (330 feet) away from animals, and that drones shouldn’t be used if they’ll disturb an animal.

The Air 3S features a 70mm medium telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, which enables capturing tight, intimate footage of whale behaviors – such as breaching, tail slapping, or spyhopping – while keeping the drone positioned more than 100 meters away.

What’s more, with 4K/60fps and 4K/100fps slow-motion recording, as long as the conditions aren’t too harsh, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t come away with crisp footage.

Speaking of conditions, the DJI Air 3S has a Level 5 Beaufort scale rating – the Beaufort scale being a widely recognized international scale ranging from 0 to 12, used to estimate wind speed and its effects on land and sea.

Level 5 means the DJI drone can handle wind speeds of around 19–24 mph (8.5-10.7 m/s), which is standard for most popular mid-to-high-end consumer camera drones.

Of course, there are other solid alternatives for filming the kind of footage Morgan shot of the fin whale, and my other picks would probably be the Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ (for higher budgets) and the Potensic Atom (leaner budgets).

If you want to dive deeper into your options, be sure to check out our in-house drone expert Adam Juniper’s pick of the best camera drones.

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Not into drones but love wildlife? We’ve also got a roundup of the best cameras for wildlife photography!

The Antigravity A1 was the first 360-degree camera drone, and it remains a brilliant piece of tech, but it wasn't easy to buy for many when it launched because it required FPV-goggles. These monitors worn over the eyes make you feel like you're sat inside the drone just like a pilot, but they push up the price and (in some places) add safety concerns.

• Cheaper because this kit drops Antigravity's unique goggles
• Better intuitive A.I. tracking for runners & riders – no hand controls
• Drag-to-Fly from the watch screen

In the UK, for example, it's legally required for any drone operator using FPV goggles to have a 'spotter' with them – a friend to keep an eye on the skies with their traditional human vision.

In other words the tech is super cool, but you have to pay more to get something which – for solo operators – can be inconvenient.

When DJI came along, playing catch-up, with their own 360-degree drone, the Avata 360, one thing they definitely did think through was a variety of control options.

When I spoke to the co-founder of Insta360, the company behind Antigravity, I asked him about this problem and he told me, tantalizingly, I wasn't the only person who had mentioned it. For a company known to listen to its users, that was effectively an admission that an alternative controller was on the way.

Now we know what it is – and it's different again from other solutions out there.

Insta360 has presented users with a wrist-watch with built-in screen which acts as the basic control interface. The core controls can be activated

In the company's word, this means there is no need for carrying a game-pad style controller around – something that also wasn't an option with the A1's original FPV goggles kits. As I found in my original tests of the Antigravity A1, these involved a kind of 'joystick' you held in the air.

The drone is now more competitive with the likes of the HoverAir X1 Pro Max in terms of subject tracking, and pricing, but retains the advantage of the 360-degree footage and software for 'frame later' and 'infinite edits' from the same clips.

This is complemented with the use of the watch, of course, as the screen is just about big enough to tap-to-drag an area, selecting a subject for the drone to track (you might select yourself then ride off into the sunset – or at least for 20 minutes or so before the useable battery starts to dip).

The new Follow Me bundle also includes full cover guards for the propellors in case of accidental collisions. They are a more lightweight style than the cinewhoop design that is built into drones like the DJI Neo series.

The result is a drone which competes on quality and safety, doesn't face so many of the legal issues that DJI are struggling against in the USA (it is also Chinese, but DJI is being targeted specifically by the US government, so some Americans prefer to look elsewhere during this administration at least).

I'd also say that the controls look like the best beacon-style drone controls yet – and I look forward to reporting back in more detail soon (because they're waiting for me at the post office!)

I'm a little worried that the prop guards will push the weight over 249g, though (249 to 351 to be precise) so there may be some issues.

Check my guide to the best camera drones and you'll see options from but the ring here is the first that seems to offer subtle camera direction atop a general A.I. follow mode, all without anything in hand.

The HoverAir Aqua achieved something that none of the other drone companies thought was possible. Until it's launch, every consumer drone was expected to take off from land or, perhaps, a hand.

The water posed a lot of trouble for the sensing technology used by most consumer drones – a drone couldn't judge how far it was from a moving surface, or how far it had travelled.

HoverAir had already solved other problems to create the impressive A.I. tracking drone, the HoverAir X1, that tracked users (like a flying GoPro that magically keeps up with you); it, too, was a new category and I dubbed it a 'follow-me' drone.

Then they had pushed the resolution and quality for premium users with the X1 Pro Max.

But no one seemed to imagine that it'd make sense to deliver a camera drone product to the niche like paddle boarders and water sports fans.

In 2026, though, they did, and it remains the only off-the-shelf drone that can land on the water, and take off again.

“If we can conquer the mountains, why [couldn’t] we venture into the ocean?” said CEO MQ Wang, rhetorically.

The answers – other than potential market size – were the weight (for legal reasons ideally under 250g) of any waterproof frame, and the need for the drone to be able to flip itself right-side up should it land the wrong way.

This it can do, and the frame is also bright orange to make it easy to spot in the water.

Waterproofing was also needed for the motors, and a maintenance routine that wasn't too taxing.

It'd also need to handle strong winds despite the high 'sail area' of the polystyrene frame, and keep track of the user – who would likely not have a spare hand for a controller, and might occasionally fall in the water.

It copes with wind about two force strengths higher than the average lightweight consumer drone, and the controller issue was solved with a strap-on device with a voice of its own.

In my testing I found that some aspects weren't perfect, but everything that HoverAir set out to solve is actually solved, which is a significant achievement.

The prior alternative to get close-up footage of, say, paddleboarding would be to get a friend to manually pilot a drone from a nearby boat. Now you can set out alone, and have a drone which will come back to you – and orbit you and keep you in shot so there is no need for a friend or a yacht. Much more useful for solo creativity, and effectively creating a hovering GoPro alternative for a whole new category of sports and activities.

And in the busy creative landscape, unique is always an advantage!

A drone with an unnamed pilot has been flying around Delaware and dropping rolls of cash – up to $100 a time so far – on strangers. Videos of each drop, made "in an effort to spread positivity," are being posted to social media, and the most recent one seems to show a police officer accepting a cash drop with a thumbs-up!

According to the Daily Mail, the drone operator works in IT and goes out during lunch breaks and evenings to make his drops. At first he was using his own money, but he now runs a fund for the cash.

The drops include a roll of money and a card reading "You caught today's drop. Cash inside – it's yours," which goes some way to explaining why this video shows a man initially giving the drone the bird, but, by the end, circumstances have changed.

Wilmington, Delaware, where the pilot is from, had a lot of bad news, so he saw the drone as a means to spread a better feeling.

"Hopefully, [the cash drop] inspires people to be more kind to each other and spread kindness in their own way." he told The Mail.

I have to admit that, while it's a lovely story, and certainly nicer to hear about than the multiple gun crimes which have affected the area, I worry a little about how the regulators might see all the flying over people!

In one of the videos posted he admits in the caption, "the wind caught it and carried it away from [the originally intended target]. Somebody else spotted it first and intercepted the drop."

It ends up being a story showing two attempts and two pleased recipients, but it also highlights the risks.

For now, though, it doesn't seem like every police officer will be that worried – if this new clip is as real as it looks.

This was posted after the Mail's interview, and it appears to show a patrol officer receiving a cash drop from the drone.

"This drop happened to find someone with a badge." said the post's caption, and, though it went on to thank first responders, the rules might see it a little differently!

302 CashCopter got in touch with DCW to confirm that it was a police officer but clarify that: "The police officer received a random $20 drop, no different from our other drops. There was no request, conversation, pending investigation, or attempt to influence the officer. Suggesting it may have been intended to discourage police from identifying the operator assigns a motive that simply was not there."

A bribe would technically be a felony, and I initially said that it might be seen as an effort to discourage the officers from investigating.

Under US regulations a police officer isn't expected to enforce any breach of drone regulations, but would be expected to help the FAA find the name of the drone operator. For someone intentionally anonymous, that might be something they'd like to discourage?

It's certainly problematic, if not actually illegal. And it's not the only concern some have raised.

It's also worth noting that regs in the USA don't specifically prohibit drops unless they create an undue hazard.

There have also been a number of comments suggesting that the drops seem to often be aimed at students rather than those more in need.

"Why u only do on campus lol u gotta come to the apartments🤣🤣🤣"

A scan through the 302 Cashcopter feed suggests that this is being addressed.

Some, too, might find the idea of identifying people as "in need" just from aerial video as somewhat prejudiced, but the comments are lapping it up.

If you're interested in getting in the air yourself, check out my guide to the best drone for beginners.

I always think the best Christmas gifts are the ones people really want, but would probably never quite justify buying for themselves. And at just £118.99 in Amazon’s Prime sale, the DJI Neo fits that description almost perfectly.

Usually £145, the DJI Neo has dropped to just £118.99, saving you £26.01 on what is already one of DJI’s most affordable and approachable drones. At this price, I think it makes a fantastic Christmas gift, whether you are shopping for someone who has always wanted to try flying a drone or simply looking for an excuse to put something rather fun under the tree for yourself.

What makes the Neo particularly appealing as a gift is that it doesn’t feel intimidating. This isn’t a huge, complicated drone that requires you to become an experienced pilot before you can enjoy it. It weighs just 135g, can take off and land directly from the palm of your hand, and can automatically follow and film you using DJI’s intelligent shooting modes.

Despite its tiny size and relatively tiny price, it can also capture stabilised 4K video at up to 30fps, while its full-coverage propeller guards make it considerably less daunting for someone taking their first steps into drone flying. You can even control it through the DJI Fly app on your smartphone, so you don’t necessarily need to invest in a traditional controller straight away.

That combination is precisely why I think the Neo works so well as a Christmas gift. It is small enough to throw into a bag, simple enough for a complete beginner to enjoy, and capable enough that it doesn’t immediately feel like a toy once the novelty wears off.

And, of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with gifting one to yourself.

At £118.99, the DJI Neo is now inexpensive enough to become one of those slightly extravagant Christmas purchases that is actually quite easy to justify. Whether it ends up wrapped beneath the tree for somebody else or mysteriously arrives addressed to you, this is one Prime sale deal I would be very tempted by.

I always think the best holiday gifts are the ones people really want but would probably never justify buying for themselves. And at just $139 in Amazon’s Prime sale, the DJI Neo fits that description almost perfectly.

Usually $169, the DJI Neo has dropped to just $139, saving you $30 on what is already one of DJI’s most affordable and approachable drones. At this price, I think it makes a fantastic holiday gift, whether you are shopping for someone who has always wanted to try flying a drone or simply looking for an excuse to put something rather fun under the tree for yourself.

What makes the Neo particularly appealing as a gift is that it doesn’t feel intimidating. This isn’t a huge, complicated drone that requires you to become an experienced pilot before you can enjoy it. It weighs just 135g, can take off and land directly from the palm of your hand, and can automatically follow and film you using DJI’s intelligent shooting modes.

Despite its tiny size and relatively tiny price, it can also capture stabilized 4K video at up to 30fps, while its full-coverage propeller guards make it considerably less daunting for someone taking their first steps into drone flying. You can even control it through the DJI Fly app on your smartphone, so you don’t necessarily need to invest in a traditional controller straight away.

That combination is precisely why I think the Neo works so well as a holiday gift. It is small enough to throw into a bag, simple enough for a complete beginner to enjoy, and capable enough that it doesn’t immediately feel like a toy once the novelty wears off.

And, of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with gifting one to yourself.

At $139, the DJI Neo is now inexpensive enough to become one of those slightly extravagant holiday purchases that is actually quite easy to justify. Whether it ends up wrapped beneath the tree for somebody else or mysteriously arrives addressed to you, this is one Prime sale deal I would be very tempted by.

Several DJI drone models, which are currently legal in the USA despite the ban on new drones, could now be removed from the shelves because the FCC now considers the collision sensors to be "military tech."

Specifically, this affects all drones that use LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, which is used to measure distances in 3D space. (It is the same visual tech that the iPhone uses for facial recognition – though no one is calling that military just yet).

If the ban comes into effect on the proposed date, Jan 30 2027 (180 days after the rule was proposed), then retailers will not even be able to sell their remaining stock. Only drones already owned will be considered "authorised units," and their owners will be able to keep using them.

