Latest from TechRadar in Drones

Ukraine turns $200,000 AN-196 Liutyi kamikaze drone into reusable bomber to launch jet-powered missiles

Efosa Udinmwen — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:05:00 +0000

Ukraine converts long-range kamikaze drones into reusable missile-launching platforms
Liutyi now carries four missiles instead of sacrificing itself during attacks
Germany funds 500 additional Liutyi drones through a $100 million defense package

Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom has unveiled a reusable version of its An-196 Liutyi drone at the Farnborough International Airshow.

According to a report from Ukrainian outlet Oboronka the new configuration carries four compact air-to-surface missiles beneath its wings.

Until now, the Liutyi has flown only as a single-use weapon, striking a location once before being destroyed on impact.

A Kamikaze airframe rebuilt to fly home

The standard Liutyi is a propeller-driven, satellite-guided drone with a claimed operational range of nearly 2,000 km per mission today. It carries a 50-to-75 kg warhead and relies on inertial navigation corrected by satellite signals for improved overall strike precision.

Ukraine has used the standard version to strike oil refineries as far as 1,700 km inside Russia, near the Urals region.

Liutyi drones have also struck the Izhevsk military plant deep inside Russia's Udmurtia region, roughly 1,400 km from the border.

Germany is financing 500 additional Liutyi drones at a cost of roughly $100 million, signaling continued Western interest in the program.

Each Liutyi airframe reportedly costs around $200,000 to build, a comparatively low price for a long-range strike platform of its kind.

The reusable variant carries four small missiles reported to have a maximum range of 200 km and speeds above 500 km/h, which is apparently achieved through a small jet engine mounted inside the missile's own fuselage.

No further technical details about either the airframe or the missiles have been disclosed so far.

A commercial statement for foreign buyers

Displaying an armed, reusable Liutyi there functions as a clear commercial statement almost as much as a purely military signal.

Ukraine has displayed naval drones, interceptor drones and strike systems at major international defense exhibitions throughout 2026

A drone combat-tested through hundreds of deep strikes on Russian territory offers foreign buyers a rare, already-proven track record overall.

The reusable Liutyi may also compete with Ukraine's own FP-1 drone, which reportedly offers comparable performance at a lower cost, and in design, the new missiles resemble Anduril's Barracuda-250, an American cruise missile with an 18 kg warhead and 370-plus km range.

Ukraine relied heavily on the Bayraktar TB2 for years before Russian air defenses eventually pushed the drone from contested skies.

The shift could allow the Liutyi to fill the niche once occupied by the Bayraktar TB2, a symbol of Ukraine's early resistance.

Whether the new missiles and airframe hold up under real combat conditions remains to be seen.

Via Defense Express

Which DJI drone should I buy? Your simple guide to the different ranges and our top-rated flyers

Ruth Hamilton — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Fancy taking to the skies? DJI is the brand you're probably looking at — it's the name behind almost all the best drones around right now. If you're new to the world of drones, figuring out your options is tricky. This article is here to guide you through your options. I'll run through the main DJI ranges and who they're aimed at, and then once you've narrowed things down you can hop to the relevant section to read our reviews for each model. Let's get started...

Note: You'll only be able to see product cards for the models currently available to buy in your region. Due to FCC issues, not all DJI drones are available in the US. Hit the More details button to read our main takeaways for each model, and for a link to the full review.

DJI range guide

DJI Mini
DJI's flagship compact drones, and the best-selling range for beginner pilots. These are all sub-250g models, which means they come with little-to-no flight restrictions, depending on where you fly.
• Check out the Mini lineup

DJI Air
A step up from the Mini series, aimed at enthusiasts. These drones fall into the next weight category up, which means they're sturdier and you'll be able to fly for longer, but you'll need your region's equivalent of a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Air lineup

DJI Mavic
Top-tier consumer drones with industry-leading camera performance. These are another step up from the DJI Air range, and again you'll need a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Mavic lineup

DJI Neo
The cheapest, smallest, lightest and simplest DJI drone. It comes with single-push take-off from your hand, designed for aerial selfies (this kind of drone is sometimes referred to as a selfie drone).
• Check out the DJI Neo lineup

DJI Avata
FPV (first person view) drones, designed to be used with goggles for immersive high-speed and responsive flight — legally you need a 'spotter' with you when flying drones through goggles.
• Check out the DJI Avata lineup

There are a few standalone options to be aware of. The Lito is a straightforward beginner drone at an extremely wallet-friendly price — it's a step down from the Mini range in both price and capabilities. The DJI Flip is another beginner drone with vlogger-friendly features. At the other end of the scale is the DJI Inspire range, aimed at professionals — the kind of thing that might be hired for productions.

DJI Mini drones

DJI

Mini 5 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

New 1-inch sensor with detail rich 4K HDR video
Versatile camera with a 225 degree roll rotation
Class-leading flight and safety features

Cons

Actual take-off weight could result in being the next class of drone, hit with restrictions
Flight times typically not as long as advertised
Pricier than entry-level models like the Mini 4K

DJI

Mini 4K

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent value
4K video quality beats rivals
Probably your best first drone

Cons

No object-collision sensors
Lacks subject tracking found in pricier models like the Mini 4 Pro

DJI

Mini 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Improved video features
Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
Remains under 250g

Cons

Upgrades may not tempt Mini 3 Pro owners
Not suited to windy conditions
Fixed-aperture camera

DJI

Mini 3

Read our full review

Pros

More affordable than the Mini 3 Pro
Great image quality
Small and lightweight

Cons

No collision avoidance
4K video limited to 30fps
No subject tracking

DJI

Mini 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Impressive low-light performance
Useful obstacle avoidance
Handy automated flight modes

Cons

Pricier than previous Mini models

DJI

Mini 2

Read our full review

Pros

Intuitive navigation
Compact, convenient drone
Great battery life

Cons

Pricier than predecessor
No new camera hardware
No follow mode

DJI Mavic drones

DJI

Mavic 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent price
Feature-packed
Impressive cameras

Cons

Weight just exceeds 2.2lbs / 1kg
More features than many people will need
Subject tracking is not as varied as the DJI Flip or Neo

DJI

Mavic 3

Read our full review

Pros

Four Thirds camera is excellent
Useful adjustable aperture
Improved safety features
Telephoto lens a handy backup

Cons

Pricier than Mavic 2 series
Basic controller lacks info screen
European classification issues

DJI

Mavic 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

Three useful cameras
Excellent image quality
Solid safety features

Cons

C2 European rating
Not everyone will need three cameras
Slightly reduced flight times

DJI

Mavic 3 Classic

Read our full review

Pros

Less expensive than other Mavic 3 models
Excellent image quality
Impressive safety features

Cons

Remains expensive despite lower cost
Battery life shorter than claimed
No Apple ProRes video capture

DJI Air drones

DJI

Air 3

Read our full review

Pros

Dual cameras
Excellent wind resistance
Generous 46-minute flight time
Already excellent safety features improved further

Cons

C1 European rating
Fixed aperture is bad news for ND filter users
Large protruding camera likely to suffer in case of accidents

DJI

Air 3S

Read our full review

Pros

Superb battery life
Easy and safe to fly
Great all-round camera performance

Cons

Weight-class restrictions apply
A minor upgrade on the original Air 3

DJI

Air 2S

Read our full review

Pros

1-inch 20 MP sensor
Great image quality
Small and lightweight

Cons

Controller isn’t foldable
Image edges slightly soft
No adjustable aperture

DJI Neo drones

DJI

Neo 2

Read our full review

Pros

Now has obstacle avoidance
Improved camera performance
More storage and faster transfer speed

Cons

Still only shoots JPEG photos
Limited battery life

DJI

Neo

Read our full review

Pros

Small and lightweight
Easy to use
Multiple flight control options

Cons

Only shoots photos in JPEG
4K video fixed at 30fps
Expensive to add on goggles and FPV controller

DJI Avata drones

DJI

Avata 360

Read our full review

Pros

Great 10-bit image quality from dual sensor setup
Choice of control methods
Agile, speedy and safe flyer
Good value for money

Cons

Other DJI drones beat it on image quality
Buying both FPV and standard controllers could push up the price
No manual FPV flight option

DJI

Avata 2

Read our full review

Pros

Long flight time
Incredible image quality with improved dynamic range
Easy to fly out of the box, and packed with safety features

Cons

Unappealing to experienced FPV pilots outside of the DJI ecosystem
Poor ergonomics of the DJI Controller 3 show no improvement over the DJI Controller 2
Awkward handling in manual mode, probably down to inadequate tuning

Outliers

DJI

Lito X1

Read our full review

Pros

Great video quality for the price, especially with Lito X1
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance included
Better battery life than the Neo 2 and Flip

Cons

Camera doesn't rotate for 9:16 content
Soft digital zoom
No built-in storage on Lito 1 model

DJI

Flip

Read our full review

Pros

Multi-use functionality
Several flight-control options
Sub-250g folding design

Cons

Image quality is good but not great
Not as agile as the Mini 4 Pro
Not great in wind

DJI

Inspire 3

Read our full review

Pros

Excellent image quality
Smooth and precise flight
Interchangeable lenses

Cons

Expensive
Large and heavy
More complicated than consumer models

DJI

FPV

Read our full review

Pros

A huge amount of fun to fly
Easy to fly for an FPV drone
Goggles offer great image quality
Solid transmission

Cons

Front props visible in footage
Stills photography severely limited
'Spotter' needed when flying outdoors

US Navy plans for 'Air Wing of the Future' with next-generation, pilotless carrier-based 1,150-mile-range drones to fly alongside manned aircraft

Efosa Udinmwen — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Pentagon eyes swarms of cheap drones over a handful of expensive fighter jets
Carrier decks may soon be crowded with robots doing eight different combat jobs
US Navy next fighter wing could fly itself from takeoff to target and back

The US Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking a new family of carrier-based drones which would operate alongside manned aircraft while supporting missions across the full range of naval combat operations.

The service wants these systems to fly from Ford-class and Nimitz-class nuclear carriers, while some designs could operate from smaller vessels.

Its requirements seeking industry proposals for platforms capable of eight missions, including attacks against ships and land targets, anti-submarine warfare, air combat, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Navy seeks autonomous aircraft for eight missions

The aircraft would also support aerial refuelling and resupply missions for naval task forces, creating a broad set of requirements for a single aircraft or connected family of systems.

Strike variants must have a minimum range of 1,000 nautical miles, equivalent to roughly 1,150 miles.

The service also wants advanced autonomy for carrier operations, mission changes and threat avoidance during flight.

Proposed systems must support automated aerial refuelling and remain compatible with existing unmanned aircraft control systems.

The Navy is seeking “affordable mass, risk-tolerant platforms” capable of addressing current and emerging threats, which points toward affordable aircraft designed to be produced in larger numbers than traditional high-cost combat jets.

Future carrier wings could rely on scalable drone fleets

The RFI asks companies to explain how their production methods could expand rapidly during a surge while keeping recurring flight and sustainment costs within sustainable limits.

Manufacturers must also describe ways to reduce maintenance demands and use existing naval supply networks.

The Navy is also open to aircraft that can operate from platforms beyond its largest carriers - vertical-takeoff and landing UAVs could fly from destroyers, expeditionary sea bases and other vessels with suitable aviation facilities.

“The Navy is interested in novel concepts that can operate from any air-capable platform,” the RFI states, including destroyers and mobile sea bases.

This could give naval commanders more options for deploying autonomous aircraft across different maritime environments.

The Air Wing of the Future Family of Systems forms part of the Trump administration’s Golden Fleet expansion plan.

Existing related programmes include the MQ-25A Stingray tanker and Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative.

The RFI also asks companies to explain planned capital investments and internal research commitments needed to mature their designs.

The Navy’s requirements suggest that future carrier aviation could combine advanced manned aircraft with larger fleets of autonomous systems designed for scale and operational risk tolerance.

