DJI has launched its new Neo 2 mini drone globally, excluding the United States, as the company faces a potential ban in the U.S. market. The Neo 2, a successor to the popular Neo drone, features 4K video recording up to 100 frames per second, 19 minutes of flight time, and 49GB of internal storage. It is marketed as an easy-to-fly, personal follow-me camera drone suitable for beginners and various activities.
Currently, the Neo 2 is available for purchase in international markets for $309. However, U.S. consumers cannot find it on major platforms like Amazon, and DJI's official website lists almost its entire product line as out of stock for U.S. visitors, with some pages returning errors. This unavailability is attributed to DJI's impending ban in the United States, which poses significant import challenges for the company's products.
The potential ban stems from a mandate requiring all drones manufactured in China to undergo a national security risk assessment by December 23. DJI has indicated that it has not seen any indication that this assessment has commenced. Despite DJI's dominance in the drone market, serving both hobbyists and essential sectors like agriculture, a ban appears increasingly likely, making it difficult for U.S. consumers to access DJI drones through official channels. The Neo 2's technical specifications include level 5 wind resistance, a 12MP CMOS sensor, and intelligent shooting modes, designed for ease of use and portability.