DJI has commented on the ban through its ViewPoints, saying "DJI does not design or manufacture military-grade equipment, nor has it marketed or sold its products for military use. DJI develops technology for commercial, agricultural, recreational, and public safety applications, and has consistently opposed the weaponization of civilian drones."

There is a tone of frustration as it goes on to note "the FCC's proposed definition is broad enough to capture many of the civilian drones Americans rely on every day."

The real reason for this, coming on top of the previous addition of DJI to the 'covered list' in December 2025, is because of a trade war with China.

Photographers and creators are essentially collateral damage, with the US government keen to add tariffs on products in the hope a domestic American industry will rise up and compete with DJI and other Chinese companies. It is more concerned about military applications than accessibly priced drones for photography, however, and not worried about leaving people waiting the many years it would take for the US to have anything equivalent.

I spoke to a few representatives of US companies at last week's Drone X show, and there was little interest in the consumer market anyway. But the trade ban affects DJI nonetheless.

There are clearly a number of more advanced models from DJI at more reasonable prices, so it might be time for hobbyists and operators to take a look at their needs before the January deadline.

If you do want to snap up one of these drones sooner rather than later, I've put together a list of the best deals below (many are also on my best camera drones guide).

Experience suggests they will still be well supported for some time (spare parts, software updates and the like), but it'd be sad if you weren't able to get LiDAR and other features the rest of the world takes for granted because of a badly written trade ban designed to target a different market altogether.

I love drones, and Amazon Big Deal Day is a great time to pick one up. Drones are brilliant because they're a great way to do photography and shoot video from angles you never imagined possible AND they're just a lot of fun.

I've spent a lot of time testing drones out in the field – no pun intended – and I know the difference between a good drone and a great one. I also understand where the best value can be found. Here I've compiled a list of the drones which really stand out to me this deals day.

US: Best drone deals

UK: Best drone deals

I was at the Drone X show in London last week – and I found out something rather surprising…

Drone exhibtions are not quite the same experience as early drone shows were, as nowadays the lean a lot more heavily into defence applications than the early days of joyful experimentation. The phrases that stood out as I looked around the hall at first were “Combat tested” and “from the Ukraine”.

But it isn’t the combat applications that will be of concern to photographers and others who operate drones as part of a small business. It is the regulations.

In the USA, a lot of small operators (and, in fact, government agencies with limited budgets like the police) have suffered because of the government’s sweeping bans on DJI and any large-scale change can have unintended consequences.

Something I was genuinely surprised to hear mooted in the hall by serious professionals was the idea of specific regional regulations.

Drone operators will already know it is hard enough to get the UK’s more serious qualifications for heavier drones used nearer “uninvolved people” – the GVC, PDRA01, or UK SORA certificates. On top of that, users need landowners' permission, insurance, and risk assessment, so professional operations are not short of paperwork.

One benefit in planning a flight has always been that the rules are the same everywhere in the country because there is a single aviation authority. They might vary based on drone weight and the like, but at least you know what they are.

Corinne Matthews, Energy & Aerospace Sectors Lead at Somerset Council, in England, told the crowd at Drone X a lot they already knew about the benefits of drones in replacing cherry pickers, building scaffolding, or other traditional (and expensive) survey methods.

Encouraging pilots and operators to engage with governments, she shared how Somerset council had operated a pilot scheme to help monitor the regular flooding of the Somerset Levels, potentially saving money.

Then it took a surprising turn.

Matthews – who has a CRAes, which is a ‘Companionship’, a kind of honorary fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society – hinted that regional governments might take control of local regulations.

This news came as a shock to me as a drone user, and definitely turned some heads.

Perhaps even more surprisingly, she was suggesting that the schemes she conducted would have benefited from more relaxed emergency powers to fly BVLoS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight). Typically, when you imagine new rules these days, you imagine them being more restrictive.

She was, however, referring to a specific emergency scenario when the ground beneath the drone was flooded, so unlikely to be occupied by people.

Either way, though, the law with good intentions she was envisioning could prove problematic for freelance operators, moving from area to area, trying to make sense of the rules. If it is possible to grant more generous powers, it is likely to work the other way too.

For now, though, this is all conjecture.

It wasn’t set in stone – but it is clearly an area that is being debated, and Richard Collins, project manager of the South West DroneTech Pilot, also discussed the possibility.

The possibility of regional devolution seems even more likely in the UK at the moment following the arrival of a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who re-built his political career after a stint as a regional mayor. Since taking power he has promoted the idea of regional government power.

Drone operators may find things could get even stranger though – not all UK councils are fully devolved with elected mayors, for example, so finding out the local regulations could become very challenging.

I asked a representative of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, who declined to go on record, but who did tell me that he hasn’t heard anything about this yet, without ruling it out.

Could this matter to Americans, too? In a system with many regional mayors and local governments able to make their own regulations, it is already an issue. Federal Rules, administered by the FAA (the equivalent of the CAA) are dominant, because the US government's law is higher than the state law.

Whether things will be as clear-cut in the UK is not as clear.

Skydio Ascend 26, the American drone company's annual showcase of its latest tech, has not gotten any less exciting for tech fans but, realistically, the devices on display are unlikely to replace the DJI devices that the government are making it hard to buy in the USA.

CEO Adam Bry talked a great deal about being able to deploy drones within a few minutes for law enforcement and

The F10 will not be available until 2027 – though pre-orders are welcome now. The propeller-powered drone is launched from a robot arm and 'thrown', which is potentially cheaper than space-based platforms.

The software is nevertheless able to orbit and track a subject and use its wings (but obviously cannot hover in the same way that a traditional quadcopter can).

The drone has a curious-looking asymmetrical design which places a camera system at the end of the longer wing.

In flight, this wing stays lower, so the camera gimbal can keep the drone out of shot and 'eyes' on the ground while the A.I. builds a flight path to orbit a selected spot or even a moving subject.

Incredibly, in Bry's demo, the drone was able to automatically land on the arm too.

Admittedly, the dock appears to be the size of a storage container you might find on the back of a truck, but that would still make it portable for the kind of industries Skydio is now targeting.

The central fuselage is held in a box in a new autonomous 'MegaDock' automatic launching station, eliminating the need for a ground crew, and up to five drones can be stored and charged in the dock while the central robot arm holds one ready for dispatch – essentially letting it lift itself on its props.

He concluded that "there is no ultimate drone" – highlighting the company's two quadcopters X10 and R10 for urban and indoor use, respectively. The F10 is for range. At no point was creative use mentioned, however.

Check out the best camera drones you can buy today

The airspace over Lower Manhattan is one of the most complex in America – and yet a massive 2,997-drone fleet took to those skies this week. The goal? To recreate an exact scale replica of the Twin Towers in lights.

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, 2,977 drones put the World Trade Center back into the New York City skyline. The drones recreated a 1:1 scale replica of the Twin Towers, matching the number of drones to the number of people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93.

The tribute took to the sky on September 09, alongside the Tribute in Light.

Created by Sky Elements Drone and gifted to New York City, the organizers said the airspace is one of the most complex in America. Planning the show required months of planning and coordinating with federal, state, city, and bi-state organizations.

Building a 1:1 scale replica required reaching 1,368 feet (417 meters) to match the height of the North Tower with its taller telecommunications antenna. Flying a drone at that height required a special airspace authorization, a temporary flight restriction, and coordination with nearby Air Traffic controllers.

But beyond planning for the legal restrictions of such a drone flight, the company said it also worked with families. “The creative was reviewed with families of 9/11 victims directly,” the company wrote. “This was their vision. Our work was to fly it exactly as they pictured it.”

The drones rose in a helix shape before moving into position to recreate the Twin Towers, a view that was seen across New York City.

“This is a moment of remembrance for the families who have lived with this for twenty-five years…those we lost that day, those we have lost since, and the survivors who are still with us,” said Sky Elements CEO Rick Boss. “ Everything in the sky over New York is for them. We’re honored to be trusted with this.”

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In remembrance of 9/11 read the stories of some of the photographers who photographed Ground Zero: Award-winning photographer Gulnara Samoliva and Getty Images photojournalist Mario Tama.

The DJI Neo has dropped to just £109 at Wex, down from £169 and saving you an impressive £69 on one of the smallest and most approachable camera drones in DJI’s lineup.

For anyone looking to capture aerial footage without carrying a large drone or learning a complicated control system, this is a deal that immediately demands attention. The Neo is compact, lightweight, and designed to make getting into the air as straightforward as possible.

Its ability to take off from the palm of your hand is a major part of the appeal. Intelligent flight modes can automatically follow and film you, allowing the drone to capture walking, cycling, travel, and outdoor adventures without requiring someone else to operate the camera.

Despite its tiny size, the DJI Neo can record stabilised 4K video, producing smooth and detailed footage that is ready to share. It is particularly well suited to social media creators, families, travellers, and anyone who wants a simple way to add aerial perspectives to their content.

The protected propeller design also makes the Neo feel less intimidating than many traditional drones, while its lightweight construction means it can easily slip into a small bag. It is the kind of camera you can take almost anywhere without having to plan your entire day around carrying additional equipment.

Labor Day weekend is here, and the sales are already under way. As ever, this is one of the best days in the year to find a great deal on a drone - and take your photography and videomaking literally to a new heights!

This year, things are a little different. With parts shortages still rumbling through the supply chain, unavailability of the latest DJI drones, tariffs coming into force and price pressure mounting on the pro-level kit, it’s no longer just about finding a deal - it’s about finding the right deal before it vanishes.

From FPV thrill-seekers to aerial cinematographers, some of the best drones in the game are getting timely price cuts.

Top US retailers

Amazon: Cheap prices on a lot of drones
Adorama: Big discounts on big drone brands
B&H Photo Video: Great deals on the best drones on the market
Best Buy: Sale on drones across the site
Walmart: Massive sales across many drones

Best Labor Day drone deals

Also see our pick of the best Labor Day camera deals

The Mini 3 is not DJI's latest beginner-friendly drone - but thanks to a new $100 price drop, it is now at the lowest price that we have ever seen it at. And at just $319, with the basic RC-N1, this is a bargain – particularly with prices of other things heading upwards, and the ongoing difficulties of getting some DJI products in the US.

This little drone weighs in at 248g, meeting the all-important 249g (0.55 pound) threshold. And while subsequent Mini releases, including the Mini Pro range, have expanded upon the DJI Mini 3’s capabilities, it’s still a very usable little drone for content creators. I’m also very much of the opinion that first-time drone owners are better off purchasing a decent drone they can use to capture content, without spending big on a device that hopefully won’t (but sadly can) end up plunging into the drink or veering into a tree.

What you get with the DJI Mini 3 is a 1/1.3-inch sensor with dual native ISO, the ability to capture stills up to 48MP, and video footage up to 4K / 30p and 2.7K / 60p. A three-axis mechanical gimbal works to keep shots steady, while also enabling True Vertical Shooting (a boon for short-form creators). Level five wind resistance is to be expected in this price range, and the max flight time is rated for 38 mins. It can be expanded to 51 mins with the separately sold Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, at the expense of a higher weight. Do be aware that the Mini 3 doesn’t feature the subject tracking or collision sensors of higher-end DJI Mini drones.

Check our guide to the…
Best camera drones
Best DJI drones
Best cheap drones

DJI has been fighting the US Department of Defense’s label as a "Chinese military company" since late 2022 – and now the drone maker has just earned a small win in the US Court of Appeals with a partial reversal.

On Friday, the US Court of Appeals reaffirmed some of the lower court’s decision in DJI’s lawsuit over its placement on the Department of Defense blacklist.

While the court did not agree with DJI’s claims over a violation of due process and claims of selectively enforcing rules, the court did give it some hope on one key issue: whether or not DJI "contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base."

The US Court of Appeals decision, importantly, doesn’t explicitly agree with DJI, but sent the case back to the lower courts because the earlier case did not consider classified documents, using instead the unclassified report that had every word in the section entitled "DJI Contributes to the Chinese Defense Industrial Base" redacted.

"There is, in other words, no publicly stated rationale for why the Secretary believes DJI contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base," the court's opinion reads.

While the courts have only granted a partial reversal and sent the case back for further consideration, DJI says that it welcomed the decision.

"The Court’s finding that the public record contained insufficient evidence is a significant step toward correcting an unjustified designation," A DJI representative said in a statement.

"The decision reinforces what DJI has consistently maintained: DJI is not a military company.