Via Defense News

Ukraine claims $400 FPV drone destroyed Russia's $19 million 'Apache rival' attack helicopter

Rahimnoorali11@gmail.com (Rahim Amir) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:40:00 +0000

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) struck a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in flight over the Belgorod region with a SkyFall Shrike 10 FPV drone, hitting the helicopter from above
The attack, which saw a $400 drone strike and 'kill' a $19 million attack helicopter as per Skyfall, represents an impressive 47,500x exchange ratio
The attack isn't isolated: Russia has lost over 20+ Mi-28s in similar attacks since the conflict began in 2022

The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to expand as the latter continues to leverage asymmetric warfare to hold its own against a rival with superior technology and manpower, even as the conflict heads into its fifth year.

Much of this is due to Ukraine's pivot to home-grown drone and bot manufacturing, which helps to counter heavy Russian weaponry such as tanks, helicopters, and APCs using cheap but effective drones and bots to hold the line.

It has also allowed several startups to join the fray, offering low-cost options, often funded by external partners and allies to bolster Ukraine's war effort, and SkyFall's Shrike 10 FPV drone is one of them.

An impressive achievement, albeit with disputed claims

The Shrike 10 FPV drone, which costs less than a mid-range smartphone, flew up alongside a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter, climbed above it, and dove into its tail boom on the morning of the July 17, 2026, in Russia's Belgorod region.

The strike was carried out by operators of the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Rarog," and confirmed by Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), who published the drone's own final-approach footage on Telegram with the terse caption that the "Night Hunter" had gone "into the ground."

Ukrainian firm SkyFall, whose FPY drone, the Shrike 10, was involved in the attack, stated that it was priced at under $400 per unit. The Mi-28, per the same company, costs $19 million.

While the headline is impressive, the math might not completely check out: other sources put the cost of the Mi-28 at approximately $15 million, while a recent deal with Germany (50,000 SkyFall-built FPV drones for Ukraine, fitted with autonomous targeting software from US firm Auterion in a €90 million (~$103 million) deal) could mean that some liberties may have been taken to get to the $400 figure, though the Shrike 10 that attacked the Mi-28 might be differently configured or on the lower end of the spectrum.

The instance, which sees Ukraine claiming a kill on what is a pricey part of the Russian arsenal, is partially unconfirmed, with independent observers pointing out that there is no aftermath video and that attack helicopters often survive and successfully land after such hits. To Ukraine's credit, a similar kill, however, was reported in 2025 by the Ukrainian armed forces with footage to confirm the crash that followed.

Irrespective of the sum, the fact that a drone that costs a ten-thousandth of an attack helicopter that has been retrofitted to hunt it can be a credible predator of the same is potentially alarming, not only for the Russians but for military planners across the world, even if the damage in question might be open to dispute.

This is further corroborated by unverified sources claiming that the damage was 'minor' and did not affect either of the helicopter's two occupants at the time, thereby disputing much of SkyFall's claims beyond the drone's impact.

Russia's defense ministry, however, has not commented directly on the matter, and no open-source tracker such as Oryx has confirmed imagery of any wreckage either.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said the natiopn is producing 10 million drones a year while vying for a production target of 20 million drones in the future, much of it backed by foreign aid, indicating that the Russian Mi-28, which has 20+ confirmed visual losses since the conflict began, continues to be both, an attacker and defender against drones of all shapes and sizes

University engineers have figured out how to build an 'invisible' drone — here's the science behind it

Sam Kieldsen — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Prototype drone spins its entire body up to 25 times per second to blur itself into near-invisibility
Phantom Twist's single motor spins the whole airframe in one direction and its propeller in the other
AI design pipeline tested 20,000 possible layouts to find the optimal configuration

Drones have a visibility problem. Whether they're filming guests at a wedding or hunting for candid shots of nesting birds, the moment a drone is noticed, it can change the behavior of whatever it's observing — wildlife scatters, people act differently, and you end up with iffy results.

A team of engineers at Illinois' Northwestern University may have found a way around that, and it has nothing to do with camouflage. Their prototype drone, dubbed "Phantom Twist," doesn't try to look like its surroundings. Instead, it spins itself into a blur so fast that the human eye simply can't keep up.

The drone rotates up to 25 times per second — well beyond what the eye can resolve into a distinct shape. The drone doesn't disappear outright, but becomes what the researchers describe as a faint, semi-transparent smudge that blends into the sky or landscape behind it. It's not invisibility in the sci-fi sense, but according to the team it's about ten times harder to spot than a conventional quadcopter.

You spin me right round

The trick lies in the design itself. A typical quadcopter has four rotors spinning while its main body stays completely still, which is exactly why you can still pick it out against the sky — the frame doesn't move, so your eye locks onto it. Phantom Twist ditches that setup entirely. It runs on a single motor and single propeller, with the propeller spinning one way and the rest of the drone's body spinning the opposite way. There's no stationary part left for your eye to latch onto.

Building something that flies stably while spinning that fast isn't a simple engineering job, though, so the team leaned on AI to do the heavy lifting. The process started with around 20,000 computer-generated drone layouts, each one checked for steady flight. From there, optimization algorithms repeatedly shuffled the position of the drone's key components — motor, propeller, circuit board, battery and counterweights — so they'd never overlap visually as the whole thing spun.

Every candidate design was then simulated spinning against 100 real-world photo backgrounds and scored using a model built to approximate human vision, with the 500 lowest-scoring designs pushed through further rounds of optimization before the final version was built.

The result spreads its components out at different heights and angles, so when it's in motion, everything blurs into a soft haze. It's clever stuff, and a reminder of how much of what we "see" comes down to how our eyes process motion over time rather than snapping a perfect still image.

Now you see me: the Phantom Twist in all its ghostly glory (Image credit: Michael Rubenstein/Northwestern University)

It's worth being clear about what Phantom Twist is and isn't, though. This is a university research prototype, not a product with a release date or price tag, and it's still some way from ready for real-world deployment.

The propeller is audible even if the body isn't very visible. There's also no camera or imaging payload on the current build, which raises an obvious question for its stated wildlife-monitoring and infrastructure-inspection ambitions. It feels like a drone spinning 25 times a second would need some serious image stabilization or de-rotation trickery before it could shoot anything usable. The team hasn't detailed how (or whether) they plan to solve that yet.

There's an inevitable privacy angle to any drone that's harder to see, too, and it's not hard to imagine less charitable uses for the same principle down the line. For now, though, this remains a lab experiment funded by the National Science Foundation, aimed squarely at reducing wildlife disturbance rather than sneaking up on anyone — and there's no indication the spinning-body approach is heading toward consumer hardware anytime soon.

A mosquito-hunting killer drone is available for preorder – and I have questions

Sam Kieldsen — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Tornyol's drone tracks mosquitoes by their wingbeat and takes them down mid-flight
Can autonomously patrol areas of up to 5 acres
Preorders are open with a refundable $100 deposit, ahead of a targeted 2027 US launch

Tornyol, a San Francisco-based startup backed by Y Combinator, has built an autonomous micro-drone whose sole purpose is finding mosquitoes and flying straight into them. Forget spray, swatters and stinky citronella candles that go out halfway through your al fresco dinner — this propellered assassin can keep your yard bug-free all on its own.

Or at least, that's what its makers claim. Tornyol's drones use ultrasonic phased-array sonar — the same basic principle behind a car's parking sensors — paired with smartphone-grade microphones and custom signal-processing software. The system listens for the specific wingbeat frequency of a mosquito, distinguishes it from harmless insects like bees, and then closes in for a mid-air kill, using its whirring propellers as the business end. In other words, the mosquito is chopped to bits.

The company says its base station carries a 380-microphone array capable of tracking targets in real time to a distance of around 8m, with future planned drone versions likely to bring that sensing ability onto the aircraft itself.

Each drone flies for around five minutes at a time before heading back to its base station to recharge, a process Tornyol says takes about 30 minutes. The idea is a relay of short, targeted flights rather than a drone loitering in the air all evening. A single unit is pitched as capable of covering up to five acres (over 20,000 square meters).

As for safety, Tornyol cites the drone's tiny size and shrouded propellers as proof that it's safe to have buzzing around family and pets.

You can reserve one right now for a refundable $100 deposit. Once the drone is ready to ship, you'll be given a choice between an ongoing $50-a-month subscription or a one-off payment of $1,100 to own the hardware outright. A US launch is pegged for 2027, but availability everywhere else is TBC, pending local drone and pest-control regulatory approval — which, given what this thing actually does, may take a while.

It's pitched as being about more than backyard convenience, too. Tornyol frames its tech as a public health boon: mosquitoes are linked to roughly 700,000 deaths a year worldwide through diseases like malaria and dengue, and the company claims its approach could eventually slash the cost of mosquito control.

Right now, though, the achievements are more modest: on July 14, Tornyol co-founder Alex Toussaint posted a video of the drone's first confirmed "air-to-air kill": a moth, in a curtained-off test area, rather than a mosquito in the wild.

A post shared by Interesting Engineering (@interestingengineering)
A photo posted by on

Here's the buzzkill

So: a small, autonomous, AI-guided drone that identifies living targets and kills them on sight, patrolling your garden 24/7. What could possibly go wrong?

I'll admit that my sympathy for the mosquito is limited. Few people are going to find issue with a device that quietly thins out a blood-sucking insect responsible for ruining many a summer evening. If Tornyol's drones work as advertised and stay in their lane, this is about as palatable a "killer robot" as killer robots get.

But that's the thing about a system built to autonomously identify a target by sound and eliminate it: the target list is a software decision rather than a hardware one. Tornyol's own marketing boasts of distinguishing mosquitoes from "beneficial" insects like bees — which suggests the drone's kill criteria are, by design, adjustable. Currently it's tuned to a mosquito's wingbeat, but what's stopping a future firmware update — or a different customer altogether — from retuning it for something else?

And once you're comfortable with an autonomous hunter-killer aircraft policing the back garden, the scope creep writes itself. Mosquitoes today. Flies tomorrow, probably without much complaint either. But mice? Rats? Pigeons? Those are bigger, warmer-blooded and considerably more sympathetic targets, and if we're talking about robots that hunt and kill creatures on your property, where does the line get drawn — and by whom?

Tornyol's engineers appear to be solving a real problem, and it's a no-brainer to root for a tool that could put a dent in a global killer like malaria. But there's something dystopian about killer domestic robots too, and this is a solid first step to putting them in our homes.

An electric drone just set a new world air speed record - 434 mph device could be ideal for anti-aircraft interceptor action

Craig Hale — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Apex Recordhunter drone unofficially set a new air speed record of 434 mph
High-speed demonstrator will help develop next-gen military drones
Company targets further records with interceptor drones soon

Germany’s Quantum Systems Group has broken the world airspeed record for an electric drone, hitting speeds of 699km/h (434mph) during internal testing on June 26, 2026.

Though the company is yet to carry out a formal, independently verified attempt at setting a record under the official measurement rules to be recognized by both Guinness World Records and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the speed far exceeds that of the current record holder – 657.59km/h (409mph).

The latest, unverified record was set in straight and level flight, and would represent a 6.3% increase over the current record. Official testing is expected within the coming weeks, the company said in a press release.

Record-breaker is merely a technology demonstrator

Quantum Systems explained that the Apex Recordhunter drone was developed over the past year, but “serves as a technology demonstrator for next-generation high-speed systems” rather than being a commercially viable product. “Several innovations from the project are expected to support future interceptor drone programs,” the company added.

It is a battery-electric, fixed-wing aircraft developed by the firm’s N3XT advanced development team, benefiting from Porsche-subsidiary-supplied V4Smart battery cells.

Of course, the drone and its successors would not target consumer photographer and hobby markets, instead focusing on high-speed interceptors for modern warfare. Quantum Systems says lessons learned from Apex will directly influence future interceptor platforms for real-world defense scenarios.

“Super proud of the Quantum Systems team, showing our engineering ambition across our Group and reinforcing our commitment to developing world leading technologies,” co-CEO Florian Seibel wrote.

Engineers from Quantum’s Ukrainian WIY Drones division also contributed to the program – a noteworthy inclusion because Russia has increasingly deployed high-speed, jet-powered one-way attack drones. Deploying high-speed drones like the one Quantum Systems has developed could be much cheaper and more accessible than sending off expensive air-defense missiles.

