The drone ban now retroactively hits LiDAR, thermal, sprayers. Final ruling in early Sept. Your safest buy now: a sub-250g drone like DJI Mini 5 Pro — no FAA registration, no ban trouble.
Not sure which DJI to buy? Check the Buyer's Guide →
Last week we said whoever announced first would set the price anchor, and that DJI's was the US-legal one. Both companies blinked inside seven days and will launch twenty-four hours apart. Then the FCC opened a second front — not on new models this time, but on the ones it already approved — and buried in its definition of military-grade capability is a word that describes a $259 selfie drone. Five stories, in priority order, with our take on each.
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Last week the ban stopped being a countdown and became architecture. This week it started charging rent. DJI shipped a pocket camera that out-measured a cinema body costing a hundred times more, to every market except the one that wants it most — while on American shelves the price reversal we told readers to watch for showed up in seven days flat. We also owe you a correction. Seven stories, in priority order, with our take on each.
Last week we told readers to circle December 31 — the day every FCC conditional drone approval was set to expire at once. Six days later the Commission deleted the date, and the way it deleted it is worse for DJI than the deadline ever was. This was the week the ban stopped being a countdown and started being architecture. Seven 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.
$1,099.00
Only 3 left in stock - order soon.
Under 250g, so no FAA registration. The budget DJI you can still buy stateside.
$439.00
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Autel's Air-class rival. Note: Autel is on the Covered List too, so this is existing US stock — not a permanent workaround.
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Prices and availability pulled from Amazon as of Aug 8, 2026 and are subject to change. The price shown on Amazon at checkout applies.
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