"We are a privately held company that has revolutionized the consumer and commercial drone markets, consistently condemned the use of our products in combat, and taken active steps to prevent it.

"We remain committed to the responsible development of civilian technologies, from drones to handheld imaging products. We look forward to continuing to set the record straight as the case moves forward."

The court case stems from a 2022 decision to place DJI on the Department of Defense blacklist, which prevents some government agencies from using DJI products.

The case isn’t the only US legal battle that DJI is facing.

The drone-maker has also filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission restrictions that prevent new DJI products from obtaining the necessary approval to be sold in the US.

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Newly launched foreign-made drones aren’t allowed into the US under Federal Communications Commission restrictions – but now the drones that are allowed are about to be hit with higher import taxes. On August 13, US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs across several categories of drones in a move that will likely raise prices for aerial photographers and videographers.

The largest tariffs in the measure are the oversized military drones that weigh more than 25 kg, which will soon face a 100 percent tariff. But the smaller drones built for photo and video will also be affected, as smaller drones will face a 25 percent tariff.

Drones from certain regions will have a lower import tax, with a 15 percent tariff on drones coming from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan. The lowest tariff rate is a 10 percent tariff applied to drones from the United Kingdom, provided that a majority of the hardware and software also originates from the UK.

I’m an American and a licensed drone pilot and photographer. The additional tariffs are a devastating blow to an already hurting aerial photography and videography industry.

The FCC restrictions on foreign drones already in place mean that the newest drones don’t get the necessary approval to be sold in the US. But the tariffs – which are set to be put in place 21 days from the announcement – are likely to make the drones that are available in the US more expensive.

Under the new measures, previously announced drones, including those from DJI, that are still available with the FCC restrictions would see a 25 percent increase in import taxes.

Photographers have already seen what increased tariffs do to camera prices, as several camera brands raised prices last year amid last year’s tariffs. Some of those tariffs were turned down by the Supreme Court.

The tariffs come as the FCC considers revoking the authorization for previously approved drones that meet a certain set of features, including using LiDAR. A handful of popular consumer drones use LiDAR, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Avata 360. The FCC is seeking public comment on the possible move until September 02.

While new DJI and other foreign-made drones are no longer eligible to obtain the necessary FCC authorization to launch in the US, DJI has filed a lawsuit over the ban, a legal battle that remains ongoing.

Both the tariffs and the FCC restrictions are meant to strengthen US drone production. The White House says that relying on foreign sources for UAVs “poses significant risk to US national security and creates cybersecurity vulnerabilities.”

The challenge for drone photographers, as well as general consumers and first responders using consumer-grade drones, is that the US companies that build drones offer devices for military, agriculture, inspection, and Hollywood-level films, but American drone companies do not yet offer consumer-grade drones after Skydio dropped out of the consumer market.

Another key challenge to building a US-based supply chain is that many components are heavily sourced overseas, including the rare earth magnets used in drone motors and lithium used in batteries.

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After preventing all newly announced foreign-made drones from hitting US shelves last December, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing a move that would remove some existing drones from the market – including popular consumer models like the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Avata 360.

Last year, the FCC added DJI and all foreign-made drones to the “Covered List,” effectively preventing all newly announced consumer drones from entering the US, as no US brands currently build consumer drones.

While the move was a devastating blow for drone pilots, the FCC may be about to expand the ban to include some “military-grade” features in a move that would retroactively remove previously approved drones from store shelves.

While the move would revoke FCC approval for those models to be sold in the US, current pilots using those models would be allowed to continue to fly them.

The FCC is currently proposing to retroactively ban foreign-made drones that fall under a list of “military-grade” drone features. That list of military features includes drones capable of spraying aerosol, thermal drones, drone docking stations, and drones that weigh 55 pounds or more.

But the proposal also lists one key feature that could effectively remove several popular consumer-grade drones from the market: LiDAR.

LiDAR technology uses pulses of light to measure distance. Some high-end LiDAR drones are used for 3D mapping but, importantly, several consumer-grade drones use LiDAR for obstacle avoidance.

LiDAR is a key safety feature used to prevent drone crashes on popular consumer models, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Avata 360, and the DJI Air 3S.

As a licensed American drone pilot, I believe the FCC’s proposed “military-grade” ban would seriously impact the drones used by photographers, videographers, and beginner drone pilots.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is the model that I’ve been eyeing for some time, with its 50MP 1-inch sensor and obstacle avoidance packed inside a drone that’s still lightweight and relatively affordable.

LiDAR on consumer drones is a key safety feature. Using LiDAR, drones can detect and ultimately avoid obstacles – preventing not just damage to the drone but to property and even the people on the ground.

New foreign-made drones are no longer making it to store shelves after the FCC added DJI and all foreign-made drones to the Covered List, effectively preventing new models from getting the approval needed to be sold in the US.

But while there are a handful of US-based drone companies, these brands build military-grade, commercial, and Hollywood-level drones – US drone companies don’t currently offer consumer-grade drones.

Expanding the drone ban to include features like LiDAR and thermal would further limit Americans’ access to the latest drone technology.

The rare earth components used in motors and lithium used in batteries are largely sourced from China, and creating a US-based drone supply chain – while the goal is admirable – will be a long and difficult process.

Removing pre-approved drones from shelves would only exaggerate the problem. Yes, pilots could go out and buy drones like the DJI Mini 5 Pro ahead of the ban, but even with LiDAR obstacle avoidance, crashes happen – and pilots would be left without a suitable replacement.

But I’m not just a licensed drone pilot. I’m the granddaughter of a farmer, and the proposed ban on drones with spraying capabilities could increase costs for farmers, as drones are becoming an increasingly common alternative to crop-sprayer airplanes.

The thermal drone designation in the proposed retroactive ban could also affect the drone fleets used by first responders for search-and-rescue missions – and that affects everyone, not just photographers bummed about the lack of flying camera options.

Drone-maker DJI says that “the FCC’s proposed definition is broad enough to capture many of the civilian drones Americans rely on every day. It could even include consumer models used by hobbyists simply because they use LiDAR to improve positioning and obstacle avoidance – a safety feature, not a military capability.”

The FCC is currently seeking public comments on the proposed drone ban by September 02. The Drone Advocacy Alliance lists detailed instructions for filing a public comment on the proposal.

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The HoverAir Aqua is a revolutionary product – there are currently no other consumer drones able to land on water, let alone right themselves and get back in the air. It is fully waterproof, and self-piloting

This is a drone not built to take on all the other camera drones out there, but to provide extra functionality, especially for people like paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, boating, jet skis, and e-foils.

If you're looking to share these activities on social media – and especially if you want to shoot them alone using the drone's subject tracking – this is your only option.

A secondary market might be operators looking to fly over water who just don't like the risk of the drone sinking should an unlikely failure happen.

So, for both of those scenarios, the key question is the same? It's innovative, sure, but is this drone actually going to do what you expect of it? It's not just that the manufacturer's claims have a lot to live up to – but the practicalities and usability when you're on the water are even more demanding. Here's what I found when I tried it…

HoverAir Aqua: Price

• Launch price $1,299 / £1,129 / AU$1,999 for 1-battery "Standard" bundle
• I tested the $1,399 / £1,299 "Fly More Bundle" with 2 extra batteries

The HoverAir Aqua is a revolutionary product – at the time of launch there are literally no other consumer drones able to land on water, let alone right themselves and get back to work. It is fully waterproof, and self-piloting

This is a drone not built to take on all the other camera drones out there, but to provide extra functionality, especially for people like paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, boating, jet skis, and e-foils.

If you're looking to share these activities on social media – and especially if you want to shoot them alone using the drone's subject tracking – this is your only option.

A secondary market might be operators looking to fly over water who just don't like the risk of the drone sinking should an unlikely failure happen.

So, for both of those scenarios, the key question is the same? It's innovative, sure, but is this drone actually going to do what you expect of it? Just the manufacturer's claims are a lot to live up to – but the practicalities of usability when you're on the water are even more demanding. Here's what I found when I tried it…

HoverAir Aqua: Specifications

HoverAir Aqua: Build & handling

The back of the drone is the battery, with the main power button – large enough that you're unlikely to miss it (though there are no simple power indicators on the battery).

Instead, clipping and unclipping it is a slightly frustrating process (or at least it was on my sample), I can only assume because the seal has to be tight to keep water away from the metal contacts.

At the front, above the camera, is a screen and beneath it four tiny buttons

The other key means of control is the "Lighthouse," which is worn on the arm using a strap. This provides a remote control you're unlikely to drop, as well as signalling your location to the drone, in a single unit.

The beacon is also orange, with a rubber ring acting to cover most of the buttons. The button functions are not especially clearly marked, I found, but tactile. There are ridges at the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and another four buttons (marked by recessed icons) beneath the halfway points – a total of eight control points on a relatively small ring.

In addition, there is a take-off and landing button and, tucked on the side, a power button. At the base is a rubber-sealed USB-C port for charging.

The Lighthouse has two means of communication – a very loud speaker which barks status updates, and a light which shows different colors / flashes.

Also in the box, as well as the drone itself, there is a waterproof bag for each battery; these use plastic seals and wrap-around folding to keep the water out. I tested the Fly More Kit with three batteries, and it also included a charging hub – also in matching orange. It can charge 2 (not three) batteries at once.

Oddly, though, there is no case, even with the Fly More bundle that I'm testing. There isn't even one with the most premium set. That despite the fact that the outer polystyrene rim of the aircraft is more vulnerable than the rigid plastic of other drones.

The Aqua has arguably more need for a specifically designed case than any other drone – and yet there isn't one.

HoverAir Aqua: Performance

To my mind this drone is for confident drone users – it feels like it is all about the hand-launch, for example.

Selecting a mode is done with the buttons beneath the 1.6-inch screen and, sure, the AMOLED is bright enough for a sunny day, but the buttons beneath it are a bit strange. The icons confused me a bit (they are, as near as emoji will let me: – 🔴 ⏎ –). What the drone's OS thinks of as a 'back' button looks like the 'return' on my computer – so it acts in the opposite way to the one I expect!

Instead, the second button from the left, the red dot, usually means perform this function, as opposed to 'record' – which will happen automatically when the drone is doing its thing.

Which leads me to the automated following, which the drone relies upon from its main camera and the Lighthouse and, to its credit, it seemed capable of even on land with more obstacles that it might expect on the water.

Water landing was a scary idea to me at first, but by the end of my review I was happily throwing the drone so it'd land upside down, confident that I'd be able to get it to flip itself right again.

Much more unsettling from my perspective was the apparent connection difficulties between Lighthouse and drone, even testing in good weather. Often there would be a loud voice shouting "connection lost" before almost instantly assuring me it was restored – this feels like something that firmware could resolve as I suspect the connection loss was not that long.

The upshot, though, is concern, which isn't really what you want.

I tested the drone in winds at the edge of its acceptable speeds and it did survive, despite the relatively large surface area of the frame, but the battery time dropped well below the promised 23 minutes.

HoverAir Aqua: Overall Verdict

Ultimately this is a drone you buy because it is the only one you can buy to do the job. Image quality is fine, but not the best – the 4K quality is pretty average and the 1-axis image stabilizer on the camera means that everything else needs to be done by digital image correction.

That's fine – it's the same principle as the HoverAir X1 and the DJI Neo – but of course the price here is significantly higher. It's important to remember that what you're paying for is the unique ability to use the drone, without help, over water.

My confidence in those abilities is high. After testing in a few locations I found myself happy to just throw the drone into the water and knew that it would take off on my command. I wish that a few of the irritations could be solved – not least the connection frustrations. I imagine that firmware updates will come along for this. A longer battery life would be wonderful, of course, but staying under 250g is probably more useful and it's hard to believe both are possible with current battery tech.

In summary, then, this seems a great choice as a second drone for people who know why they need it. It will do the job. If you're not venturing over the waves, though, there are better, cheaper choices.

Alternatives

Rather than recommending an alternative drone, because there is no other drone (yet) capable of landing on water, I'd suggest you consider an alternative workflow. Get someone to stay on land and film you using a drone from our guide to the best camera drones.

If you have this kind of money to spend, an excellent choice that would offer a bonus perspective would be the DJI Air 3S, which not only boasts a 3-axis gimbal, but a telephoto camera as well (plus a good radio control range).

Zero Zero Robotics, creator of the HoverAir drone, looks to have gone one better than DJI in two categories, with a new pocket gimbal camera that can fly!

