DJI Ban: I’ve Reached Acceptance, and Here’s What You Need to Know

You’ve all heard of the seven stages of grief, right? Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance. Well, I haven’t gone through each of those in this DJI Ban situation, but I do think I’ve finally reached that final stage of acceptance. Hey, I’m a Vikings fan, so I know all about the seven stages of grief.

Yes, acceptance. Because at this point, unless something truly unexpected happens inside the US government, the upcoming DJI ban is probably going to go into effect on December 23rd or Christmas Eve. Great Christmas present, right?

But I don’t want to talk to you today out of fear. I want to talk to you out of honesty and a little bit of hope, because this is going to be my last video about the DJI ban. I think it’s important to no longer focus on it and move forward.

What’s Actually Happening

Most of you already know what’s going on, but just in case you don’t: under the current rules, a government agency has to perform a security audit on DJI. If they don’t complete one by December 23rd, DJI automatically gets placed on the FCC’s Covered List.

The truth is, no agency wants to be the one to step forward and take on that responsibility. There’s no incentive. There’s actually political risk. There’s liability. So the most likely scenario is that no audit is going to happen and DJI gets listed by default.

It’s an underhanded way to push an agenda, but it’s the way that things get done in this country. It’s a reality. And that’s why I’m at this point of acceptance. I’m not happy about it, but accepting the reality of where things are headed is necessary to move forward.

The DJI Ban Is NOT the End of Drones

Here’s what I really want you to hear.

Regardless of what all of the “sky is falling” YouTubers are telling you, and I’ve done it myself, this will not be the end of drones. Not even close.

Yes, this is a pretty big bump in the road for the hobby, for professionals, for creators, for all of us who love flying. But it’s just that. It’s a bump. Every single thing in life has seasons. And the thing about seasons is how much better things feel after a long, hard winter.

What Will and Won’t Change

Your current drones are still going to work. They’re not going to suddenly shut off. You’re still going to be able to fly them, use them, just like normal. You’ll still be able to create with them. Many of them are going to last for many years. My Mavic Pro, my original drone from eight years ago, still flies today.

Yes, you can still use your drones commercially as long as they remain in safe working condition.

What about firmware updates? Will DJI continue to support current models? I don’t know why they wouldn’t. They have to do it for the rest of the world. So what’s to stop us in America from downloading the update to our computer and then plugging our drones in and updating them?

What will change is this: After December 23rd, you probably won’t be able to buy newly released DJI drones inside the United States.

Could you buy them in another country, say drive over to Canada or Mexico, and then bring them back through customs? Honestly, nobody knows. They might confiscate them. I highly doubt that, but you never know. They might block activation, but they might allow it. There is zero clarity right now, and I’m not going to pretend to know otherwise.

The Four Drones I Recommend Right Now

If you’ve been considering buying a DJI drone, and I mean even remotely considering it, these next three weeks are probably the smartest time to do it. Here are four drones that are going to last, stay relevant for years, and work for you even professionally.

Number one: The Air 3S. This drone, in my opinion, is one of the greatest drones that DJI has ever built. It’s the best value, the best all-around system. It’s capable of everything from travel content to commercial jobs. If you want the most bang for your dollar and the drone that’s going to carry you through this whole transition, the Air 3S is the one.

Number two: The Mini 5 Pro. If you want something that’s small, lightweight, super convenient, and perfect for recreational flying but still powerful enough for small commercial gigs, this drone is it. It is the everyday drone. It’s super easy to fly, easy to travel with, and surprisingly capable for a mini drone. There are many ways to get one right now from reputable third-party sellers on eBay, Amazon, or other smaller vendors.

Number three: The DJI Mavic 4 Pro. If you are serious about turning your drone into a money-making tool, this is the one that gives you the best long-term potential. Outstanding camera, incredible flight performance, and it’s built for people who want to work, whether that’s real estate, inspections, media, or creative filmmaking. The image quality from this drone is spectacular. If you do any sort of commercial work with it, you’re going to recoup your cost of buying it in no time.

Number four: The Skyrover X1. If you want a DJI Mini 4 Pro at a much lower price, I would get the Skyrover X1. It’s pretty widely accepted that this is a DJI shell company drone, but who cares? It performs and flies exactly like the Mini 4 Pro, and the holiday pricing on it is rock bottom.

The Bigger Picture

Once DJI is restricted, the American market is not just going to disappear. Other countries are going to see a massive opportunity here. I can promise you, companies all over the world are already preparing. They want the US market. They know how big it is. And whoever puts out a competitive drone is going to sell a ton of them very quickly.

Are any of these drones going to be American made? Probably not, at least not right away. But they are going to come, and as long as they make something worth reviewing, I’m going to be right here testing them, flying them, reviewing them, making tutorials, and helping you figure out what’s worth your money.

One Tiny Sliver of Hope

Even after everything we’ve talked about over the last year, there is still one tiny sliver of hope. The rule says that if a security audit is completed and DJI passes, they don’t go on the entity list.

For all we know, an audit might already be happening behind closed doors. We might get a surprise announcement on December 22nd saying everything checks out and DJI is going to be just fine in the United States. I’m not betting on it, but it’s not impossible. Stranger things have happened.

The Bottom Line

Don’t give up on drones. Don’t give up on 51 Drones. This hobby is not ending. The industry is not ending. And this channel is not ending.

There are still endless opportunities to fly, learn, have fun, and yes, to make money with a drone. Pretty much anyone can study for their Part 107 remote pilot certificate, pass the test, and start earning income with a drone. None of those things change.

Please don’t give in to the doom and gloom, and keep a positive outlook on what’s to come.

Whether DJI is allowed to sell new drones in America or not, my goal remains the same: to keep you flying, keep you creating, keep you learning, and keep the fire alive in this amazing hobby.

We’re entering a new chapter here, and it might be complicated. It might be kind of messy for a while. But it’s not over. It’s not even close.

Fly safe and fly smart.