Records continue to be broken as rapid development continues

By mid-July, the company also hopes to have set two other records. The first – the highest speed achieved by an FPV interceptor drone carrying a 500g payload – by its STRILA Interceptor. Second, its SPYS drone, gunning for the highest speed achieved by an anti-aircraft class FPV interceptor drone.

These achievements and potential records reflect an ongoing global race to develop faster military drones, but they also underscore the growing relevance of airborne, remote and autonomous weapons in modern warfare.

That said, other electric drones have technically achieved even higher speeds. Tom’s Hardware recently reported of a New Zealand duo who recorded high speeds of 730km/h (453mph) – that Blackbird drone uses sawtooth carbon fiber prop blades.

Despite lacking official recognition, the duo had previously set a record of 626km/h (388mph) in December 2025 with a separate drone, before quickly being overtaken by another record-holder which achieved a higher 659km/h (408mph). Regardless, an 11.7% increase from December’s first record to today’s unofficial record confirms there’s plenty of scope to continue pushing the boundary.

DJI drones are saving Mount Everest from being the 'world's highest garbage dump' — FlyCart 100 removes over 10,000kg of waste to save Sherpas from an eight-hour trek across a hazardous icefall

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:56:05 +0000

DJI announces completion of three drone missions on Everest
FlyCart 100 transports supplies one way and garbage the other
DJI Matrice 4E and DJI EV50 involved in other tasks on the mountain

Mount Everest has a trash problem. Decades of expeditions have left the world's highest mountain strewn with discarded oxygen canisters, abandoned tents, food packaging and worse — so much of it that the peak has earned the unflattering nickname of the "world's highest garbage dump." But DJI thinks its drones can help clean up the mess.

The drone giant has announced the successful completion of three missions on Everest, the headline act being the DJI FlyCart 100. DJI's heavy-lift delivery drone has spent the 2026 spring climbing season shuttling supplies and garbage between Base Camp and Camp 1 on the mountain's Nepalese south side.

A DJI FlyCart 100 drone transports material over Mount Everest. (Image credit: DJI)

Working with local drone company Airlift, DJI says the FlyCart 100 has hauled a total of 10,073kg between the two camps: 7,215kg of climbing supplies (think oxygen tanks, ropes and ladders) on the way up; 2,858kg of waste on the way back down. Going forward, the drone will assist in removing approximately 10,000kg of waste per season from higher camps that previously couldn't be cleaned up at all.

That's a serious amount of junk being shifted, but it's sorely needed. According to National Geographic, the average Everest climber generates around 8kg of trash during their expedition, most of which is left behind on the mountain. And with over 600 people attempting the summit every season — each supported by at least one local guide or porter — the rubbish is piling up quickly.

Eight minutes vs eight hours

The FlyCart 100's advantages aren't limited to its payload — the time (and risk) it saves is also a major boon. Traditionally, ferrying supplies from Base Camp to Camp 1 means Sherpas trekking for six to eight hours on foot through the Khumbu Icefall, a treacherous maze of shifting ice towers and crevasses that ranks among the most dangerous sections of the entire climb. The FlyCart 100 can cover the same route in just eight minutes.

That's not to say the drone has an easy ride. The FlyCart 100 can carry up to 100kg at sea level, but Everest is as far from sea level as our planet's surface gets. In DJI's tests, the drone lifted up to 47kg while operating at altitudes of over 6,300m, in temperatures ranging from -15°C to 5°C — conditions that would ground most consumer drones (and most helicopters, for that matter).

(Image credit: DJI)

"Our team remains dedicated to making the world's highest mountain safer and cleaner for Sherpas and mountaineers worldwide," said DJI spokesperson Christina Zhang. "The success of our latest operations marks a proud milestone, and we hope our ongoing collaboration with the scientific community will further advance drone technology — saving lives and supporting conservation efforts across the globe."

The cleanup effort closely aligns with Nepal's wider push to restore the mountain, including the Nepal Mountain Association's "Zero Waste Initiative 2027." The FlyCart 100 will also support the Nepalese climbing community's goal of transporting around 5,000 oxygen cylinders between Base Camp and Camp 1 each season.

Mavic 3 vs the mountain

DJI has some history on Everest. In 2022, a DJI Mavic 3 became the first drone to capture footage from the mountain's 8,848.86m summit, while in 2024 the FlyCart 30 completed the world's first drone delivery tests on the mountain.

This year's missions went further still: alongside the FlyCart 100's headline-grabbing delivery runs, a DJI Matrice 4E mapped over 3km² of the Khumbu Icefall in centimeter-level detail in just 3.5 hours, giving climbing teams real-time hazard data for planning safer routes. Meanwhile, on the mountain's north side, DJI's first eVTOL delivery drone, the EV50, carried ozone-measuring equipment for atmospheric research, reaching a maximum altitude of 8,861m — higher than the summit itself.

None of this will solve Everest's overcrowding problem, and there are still literal tons of historic garbage buried in its glaciers, with climate change exposing more of it every year. But if a drone can achieve in eight minutes what once took a Sherpa a full day of life-threatening work, it does seem like progress is truly being made.

Quote of the day by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt: 'A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank' — pithy insights about the future of warfare

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Eric Schmidt has enjoyed a long career in the technology industry, including a decade at the helm of Google. Since then, he's been heavily involved in the realm of defense – and has had a thing or two to say about the new reality of conflicts around the globe.

Modern warfare

Schmidt was speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia about the rise of drone-based warfare, contrasting this with the historic prevalence of tanks and armored vehicles.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

The cost-to-damage ratio is incredibly favorable, as he urged the US and Western allies to transition away from legacy tech in favor of drones and other related technologies at the heart of a new kind of warfare.

His expertise in this realm comes primarily from his role advising the US government and military on technology, with the former Google CEO chairing the Defense Innovation Board from March 2016. This organization primarily connects the tech sector with the Pentagon.

Between 2019 and 2021, Schmidt also co-chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which had a mission to make recommendations to the US president and Congress on the role of AI in the future of defense.

Look to the skies

Schmidt's comments came two-and-a-half years following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war that's been defined by next-generation technologies including robotics and drones.

Ukraine has, for example, used AI drones to strike vital Russian supply lines, while in recent weeks, news emerged that Russia has also stepped up use of jet-powered drones that can hit speeds of up to 500 km/h against its adversary.

Drones are incredibly cheap compared with technologies used in the past – and they're also incredibly effective. We also see examples of the way drones have been used in the conflict between the US-Israeli forces and Iran.

Anonymous Wild Hornets spokesperson calls drone swarms 'a fun legend and a scam mechanism' as he defends the critical importance of 3D printers in warfare

Craig Hale — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Wild Hornets expanding use of 3D printing to meet demand
In-house manufacturing reduces reliance on third-party suppliers
The company is focusing on software as drone swarm threats evolve

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets believes 3D printing could be the answer to modern warfare, helping companies like it to reduce costs and boost production.

DOU reports the company is now growing its 3D printing footprint using large numbers of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) desktop printers, like Bambu Lab and Elegoo devices, rather than using expensive industrial systems.

This allows the company to churn out plastic drone components at high volume, but it also improves the speed of manufacturing allowing the company to iterate design more quickly as enemy tactics evolve.

3D printing’s role in modern warfare

Recent reporting on the company by industry experts at 3D Printing Industry, highlights how desktop 3D printers offer several advantages for quickly evolving digital and aerial warfare, like lower capital costs for manufacturing, quick prototyping support and easier scaling via new printers, rather than having to build new tools and moulds.

This comes as Ukraine continues to face enemy threats – the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) continues to report rising attacks from Russia as the country doubles down on Iranian Shahed-type drones.

In-house, affordable manufacturing also covers battery packs, flight controllers and other electronics and components, all helping to reduce costs and support Ukraine’s efforts. It also reduces reliance on third parties and external supply chains.

Since its inception, Wild Hornets has grown from a volunteer initiative into a manufacturer capable of producing around 100 drones per day – deepening its 3D printing strategy will only help.

Speaking about artificial intelligence, an anonymous spokesperson from Wild Hornets told DOU AI’s use in drone-based warfare is limited but is starting to expand, primarily spanning recognition and navigation. However, Wild Hornets estimates that adding AI functionality currently raises costs by $150 to $500 per drone, making it a costly consideration.

Drones are becoming much more than hardware

Looking ahead, Wild Hornets is seeing defense partner interest moving beyond the drone itself to the entire Hornet Vision package, which includes digital video transmission, remote control, AI and more.

The system itself was originally designed because Chinese digital control systems became unavailable amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, but with the company recently demonstrating successful remote operation of its Sting interceptor from 2,000km away, from a country outside of Ukraine, partners are increasingly interested in the full hardware and software package.

However, even while aerial, autonomous threats continue to rise, the company’s unnamed speaker told DOU that drone swarms don’t exist in the way they’re made out to exist, describing them as ‘a cool legend and a mechanism for a scam to get money from naive investors.’

The company promises to add drone swarm technology as and when it emerges and evolves, but for now it’s neither an option nor a realistic threat.

“We would like the war to end,” they added. “Then, instead of increasing production volumes, we would focus on technologies, R&D, design solutions and cooperation with foreign partners.”

This vibrant bird’s-eye view of a chili farm in Bangladesh just won a major aerial photography award — and it was captured with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:41:25 +0000

International Aerial Photographer of the Year 2026 winners announced
Azim Khan Ronnie and Vitaly Golovatyuk scoop the top 'Photographer' and 'Photograph' prizes
Both winners shoot aerial images with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro

If you love jaw-dropping aerial images, the International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest is well worth checking out — and the contest's 2026 winners have just been announced.

A total of 101 images were shortlisted by the contest's three judges, and Azim Khan Ronnie scooped the top prize with his portfolio of scenes from around the world, including vibrant images of chili pepper harvesters in his home country of Bangladesh.

Ronnie said: “From above, everyday scenes reveal patterns, geometry, textures and relationships that are often invisible from the ground. Aerial photography allows me to tell stories about people, nature and the environment from a perspective that inspires curiosity and offers a deeper understanding of the world."

A minimum of four images are required to be considered for the top 'Photographer' prize won by Ronnie. Vitaly Golovatyuk of the Russian Federation took 1st place for the International Aerial Photograph of the Year, with their individual image of a bird standing in a perfectly still lake in Elk Park, outside Dongtai City in the Zhejiang Province of China.

You can take a look at Azim Khan Ronnie's portfolio below, with the variety of scenes including migratory seagulls in Yamuna Ghat, Delhi, India and a perfectly synchronized rowing team gliding over the mist-covered surface of Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

For a few months of the year, a large number of Siberian seagulls migrate to various parts of India. One of them is Yamuna Ghat in Delhi. The birds start coming in here in November and move out in mid-March. The activity continues all morning.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted ready to be delivered to spice companies in the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh. More than 2,000 people work in almost 100 chilli farms in Bogura.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

An aerial view of a rowing team gliding through the pristine waters of Lake Zurich in Switzerland. The team is perfectly synchronized, with oars cutting cleanly into the turquoise, misty surface, leaving subtle ripples in their wake.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

Hindu devotees gather in Dhaka for Rakher Upobash, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps to honour Baba Lokenath. Thousands seek blessings for health and protection, recalling the 18th century saint’s life of asceticism and spiritual devotion.Azim Khan Ronnie / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year

'Unique and extraordinary'

I reached out to Azim Khan Ronnie, who described his images as "unique and extraordinary", and the result of much hard work, repeat visits and early starts.

I was particularly drawn to his series of chili pepper harvesters in Bogura, Bangladesh, where more than 2,000 people work on approximately 100 chili farms — you can see more of his images from this particular series at his Instagram page, linked below.

The vibrant colors grabbed my attention first, then the abstract patterns and astute composition kept me engaged.

A post shared by Azim Khan Ronnie (@azimronnie)
A photo posted by on

I also enjoyed his use of manual exposure and a slow shutter speed to blur the motion of the migratory seagulls, in contrast to the still (and sharp) boat they're surrounding, in his image from Yamuna Ghat, Delhi, India.