The company has announced the Verso with a teaser on its website, but the unique concept is clear. On the ground, you can use the camera like you would one of the best pocket gimbal cameras (the bestselling DJI Osmo Pocket 3 or the Insta360 Luna Ultra seem obvious examples).

Then, when you want a different perspective, just attach the book-fold propellers, and you've got a camera drone, with all the trimmings you'd expect from HoverAir, the company that pioneered the affordable 'follow-me' drone.

That technology, already available in drones like the HoverAir X1 Pro Max, which I've tested myself, keeps the camera solidly focused on the subject – the upshot being that you can launch the drone from your palm and be confident it'll return there when you put your hand out.

ZeroZero Robotics has clearly kept its eyes on the competition in the gimbal camera space, with one of the trailed features being improved synamic range, something DJI has made a big play of with the new DJI Osmo Pocket 4P cameras.

Unsurprisingly, for a company that already has a background in subject tracking, the limited announcement claims "picture-perfect framing," which will presumably translate to improvements to the company's intelligent tracking functions (the equivalent of DJI's ActiveTrack).

The drone also offers the ability to create 3D worlds by following a flight pattern that gives it enough different perspectives to construct a three-dimensional photo. This could have uses in all kinds of

The drone has not yet been given a release date, but historically, the company has chosen to tease projects before putting them on a platform like Kickstarter. Despite this, I have tested the HoverAir X1 (2023), HoverAir X1 Pro Max (2024) and will be posting my review of the HoverAir Aqua this week.

The latter is another unique drone, a design that can land on water and take off again, and I can assure you that it works.

For now, though, the only option on the company's site is to leave an email address and await further details.

DJI’s newest products are becoming increasingly difficult to find in the US, but there are still some excellent options available for shoppers who know where to look. Several of the company’s most popular cameras and drones remain in stock, and some are now available with worthwhile discounts that make them even more appealing.

The deals include the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo, the standard DJI Osmo Pocket 3, the DJI Neo Fly More Combo, the DJI Flip with RC 2 Screen Remote Controller and the affordable DJI Mini 4K. While these may not all be the latest products in DJI’s growing range, they remain highly capable choices for vloggers, content creators and drone enthusiasts alike.

With newer DJI releases proving harder to come by in the US, these discounted models could offer one of the best opportunities to add a DJI camera or drone to your kit without paying full price.

A decision late last year effectively banned all new DJI products from entering the US while keeping older models on the shelves – but the Federal Communications Commission is considering even harsher restrictions for brands selling DJI lookalikes.

The FCC has released a statement and is looking for public comment on a proposal that would retroactively ban drones and cameras from a handful of companies accused of selling re-branded DJI products.

The companies that could soon see an FCC ban include the brands behind drones like the Skyrover X1 (A DJI Mini 4 lookalike linked to the WaveGo and SZ Knowact brands) and cameras like the Xtra Muse (a DJI Pocket 3 lookalike). The list of targeted brands includes Cogito, Fikaxo, Lyno Dynamics, Skyhigh Tech, Spatial Hover, SZ Knowact, WaveGo, Xtra and XAG.

Notably, brands like Xtra are known for creating more affordable action cameras and gimbal cameras that have several similarities with popular options from DJI. Earlier this month, the FCC proposed a fine when those companies failed to respond to the agency’s request for additional details over whether or not those products source tech from brands on the FCC Covered List, such as DJI.

Unlike the existing limitations on DJI, the proposal could remove those brand’s exsisting products from the shelves rather than just preventing new models from entering the US. The FCC proposal isn’t yet a finalized decision, as the proposal is currently open to public comment over the potential ban.

When the FCC added DJI – as well as all foreign-made drones – to its Covered List late last year, the agency effectively barred new DJI drones, cameras, and accessories from entering the US.

However, while the move effectively “banned” new DJI products, the move did not pull existing DJI products from the shelves, leaving previously approved drones and cameras still available – and legal – to use in the US. Ironically, that means that some lookalikes may be banned when the competing DJI models like the DJI Mini 4 Pro remain on the shelves.

The proposal against the DJI lookalike brands, however, if passed, would be the first time the FCC uses a new ability to retroactively ban previously approved devices. In October 2025, the FCC approved a change that gives the agency the ability to revoke a product’s FCC approval, which would effectively remove that product from US shelves.

The FCC is seeking public comment on the proposal.

DJI has filed a lawsuit over the FCC ban; the case is still ongoing.

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Scientists at Northwestern University have produced a drone which is able to virtually disappear from sight, not through fancy optical systems but by taking advantage of a quirk of the human eye – the same one that makes cinema practical.

The whole drone spins at up to 25 times a second, so – in much the same way that propellers on all drones seem to virtually disappear when they're spinning – the "Phantom Twist" drone seems to blur into near invisibility as it is flying.

Instead of a drone, the eye just sees a whirling blur, and the design – optimized from thousands of versions – is the least visible.

The concept was presented by Michael Rubenstein, PhD, at Robotics: Science and Systems 2026. Rubenstein is a researcher into robotics who – in his university headshot – doesn't look completely unlike a Bond villain. The convention has been taking place for some years, and has major sponsors including Google DeepMind, Nvidia, and Toyota.

Rubenstein is also interested in designing algorithms to operate hundreds or even millions of robots together. That sounds a bit sci-fi (and like AI drone tech ideas I've seen recently that might have other consequences – including AI mosquito species killer). Rubenstein's stated intentions, however, are not so sinister and might even be of interest to nature photographers.

Drones that are partially invisible to humans – and animals with similar vision systems – could reduce the disruption caused by monitoring nesting birds, for example.

How does the stealth drone work?

“For a typical quadrotor drone, the propellers are spinning, but the robot is stationary,” Rubenstein said. “So, you still see its body. For our drone, the whole thing is rotating, so there are no stationary parts.”

Designing the drone took a lot of work – including the generation of 20,000 models – from which the most promising were built and tested. AI was used to arrange a motor, propeller, circuit board, battery, and counterweight.

As the drone rotates, it becomes faint. If the components were arranged sub-optimally, the drone would be more visible because the eye would still be seeing a sequence of them, much as items in a photographic exposure still add up to something more evident.

Emma Alexander, one of the coauthors of the paper, noted exactly this similarity: “The human eye takes time to accumulate signals, roughly analogous to the exposure time of a camera.”

As Northwestern's announcement notes, "The new drone still has several limitations, the researchers noted. The propeller makes audible noise, and the drone’s wires and support rods are still somewhat visible."

As Scotty pointed out, "A bird of prey canna fire when she's cloaked" or do anything much, and the issue here might be the same – the drone isn't carrying a camera and, as a rule, you don't want a camera to rotate rapidly.

The drone geek in me suspects, though, that in a future design, it might be possible to fix a camera to the frame, then time it to trigger at the correct point in each rotation of the drone, capture frames and make up video from these.

Each additional component (camera, storage etc.) would require a new design, but the process seems like one which could be repeated for more components – the AI design-simulate-test process being good enough that Rubenstein was able to say it was "fully automated... then, when we were confident that a drone met all our criteria, we built it.”

This seems plausible to me since the design is based, as the original research paper shows, on a single-actuator control which requires very precise timing – 5ms or less. That's because the control comes from the amount of power applied to the propeller at different points in its rotation.

The result – a drone about ten times less visually present according to the perceptual metric of the human eyes (LIPIS) – something which the human eye's "frame rate" plays a part in.

Check out our guide to the best indoor drones you can actually buy today

In a story that sounds a lot like the beginning of a sci-fi movie, Alex Toussaint – co-founder of Tornyol – has announced the first success of his micro-drone which uses sonar to track mosquitoes – before killing them.

I'm the drone expert here, and I've got to say I'm intrigued, excited, and a little worried about this. Then again, I really hate bug spray so I'll take a look!

Mosquitos are the enemy, the company's mission statement confirms: "One of humanity's oldest and worst enemies. They kill more than 700,000 people each year — more than all current wars."

By listening to the unique sound that mosquitoes make, the drone is designed to follow them and simply chop them up with the propeller blades.

The insect is so small, presumably, that this won't affect the flight characteristics, though it's definitely worth noting that a drone this size – it weighs 40g / 1.4oz according to the company – won't have much more than 6 minutes in the air.

The sonar is not as sophisticated as the camera you'd usually find on many drones, but it is built for one purpose.

The concept is one that Alex Toussaint, who created the Tornyol, discussed publicly back at the 2024 Superconference, an event for hackers.

There, he explained how any drone's fast-turning propellers could chop up a mosquito, but a human pilot would be unlikely to have the precision to track the insect.

Add in some off-the-shelf (to electronics enthusiasts, at least) components and Toussaint found that some tiny microphones could pick up the sonar return as well as the human range they were built for, so he just needed to get to work on the software.

The core element is the same component as you'd find used as a reversing sensor on many vehicles. The other sensor available to the drone's AI is a microphone to pick up the mosquito's sound and position it using the Doppler effect.

These have been upgraded to a base station with LeSonar2 phased array sonar, 380 smartphone microphones and a Artix-7 FPGA to map the world in 3D. The drone, then, isn't working entirely alone, but receiving advice from a computer

This gives it the ability to track 0.1mm movements in a range of 26ft (8m) – very precise indeed!

Unbelievably for a company that has recorded its first air-to-air kill, it is planning on rolling it out for U.S.-based customers "in the next few weeks," though at the moment a deposit of $100 and either a payment plan or a $1,100 final price are possibly as off-putting as that vagueness.

On the plus side, it seems very unlikely that this tech will successfully achieve the eradication of an entire species anytime soon, which is good because there would undoubtedly be unforeseen effects.

For one thing, mosquito larvae consume organic matter in water, and might actually help clean some lakes and water near the places the flying insects are most known for spreading disease. Species which eat them, like the mosquitofish, and some migratory birds, could see serious population falls too.

I’ve been flying drones for years. From toy drones that fall down if you take your hands off the controls to my current camera drone, the DJI Air 3. It’s getting long in the tooth, so when the Antigravity A1 drone was announced, I was intrigued.

Because I own an Insta360 X3 and X4 (bought just before the X5 was announced… still not over that), I know how easy it is to just make the shot with a 360 camera and then reframe any way I like, then repurpose it for any medium – vertical, square or horizontal.

Add that tech to a drone? Amazing.

Doing drone sequences involves planning and practice. Reveal shots that come up from the ground require precision flying, combined with precise movement of the camera to get the shot. With a 360° drone, you just make the flight and frame the shot comfortably later at your computer or tablet.

Need a sequence that shows the subject on approach and then on retreat? That’s two shots with a normal drone – and you may need to do it a few times to get it right. With 360º framing you only need a single pass, as long as you’ve tracked the line correctly.

Not only that, you can get a cool transition passing over and no shot interruption. I’ve done this look with mountain biking on the Insta360, so I know it’s very achievable.

So what more is there to the Antigravity A1? It’s an 8K drone that weighs in at 249g to sit in the lower weight class. You can optionally get a heavier battery that extends the flight time from 24 minutes to 39 minutes, but changes the class.

The pricing still matches the DJI pricing, but you’re swapping a gimbal for another camera to get that 360º view. Not to mention that it includes the FPV goggles in the price.

The controller is more like a flight controller than the regular two-handed drone controller, akin to FPV drones, making flying feel more natural. It’s a small learning curve, but if you’ve ever played a flight sim game on a joystick, you can already fly one.

Me? All I gotta do now is save and order one!

What's the best 360 drone? Antigravity A1 vs DJI Avata 360

You don't need to reinvent the wheel to create something great. And this image, which recently won the Above Snow Special Prize at the International Aerial Photographer of the Year (IAPOTY) 2026 Awards, is a perfect example.

Created by Aleksandra Wilk, an aerial photographer from Bavaria, Germany, the image, taken using a DJI Mavic 3 Pro, cleverly incorporates negative space, crafting a masterful yet simple composition.

Wilk shot the image on a cold winter’s day in the Bavarian countryside near Lake Ammer, opting for settings of 1/400 sec, f/7.1, ISO200 using the 24mm equivalent lens.

“My intention was to capture this church, which stood on a street, with nothing to disturb the composition, all white in a graphic style,” she told the IAPOTY organizers.

What I love most about this scene is how minimalist and balanced it is. The tree and the church are neatly placed in the middle, while the road creates that clear separation needed for all the negative space to have its impact.

