The FIFA World Cup now has a tech rival: 48 gadgets in a knockout bracket. PS5 vs Disney+, DJI Flip vs Antigravity A1, iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung S26 Ultra. Daily reader votes, final on July 19.
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Last week we predicted the jump from civil fines to a criminal charge; this week it landed — and a DJI Mini 3 Pro is now named in a federal charging document, as World Cup seizures climbed into the dozens. In Washington, the FCC opened a re-entry lane for foreign drones that excludes DJI by name, while DJI itself spent the week shipping enterprise gear into the exact segment the ban is premised on. Five stories, in priority order, with our take on each.
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Last week we said the World Cup's first drone seizure was almost certain; this week the FBI delivered it — nine drones confiscated and seven operators fined in opening weekend. Meanwhile DJI's US pipeline slid from stalled to shut: the Air 4's FCC deadline passed with no filing, the Pocket 4 Pro hit week five of pricing silence, and DJI's own court filing means no legal relief before November. Five stories, in priority order, with our take on each.
This was the week the airspace closed while the product pipeline stayed shut. World Cup drone TFRs went live June 1 — including 100+ surprise no-fly bubbles in cities hundreds of miles from any match — while every DJI product thread stalled: no Pocket 4P price, no Osmo 360 II launch, no Air 4 FCC filing. Five stories, in priority order, with our take on each.
Many new DJI products are blocked from US sale by the FCC Covered List. Here's the gear you can order today.
The current DJI Air drone — in stock in the US today while the Air 4 stays blocked.
$1,439.00
In Stock
Under 250g, so no FAA registration. The budget DJI you can still buy stateside.
$439
Prefer to skip the DJI ban entirely? Autel's Air-class rival ships freely in the US.
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