In the International Aerial Photographer of the Year press release, learn that Ronnie takes his aerial images with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone — a professional triple-camera drone which scored a maximum 5-star rating in our in-depth review.

Ronnie says, “For aerial photography, I use the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 Classic, allowing me to create images that reveal scale, patterns and perspectives impossible to capture from the ground. I always shoot exclusively in raw to capture the maximum amount of image data, giving me greater flexibility during post-processing while preserving image quality."

Birdie is sitting on the water of a tiny, crystal clear lake with reflection of the sky and surrounded by red grass, somewhere in Dongtai. Vitaly Golovatyuk, DJI Mavic 4 Pro (Image credit: Vitaly Golovatyuk / The 2nd International Aerial Photographer of the Year)

Vitaly Golovatyuk also used a Mavic 4 Pro for his winning individual image (above), taken in China, where the still lake appears like an eye, with the bird framed in the center among the reflected clouds and the surrounding rich red landscape.

The winners from the 101 shortlisted entries can be found at The International Aerial Photographer of the Year website, whose founders are on a mission 'to encourage and share the wonders of aerial photography'.

If you scroll to the bottom of the page linked above, there's a flip book containing all of the shortlisted entries — trust me, it's well worth a look.

The FBI has seized over 600 drones around World Cup matches across all 11 US host cities — and that's bad news for all drone fans

Sam Kieldsen — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:30:10 +0000

The FBI says it's now seized over 600 drones near World Cup venues
Seizures have been recorded in every one of the tournament's US host cities
This could have implications for all drone fans during national events

Back in mid-June the FBI made a big show of announcing that it had seized around 15 drones near World Cup venues, in what felt like a pointed and clear warning to would-be aerial photographers that the agency meant business.

Apparently, a lot of people weren't listening. Three weeks on, the FBI now claims it has seized over 600 drones across all 11 US host cities since the tournament began, with operators facing fines of up to $100,000 and potential federal criminal charges for violating temporary flight restrictions.

The enforcement operation dwarfs what we reported on just weeks ago. According to the FBI, seizures have been recorded in every one of the tournament's US host cities.

Miami leads the count at 99 confiscated drones, followed by Los Angeles at 91, Dallas at 78, and Atlanta at 77. Kansas City recorded 61 seizures, with Seattle (52), San Francisco (48), Boston (44), New York/New Jersey (38), Philadelphia (29), and Houston (24) rounding out the full picture. The flight violations have reached epic proportions.

Due to unprecedented law enforcement coordination, this FBI and our DHS partners have seized over 600 drones from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities since the start of the FIFA World Cup tournament. pic.twitter.com/3qo03ofyXfJuly 4, 2026

The FBI's enforcement has relied on a combination of RF detection systems, radar monitoring and dedicated Counter Drone Enforcement Teams stationed around stadiums and fan festival sites on match days. Under authority granted by the Department of Justice, agents have been empowered not just to detect and track unauthorized drones, but to actively seize them and pursue charges against their operators.

The FAA's no-fly zones extend three nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet around host stadiums on match days — a restriction that has been widely publicized since before the tournament kicked off — with tighter one-nautical-mile, 1,000-foot zones around fan festival venues.

"The FBI and our partners will continue to identify drone operators who violate Temporary Flight Restrictions. Our collective goal remains that FIFA World Cup 2026 events are safe for all participants and attendees," one FBI agent stated, making clear that the seizures are set to continue all the way through to the final on Sunday June 19.

Analysis: What comes next could be worse than a $100,000 fine

(Image credit: Getty Images / Icon Sportswire)

600 seizures across 11 cities is a remarkable number — and not in a good way. These rules were well publicized by the FAA before the tournament, apps like B4UFLY (on iOS and Android) make checking airspace status a 30-second task, and multiple law enforcement agencies held press conferences specifically to warn operators about the consequences of non-compliance. And yet, in city after city, pilots still took to the skies.

The concern now isn't just for the individuals facing fines and confiscations, but for what this level of disregard signals to the regulators and lawmakers who will be deciding the future of civilian drone use in the US.

The FAA's existing framework for hobbyist and recreational drone operation is already more permissive than many countries — but that framework depends in part on the implicit argument that most operators are responsible and self-regulating.

600 violations in a single tournament, at one of the most high-profile enforcement operations in the FAA's history, makes that argument difficult to sustain.

(Image credit: Future)

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are less than two years away. If the World Cup enforcement figures are used as a benchmark, the case for tightening permanent restrictions around major events, expanding no-fly zones, or pushing for mandatory remote ID enforcement at a broader scale becomes significantly stronger.

Remote ID, which requires drones to broadcast identification and location data in real time, is already a legal requirement for most operators under FAA rules introduced in 2023, but enforcement has been patchy. The World Cup violations and seizures give regulators plenty of ammunition to push for something far more robust.

There's a wider reputational cost too. Drone manufacturers, industry advocates and responsible hobbyist pilots have spent years making the case that civilian drone use is a legitimate, low-risk activity that warrants a light-touch regulatory environment.

Every drone user who has ignored a well-publicized no-fly zone during this tournament has handed opponents of that argument exactly the evidence they needed, and if the regulatory response over the next few years turns out to be harsher than most drone enthusiasts would like, it will be difficult to claim that it wasn't, at least in part, earned.

As the World Cup moves into the quarter final stage, we'll be keeping an eye out to see if the flight restriction violations continue.

I tested the affordable Ruko U11Mini 4K drone — and it's no match for DJI's new flyer

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Ruko U11Mini 4K: One-minute review

DJI's dominance of the consumer drone market is so total that you have to wonder whether any rival can land a meaningful blow. The Ruko U11Mini 4K is the latest contender to step into the ring, and on paper it looks like a credible one: a sub-250g folding quadcopter with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor, 4K video, and an optional touchscreen controller that's clearly modeled on DJI's own RC series.

Unfortunately, the closer I looked, the more the U11Mini 4K's limitations revealed themselves, and the gulf between Ruko and DJI's similarly-priced beginner drones remains huge.

In the air, the U11Mini 4K is a mixed bag. Flight is reasonably stable in calm conditions, but it's easily pushed around by wind, and during one flight I experienced an alarming voltage drop that triggered an unscheduled emergency landing. The touchscreen RC3 controller is a solid piece of hardware, and a smart way to sidestep the usual phone-pairing headaches, but its joysticks lack the precision of DJI's equivalents, making smooth, cinematic camera moves a struggle.

There's no obstacle avoidance whatsoever, and the automated flight modes feel half-baked: Point of Interest mode, for instance, simply circles wherever the drone happens to be, rather than the subject you actually want to showcase.

On paper, the Ruko U11Mini 4K looks like a solid DJI Mini 4K competitor, but a few minutes of flying it sadly convinced me otherwise. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The camera quality is similarly inconsistent. 4K video in good light is detailed and perfectly watchable, if a little flat and lacking in dynamic range, but stills are a different story; the U11Mini 4K's exposure metering routinely blows out highlights, and there's no way to fix this reliably even when dialing back the EV.

Storage is another sore point: the drone does have a small but usable amount of internal storage, but with no USB port on the aircraft itself, getting your footage off it is a major chore, and I'd recommend sticking exclusively to a microSD card instead. One that you'll have to supply yourself, as none are included in the box.

All of this would be more forgivable if the U11Mini 4K were a budget bargain, but at around £300 (rising to £499 for the bundle I tested, with its two batteries, hard case and that RC3 controller), it's pitched at almost exactly the same price as the DJI Lito 1 — a drone that beats it comprehensively on image quality, obstacle sensing and battery life. The U11Mini 4K isn't a complete disaster, but nobody should pick one over DJI's equivalent.

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Price and availability

Priced from around $339.99 / £300 / AU$549.99
Touchscreen RC3 controller bundle costs $424.99 / £499
Available now direct from Ruko and via Amazon

The Ruko U11Mini 4K is available now, sold directly through Ruko's website and via Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.

Pricing varies considerably depending on region and bundle. In the UK, the base package costs around £300, rising to £499 for the bundle I tested, which includes two batteries, a hard case, and the touchscreen RC3 controller in place of the standard smartphone-based remote.

US pricing follows a similar pattern, though at the time of writing Ruko's online store had both bundles discounted. The two-battery, hard case, RC3 controller bundle was priced at $424.99 (down from $599.99), while a separate three-battery bundle with a hard case and smartphone controller (rather than the RC3) was available for just $339.99 (down from $509.99) — making it the cheaper option overall despite the extra battery.

In Australia, Amazon lists a single-battery, smartphone controller bundle for AU$549.99, with a three-battery, hard case and smartphone controller bundle priced at AU$699.99.

The carry case is a well-designed accessory that'll keep the drone, controller and a couple of extra batteries snug and safe. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

In the UK and Australia, its direct rival is the recently launched DJI Lito 1. This costs £299 in the UK, while in Australia it's priced at AU$539 for the basic bundle (one battery and the RC-N3 smartphone controller) or AU$779 for the Fly More Combo (three batteries, RC-N3 controller, charging hub and shoulder bag). I'd say it's a much better value prospect than the Ruko, and shoppers should definitely consider it if they're hunting for a good entry-level model.

US buyers don't have that option, however, since due to the current DJI ban the Lito 1 isn't sold in America. That leaves older models like the DJI Mini 4K as the more relevant comparison stateside — and despite its age, it's still a better drone than the U11Mini 4K.

Price score: 2.5/5

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Specs

Ruko U11Mini 4K specs
	Ruko U11Mini 4K
Camera:	48MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor
Video:	4K 30fps
Flight modes:	Smooth, Normal, Sport
Storage:	Internal memory + microSD card slot (up to 256GB supported)
Battery:	2,200mAh / up to 32 minutes flight time
Charger type:	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:	249g / 8.8oz (approx.)
Dimensions:	141 x 86.9 x 57.9mm / 5.55 x 3.42 x 2.28in (folded)

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Design and build quality

Folding design, weighing under 249g
Optional touchscreen RC3 controller
microSD slot supports cards up to 256GB

The U11Mini 4K follows the same folding quadcopter template as most sub-250g drones on the market right now, including DJI's own Mini and Lito series.

It's made from hard plastic, and folds down to a genuinely pocketable size (if we're talking coat rather than trousers, mind you). At under 249g, it sits just inside a weight threshold that exempts it from the strictest drone registration requirements in the UK, US and elsewhere.

Round the back, you'll find a microSD card slot, supporting cards up to 256GB. There's also internal storage built into the drone itself, but accessing it is far more trouble than it's worth.

That's because, bafflingly, there's no USB port anywhere on the drone. The only way to get photos and video off the internal storage is via the controller, transferring wirelessly to an app like Google Photos — a process that, in my testing, also downgraded my 4K footage to 720p in the process. So I'd strongly recommend buying a microSD card (none is included in the box) and ignoring the internal storage altogether.

When folded, the U11Mini 4K would fit in a large coat pocket.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The RC3 controller is well built, but does suffer from some janky software issues.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The batteries are recharged directly via their on-board USB-C port.Future | Sam Kieldsen

Future | Sam Kieldsen

A clip-on cover is supplied to protect the camera and gimbal during transport, which is a sensible inclusion — if a little fiddly to fit and remove. Depending on the bundle you buy, you may also get a nicely sturdy hard-sided storage case, which comes with internal spaces for the controller, drone and up to two additional flight batteries.

The RC3 controller from the bundle I reviewed is pretty impressive, at least at first glance. Its built-in touchscreen is clearly inspired by DJI's RC series, and it's a decent effort: solid in the hand, with a bright, crisp display. But it came with its own set of connectivity issues, refusing to play nicely with my home Wi-Fi network and preventing me from downloading the latest firmware updates. I was able to connect it to my iPhone's hotspot, so the Wi-Fi antennas evidently do work in some circumstances, but the fact they wouldn't hook up to a network that works fine with every other drone I've reviewed recently suggests there's a deeper issue here.

Design score: 3/5

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Features and flight performance

32-minute quoted battery life; around 20 minutes in real-world testing
No obstacle avoidance
Automated flight modes feel underbaked

Ruko quotes a battery life of 32 minutes for the U11Mini 4K. In my testing, which happened mostly in fairly breezy coastal conditions, I got closer to 20 minutes before the low battery warnings kicked in.