The negative space is also brilliantly employed: any more and the image would be underwhelming, any less and the composition would feel suffocating. And this isn't the only time Wilk has used a drone and negative space to craft a creative composition.

In August, an image that Wilk shot on a Madeira (Portugal) beach will feature on the cover of German photography publication Fotomagazin. It's a fantastic half-and-half image of black sand and foamy water, with a sunbather perfectly placed in the middle.

While Wilk doesn't get the honor of a magazine cover for winning the 2026 Above Snow Award from IAPOTY, she did claim $250 (approximately £190 / AU$350) in prize money, as well as a page in the forthcoming book showcasing all 101 finalists from this year's competition.

Wilk's image is the sort of composition whose well-balanced, aesthetically pleasing simplicity comes from years of experience.

Congratulations to Aleksandra, and here’s the photo from Azim Khan Ronnie that took the overall 2026 IAPOTY crown.

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When I first started at Digital Camera World earlier this year, I wrote an opinion piece shooting down drone photography – to the displeasure of many readers.

Well, since then, I’ve seen so many fantastic images taken with drones that my opinion has gradually shifted, but this image from US-based professional photographer Kah-Wai Lin has me fully converted.

Lin’s image was recently awarded third place in the single image category at the 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year (IAPOTY) Awards. This was the second edition of the competition, and Lin walked away with $250 (approximately £190 / AU$360) and will be featured in the awards book showcasing all 101 finalists.

I think the top-down drone perspective is what makes this shot so special. Yes, you could easily capture the essence of this image with a frame taken at eye level, but it wouldn’t depict the immersive nature of the dust cloud surrounding the herd of wild horses, nor the ethereal, golden-yellow sunlight illuminating the scene.

Lin captured this image using a DJI Mini 4 Pro in Cappadocia, Turkey. Yılkı (wild) horses have been domesticated for over a millennium in the Anatolia region – formerly known as Asia Minor – which makes up a large portion of modern-day Turkey.

Since ancient times, Turkish villagers have tamed wild horses for agricultural work and transportation, the traditional enduring today mainly for tourism purposes.

The photographer opted for a 6.7mm focal length (24mm full-frame equivalent), f/1.7, ISO 100 and a 1/160 sec shutter speed, which I think perfectly balances freezing the animals’ movement while allowing a sliver of motion blur which almost leaves a dry, dusty sensation in your mouth.

Congratulations to Kah-Wai Lin on his commended image. The composition really is outstanding and it’s given me a fresh perspective on drone photography.

This year’s overall AIPOTY winner was Azim Khan Ronnie, who snagged the competition crown with a majestic series headlined by a fantastic shot of a fisherman among a colony of feeding migratory birds.

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Here’s our expert pick of the best camera drones for capturing photos and video from the sky!

If you're a drone photographer, pigeons might be about to become your new favorite bird. According to researchers in Canada, studying the subtle eye movements that these avians make while flying could lead to significant improvements in machine vision systems, helping future drones navigate the world more like birds do.

Led by Dr Anthony Lapsansky, biologists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) equipped pairs of pigeons with tiny backpacks containing miniature computers and mounted lightweight cameras on their heads before allowing the birds to fly.

"Pigeons make a good model for research because they're representative of many birds – their eyes are located on the sides of their head, giving them an almost panoramic view of the world," said Dr Lapsansky.

The head-mounted cameras revealed that, contrary to the long-held assumption that pigeons rely solely on head movements to stabilize their vision, the birds also make subtle eye movements during flight.

These movements appear to compensate for visual motion, helping pigeons resolve finer details and navigate more effectively through complex environments.

The findings could have important implications for drone technology. While modern camera drones can already estimate speed, direction and distance from surrounding objects, today's machine vision systems remain relatively rigid compared to the adaptability of birds.

According to Dr Lapsansky, birds achieve all of these tasks while also actively moving their "cameras" – their eyes – to gather even more visual information about their surroundings.

By understanding the strategies that birds use to process visual information, the UBC team hopes to uncover common principles shared by both avian and human vision that could be applied to robotics and drone vision.

"We could potentially use these strategies to make autonomous flying robots or drones more animal-like: more skilled at navigating complex environments and closer to truly autonomous flight," said Dr Lapsansky.

If successful, the research could help pave the way for future drone camera systems that don't simply record the world, but which interpret it with the efficiency and agility of birds in flight.

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Discover our expert pick of the best camera drones for aerial photography and video.

People are starting to ask if drones are a problem at the FIFA World Cup, with authorities having "neutralized" over 300 at the halfway stage of the competition.

Operators have to face an additional 3-mile ban around the tournament stadiums, and most of the neutralizations have taken place without force, despite the dramatic terminology. It has nevertheless left some operators very upset – and others, like content creators Dorian Carlisle and Hashim Moore very surprised, as they explained in a viral clip.

Shooting a video for Father's Day using a brand new drone, they had not absorbed all the rules – especially the temporary restrictions around FIFA Fan Zones and Stadiums in place until July 5.

As a result, they ended up being detained by Homeland Security – a lesson to all drone operators as to how swiftly US government agencies are now able to act.

Fortunately for the creators, they were able to convince the police and FBI that they were unaware of the rules and 'only' had to pay a $580 fine to recover their drone.

The FBI has been very clear from the start that enforcement would be serious. Clear, that is, if you were looking. You'll see that the FAA were relying on regional authorities to 'spread the word' using a No Drone Zone Toolkit.

Perhaps that hasn't happened as well as it might?

If you need to know what the exact rules are, you can check the FAA's FIFA World Cup Safety Plan.

Historically, though, despite a lot of news coverage, are these numbers as worrying as they sound? In reality, probably not. The FIFA World Cup is a competition than goes on much longer than others.

The new longer-format World Cup is – as most soccer (football, as it is correctly known) has more gams and lasts 39 days, making it much longer than the last summer Olympics, held in Paris in 2024. Despite being only 17 days of Olympic events there were still over 300 drone incidents and 81 arrests in similarly effective action.

As a drone operator, it is still immensely frustrating to me that people would ignore guidelines put in place for public safety; this kind of thing gives drones a bad name.

In reality, though, it is still a relatively small number of incidents – and it seems some are not quite as transgressive as you might imagine from less drone-friendly news platforms. Keeping it to zero incidents, though, is the only way to prevent future bans, as every single incident is an excuse for anti-drone politicians.

So I'd urge anyone to respect the rules and, if you see a drone breaking the rules, report it to 911, on-site law enforcement or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Check out my guide to the best camera drones you can buy today

Dual drone cooling

Getting a drone to hover over you to keep you cool sounds risky, but YouTuber @FlyWithAdrien is one of many who claims to have done it successfully. As the drone expert – with experience flying all the major drones on the market – I can't help but offer my thoughts on some of the viral videos of people cooling themselves with flying fans.

I'll get to the best in one second, but first I'll start with the most drones at once!

This effort from @imransaleemvlogs seems a bit risky to my mind. This drone enthusiast, or drone fan, has cooled himself with a ducted (cinewhoop) drone from the DJI Avata series, and another with completely exposed propeller blades.

Perhaps he's added that blanket to protect himself, but that seems to detract a little from the benefit of the drones?

The DJI Avata 2 or DJI Avata 360 would be the safest and most powerful of the two in this pairing, but the irritation might be that the batteries would run out at different times – and there would be a lot of getting up to deal with the drones, even if they safely navigated themselves to a nearby automatic landing site.

The smaller DJI Mini 4K would at least hover longer, for about 25 minutes before landing itself as the battery was nearing exhaustion.

Best choice

If you're feeling warm, there is no reason to wait. I'll start with the best!

The DJI Neo is a great choice because it's not that expensive, has a safety cage, but it offers "follow-me" style tracking.

That means it can fly nice and near you, so you can feel the air movement from the propellers just like fans, and the drone will automatically follow you if you move.

Big drone

These guys are using a mix of big drones and small, but no prop guards. One big advantage of the larger drones – like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro – is that it has big batteries offering a long flight or hover time. Handy if you want to chill out for longer without swapping batteries (or, worse, waiting for them to charge!).

It also has safety sensors, but so do many drones – and, honestly, not all work that well indoors. Caution might be the way forward!

Is this fake?

This definitely looks fake – I mean, where do those motors and propellers hide – but it has been doing the rounds as well. Drone-inspired design and AI video, I'd say. Perhaps look further up for something actually achievable, though!

Big drone indoors

In this clip, we don't exactly see Adrien McGill risking getting under the drone himself, but then he has to walk around it to capture video.

I would, again, offer caution that bigger drones designed for longer flight times are heavy, and if anything were to go wrong, they can cause more damage to you or your possessions.

Machine cooling

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is being used here indoors to keep machines cool. I'd not suggest this is the best way to do so… but better than having it fail, I suppose?

We've all had tech feeling a little too warm in the summer heat – but do make sure that you know your drone's maximum operating temperature, too. Lithium batteries don't always love getting too warm, and indoor hovering will have less draft than when flying around.

Safety tips

If you really are going to try this, here is my safety advice. Protecting the propellers is essential:

• Ideally, use a drone with a ducted design (DJI Neo, Avata) or a safety cage (HoverAir).
• Alternatively, buy propeller guards. These will slightly reduce hover time from the advertised figures, but also protect anyone from the ends of the whirling propellers.
• Keep the area light – especially indoors – with a textured floor, so the drone's sensors have the best chance of 'seeing' stable objects and not drifting.
• Keep the controller near you and be ready to land and keep checking the remaining battery. Keep a few percent for the landing.

Remember, drones have other uses! If you also like a bit of photo and video, check our guides to the best beginner drone and the best camera drone.

Law-abiding drone creators like me occasionally run into situations we can't use our drones. I've often solved it with a pole, but Youtube creator @karenxcheng has shown that it one of many alternatives.

Karenxcheng is a creator with over a million subscribers, and she hasn't let the rules and regulations stop her from getting aerial shots for her fans, In fact she has come up with more solutions than the one I regularly use.

My solution? Extendible poles. Both DJI and Insta360 offer very long versions of a selfie stick. The Insta360 "Extended Selfie Stick" is made of carbon fibre, has a nice padded handle with the brand in the logo, and extends to 9.8ft.

When I needed to inspect my roof for damage, it was this, and a 360-degree camera, that I turned to because I live too near an airport to use a drone.

The DJI alternative, the DJI Osmo 2.5m Extended Carbon Fibre Selfie Stick, is slightly shorter at 2.5m, but only weighs 428g (1 pound).

Both are lightweight and easy to carry, and both use tripod threads to attach so are actually interchangeable!

• Insta360 Extended Selfie Stick (Insta360 store)
• DJI Osmo 2.5m Extended Carbon Fiber Selfie Stick (DJI Store)

But extension poles are not the only solution. Another that offered more height (though it might depend a little on the weather) is a kite. This can be done by attaching a small, light action camera with some degree of image stabilization – probably one of the best POV cameras.

Another shot she uses a fishing rod to drop an Insta360 X-series camera from the a Bridge (to be clear, the camera is on the line – dropping things from some locations like the Golden Gate Bridge is illegal).

This approach means she can run the footage in reverse and give the impression of a drone lifting up, Thanks to the fact a 360-degree camera offers the capability to choose the exact angle in post, it doesn't really matter if the camera appears to wobble a bit on the fishing line.

The post-processing apps (like Insta360's) also allow you to select a subject and track it with AI during the cropping from 360 video. This makes it look like you had a camera operator keeping the drone's "camera" directly on your subject.

Finally, she uses a similar fishing line approach to create a zip line from the top of a cliff to a friend on the beach below, giving control of the camera's 'flight'.

For law-abiding drone operators with qualifications, it's often also possible to pre-arrange use of a real drone by contacting the local authorities, but most of us have learned from experience that this kind of solution is often quicker and cheaper.

Check out my guide to the best 360-degree camera for those on-a-wire shots!

The Skyrover X1 drone has dropped to its lowest-ever price of just $419, down from $499 and saving you a sweet $80 on a compact aerial camera packed with intelligent flight features.

For anyone looking to capture high-quality aerial footage without spending flagship-drone money, this is a deal that immediately deserves attention. The X1 combines a lightweight, foldable design with detailed 4K video, making it easy to carry on vacations, hikes, road trips, and everyday adventures.

