DJI Whiplash: from empty shelves to next-day delivery in the U.S.

Why haven’t you been able to find DJI drones in stock recently?

DJI drones in the U.S. have been hard to come by since late 2024. DJI has been going up against U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, battling allegations of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) violations, and being deemed a “Chinese Military Company” by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The company is fighting tooth and nail to keep its stake in the U.S. drone market, but the future is uncertain.

Everything from drones and propellers, to microphones and bags, have been out of stock in the U.S. for months now, with no end in sight. However, a new batch of inventory has been released on Amazon for almost every major DJI consumer drone model. I highly suggest you go take a look before they disappear!

So, what changed?

Over the past few days, people have noticed a surplus of DJI drones that popped up seemingly overnight on Amazon. Some of the notable drones in stock include the DJI Mini 4K (which recently went as low as $239), the DJI Mavic 4 Creator Combo, and the brand new DJI Mini 5 Pro.

Bottom Line Right Now

You are currently able to find DJI drones in stock and ready to ship quickly on Amazon – don’t miss out if you’ve been waiting for the inventory to return!

Why the Sudden Surplus?

When DJI stopped official launches for flagship products in the U.S., large retailers, such as B&H Photo, began to fill in the gaps by dropping drones in limited batches. Since then, the supply has seemed to dwindle to an all-time low.

With legislation looming, and some calling for the retroactive ban of DJI’s FCC equipment authorizations, some sellers appear to be dumping their inventory as quickly as possible, knowing demand spikes whenever buyers fear a future cutoff.

The DJI Neo 2’s release was also teased recently, and if the Mini 5 Pro and Mavic 4 Pro have shown us anything, it’s that some retailer will find a way to get them into the U.S., whether or not it’s officially released here.

Practical Advice for U.S. Buyers

These deals really don’t last long. If you see a unit marked “In Stock,” and it’s one you’ve been waiting to get, go ahead and pull the trigger.

However, before you click “Buy Now,” ensure the seller is well-known and reputable – the last thing you want is to pay over $1,000 for a brand new drone, and you receive baby wipes instead (which happened to me two years ago around Christmas time).

Your accessories and spare parts will go quickly, too, so remember to budget for additional propellers, batteries, specialized chargers, and ND filters. DJI’s airframes are proprietary and often challenging to find replacement parts for, so plan ahead.

DroneXL’s Take

Since 2018, I’ve owned and operated DJI drones. My first ready-to-fly drone I ever purchased was a DJI Mavic Mini, and before that, I had been given a DJI Tello that I fell in love with.

Over the past eight years, I’ve worked with drones ranging from $100 to $500,000, and I can say that DJI is the best brand out there for consumer and professional applications.

If DJI drones are banned in the U.S., there will be a multi-billion-dollar gap in the U.S. drone industry. Most Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) companies in the U.S., such as Skydio and BRINC, appeal to government and defense work, not consumer or professional applications.

While I’m not sure what will happen in the near future with the potential ban looming over DJI’s head, I would highly recommend you snag one of these drones before it’s too late – you don’t know if or when they may be back in stock, and there aren’t many alternatives you can turn to!

If you happen to find any great professional alternatives to DJI here in the U.S., let me know in the comments below.