That discrepancy might be partly down to the wind, which the U11Mini 4K isn't great at handling. Despite Ruko's claimed Level 5 wind resistance (a tolerance of 19-24mph), I watched the drone get visibly knocked around by some standard coastal gusts. You can see the resulting unevenness in the horizon line on some of my footage.

One flight also threw up a worrying issue. A few seconds after take-off, with the battery indicator initially showing around 75%, a low voltage warning flashed up, the battery indicator dropped instantly to around 10%, and I immediately effected a panicked return to home (not wanting the drone to drop straight into the sea). When I checked the battery afterwards, it was still showing roughly 75% charge. Whatever caused that mid-air voltage drop, it's not a reassuring thing to experience while flying.

With no obstacle avoidance tech, you'll need to steer well clear of trees, bushes and lampposts. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Flight itself is reasonably stable and responsive in calm conditions, but the RC3 controller's joysticks let the side down. There's a wide dead zone before inputs register, which makes smooth, considered camera moves all but impossible, and as far as I can tell there's no way to adjust stick sensitivity to compensate. With a DJI drone, the slightest stick pressure produces an immediate and proportional response; here, you're fighting the controller as much as the wind.

Obstacle avoidance is non-existent, so pilots will need to take a lot of care when flying. There's no forward, downward or omnidirectional sensing of any kind, which is a significant omission next to the DJI Lito 1's full suite of vision sensors.

The automated flight modes are similarly disappointing. Point of Interest mode, for instance, should really let you tap a subject on the touchscreen and have the drone circle it automatically; instead, it just flies in a circle around wherever it happens to be at the time, regardless of whether there's anything interesting in front of it. There's also a tracking mode that follows your phone, though I wasn't able to test this myself, since I was flying with the RC3 controller rather than a paired smartphone.

Flight performance score: 3/5

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Image and video quality

1/2-inch CMOS sensor, 4K video at 30fps
Stills are overexposed and oversharpened
No flat/log color profile available

The U11Mini 4K's camera is built around a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and f/1.8 lens, which on paper is perfectly respectable for a drone at this price. There's no fundamental reason a sensor of this size can't produce good aerial photos and video, but in practice, the U11Mini 4K struggles to get the most out of it.

Stills are the weaker of the two. Exposure metering is unreliable, and the camera has a strong tendency to massively overexpose, particularly in bright conditions. Even dialing back the EV compensation for photos didn't fix this consistently; I was left with whites that were blown out and stripped of any detail far too often. Zoom into the shots even slightly and they're aggressively oversharpened and algorithmically upscaled in a jarring way, too.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

Video fares slightly better, for reasons I couldn't quite pin down. At its top quality setting — 4K at 30fps — footage is detailed and rich in good lighting, even if it lacks dynamic range and punch compared to the best in this class. Bright areas can still blow out, while shadows tend to lack detail and look slightly underexposed, but overall it's a far more usable result than the stills.

One thing that might have helped close that gap is a log color profile, but sadly there's nothing of the kind available. A log format may have given me more room to fix the exposure issues in post-production grading, but here what you capture in-camera is largely what you're stuck with, unfortunately.

Image and video quality score: 3/5

Ruko U11Mini 4K: Testing scorecard

Ruko U11Mini 4K
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Competitive on paper but matched or undercut by the superior DJI Lito 1.	2.5/5
Design	Decent folding build and solid touchscreen controller, but let down by the lack of a USB port.	3/5
Features and flight	Reasonably stable flying, but imprecise controls, no obstacle avoidance, and half-baked automated modes.	3/5
Image and video quality	OK 4K video, but routinely overexposes and there's no log profile to compensate.	3/5

Should I buy the Ruko U11Mini 4K

Buy it if...

You're a US buyer priced out of newer DJI options
With the Lito 1 unavailable in the US, the U11Mini 4K gives budget-conscious American buyers another option to weigh against older DJI models like the Mini 4K.

You want the cheapest possible 4K drone with a screen controller
If budget is your only real consideration and you can live with its flaws, the U11Mini 4K undercuts some screen-controller rivals on price.

You only ever shoot video, never stills
Video output is decent in good light, even if the photo side of things lets the side down badly.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You can stretch to a DJI Lito 1
At the same or lower price, the Lito 1 beats the U11Mini 4K in nearly every meaningful respect.

You want precise, cinematic camera control
The RC3 controller's dead zones make smooth, considered camera movement a real struggle.View Deal

You fly somewhere with lots of hazards
There's no obstacle avoidance of any kind, a significant safety gap next to rivals like the Lito 1.

Ruko U11Mini 4K: also consider

DJI Lito 1

At the same UK and Australian price as the U11Mini 4K, the Lito 1 is simply a better drone in almost every way, with superior image quality, full obstacle avoidance and longer battery life. The only thing it can't match is the U11Mini 4K's RC3 touchscreen controller, which DJI doesn't bundle with the Lito 1 currently.

Read our in-depth DJI Lito X1/1 review

DJI Neo 2

Smaller, cheaper and a blast to fly, the tiny, whoop-style Neo 2 doesn't need a controller at all, tracking and filming you autonomously straight out of the box. Its video quality is on par with the Lito 1's, and therefore a clear step up over the U11Mini 4K's, even though it's a much more affordable drone.

Read our in-depth DJI Neo 2 review

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

How I tested the Ruko U11Mini 4K

I tested all available flight modes and control methods
I captured stills and video in a range of lighting and weather conditions
I assessed battery life, wind resistance and file transfer in real-world use

I flew the U11Mini 4K over several sessions, in a mix of calm and breezy UK coastal conditions, to get a feel for how it handled real-world flying rather than just ideal, sheltered conditions. I tested manual flight extensively, paying close attention to stick precision and responsiveness, and also tried out the drone's automated modes to assess how well they lived up to their billing.

On the camera side, I shot both stills and 4K video in a variety of lighting conditions, later reviewing the footage and photos on a larger screen to properly judge exposure, detail and dynamic range. The footage you see embedded above was edited in DaVinci Resolve, but not color corrected. Photos were tweaked slightly in Adobe Lightroom.

I also tested battery life under real-world conditions rather than relying on Ruko's quoted 32-minute figure, and ran through the process of transferring footage off the drone via both the microSD card and the internal storage, to evaluate how easy (or otherwise) that process is for a typical buyer.

First reviewed: July 2026
Read more about how we test

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it's your shiny new DJI drone thanks to these 35% off savings

amelia.schwanke@futurenet.com (Amelia Schwanke) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:10:46 +0000

My first DJI drone was the flagship DJI Mavic Pro that launched in 2016. At the time, it was the brand's smallest consumer market drone ever made, replacing the bulky DJI Phantom, and that meant it wasn't cheap at $999 / £999.

It didn't take long after unboxing it for me to crash it into a wall. I was excited; the controls were inverted. Back then, there was no way I could simply fork out for a replacement drone — but luckily it just needed a new arm rather than a whole new drone (phew).

Since then, DJI has expanded its consumer drone range considerably, from the ultra-lightweight Mini Series to the more accessible Neo Series for casual flyers. The most beginner-friendly of the lot is the DJI Neo, which you can find at Amazon for as low as $139 (was $199) in the US and £113 (was £169) in the UK for the drone itself.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

I've rounded up the best DJI drone deals, like the DJI Neo, below. Hopefully, you're shopping to upgrade rather than replace, though. Happy flying!

Today's best DJI drone deals in the US

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, the drone itself is less than $140. View Deal

It's not a huge discount on a drone that's now been succeeded by a newer model, but that doesn't mean this DJI drone deal that saves you $150 should be ignored. If you're yet to fly high or want to upgrade from a much older quadcopter, this 249g drone is still pretty darn good. Read our review for the full scoop.View Deal

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $255.55. This combo includes DJI's updated remote controller and two batteries for a 62-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K Camera Drone Combo is a great starting point. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Motion Fly More bundle, which includes the RC Motion 3, three batteries, and a charging hub. View Deal

Today's best DJI drone deals in the UK

In our DJI Mini 3 review, we praised it as "an enticing choice for eager drone pilots willing to sacrifice the obvious safety benefits of collision avoidance for a more affordable model". While it has since been succeeded, this 35% saving is still a notable discount worth considering if you want an entry-level drone. View Deal

I've been tracking DJI prices for the last three and a half years, and the current Mini 4K price is the lowest it has ever been. This package includes the drone, controller, and one battery. The camera is mounted to a three-axis gimbal for smooth 4K video capture, offers a handy 2x digital zoom, and boasts 31 minutes of flight time.View Deal

Usually, I recommend Fly More Combos for first-time buyers because you get a controller, extra batteries, and a charging hub, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle. There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

If you've read our DJI Neo review, you'll already know that it's the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Both the drone itself and combo packages are discounted at Amazon right now. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.View Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from £5
Fans: from £20
Fashion: up to 50% off
Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
Laptops: from £149
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

The DJI Mini 4K falls to a scarcely believable low price — here's why it's your best value first drone

Timothy Coleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:10:43 +0000

Earlier this week, I recommended a knock-out deal for the DJI Neo — the lowest price for a DJI drone I've ever seen. But if you want a better value drone, especially if you're keen to take control of it yourself and learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is my top pick.

I bought a DJI Mini 4K myself a couple of years ago, and its record-low price right now for Prime Day is less than half of what I paid — the Mini 4K costs $209 at Amazon US / £169 at Amazon UK. And unlike the Neo, a controller is included in the base package.

There are various deals for other bundles too, with additional batteries and so on — I've included links to those deals below. I've also rounded up the best DJI deals for other beginner drones, so you're completely covered for your first drone.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

If you're in the US and not sure about DJI given the current ban, read on for my advice.

The gimbal-stabilized camera shoots smooth 4K video (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Your ideal first drone to learn flight

The DJI Neo is the quickest drone to get started with, with its one-push take-off and automated subject tracking, but if you actually want to learn to fly, then the DJI Mini 4K is a better bet. I've reviewed the Mini 4K, and you can see my YouTube review below.

The base package costs a little more than the Neo, but a controller is included. If you want a controller with the Neo, the price shoots up.

For your money, you get decent aerial photography quality, thanks to a 3-axis gimbal camera, 4K video, and 12MP stills. Flight time is rated up to 31 minutes on a full charge, and there are a host of automated flight moves to quickly level up your aerial videos.

Of course, like all DJI Mini drones, the Mini 4K weighs less than 250g, making it officially a beginner drone that's not hit with the regulations that heavier, pro drones are.

If your budget stretches a little further, I recommend the recent DJI Lito X1, which gives an image quality step up and object sensing, meaning you're less likely to crash it. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, but for me, the Mini 4K is the best value.

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (US)

DJI's latest entry-level drone upgrades the Mini 2 SE with 4K video capture, whereas the Mini 2 SE only shoots in 2.7K. And with this Prime Day deal, it's available for a record-low price, beating the previous low of $239. This standard combo includes DJI's basic remote controller and a single battery for a 31-minute flight time. If you're looking for your first drone equipped with a camera, the Mini 4K is a great starting point. View Deal

For and extra $46 from the deal above, this Combo adds a second battery and a carry case. I'm not seeing a deal for the Fly More Combo at the time of writing. View Deal

Today's best DJI Mini 4K deals (UK)

The Fly More Combo is the ultimate package, with a carry case, three batteries and a charging hub in addition to the Mini 4K drone. View Deal

More of the best beginner DJI Mini drone deals today

More DJI Mini deals (US)

Usually I would all out recommend the Fly More Combos, but of any beginner drone, the autonomous Neo is possibly the one where you can get away with the single-battery, drone-only bundle.

On the flipside, if you'd like to try immersive FPV flight, the Neo can be purchased with goggles in the pricier Motion Fly Combo for $449 (was $529). View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which includes a controller, three batteries, and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More DJI Mini deals (UK)

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price ever in the UK for a DJI drone that shoots 4K video. View Deal

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, with one-tap takeoff, subject tracking, and automatic return. Weighing just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for well below the list price. This deal is for the Fly More bundle, which also includes a controller, three batteries, and a charging hub.