Intelligent subject tracking is another major part of its appeal. The drone can follow moving subjects and help capture smooth, dynamic footage, making it particularly useful for filming outdoor activities, travel content, and social media videos without needing a separate camera operator.

The Skyrover X1 also offers obstacle sensing to help make flying feel more secure, particularly for newer pilots. Combined with its straightforward controls and portable design, it provides an approachable route into aerial photography and filmmaking.

Its ability to capture high-resolution photographs adds even more versatility, allowing you to switch between cinematic video and detailed aerial stills from the same compact aircraft. It is the kind of drone that can cover everything from sweeping landscapes to family adventures.

At just $419, the Skyrover X1 offers a compelling combination of portability, intelligent features, and aerial image quality. With an $80 saving and its lowest-ever price, this is easily one of the most tempting affordable drone deals available right now.

The DJI Flip drone kit has just dropped to the lowest price we have ever seen it in the US - and can be snapped up for $509 in the Amazon Prime Day sale.

The DJI Flip is a lightweight drone, weighing under 249g, making it travel-friendly and exempt from registration in many regions. It features a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing stunning 48MP photos and 4K/60fps HDR videos. With up to 31 minutes of flight time, you can capture more footage without interruption.

This drone is equipped with AI subject tracking, ensuring your subject stays perfectly framed, even during dynamic activities. The foldable full-coverage propeller guard enhances safety during flight, making it ideal for novice pilots. Additionally, the DJI Flip supports palm takeoff, enabling on-the-go selfie captures without the need for a remote controller.

See other Prime Day drone deals that we recommend

I've been flying drones – and sharing secrets about them – ever since the early days, so you can rest assured that I know all the best models out there. This Prime Day I've been checking out the deals on offer and I can confidently say that, while they're available, these are definitely the best.

Prime Day is a bit longer than a day now – it's four days of deals and offers, exclusive to Amazon, that runs from June 23-26. My colleagues and Digital Camera World and I keep looking for the best deals on all cameras, drones, and the devices we cover during the sale and share them with you.

We've been doing this a few years, and one thing we've learned is that the deals come and go quickly – sometimes things sell out – so what I'd suggest is that if you're keen on picking up a drone in the next few days but you don't see what you want just yet, bookmark this page and check back often over the next few days.

Without further ado, here are the best drone deals that I'd buy right now. Beneath each one I've added a little explainer as to why I personally think it's a really good choice right now.

Amazon Prime: Best drone deals

I'd choose this drone because – although there is an upgraded sequel in the form of the DJI Neo 2 – this gives you so much capability for a surprisingly little amount of money in the drone world. It's also incredibly upgradeable.

The Neo 2 also tends to come from 2nd-party resellers, whereas the original Neo is still sold by DJI.

Out of the box, it can use AI tracking to follow you and orbit you, or it can be piloted using a phone – but you can add radio remote control for long-distance flying, or even FPV goggles and a 'wand' controller (also heavily discounted for Prime) to fly it as if you're a pilot sat inside. A lot of capability in a very small, very safe design, even before you acknowledge the pleasing price.

This Mini 3 is a great choice for photographers, and this upgraded control option means you don't need to go rummaging around and connect your phone to the remote with a cable.

What makes this drone very useful for a lot of people is that it's the cheapest drone in which the gimbal (the piece that holds and steadies the camera) can rotate the camera to a vertical position.

That makes it the cheapest drone that offers true portrait mode shooting. Given this is the correct way around for TikTok, Instagram video and YouTube Shorts – and so much other social media – it's easy to see why this would have appeal.

Starting with the aim of shooting photo and video on a drone? The camera on this drone is more than capable. Why such a big discount here? I think it is so big because outside the USA a slightly newer model has come out (it's called Lito) but you can't get it here and it looks more or less the same anyway, so there is a lot to be said for the "Why spend more?" argument if you want 4K video.

The Antigravity A1 is not the cheapest drone, so a price drop is welcome, but the 360-degree camera is extremely impressive and is doubly excellent thanks to the inclusion of Insta360's post-processing software, which is the best in the business in my view. I reviewed this drone and I not only enjoyed flying it, but I found it a breeze to go back after flying and turn the recording into varied and engaging edits from the comfort of my laptop.

Amazon's best deals across Photo & Video

Today's top Amazon deal - up to 40% off!

Best lens deals - Save up to £300 off

Best video deals - up to 15% saving

Best photo printer deals - huge savings across a massive range

The DJI Neo has dropped back to just $139, down from $199 and getting you a 4K camera drone for an incredible price to start off your aerial imaging adventures

For anyone looking to capture aerial footage without carrying a large drone or learning a complicated control system, this is a deal that immediately demands attention. The Neo is compact, lightweight, and designed to make getting into the air as straightforward as possible.

Its ability to take off from the palm of your hand is a major part of the appeal. Intelligent flight modes can automatically follow and film you, allowing the drone to capture walking, cycling, travel, and outdoor adventures without requiring someone else to operate the camera.

Despite its tiny size, the first-generation DJI Neo can record stabilized 4K video, producing smooth and detailed footage that is ready to share. It is particularly well suited to social media creators, families, travellers, and anyone who wants a simple way to add aerial perspectives to their content.

The protected propeller design also makes the Neo feel less intimidating than many traditional drones, while its lightweight construction means it can easily slip into a small bag. It is the kind of camera you can take almost anywhere without having to plan your entire day around carrying additional equipment.

The HoverAir X1 ProMax 8K is the premium "follow-me" drone; it folds like a book and disappears into your pocket, or pops out and uses AI to automatically follow you without the need for a controller. Now you can get it – and all the accessories you could ever need – for a massive discount.

There are different ways of thinking about what makes a good drone. Some people see them as for pure fun. Some see them as a carefully-used compositional camera for shooting video or stills.

Some always hoped that a drone could act as an 'angel on the shoulder' and follow

HoverAir not only perfected that tech – first with the HoverAir X1 – but then came back and added a ton of options and features so the drone could be all things to all people.

This drone can still fold out of a pocket and be launched with nothing more than the tap of a button from the palm of your hand – and it'll come back to you like a cross between a loyal dog and, well, a drone.

More than that, the company has also created a number of editions for different sports, all of which have clever different accessories.

I was especially impressed that the Skiing bundle has most of the other extras and a special charging device which keep the batteries at the right temperature so the freezing weather doesn't prevent you getting the action shot.

It also includes a remote controller so you can fly the drone like a more traditional one should you decide you want to take command – but, in keeping with HoverAir's drone – it can also fold down to a compact size. Nonetheless it manages to pack a small display – more than can be said for the leading brand (unless you dig deeper into your pocket).

Given all that, it's very exciting to see that most of the bundles have either good or great discounts for Prime Day.

I've been flying drones – and sharing secrets about them – ever since the early days, so you can rest assured that I know all the best models out there. This Prime Day I've been checking out the deals on offer and I can confidently say that, while they're available, these are definitely the best.

Prime Day is a bit longer than a day now – it's four days of deals and offers, exclusive to Amazon, that runs from June 23-26. My colleagues and Digital Camera World and I keep looking for the best deals on all cameras, drones, and the devices we cover during the sale and share them with you.

We've been doing this a few years, and one thing we've learned is that the deals come and go quickly – sometimes things sell out – so what I'd suggest is that if you're keen on picking up a drone in the next few days but you don't see what you want just yet, bookmark this page and check back often over the next few days.

Without further ado, here are the best drone deals that I'd buy right now. Beneath each one I've added a little explainer as to why I personally think it's a really good choice right now.

Amazon Prime: Best drone deals

I'd choose this drone because – although there is an upgraded sequel in the form of the DJI Neo 2 – this gives you so much capability for a surprisingly little amount of money in the drone world. It's also incredibly upgradeable. Out of the box it can use AI tracking to follow you and orbit you, or it can be piloted using a phone – but you can add radio remote control for long-distance flying, or even FPV goggles to fly it as if you're a pilot sat inside. A lot of capability in a very small, very safe design, even before you acknowledge the pleasing price.

This Mini 3 is a great choice for photographers, and the RC-N1 is the cheapest control option. What makes this drone coast a little more is that the gimbal (the piece that holds and steadies the camera) features the option to rotate the camera to a vertical position – this being the cheapest drone that offers true portrait mode shooting. Given this is the correct way around for TikTok, Instagram video and YouTube Shorts – and so much other social media – it's easy to see why this would have appeal.

Starting our with the aim of shooting photo and video on a drone? The camera on this drone is more than capable. Why such a big discount here? I think it is so big because of the arrival of the new, but similar-looking Lito series in the UK, but there is a lot to be said for the "Why spend more?" argument if you want 4K video.

The Antigravity A1 is not the cheapest drone, so a price drop is welcome, but the 360-degree camera is extremely impressive and is doubly excellent thanks to the inclusion of Insta360's post-processing software, which is the best in the business in my view. I reviewed this drone and I not only enjoyed flying it, but I found it a breeze to go back after flying and turn the recording into varied and engaging edits from the comfort of my laptop.

Amazon's best deals across Photo & Video

Today's top Amazon deal - up to 40% off!

Best lens deals - Save up to £300 off

Best video deals - up to 15% saving

Best photo printer deals - huge savings across a massive range

The Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle has dropped to just £1,199, down from £1,499, and saving you a cool £300 on one of the most exciting and unusual drone packages currently available.

What makes the Antigravity A1 stand out is its ability to capture immersive 8K 360-degree footage, recording everything around the aircraft as it flies. Rather than committing to a single camera angle in the air, you can reframe your footage afterwards and choose the perspective that best suits the finished video.

The experience is made even more immersive by the included Vision Goggles and Grip Controller. Instead of operating the drone through a conventional screen and controller setup, the system is designed to make flying feel more natural and intuitive, opening up a completely different approach to aerial filmmaking.

The Infinity Bundle also adds considerable value for anyone planning longer filming sessions. It includes three high-capacity flight batteries, a charging hub, a Quick Reader, carrying cases, and spare propellers, giving you a far more complete setup straight out of the box.

This is not simply another compact camera drone. Its combination of 360-degree capture, immersive flight, and post-production reframing makes it particularly appealing to filmmakers and content creators who want to produce aerial footage that looks different from the familiar shots captured by more traditional drones.

At £1,199, the Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle remains a serious investment, but the £300 saving makes this complete 8K 360-degree drone package considerably more tempting. For creators looking to experiment with a new style of aerial filmmaking, this is a deal that certainly deserves attention.

As a photographer, I’ve never got on board with camera drones. There’s just something about the perspective they create in images and the fact that it’s another piece of expensive gear to lug around. And then there’s the question around privacy…

However, while drones aren’t my cup of tea, I’ve never felt the need to point a rifle at one to bring it down. Which is exactly what a Florida man did recently, leading to his arrest.

The incident happened on June 13 in Lehigh Acres, Florida, with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) releasing footage of the suspect in the act, captured by the very drone he was allegedly trying to destroy.

Lee County authorities were using the drone to locate a bear after reports of the animal had been made. But instead of spotting the furry creature, they came across a group of topless men who appeared to be shooting a rifle in a wooded area.

ABOVE: Florida police footage shows the suspect allegedly firing at the drone

In the footage, the suspect – who’s the only person in the group wearing a top – points the rifle at the drone and, according to LCSO, “appeared to fire two rounds in its direction.”

LCSO has said that officers responded immediately. Later body cam footage, also shared online, shows the trigger-happy suspect, identified as Elvin Antonio Callejas-Serrato, being arrested and placed in the back of a police vehicle.

According to LCSO, the officers recovered a BB rifle “loaded with steel projectiles”. What’s not clear from the footage is if Callejas-Serrato tried to hide the rifle beforehand.

The latest comments from LCSO were that Callejas-Serrato was detained and charged with Shooting or Throwing a Deadly Missile into an Aircraft, which is a serious felony offense.

Under state law, this can lead to up to 15 years in prison. While under federal jurisdiction, firing at or attempting to destroy an aircraft or its equipment can result in up to 20 years jail time.

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Here’s our expert pick of the best camera drones, so you can take your photography and video to the skies!

The US Federal Communications Commission has loosened the restriction on foreign-made drones – but the change isn’t one that will allow drone photographers and videographers to celebrate.

This week, the FCC announced that it will allow certain toy drones made in China to be imported, loosening a restriction put in place in December 2025 that effectively prevents all newly announced drones from receiving the necessary FCC approval to be sold in the US.

