Drone rumors in 2024: what drones are coming, and the most reliable tips

DJI Rumors

DJI Mavic 4

We've not seen an update to DJI's premium folding drone since the Mavic 3 Pro in April 2023, but there is a lot of evidence that's about to change, some from pretty good sources. The phase 'Mavic 4' has appeared on more than one tweet, or, er, 'X'!

When the first DJI drone bearing the moniker Mavic arrived in 2016 – the Mavic Pro – with its then-revolutionary folding legs it marked the beginning of the end for the iconic Phantom line but, with the Insipre already out, there it wasn't clear this was the shape professional operators would be adopting, despite the 'Pro' in the name!

Over time we've seen lighter options (and weight regulations) bring the Mini, Mini Pro, and Air series drones arrive, while craft roughly the same size as the original Mavic have become ever more capable.

Anyway, the evidence...

Credibility Assessment: High

Jasper Ellens is one of the most reliable DJI rumor tweeters. He shared accurate images of the Mini 4 Pro, Action 5 Pro camera, and the DJI Neo drones ahead of their releases, so it's fair to assume he has accurate information. At the end of September he's also added what he thinks is a Mavic 4 FCC registration.

Here he might just be reposting an image from China, but the 'perfect sphere' which is a new camera mount has been seen in previous rumor images. He could just be a quick researcher though – Igor Bogdanov posted this image a day earlier, as well as this image of what looks to be the same camera module way back in July which suggests the testing cycle has been going on a while now...

Oh, and don't forget that in my own interview with DJI's Head of Global Policy he also happened to say "Mavic 4"...

It looks to me like the word 'Hasselblad' is there on the front, and until now that's only appeared on the high-end Mavic.

Anyway that FCC registration that has him convinced might be the icing on that cake:

DJI Goggles N3

Perhaps the most interesting is another tweeted image appearing to show new "Cheaper" goggles. Youtuber DroneCamps RC posted a tweet by Jasper Ellens (yes, from all the other rumors/leaks!) and suggested that chaper LCD panels instead of OLED might be used in (what he calls) upcoming 'Goggles N3'.

The pic still seems to show pass-through cameras though – that can't be free!

Credibility-wise it's hard to say much about that detail, but it would make sense to get cheaper goggles out before Christmas given the relatively low price of the DJI Neo and the whopping price of the current Goggles.

Credibility Assessment: High

Again we're looking at very reliable source Jasper Ellens among others, and a FCC approval which is always toward the end of a product cycle. Personally I'd imagine DJI have Christmas in mind – or at least did have when they submitted to the FCC – who knows what the customs kerfuffle (see drone rumors) will have done to that?

DJI Air 3S is here (unless you're American)

The DJI Air 3S is an amazing drone and I've thoroughly enjoyed my time reviewing it, but it also seems to have been the one that an over-zealous customs official took the opportunity to try and block the sale of DJI products in America.

As of late October, the Air 3S wasn't shipping in the US in major retailers like Amazon, though there were – it seems – plenty of ways to get your hands on it, as some Reddit users found out (not just driving to Canada).

Credibility Assessment: High

Relying only on sources from Reddit would be a bit crazy, but the fact DJI has kept its store open to the US lends a lot of extra credibility to the details of the story.