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro are better picks.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More Prime Day deals in the US

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

'Half a million hours of Ukraine conflict drone footage' to be used to train and deploy new AI models for autonomous targeting drone swarms

Craig Hale — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

500k+ hours of Ukraine war drone footage to be used for AI training
Real-world data provides deeper context and higher quality than synthetic data
Ukraine officials believe in a "war of operating systems" where training data matters

Virginia-based AI firm Enabled Intelligence says it's added more than 500,000 hours of Ukraine war drone footage to its EView platform to help train models.

The real-world data is hoped to provide better-quality training to the computer vision and video analysis models, instead of having to rely on synthetic data, in a bid to improve the efficacy of AI-powered drones in modern warfare.

"It’s footage from one of the most complex and dynamic conflicts in modern history," CEO Peter Kant explained (via DefenseScoop), noting that the training data hasn't come from a simulated or controlled environment.

Ukraine war drone footage used to train AI drones

Kant explained that footage will help train models across "aerial object detection, vehicle classification and ground activity," and that it's pre-labeled, validated and ready for training use. It gives the models more experience handling changing conditions like weather, smoke, dust, damaged infrastructure and other dynamic environments.

Artificial intelligence has broadly changed how militaries benchmark weapons, because it's no longer about who has the best drone. Dataset quality is an even bigger differentiator when it comes to autonomous warfare.

As for the Ukraine war's role in the training dataset, it marks one of the most drone-intensive wars to date with thousands of drones operating daily and generating huge amounts of real-world data.

The evolution also highlights an emerging competitive advantage for certain countries – those involved in conflict early on in AI's timeline can generate enormous amounts of real operational data before enemies, putting them one pace ahead.

"The system ⁠that possesses more data and better understands that data, proposes solutions — that system will gain the advantage over the other," head of Ukraine's defense ministry's AI center Danylo Tsvok told Reuters, referring to a future where we could see a "war of operating systems."

I've never seen a DJI drone this cheap — the Neo selfie drone falls to an unfathomably low £113, and I think it's a no-brainer as your first drone

Timothy Coleman — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:01:07 +0000

No other 4K drone is easier to get started with than the DJI Neo. Anyone can be airborne with it in minutes, capturing 4K selfies with smart subject tracking. And the good news is that you really don't need all the costly extras that I usually recommend to first-time pilots — the drone-only package for £113.05 at Amazon UK is a great option to take your first flight.

Yes, the beauty of the Neo is its versatile flight options; it works with or without a controller, and with goggles for FPV flight. However, you really can enjoy its best feature — automated subject tracking — in its simplest controller-free form.

If you're feeling flash, the Fly More Combo is available for below £200 for the first time, now just £198.55 at Amazon UK (was £299), with which you'll get the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub, while the price of the Motion Fly Combo, which includes the goggles and motion controller for FPV flight, now costs just £309 at Amazon (was £449).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

These are excellent prices over Amazon Prime Day for one of the most compelling beginner drones that I've had the pleasure of testing.

With single-push take-off, you don't actually need a controller to use the DJI Neo (Image credit: James Abbott)

A DJI drone at this price?

We gave the DJI Neo 4 stars in our review when it was launched in September 2024 as the cheapest DJI drone that shoots 4K video. It has since been upgraded to the Neo 2 in November 2025 — I've highlighted five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer so you can be sure what you may or may not be missing out on should you opt for the older model.

Yes, the Neo 2 is a decent upgrade and worth the extra outlay for some people, but there are many similarities between the two selfie drones. For first-timers, I think the original model offers the best value, especially at the new low prices.

If aerial photography is your chief concern, however, you might be better off looking at other DJI quadcopters; the Neo has a small 1/2-inch sensor and is limited to 12MP JPEG-only photos and 4K video with standard color profile (no D-Log). The Neo 2 has much the same image quality, but drones such as the recent DJI Lito X1 give an image quality step up. I've included the best deals for other beginner DJI drones below, though none come close to the extraordinarily low price of the Neo.

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deals

You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its ease of use, beginner-friendly features, and versatile flight options. If you want better quality aerial images, check out the deals listed below for the Mini 4K, Lito X1, and Mini 5 Pro.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

More of the best beginner DJI drone deals today

More Prime Day deals in the UK

Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
Essentials: household goods from under £10
Fashion: up to 50% off
Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
Headphones: up to 50% off
Laptops: from £149.99
Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
TVs: from £129.99
Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

The original DJI Neo just got cheaper — should you buy the discounted bundle or spring for the fresher Neo 2? I test drones for a living, and here's the one I'd buy with my own money

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:14:39 +0000

The simplest beginner drone I've ever used is DJI's tiny Neo. It works with or without a controller, with goggles as an FPV drone, and can take off from the palm of your hand, track your movement for aerial 4K selfies, and return to your hand. It's also DJI's cheapest drone that just got even cheaper ahead of the Prime Day sales.

The Fly More Bundle now costs $295 at Amazon US or it's just £198.55 at Amazon UK, and includes the drone, a controller, three batteries and charging hub. You can get the drone-only package for much less, just $169 at Amazon US / £113.05 at Amazon UK.

Other Neo deals

There are two further bundles available; one with additional batteries and no controller for $239 / £175 or, if you fancy immersive FPV flight, there a Motion Fly Combo for $449 / £297 — all available for the same link.

These excellent value deals, for a drone we gave 4 stars in our review on its September 2024 release, would have been a straightforward recommendation but for one thing — the Neo 2 upgrade.

You can see five key differences in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo explainer, but I can tell you here that the Neo 2, which came a year later in November 2025 (just six months ago or thereabouts), came with some very welcome improvements and gained 4.5 stars in our Neo 2 in-depth review.

Of course, the Neo 2 costs more, and with the original Neo early Prime Day deal that price gap further grew. The DJI ban is also in the picture for US consumers. So which model, if either at all, do I recommend you buy?

A 'big upgrade', but is the Neo 2 worth the extra money?

Having tested many of the best DJI drones over the last few years, I can tell you that Neos are small, simple and excellent starter drones, especially if aerial selfies top your shot list. Anyone can get started with a Neo in minutes, with no prior experience needed.

It's no exaggeration that the Neo 2 was a big upgrade over the Neo, delivering important improvements in key areas. Chief among those upgrades is that the Neo 2 has obstacle avoidance, so it's much less likely to crash into things than its predecessor.

The Neo 2 camera is supported by a 2-axis gimbal, max flight speeds are improved by up to 50%, there's more internal storage, a built-in screen and better wind resistance, thanks in part to its slightly larger and heavier build. Gesture control has also been added. All solid improvements for an all-round sturdier-in-flight drone.

However, there is also much that's familiar between Neo drones, and autonomous tracking flight is where they both shine. Battery life is still modest, and image quality from the same 1/2-inch sensor is largely similar too, with JPEG-only 12MP photos. The max 4K video frame rates are upped to 60fps (or 100fps when using the controller), but again there's only the standard color profile (no D-Log), nor any way of fitting an ND filter.

In short, both Neos are simple and fun selfie drones, that can be flown multiple ways with or without a controller (and goggles), but not ideal for serious aerial photography. If image quality is a chief concern you might want to look at alternative drones such as the Lito X1, and you won't need to pay extra for the Neo 2 instead of the Neo.

And if you can live without the Neo 2's obstacle avoidance, which for this kind of casual drone is entirely possible, then the original Neo at this low price is arguably the more compelling of the two.

I'm in the US — should I still buy a DJI drone in 2026?

If you’re based in the US and new to flying drones, you might be concerned about how the DJI ban impacts purchasing and using these models.

Currently, the restriction only applies to newly released and imported drones, meaning existing inventory already in the country - including the Neo and Neo 2 - isn’t affected.

Both Neo models are especially lightweight options, too, well below the 249g threshold which effectively defines the difference between beginner and enthusiast / professional models. In the US, sub-250g drones don't need to be pre-registered with the authorities before you fly them.

Today's best DJI Neo deal (US)

The DJI Neo is the easiest 4K drone you'll ever fly, and a fantastic gateway for beginners. You're not buying a Neo for its 12MP photo and 4K video quality, but its host of beginner-friendly features like one-tap takeoff and automatic return. Being just 135g, no registration is required, and, thanks to today's low price at Amazon, both the standalone drone and combo packages are available for very cheap indeed. This deal is for the Fly More bundle which includes a controller, three batteries and charging hub.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

Today's best DJI Neo deal (UK)

There are even better deals for the DJI Neo in the UK than in the US — grab the Neo Fly More bundle for it's lowest ever price and the first it has sunk below £200.

See our DJI Neo review for more detailsView Deal

There's a huge price drop for the Neo drone-only option in the UK, with more than £50 off the original price. By my reckoning, this is the lowest price for a DJI drone ever in the UK, period. View Deal

More of the best beginner drone deals today

The FBI says it’s already seized 13 drones in Atlanta near World Cup stadiums — and pilots could face fines up to $100,000 if they don’t follow these new rules

Sam Kieldsen — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:57:50 +0000

If you’ve recently picked up a new drone (or you’re thinking about flying one near a World Cup host city this summer), you’ll want to read this before you head out.

The FBI has spent the past week confiscating drones and citing pilots near stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches — and the agency has made it clear it isn’t messing around.

The FBI’s Counter Drone Enforcement Team has been busy around last night’s #WorldCup game and related events ensuring drone pilots aren’t violating @FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions. But some were, and as promised, they were cited and had their drones seized. Meanwhile,… pic.twitter.com/s0vy75E73EJune 13, 2026

Around 15 drones were seized near SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum over a single weekend, with multiple operators cited for violating temporary flight restrictions, according to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Down in South Florida, the FBI’s Miami division separately confiscated nine drones and fined seven operators near Hard Rock Stadium and the Bayfront Park Fan Festival, with the FBI’s Atlanta office also reporting seizures from three operators.

This FBI has been preparing for months to keep players, fans, and visitors safe during @FIFAWorldCup 2026. SSA Meghan from @FBIBoston shares about the work that goes into securing large special events, and the FBI steps up to the challenge of emerging threats from drone… pic.twitter.com/RoDNebF0pgJune 13, 2026

It’s a pattern that’s likely to repeat itself across the tournament’s 11 US host cities. The FAA has designated World Cup stadiums as strict “No Drone Zones” on match days, and law enforcement has been blunt about its approach.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drones violating the temporary flight restrictions,” said Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism and crisis response at the FBI’s LA Field Office.

Over in Florida, Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of FBI Miami, struck a similarly firm tone: “Public safety is our top priority. Our agents and law enforcement partners are authorized by the Department of Justice to use specialized mitigation tools to intercept and seize drones that breach these restrictions.”

So if you’re packing a drone for a trip to a host city (or you simply live in or near one), here’s what you actually need to know.

(Image credit: Future)

What the no-fly zones cover

The restricted areas are larger than many casual fliers might assume. The FAA prohibits all aircraft operations, including drones, within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around stadiums hosting World Cup matches. That’s roughly a 5.5km bubble stretching nearly a kilometer into the sky, centered on the venue.

At SoFi Stadium specifically, that 3-nautical-mile, 3,000-foot restriction applies on match days, while fan festival venues like the L.A. Memorial Coliseum carry their own ban, covering a 1-nautical-mile radius up to 1,000 feet above ground level.

Similar temporary flight restrictions (TFRs for short) apply at other venues hosting games this summer, including Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Lumen Field in Seattle, Gillette Stadium in Boston and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium (which will host the tournament's final).

If you’re traveling to a host city for any stretch of the tournament, it’s worth assuming the airspace around the stadium could be locked down on any given day, not just during the match itself.

Los Angeles' SoFi stadium, venue for the 2022 Super Bowl, is hosting eight games throughout the FIFA World Cup. (Image credit: Getty Images / Icon Sportswire)

The penalties for getting it wrong are steep. Violators could face fines of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges, and that’s on top of losing the drone itself. The FBI isn’t shy about confiscating hardware on the spot, and it has been actively monitoring airspace around match events using a dedicated Counter Drone Enforcement Team.