The FCC, however, narrowly defines what constitutes a “toy drone” – and one of the key limitations is that the drone can’t have a camera at all. The drone also can’t weigh more than 150g (5.29 oz), and it can’t have network capability or more than ten minutes of flight time.

The idea is that these toy drones don’t threaten national security without the technology to even take photos or communicate with a network. But, as an American photographer with a Part 107 drone license, the change only adds to my frustration.

If a toy drone without the physical ability to connect to a network doesn’t cause any security concerns, why can’t camera drones without network capabilities be permitted? Even existing DJI drones don’t need a network to fly. An internet connection is required for the initial setup, but DJI’s Local Data Mode allows pilots to fly without any network connection at all.

This disables features like the on-screen map, firmware updates, and some real-time safety features – like when I’m flying and get an alert that an aircraft is in the area. But, the mode severs any network connection, leaving the drone only connected with the controller.

If data transmission is still a concern – although a recent third-party security review of two DJI drones found no unexpected data transmissions – DJI drones can also be flown with third-party apps. And, yes, there are apps like this from American companies.

The US drone ban is about more than concern over inadvertently sending photos of US infrastructure to foreign countries, however. The government has also expressed concern that the US does not have a supply chain in place and, in the event of a war, wouldn’t be able to secure parts or build military drones.

The problem with banning all foreign-made drones is that there are currently no American companies that are building consumer drones for photographers and videographers. The handful of US drone companies focus on military drones, expensive Hollywood-level shooters, and quadcopters for commercial and agricultural applications.

Until a US drone company can build a consumer drone, aerial photographers and videographers will be relegated to using older drones launched before the ban. The US currently doesn’t have the supply chain in place for many drone components, but the FCC previously eased the foreign-made drone restriction by allowing drones that are made with at least 65% US components.

The drones that launched before the FCC ban are still legal to purchase and fly in the US. Six months after the drone ban, there’s still plenty of earlier launches to choose from. The DJI Avata 360, for example, had started the FCC approval process ahead of launch in time for those drones to launch in the US. But, eventually, US pilots will only have older consumer drones available to them.

Droe photographers are not the only ones affected by the ban – first responders, small businesses, hobbyist pilots, and others are also impacted. When the FCC called for public comments, it received more than 3,000, a number that’s far higher than the usual number of comments on similar FCC actions.

In February, DJI filed a lawsuit against the FCC ban in the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Notably, the FCC ban includes all foreign-made drones as well as targeting all of DJI’s newly launched products with wireless communication, which affects the brand’s action cameras and Pocket gimbal cameras, as well as flying cameras. The court case is still ongoing.

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I asked DJI all my pressing questions about the drone ban and shared them here. Or, browse the best camera drones or the best drones for beginners.

If you’ve been thinking about getting into aerial photography without spending a fortune, this early Prime Day deal on Amazon is very enticing

The DJI Mini 4K Camera Drone has dropped to just £169, down from £329, giving you a tidy £100 saving on one of the most accessible camera drones currently on the market.

• See all of today's early best Prime Day deals

DJI has long dominated the consumer drone world, and the Mini 4K sits firmly in that sweet spot where affordability meets serious performance. It’s designed as an entry-level drone, but one that still delivers the sort of image quality and stability that has made DJI such a trusted name among content creators and hobby pilots alike.

Despite its compact size, the Mini 4K packs a capable camera able to capture crisp 4K video and 12MP stills, stabilised by a three-axis gimbal that keeps footage smooth even when conditions aren’t perfect. The drone weighs just 246g, keeping it under the key 249g threshold that often avoids more complicated drone registration rules in many regions.

Flight performance is also impressive for a drone in this price bracket. The Mini 4K offers up to around 31 minutes of flight time and long-range video transmission of up to 10km, allowing pilots to explore landscapes and capture sweeping aerial shots with confidence.

DJI’s intelligent flight features also make it particularly beginner-friendly. Automated QuickShots modes such as Rocket, Circle and Helix can create cinematic aerial sequences with just a tap, while safety systems like GPS Return-to-Home help bring the drone safely back if the signal drops or the battery runs low.

The Mini 3 is not DJI's latest beginner-friendly drone - but thanks to an overnight price drop, it is now at the lowest price that we have ever seen it at. And at just £219, with the basic RC-N1, this is a brilliant early Prime Day camera deal (and you don't even need to be a Prime member).

This little drone weighs in at 248g, meeting the all-important 249g (0.55 pound) threshold. And while subsequent Mini releases, including the Mini Pro range, have expanded upon the DJI Mini 3’s capabilities, it’s still a very usable little drone for content creators. I’m also very much of the opinion that first-time drone owners are better off purchasing a decent drone they can use to capture content, without spending big on a device that hopefully won’t (but sadly can) end up plunging into the drink or veering into a tree.

What you get with the DJI Mini 3 is a 1/1.3-inch sensor with dual native ISO, the ability to capture stills up to 48MP, and video footage up to 4K / 30p and 2.7K / 60p. A three-axis mechanical gimbal works to keep shots steady, while also enabling True Vertical Shooting (a boon for short-form creators). Level five wind resistance is to be expected in this price range, and the max flight time is rated for 38 mins. It can be expanded to 51 mins with the separately sold Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, at the expense of a higher weight. Do be aware that the Mini 3 doesn’t feature the subject tracking or collision sensors of higher-end DJI Mini drones.

Check our guide to the…
Best camera drones
Best DJI drones
Best cheap drones

Potensic has launched its new Atom 3 drone with significant upgrades to the specs of the Atom 2 drone, including a larger 1/1.3-inch image sensor and 4K60 HDR video and 50MP stills.

These might not seem leap-off-the-page stats compared to the top-end video drones, but against the best beginner drones, like the DJI Mini 4K (and the recent update available in some markets, the DJI Lito 1) the value is more important.

Potensic has also improved the strength of the signal, which on paper is now 16km – slightly edging out the latest DJI drones at 15km. While you're unlikely to fly this far away, strong signals are useful to combat 'noise' and

The 50MP camera also edges out DJI's offerings (admittedly by justy 2MP, which isn't something you're likely to notice). This isn't the only update compared to previous Potensic models, though – the sensor allows for a '2x medium tele mode' (effectively a usable-quality digital zoom).

When using that "Med tele" mode, the video can be optimised for portraits using Potensic's software. This should be a handy option for beginners looking to get good shots of people – with the advantage that the tele is a safer distance.

Potensic also says that the camera output benefits from AI optimization.

In terms of flight features, the drone boasts AI subject tracking features (and the ability to turn off some of the distance limits for experienced pilots). There is also a waypoint feature to plan flights and have the drone follow them.

As well as the drone, Potensic is offering a bundle with an updated edition of the company's smart controller, called the RC PTD 2.

This features a 5.5-inch screen, slightly brightened to 900 nits, and of course also supports the 16km range. Despite a negligible reduction in battery size, this new version also claims a marginally longer battery life of 90 minutes, and supports up to 27W fast charging.

I'm testing the drone now, and have already been out in the field with it, so check back very soon for more information.

The drone will be released in a Standard Kit – requiring the use of your phone in the controller – for $429.99, or with that RC PTD 2 for $549.99.

The HoverAir Aqua, the first fully waterproof self-flying drone, has finally been released into global retail channels, following a successful debut on crowdfunding, so you can pick up a drone that can capture your solo water activities today.

HoverAir established the "follow-me" drone category with its X1 series of drones, which can safely be released from the hand and will use onboard sensors and AI to keep the user in shot, and essentially work as your own private camera operator.

Now the company has developed that tech so it can be used somewhere no other AI tracking drones can.

I tested and was impressed by the HoverAir X1 and X1 Pro Max, but there was an issue for fans of wakeboarding to kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and the like – perhaps even jet-skiing.

For one thing, drones are not typically waterproof. Consumer drones also struggle a little over an aquatic environment because the water all looks the same to the downward-facing sensor, and there is likely to be more wind.

Until now the solution was simple. If you wanted footage of yourself enjoying the water, you'd get a friend to manually control a drone, taking off from land and being optimistic that nothing went wrong in the meantime, because if the drone hit the water's surface, it would sink.

The HoverAir Aqua, however, is designed to cope with the challenges that water activities present, while still being a consumer drone with a take-off weight under 250g.

It has powerful enough motors to handle winds up to Level 7 and speeds of up to 34mph (Level 5 is more common).

Significantly, it is "positively buoyant," meaning it can land on the water if necessary and either be picked up from the surface or take off from it.

The drone also boasts a hydrophobic lens, behind which is a 1/2.8-inch sensor capable of capturing 4K video at up to 100fps so crisp slow motion is possible. HoverAir has also included the company's SmoothCapture image stabilization system.

"Our goal was simple: give people the freedom to focus on their adventure without worrying about their camera. With Aqua, anyone can capture breathtaking moments on and around the water completely hands-free," said Co-founder MQ Wang.

I know from experience that the tech HoverAir brought to the follow-me space is impressive. Admittedly, that has been subsequently mimicked a little by others of the best beginner drones, but I look forward to testing the unique way it has been enhanced for aquatic conditions.

This is coming the same week we published the GoPro Mission 1 Pro review – but it does beg a question; GoPro is waterproof for sure, but there is no way that company's new camera will follow you with AI. Is the whole action camera technology reaching a turning point, with this, a ruggedized drone?

The HoverAir Aqua is on sale now worldwide in several combos starting at $ 1,299 / £1,129.

The US government has blocked drone giant DJI from receiving the FCC approval needed for new models to fly in the US. But after the government-mandated security review of DJI failed to even start before the December 2025 deadline, DJI made a security review happen anyway.

On Thursday, May 28, DJI shared the findings from a five-month security review of two DJI drones. The US security firm OnDefend has conducted an evaluation of the DJI Air 3S and Matrice 4E and found no evidence that data is transferred outside the US, while the team was unable to hack, jailbreak, or tamper with the UAVs.

The findings come amid an ongoing DJI lawsuit against the FCC over the ban and follow more than 3,000 public comments on the FCC’s drone proceedings, which DJI says is ten times the typical number of comments on similar FCC measures.

In December 2025, a law required DJI to pass a national security review by the deadline or face an automatic ban by the FCC. That deadline passed without such a security review even starting, effectively blocking not just DJI’s drones but cameras, gimbals, and accessories from receiving FCC approval to launch new products in the US. (DJI products launched before the ban are still available to purchase and use).

With US-based drone manufacturers focused on military and commercial uses, the ban effectively prevents new consumer drones from launching in the US until an American drone maker steps into the consumer market. The ban impacts not only aerial photographers and videographers but also first responders, small businesses, farmers, and other drone users, according to the list of FCC comments.

Before that December 2025 FCC deadline even passed, DJI asked OnDefend for an independent security review, which began in October 2025 and was completed in mid-March 2026. While the study was authorized by DJI, OnDefend is an independent security company whose staff includes US military and government professionals. The consumer drone tested was purchased from a retailer without notifying DJI, while the enterprise drone was purchased from existing dealer stock.

OnDefend put the drones through a list of different tests, including analyzing signals for any unauthorized data transmission, simulating Meddler-in-the-Middle hacks, attempting jailbreaks of the drones' apps, and disassembling the drones to analyze each component.

The inspection did not find any critical, high, or medium risks.

The review identified 10 low-risk findings with “limited real-world impact” that are “consistent with industry norms for complex mobile and embedded systems.” That list includes things like weak TLS protocols on the app and using authentication tokens in URLs. DJI says that those low-risk findings are being addressed with firmware updates.

“This is the most comprehensive independent security assessment ever undertaken on our products," Adam Welsh, Head of Global Policy at DJI, said in a statement. "These findings confirm what DJI has consistently maintained: our products are secure, our data practices are transparent, and the concerns underlying our FCC Covered List designation are not supported by technical evidence. We commissioned this independent assessment because we believe facts should inform policy decisions. We are calling on the FCC to consider these findings carefully as part of our ongoing appeal, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with relevant authorities."

The study suggests that there is no risk of DJI user data being sent to China, one of the concerns politicians voiced on the road to the National Defense Authorization Act that put DJI on the FCC-banned list.

However, the conversation on drone security has also shifted to highlighting supply chain concerns. Several critical drone components, including lithium-ion batteries and the magnets in drone motors, are sourced outside of the US.

