DJI

Buying a DJI Drone in the US in 2026, What the FCC Ban Means for Photographers

If you already own a DJI drone in the US, keep flying it. Nothing in the 2026 rules grounds it. If you want to buy a new one, it’s complicated, and some of DJI’s best drones simply aren’t sold there officially.

Here’s where things stand in October 2026, and what that means if you’re shopping.

How we got here

The defense bill for 2025 gave a national-security agency until December 23, 2025 to decide whether DJI and Autel posed a risk. No agency was named to do the audit. On December 22 the FCC added DJI, Autel and all foreign-made drones and key drone components to its Covered List.

Being on the list means new models can’t get FCC equipment authorization, and without that they can’t be sold or imported. Models authorized before the cutoff stayed legal to sell, import and fly. In January the FCC granted a waiver so previously authorized drones can keep getting firmware updates, which matters for safety fixes and new features.

DJI is fighting it. It asked the FCC to reconsider, then filed in the Ninth Circuit in February 2026, and in May the court refused the FCC’s request to dismiss the case. DJI’s opening brief is due in early November.

Meanwhile the rules kept tightening. Tariffs on imported drones of 25 percent for most consumer models took effect on September 3. An FCC order in force from October 13 blocks authorization for new devices that contain DJI- or Autel-made processors, radios or flight controllers. And an August proposal would go further, banning import and marketing even of previously authorized foreign drones. Comments closed on September 2. It hasn’t been adopted yet, and existing owners wouldn’t be grounded either way.

What you can and can’t buy

Drones authorized before December 22, 2025 can still be sold. That covers models like the DJI Mini 4 Pro, the DJI Air 3S and the DJI Avata 2, though stock is patchy. The Avata 360 made it through and went on sale in the US in March 2026.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Mini 5 Pro were never officially launched in the US. DJI confirmed in February that it doesn’t import them. They still turn up at big retailers through third-party importers, usually at a premium.

If you buy grey import

A grey-market DJI drone flies fine, but think about three things first:

  • Warranty. DJI won’t service it under US warranty, and DJI Care Refresh may not be available.
  • Price. Importers charge well above European prices, and Amazon marketplace listings attract scams and price gouging. Buy from a seller you’d trust with a return.
  • The future. If the import ban goes through, buying spare batteries and parts could get harder. Stock up on batteries and propellers when you buy the drone.

The alternatives

Autel left the consumer market in 2025, so it isn’t the fallback it used to be. The Antigravity A1 360 drone says it remains compliant and is sold at major US retailers. For simple, cheap flying, the Potensic Atom 2 is a sub-250g budget drone with a 4K camera.

For most photographers the practical advice is plain. If a model you want is still sold through authorized US stores, buy it now with a warranty. If it isn’t, decide whether the camera is worth giving up DJI support for.

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