The good news is that checking whether you’re in a restricted zone takes about 30 seconds. The TFR section of the FAA website lists all active temporary flight restrictions by location and date, and apps like B4UFLY pull this data into an easy map view; both are worth checking if you’re heading anywhere near a host city this summer. The FAA pushes out updates as restrictions are added, so it’s worth double checking on the day itself, not just the week before.

Want to grab some nice footage in and around the World Cup stadiums? A small vlogging camera like the Insta360 Luna Ultra is a much safer bet than a drone. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

If your World Cup trip plans included grabbing some striking footage of the festivities, it might be time to turn to other gear instead. A good action camera or gimbal-stabilized handheld like the new Insta360 Luna Ultra will get you sweeping, cinematic shots of the fan zones and surrounding areas without any risk of a federal agent walking over to confiscate your kit and levy a hefty fine.

Happy shooting!

‘A fully secured critical site in 2030 does not look like a single technology’: Why drone visibility and accountability are just as important as security controls

desire.athow@futurenet.com (Desire Athow) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:20:00 +0000

Protecting critical infrastructure has long been a question of securing access from the ground – the assumption was that if you could control who entered a site, you could control most of the threats it faced.

But recent conflicts have proven that highly sensitive sites now face threats from three dimensions spanning both physical and digital.

One of the biggest threats is the rapid rise of commercially available drones – cheap and accessible devices that can easily bypass the traditional checkpoints historically employed at these secure sites.

Newer drones are playing an increasing role in warfare, now that they’re able to fly farther, stay airborne longer and carry sophisticated payloads.

World governments are getting ready to tackle these changing risks and the rules are becoming ever more stringent. China, for example, recently tightened controls on drone ownership. Other governments have imposed more identification requirements, geofencing measures and new operational categories.

Futureproofing infrastructure against drone strikes

But I worry that regulation alone might not solve the problem, and many of the same questions we’ve been asking about telecoms equipment now apply to the drone industry. Who built the technology, where does the data go, who can access it…?

As we move from basic camera-equipped consumer drones to fully autonomous commercial fleets spanning critical infrastructure, logistics, emergency response and more, I think more needs to be done to secure both sensitive physical locations and the data that these drones now possess.

To better understand how governments, operators and infrastructure owners should prepare for this shifting landscape, I turned to MyDefence UK Director Liam Hutcheson, who shares his thoughts on regulation, security and infrastructure protection.

China has recently moved towards more restrictions on drone usage and ownership. Given the dual use of the technology, does the move surprise you and do you think others will follow the example of China and roll out more strict drone control?

Not entirely. China's move reflects a tension every drone-mature nation is grappling with: the same technology enabling precision agriculture and emergency response can equally be used for surveillance, smuggling or targeted disruption. Longer endurance, better cameras and swarm coordination only intensify that challenge.

What it signals is that governments are becoming less comfortable leaving drone activity largely unregulated. We are already seeing the same direction in Europe and the US with Remote ID mandates, geofencing requirements, granular operational categories. The UK reinforced its class-marking regime for 2026.

Whether others match China's specific restrictions will depend on their security posture, economic reliance on the sector and enforcement appetite. But the broader trend is consistent: tighter oversight, stronger identity requirements, more defined exclusion zones.

From our perspective, regulation is necessary but only half the answer. Rules work when operators comply. COTS drones can easily be, and are being, modified to circumvent restrictions on usage and ownership, undermining even well-designed frameworks. Remote ID is a good example: meaningful, but only if receiver infrastructure exists to read it. Without detection capability running alongside the regulatory framework, you get rules that look credible on paper but cannot be enforced in practice.

The US rolled out a blanket ban on Chinese drones (and non-US routers). Before that they targeted ZTE, Huawei and a slew of Chinese tech manufacturers citing security reasons. Can (and should) drones and by extension unmanned vehicles and in the near future robots be vetted to ensure that systems meant to protect the nation are not double-agents?

Yes and the pattern with ZTE, Huawei and now DJI tells us something important. The concern goes beyond the device itself to what it is connected to and who can reach it. A drone is not just a flying camera. It records location, footage, flight history and operator identity. All of that data has to go somewhere, and knowing where is not always straightforward.

That risk does not stop at drones. Autonomous ground vehicles, logistics robots, inspection platforms - anything networked in a sensitive environment poses the same question.

The supply chain adds further complexity. A system assembled in one country may still depend on software, components or cloud infrastructure originating elsewhere.

Vetting at the point of purchase is not enough. These systems can be updated after deployment, which means their behaviour can change. What is needed is persistent visibility into what is actually happening around a facility; detecting unexpected signals, unauthorised transmissions or activity that does not match what a system is supposed to be doing. That is exactly the kind of awareness that RF-based detection provides, and it applies equally to hostile third-party drones and to your own fleet.

How far are we from the day one human operator will be able to safely manage fleets of autonomous drones for civilian or defense purposes? What are the bottlenecks that need to be removed in order for this to materialise?

A single operator can already manage small fleets for infrastructure inspection and logistics, and that capability is maturing quickly. The gap is widest in urban or contested airspace where conditions change fast and the cost of error is high.

From our perspective, the missing foundation is airspace awareness. The same detection infrastructure that protects a site from hostile drones is what gives a fleet operator the picture they need to operate safely. Those two requirements are not separate problems. Sites that build airspace awareness in from the start will be the ones where one-to-many operation becomes viable first, for security and for operations alike.

Data centres are rapidly becoming a target of choice, as we've seen in the Iran conflict a few months ago. From your vantage point, what does a fully secured airport or power station or data centre look like in 2030? Is that even possible given the near endless vectors enemies can use?

A fully secured critical site in 2030 does not look like a single technology. It looks like a layered system with a clear chain of detection, assessment and response. For drone threats that means persistent airspace monitoring through radio frequency detection, radar, acoustic and optical sensors working together, feeding a common operating picture that security teams can act on in real time.

At an airport or power station you would expect geofenced enforcement zones, direct alert integration into control room systems and pre-authorised response protocols. Equally important is what happens after an incident. Evidence collection, chain of custody and the ability to reconstruct exactly what occurred when a drone appeared. This information must include what the drone did and how the site responded. Regulators and prosecutors need a clear evidential record, and that has to be built into the system architecture, not added as an afterthought.

What the recent Iran conflict and incidents like Gatwick show is that the gap between a capable adversary and an unprepared defender is still dangerously wide. The sites investing in detection infrastructure now are the ones that will be credibly protected by 2030.

What are the main concerns when you port military anti-drone capabilities to a civilian setup? What are the challenges of deploying 'active mitigation' (like jamming or intercepting) in densely populated or commercially active environments?

Military counter-drone systems are built for environments where neutralising the threat is the primary objective. Civilian environments have a different set of constraints entirely: spectrum co-existence and the risk of disrupting legitimate activity nearby.

A further challenge is the lack of a clear line of responsibility and the absence of a common, centralised overview of airspace activity. Questions of jurisdiction become particularly complex in a non-military context. That said, detection in a civilian setting can actually be more reliable and effective: denser infrastructure, fixed sensor placement and the ability to correlate multiple data sources mean that understanding what is happening in your airspace is often more achievable than in a battlefield environment.

Take jamming as an example. In a civilian context, jamming will disrupt emergency services communications, aviation systems or medical equipment within range. A jammer does not distinguish between the drone it is targeting and everything else sharing that spectrum.

The answer is not to rule out active mitigation, it is to build the framework that makes it usable responsibly. High-risk sites should have access to proportionate responses, but only within a clear and accountable structure. That starts with operators being able to show they understood what was happening in their airspace before they acted; what they saw, how they read the situation and why they responded the way they did. Without that foundation, the argument for stronger powers will not land with regulators or in court. You have to be able to see and evidence what is happening before you can justify doing anything about it.

This California city just approved the use of Flock drones as first responders, but residents are worried about 'militarization and surveillance'

David Nield — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Stockton has approved a $3.15 investment in Flock drones
The drones will act as airborne first responders
Residents have raised privacy and surveillance concerns

Surveillance and privacy are huge concerns for individuals across the world right now, and municipal leaders in the California city of Stockton are the latest to attract criticism for a controversial drone expansion program that's ostensibly being undertaken in the interests of public safety.

As reported by Stocktonia, the city council recently gave the thumbs up to a $3.15 million investment in drones manufactured by Flock, on top of the automatic license readers the company already supplies. These drones can act as airborne first responders, giving police eyes on a 911 call situation in as little as 30 seconds.

The sales pitch is that officers will be better informed when they arrive, and that some incidents could be handled remotely. "It'll really enhance what we already have, in that we get quick deployments, real time updates for officers on scene," said Police Lt. David Padula when the deal was approved.

However, while city leaders all liked the drone program, there has been massive public opposition against it. Issues around privacy, immigration enforcement, and mass surveillance have been raised by residents — not just in regards to how the drones are used, but how the data they collect is stored and shared.

These drones aren't widely used in the US, but there are active programs in some cities in states, including Texas, Indiana, and Connecticut. The license plate readers are far more widespread, with more than 100,000 now in use.

Data collection and privacy

Flock drones are designed to respond to incidents in minutes (Image credit: Flock)

"It sends the wrong message," said local activist group The Stockton Community Check-In Booth in a statement after the council decision. "While our residents continue to struggle under the financial impacts of this administration and economy, Stockton continues to invest in militarization and surveillance."

"Private organizations can control your data from those Flock cameras, and because they're privately owned, you can't even use freedom of information to find out what they have about you," said Stockton Republican congressional candidate John McBride, calling the use of the drones "a total invasion of privacy".

According to Flock, local agencies remain in control of the data. It states that it doesn't work with ICE, and that federal agencies are blocked from discovering or requesting data held by Stockton. Drone flights are logged on a public-facing dashboard, and Stockton police will own 100% of the data they collect.

However, Flock has run into trouble elsewhere: It has previously been found to be sharing access with US Customs and Border Protection in Colorado and Illinois, though it says these practices have now been stopped. In Texas, police used a Flock camera network to track the movements of a woman who had an abortion.

In other areas, authorities haven't been so welcoming to Flock and its systems. In Mountain View, California, a Flock network of cameras was recently scrapped over concerns about unauthorized access.

Potensic just took on the DJI Lito X1 with its new and upgraded Atom 3 beginner drone — but the same US barriers to entry currently apply

Timothy Coleman — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:50:00 +0000

Potensic's new Atom 3 replaces the Atom 2 beginner drone
It adds a bigger sensor, higher 4K frame rates, better battery life, and more
The Fly More Bundle includes an upgraded controller with a 5.5-inch display

You don't need me to tell you that DJI dominates the consumer drone space, despite its current difficulties entering the US market with a current ban on all foreign-made drones. But there's a viable beginner drone alternative, and that's Potensic.

Sadly for US consumers, Potensic also faces the same barriers to entry as DJI, given that the drone manufacturer is also Chinese. But for the rest of us, the shiny new Atom 3 looks like an excellent value option.

It upgrades the already excellent Atom 2 in several key ways, with a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K video recording at up to 60 fps with a Log color profile, 50 MP photos in JPEG and RAW, 7x slow motion in Full HD, plus a host of improved flight features.

Battery life has seen a boost, now up to 40 minutes on a single charge, as has transmission range, which now extends to 16km, not that I'd ever expect to fly that far away!

And the usual Fly More Combo, which includes three batteries and a charging hub, also comes with an upgraded controller that has a brighter 5.5-inch Full HD display than Potensic's previous offering, rated at 900 nits.

Potensic has upped its drone's tracking capabilities with AI Tracking 2.0, which can now operate down to a low altitude of 4 meters and recognize and follow hiking and vehicles.

Naturally, there are a range of flight moves too, one of which includes Waypoint (that's a pre-planned flight path that the drone follows).

All of these features point to the Atom 3 being a solid alternative to the new DJI Lito X1 — even if that drone also includes omnidirectional object avoidance — especially with its competitive pricing. The Atom 3 standard kit (with no controller) costs $429.99 / £319.99, while the bundle with the new 'RC PTD 2' controller costs $549.99 / £429.99 at Amazon and the Potensic store with pre-orders now live — I'll update this page with Australia pricing when that info is available.

