The drone market in 2025 has taken a dramatic turn, especially for hobbyists and content creators in the United States. Between supply chain issues, rising tariffs, and DJI pulling direct sales, buying a quality drone isn’t as easy as it used to be. In my latest video, I break down the state of the industry and explain why the SkyRover X1 may be the best option available right now.
DJI Is Disappearing — Sort of
DJI is still the top dog in drone design, but getting your hands on their products in the U.S. has become frustrating. The DJI website no longer sells directly to U.S. consumers, and Amazon stock is limited and volatile. Even popular models like the Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, and Mini 3 are either overpriced or hard to find.
What’s really happening? DJI appears to be licensing or offloading some of its designs to smaller brands through ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) agreements. These companies—like the now-defunct Specta—sell DJI-designed drones under different names. It’s a workaround, possibly to avoid tariffs or regulatory pressure.
Specta Is Gone — But SkyRover Is Here
I was one of the first to review the Specta Air and Specta Mini, which turned out to be rebranded DJI drones. They performed incredibly well because, well, they were DJI. Sadly, those drones are no longer available, and Specta has gone silent.
That brings us to the SkyRover X1, which I recently purchased. From what I can tell, it’s essentially a DJI Mini 4 Pro in disguise. The design, performance specs, and software are almost identical, with only minor branding differences. If you’re looking for Mini 4 Pro performance but can’t find it in stock, the SkyRover X1 might be the best alternative on the market.
Why the SkyRover X1 Is Worth a Look
- ODM DJI engineering without the DJI price tag
- Readily available on Amazon (for now)
- Portable and sub-250g for easy travel and no FAA registration
- Strong camera and obstacle avoidance — perfect for new pilots or creators
You can grab one now with a 10% coupon here, but I wouldn’t wait. Just like Specta, these drones could disappear overnight.
The Future: Tariffs and Unknowns
With Chinese tech tariffs continuing to rise, many drone companies are pulling back or rebranding to avoid the financial hit. I even had to pay a tariff myself recently just to import a review unit. Unless a U.S. manufacturer steps up (unlikely anytime soon), we’ll continue seeing more ODM options like the SkyRover and fewer big-brand drones.
My advice? If you see a drone you like—especially if it’s something like the SkyRover X1—buy it while you can.
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