The supply chain risk already has a handful of examples of what not being able to secure parts could mean for US drones. Amid the pushback on US tariffs, China temporarily blocked the export of Li-ion batteries to US-based drone companies, which prevented brands like Skydio from getting the batteries needed for their drones. China later paused the export controls for a year.

The security review is only for two drones and their respective controllers and apps, but could play a role in DJI’s ongoing lawsuit in an attempt to reverse the FCC ban.

The full security report is available to read online.

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A new unofficial world record for the fastest drone has just been set... but it was far from plain sailing. Pro Drone Hub carefully built a high-speed drone, and after losing it on around the 50th run, came up with an interesting theory about why they lost it, which suggests some very high speed (but also raises the question "why not add an AirTag?")

The record-breaking speed of 453mph (730 km/h) claimed in the video (below) are, of course, just based on the creators and are not verified.

Specialist saw-tooth propellers crafted from carbon are part of the unique design that achieved the speed of this missile-like drone, which is called Blackbird.

The team at the Pro Drone Hub decided that the issue with their drone might be the Doppler shift – which is quite a claim.

Doppler is the "neeeeeerrrooowm" effect created by sound waves when vehicles pass at high speed because the center of the sound is spreading from in circles keeps moving, so those circles don't seem to come from the same point relative to where the listener is standing, making the sound uneven.

The same principle is true for radio waves, but the speed of light is a LOT higher, so making the claim that radio is affected is quite a lot (humans need an object to hit around 30,000 kilometres per second to notice the effect).

However, digital video – and the team appear to be using a DJI OM4 system – is compressed into tiny digital pieces, and it's possible that much lower speeds can be enough to break the stream.

Other technical issues seem more likely though, and two alternatives are postulated by the team.

Commenters on the YouTube videos might have been closer too: OriginalCircuit said "It's more likely battery or solder related, pushing 200A, you could have just melted the solder off the terminals."

Builders Aidan and Ben seem to be in a race to reach the speed of sound (767mph), having previously posted a 388mph drone.

The Guinness World record is currently held by South African father-and-son duo Luke and Mike Bell, who set a speed of 657.59 km/h (408 mph) in January this year.

The Pro Drone Hub team also says "They'll say it's unofficial because it didn't land in one piece" though the drone essentially survives. It doesn't look, though, like the batteries are going to be reusable after the speed run that hits 640kph (397mph) upwind.

A downwind run (730kph) is averaged against it for a more official 685kph or 425mph.

If speed is your thing, you might not quite hit these numbers with some of the best FPV drones in my guide, but you can be more confident that the batteries won't catch fire in the drones I've recommended!

Memorial Day is here, and the sales are well under way. As ever, this is one of the best days in the year to find a great deal on a drone - and take your photography and videomaking literally to a new heights!

This year, things are a little different. With parts shortages still rumbling through the supply chain, unavailability of the latest DJI drones, tariffs coming into force and price pressure mounting on the pro-level kit, it’s no longer just about finding a deal - it’s about finding the right deal before it vanishes.

From FPV thrill-seekers to aerial cinematographers, some of the best drones in the game are getting timely price cuts.

Top US retailers

Amazon: Cheap prices on a lot of drones
Adorama: Big discounts on big drone brands
B&H Photo Video: Great deals on the best drones on the market
Best Buy: Sale on drones across the site
Walmart: Massive sales across many drones

Best memorial day drone deals

Also see our pick of the best Memorial Day cameras deals

The Skyrover X1 has just dropped to its lowest-ever price this Memorial Day, with B&H cutting this clever 4K camera drone to just $449. That is down from $758, saving you a cool $309 on a drone that packs in a surprising amount of tech for the money.

If you have been waiting for a capable, creator-friendly drone that does not completely destroy your budget, this is a very strong deal.

What makes the Skyrover X1 so interesting is that it is not just another cheap drone with a camera bolted on. It is designed to make aerial content easier, with a stabilized 3-axis gimbal, 4K60 HDR video, 48MP stills, and intelligent flight features that should appeal to beginners and more experienced pilots alike. B&H also lists it as weighing under 8.8oz, which means it does not need registration in the US.

For content creators, that combination is really appealing. The rotating camera allows for true vertical shooting, which is ideal if you are creating footage for social media, while the 3-axis gimbal helps keep your clips smooth and polished. There is also AI subject tracking, automated return-to-home functionality, and 360-degree obstacle avoidance, making it a far more confidence-inspiring option than many drones at this price.

The camera spec is also much stronger than you might expect from a drone now sitting below $500. With 4K60 HDR video, slow-motion recording up to 4K100, digital zoom, and a 1/1.32-inch CMOS sensor, the Skyrover X1 looks like a genuinely useful tool for travel, family adventures, landscapes, action clips, and everyday aerial footage. It is the kind of drone that makes creative shooting feel more accessible without feeling too basic.

I also like that this is a drone built with modern creators in mind. The ability to shoot vertically without cropping later is a big deal, especially if you are making Instagram Reels, TikToks, or YouTube Shorts. Add in its compact size, intelligent flight modes, and low-light Super AI Night Mode, and this becomes a very tempting package for anyone who wants to start capturing more cinematic aerial footage.

At just $449, the Skyrover X1 looks like one of the standout Memorial Day drone deals right now. A $309 saving is already impressive, but when you factor in the 4K60 HDR video, 48MP stills, vertical shooting, and obstacle avoidance, this deal starts to look seriously good.

If you have been waiting for a drone that offers strong creative features without the premium price tag, this could be the one to grab before the price takes off again.

As an American drone pilot, I was devastated when, in December 2025, the government effectively banned not only popular brand DJI but all “foreign-made drones.” Since then, new drones – as well as cameras and accessories from DJI – have not received the FCC approval to launch in the US.

The US drone ban has long had me wondering if the government understands just how devastating the change is to aerial creators – not to mention the first responders, farmers, and businesses relying on the technology. American drone pilots still have access to drones registered prior to the FCC ban, but the latest drone technology is quickly becoming inaccessible to US users.

While there are American drone brands, none that I’ve found offer consumer drones – just expensive drones for Hollywood-level films, industrial drones, and military drones. That means American drone tech has been effectively placed on an indefinite pause until an American drone company is able to develop and launch a consumer drone – a process that will likely take years.

But now through May 11, the FCC is seeking comments from the public. Drone pilots, first responders, business owners, and any member of the public affected by the ban are invited to share comments on how the restrictions impact the community.

The public input could impact the FCC drone ban moving forward, as DJI has filed an appeal to its inclusion on the FCC Covered List. In an email from a company representative, DJI told me, “We encourage all US-based drone users – from public safety agencies and small businesses to hobbyists – to share their experience on how DJI drones impact their work, business, community, and daily life.”

The Drone Advocacy Alliance has a set of instructions that simplifies the federal forms. For a simple comment, users can navigate to the page, use Proceedings Number 26-22, and the name “In the Matter of SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.” Public commenters then fill in the details and write their comments.

The deadline for submission is May 11, so the public comments close in a matter of days.

As a drone pilot and tech journalist in the camera space, I think that one of the reasons the foreign-made drone ban is so devastating is that the current US-based companies do not offer consumer-grade models. The non-DJI consumer drones are also built outside of the US.

Skydio, which recently announced a US expansion, does not sell drones made for photography and videography but rather for industrial use, first responders, and the military. Skydio stopped building consumer drones in 2023.

Launching American-made consumer drones will not happen overnight. Skydio’s expansion, for example, is expected to take five years, and the company has not indicated if that growth will even include a consumer drone.

Creating a drone is a time-consuming and complicated process, and newer companies in the category are at a disadvantage. For example, the US-based action camera giant GoPro once launched a drone called the Karma. The quadcopter was recalled due to a battery door failure that had drones falling out of the sky, and GoPro left the drone market shortly after.

Perhaps the reason that the FCC foreign-made drone ban hurt the most, however, is that the government-mandated security review of DJI never actually happened, to my knowledge, perhaps because the law never assigned an agency to the task.

DJI has not only pointed to previous security audits, but has repeatedly stressed that flight logs are never stored on DJI’s servers. DJI drones also support using third-party apps to fly, including some apps made by American companies.

DJI's other products have also – unfairly, in my opinion – fallen under the ban. While the FCC ban includes all foreign-made drones, it also lists all DJI products, not just their drones. That prevents tech like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 as well as DJI's future action cameras, gimbals, mics, and other tech from entering the US.

Of course, one of the reasons behind the ban isn’t tied to a specific company at all, but worry over interruptions in the supply chain. I understand the need for a US-based supply chain – after all, in retaliation for tariffs, China once blocked American drone maker Skydio from getting any batteries for its drones.

But such an immediate and overarching drone ban is devastating for every American using drone technology, from aerial artists like myself to first responders and business owners.

As a drone pilot and tech journalist, I’m strongly urging the FCC and US government to restore the public’s access to the latest drone technology. Complete a full and fair audit to determine if non-US drone companies are a security risk.

If such an audit determines a security threat, propose an interim plan with the aid of drone users to avoid freezing drone technology that many small businesses, journalists, photographers, videographers, farmers, and others rely on.

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Five months after the US government banned all foreign-made drones, US drone company Skydio announced a $3.5 billion investment that will expand US drone manufacturing, including components, over the next five years.

At the end of April, Skydio – the largest US drone manufacturer – announced an investment to expand its factory, add jobs, and help build up a US drone supply chain. As an American drone pilot, Skydio’s announcement is a sign of hope, yes – but it’s also a key example of why the FCC ban on all foreign-made drones is so devastating for aerial creators.

Most US drone companies don’t offer consumer drones

Skydio exited the consumer drone market in 2023 and no longer sells off-the-shelf drones for photographers like myself. Instead, Skydio shifted to drones for first responders and the military, as well as quadcopters for industrial uses. Most US brands don't offer consumer drones, instead focusing on industrial, military, agricultural, and Hollywood-level drones.

Skydio hasn’t announced a return to the consumer drone market amid the drone ban – which prevents all foreign-made drones, not just DJI, from gaining the FCC authorization needed to sell in the US. (Drones that already received FCC approval remain available to buy and are safe to fly).

However, as part of the announcement, the company’s CEO does mention the “civilian drone market” which encompasses categories like enterprise drones – which Skydio already offers – as well as consumer drones. “Skydio has proven that American companies can compete and win in the civilian drone market against products from our adversaries,” Skydio Co-Founder and CEO Adam Bry said.

Whether that mention of civilian drones may include consumer drones in the future has yet to be seen, as Skydio hasn’t made any official indication of a return to the consumer market.

Many critical drone parts aren’t made in the US

Skydio's $3.5 billion investment in US manufacturing is a move that will build a manufacturing facility five times bigger than its current space and create more than 2,000 new jobs within the company.

However, a key part of Skydio’s announcement is SkyForge, a program that aims to help expand US manufacturing of critical drone parts and makes up roughly $1 billion of the investment. The program invites other suppliers to work with Skydio to help grow the US supply chain.

The US supply chain is one of the key hurdles to building American-made drones. Both the motors and batteries inside a majority of drones originate from China. Around 90 percent of the magnets inside drone motors, for example, are from China, while China also makes 99 percent of the Li-ion batteries used in consumer electronics. The few US suppliers that exist tend to operate on a smaller scale and require more lead time, according to The Next Web.

Skydio is also a key example of why supply chain matters – last year, in response to tariffs, China blocked several drone companies, which left Skydio temporarily unable to secure batteries for its drones.

Building up US drone manufacturing will take time – and money

I’m ecstatic to see a US drone company create 2,000 jobs – plus the move is also expected to help create 3,000 additional jobs across the supply chain. But Skydio’s announcement is also a reminder that American drone manufacturing won’t happen overnight, and in the meantime, the drone tech accessible to US drone pilots like myself will stall.

Skydio’s investment, for example, is expected to be completed in five years – and that, again, includes no mention of returning to the consumer drone market.

Five years – if a US-made consumer drone even comes by then – is a long time in tech years. For example, five years ago, DJI was making the Mini 2, which had a 1/2.3-inch sensor and only downward obstacle sensing. Fast forward five years, and the DJI Mini 5 Pro offers a 50MP one-inch sensor, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, a longer battery life, improved transmission technology, and longer flight times. That’s the level of advancement that can happen in just five years.

Skydio’s investment isn’t the only spark of hope for US drone pilots. DJI has filed a lawsuit over the ban, which is still in progress. In March, Chinese drone brand SkyRover announced that it was “exploring” US manufacturing.

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