(Image credit: Potensic)

In the US? No dice

US pricing for the Atom 3 is positive news for US consumers, but we don't actually know if or when the Atom 3 will land in the US. After all, the drone ban in the US doesn't just apply to DJI, but to all foreign-made drones, including those by Potensic.

Potensic is another drone manufacturer based in China, and so it faces the same barrier to entry as DJI. So for now, the Atom 3 looks like another feature-packed and affordable drone for aerial photography that drone fans in the US could miss out on.

For the rest of us, the Atom 3 is easily the best drone by Potensic yet, with a feature set that rivals the Mini 4 Pro / Lito X1, minus object avoidance. I will share my in-depth Atom 3 review once I've had more time with it.

Are you a drone user based in the US? What do you make of the drone ban currently? Make sure you vote in our poll, above.

'More than any other country in the world' - Ukraine wants to be the biggest drone and robot producer worldwide, outstripping China, Russia, and the US combined —Kyiv claims it could build more than 30 million units annually within years

Efosa Udinmwen — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:40:00 +0000

Ukraine wants to flood future battlefields with millions of combat drones annually
Kyiv says its drone factories could dwarf Russian and Chinese military production
Ukrainian drones are now reaching military and energy targets deep inside Russia

Ukraine’s defense ministry has laid out a startling industrial vision which could reshape global military manufacturing.

Deputy Defense Minister Mstislav Banik recently told NATO lawmakers that his country could produce 20 million military drones each year if allied nations commit sufficient resources to Ukrainian production lines.

This figure already exceeds the current combined output from China and Russia, yet Kyiv’s ambitions stretch even further.

Kyiv seeks massive expansion of military drone production

Some Ukrainian officials have hinted that annual manufacturing could surpass 30 million units within just a few years, a scale that would outpace every other nation on earth.

Independent military analysts estimate that Ukraine built roughly 4 million unmanned aircraft and naval drones during 2025.

The industry appears on track to expand that number to 5 or 6 million units in 2026, representing a 50% year-over-year growth rate.

For comparison, Chinese drone output is typically estimated at around 2 million annually, though the vast majority of those are civilian beginner drones rather than military systems.

Russian industry, now locked into a war that has lasted 12 years, likely produces between 1.2 and 1.8 million drones per year according to Ukrainian intelligence assessments.

Banik argued before the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that Ukraine’s drone fleet has proven decisive to battlefield success against Russian forces.

He called on international partners to strengthen support for Ukrainian manufacturing and to assist with acquiring other weapons listed on the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine has already achieved a technological advantage over Russia in drone systems and several other critical sectors.

To maintain this edge, Kyiv is requesting military support and direct investment totalling $60 billion in 2026.

Practical returns for partner nations

Ukraine claims to offer a tangible return for allied investment rather than simply requesting charitable assistance.

The country pledges to test new weapons in real combat conditions and share all technological advances and operational data with partner states.

More than 50 nations currently support Ukraine bilaterally, with Germany leading contributions at an estimated $5.8 billion in 2026, followed by Norway at roughly $2.8 billion and the UK at about $1.9 billion.

The European Union has also approved a support scheme providing up to $104 billion in loans to Ukraine.

Since early 2026, Ukraine has stepped up a strike campaign using long-range drones primarily targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

These attacks also aim at advanced weapons supply chain nodes and logistic routes connecting occupied Crimea to Russian territory.

Ukrainian drones have struck targets more than 2,000 km inside Russia, including an oil terminal fire in St. Petersburg and a guided missile frigate in drydock at the nearby Kronshtadt naval base.

Additional strike packages reportedly hit an arms manufacturing facility in the central city of Tambov and a Russian-operated military air base in occupied Crimea.

Despite these strikes, the gap between Ukraine’s stated ambitions and current verified production remains substantial.

No country has ever sustained drone manufacturing at the scale Kyiv now proposes, and supply chains for components like guidance chips and optical sensors could become severe bottlenecks.

Whether allied nations will be willing to supply $60 billion in 2026 is far from certain, and the strike successes against Russia may not be enough to convince allied nations.

Via Kyiv Post

'Nobody had dared try to solve it... until us!' — MQ Wang on how his company Zero Zero Robotics invented the world's first waterproof drone

Sam Kieldsen — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The HoverAir Aqua, the world's first fully waterproof self-flying drone, officially went on sale last week. Shortly after the launch, I got the opportunity to pick the brains of MQ Wang, CEO of Zero Zero Robotics, the company responsible for the Aqua, as well as previous drones like the V-Copter Falcon Mini, HoverAir X1 and HoverAir X1 Pro. With a PhD from the Bay Area's renowned Stanford University and a distinguished background in AI research, Wang co-founded the Hangzhou-based Zero Zero Robotics in 2014.

You can read TechRadar's in-depth review of the HoverAir Aqua for my considered thoughts on how it performs, but one thing is beyond doubt: this is a true world-first, and a gamechanger in a category where innovation has generally been slow and steady rather than transformative. As Wang explained to me, water and drones have not been comfortable bedfellows until now.

Sea soaring

"Conventional drones use GPS to stabilize over water, but crashes can happen when they fly too close to the surface. With our HoverAir X1, which had no GPS sensors, users could not fly over the water at all and that was an obvious pain point. We added OmniTerrain on HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax and with our self-tracking abilities, many users started experimenting with SUP, foiling and kayaking. But it was still a risky endeavor, with retrieval in particular being challenging on the water."

He tells me that Zero Zero Robotics has been developing the Aqua itself for over two years, not including the work previously completed in conceptualization and early R&D. Because it wasn't enough just to make a drone that was waterproof: "It's about the whole user experience, including take-off and landing, retrieval, control over the water, truly going phone-free, and follow stability, as the target is very often out of view during water sports."

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

In order to solve the problem of following a subject over water without a constant view, Zero Zero Robotics created the Lighthouse, a trackable wearable device that works alongside vision-based tracking to ensure the drone knows where the wearer is at all times.

"Lighthouse Tracking is critical for moments when the user isn't visible, including directly after take-off if your Aqua is facing away from you, or if you're hidden by spray. However, we'll continue to invest heavily in visual tracking, and our 'secret sauce' is in the interaction of the two. This is why we've added multiple water sport modes including Kayak, SUP, and Foil Mode. In these modes, we'll tailor basic settings like distance, height and vertical composition, but we also update our visual tracking algorithm — for example, for a seated user in Kayak mode, where only half their body is visible."

He tells me the drone uses RTK, aka real-Time kinematic positioning, to improve its tracking performance, plus a miniaturized millimeter-wave radar system to determine its vertical distance from the water's surface. The latter has never been used on a consumer-level drone before.

Competing with DJI

It's perhaps becoming clearer as to why the HoverAir Aqua is quite an expensive drone compared with DJI's similarly sized drones: there's a lot of advanced technology at work inside that won't be found elsewhere. I asked Wang if finding spaces where DJI (far and away the global market leader in consumer drones) won't go is part of Zero Zero's long-term strategy.

"Our product strategy is not defined by avoiding or embracing competition with DJI, but about reimagining what is possible in ways that provide value and delight for our customers. I'm an engineering guy at heart, and product remains one of my key areas of focus. What energizes the team and me is finding these "aha" moments — the combination of cutting-edge technology and a fresh way of looking at a problem that unlocks something nobody else has done before."

He gives me the example of the Hover Camera Passport, a drone launched by Zero Zero in 2016, and the first consumer drone designed to take off from the palm of the user's hand. "Today, this feels like a standard feature, but the combination of that experience and our fully enclosed propeller design allowed for entirely new use cases and new users to enjoy aerial photography. It's the same with Aqua: our team was at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in Australia recently and probably a third of the visitors to our booth said they'd lost a drone to the water before. This is clearly a pain point that people have, and nobody had dared to try to solve it... until us!"

The HoverAir Aqua was initially announced almost a year ago, when Zero Zero Robotics launched a crowdfunding campaign on the Indiegogo platform. Wang tells me one of the advantages of this approach is the wider community can provide pre-release feedback and suggestions well ahead of the actual retail launch. For the Aqua, this resulted in the development of the Foil flight mode, as well as testing of the drone in white water situations where, Wang tells me, it works very well.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

As the community gets more familiar with the Aqua, we can expect more new features to be added via firmware updates. But one set of users are unfortunately locked out of the process, at least for now, because the drone has not yet launched in the USA.

This seems to be a late decision, as right up until launch it was our understanding that the Aqua would be launching globally. A day before the launch date, I was told by Zero Zero Robotics' PR rep that the US launch date was being postponed due to "current US administrative and regulatory complexities." Anyone familiar with the situation DJI finds itself in will likely know what that means, given that Zero Zero Robotics is, like DJI, a company headquartered in China.

As my final question, I ask Wang if he can give me an update on when the HoverAir Aqua might launch in the States. "Due to confidentiality reasons, including the current competitive landscape," he replies, "I can only share that we are looking to comply with the current FCC regulations as quickly as we can. We're excited for US customers to be able to enjoy Aqua as soon as possible."

For now, at least, US-based water sports enthusiasts will be left enviously eyeing the aquatic adventures being filmed by the Aqua elsewhere on the planet. That's a shame, because it's a drone that really stands out as delivering something a bit different from the standard flying camera template.

'Built around volcanic materials' — Turkish startup wants to make billion-dollar radar systems near obsolete with cheap spray-in-a-can tech that claims to bring stealth capabilities to low-cost drones

Efosa Udinmwen — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Volcanic minerals may allow ordinary drones to evade advanced radar detection systems
Spray-on stealth coatings could eliminate expensive composite panels from military drone manufacturing
Radar networks become less effective when drones return with dramatically weaker electronic signatures

A small Turkish defense research company claims it developed a spray-applied radar-absorbing coating capable of reducing drone visibility against modern detection systems.

The project, led by Turkish researcher Yunus İnce, centers around a material called Kürşat 3.0, developed during a seven-year engineering effort.

According to technical details, the coating applies directly onto aircraft surfaces instead of relying upon expensive composite stealth panels or complex structural modifications.

Volcanic materials may change how low-cost drones avoid radar detection

Kürşat 3.0 uses basalt and pumice, both volcanic rocks, as its core ingredients rather than exotic synthetic compounds.

Recent testing reportedly produced an attenuation of 43.2 decibels (dB), a dramatic reduction in the strength of a radar signal reflected to the receiver.

In practical terms, this means the radar echo from the coated drone is approximately 20,000 to 40,000 times weaker than that from an uncoated object of the same size and shape.

An attenuation figure of 43.2 decibels would place this material in genuinely competitive territory if confirmed independently.

Academic literature typically reports effective broadband radar absorption in the range of 20 to 30 decibels under standardized conditions.

Pushing substantially beyond that threshold while maintaining the simplicity of a spray application would represent a meaningful advance over commercially available products.

With 43.2dB, a drone that should be visible at several kilometers with a strong, trackable return signature would either disappear entirely from the radar screen or appear only at such close range that the defending system has virtually no time to react.

In military terms, this shrinks the detection and engagement envelope from a comfortable buffer zone down to a frantic last-second warning.

Radar stealth conventionally requires either carefully shaped airframes or expensive composite panels bonded by specialists.

This material works differently by exploiting the microscopic pore structures found in basalt and pumice.

Those natural cavities trap incoming electromagnetic waves and convert them into heat instead of reflecting energy toward the radar receiver.

The underlying scientific principle has attracted academic attention for over a decade, making the approach plausible rather than fanciful.

A sprayable formula eliminates the seams and coverage gaps that plague traditional composite panel installations on complex curved surfaces.

Why do we need drones with very low detection?

The war in Ukraine has shown that drones costing a few thousand dollars can destroy armored vehicles and disrupt supply lines at scale.

Defenders have responded by expanding radar networks and electronic warfare systems specifically designed to find and kill those drones.

Reducing a drone's radar signature complicates every stage of that detection chain, and doing so with a coating that adds negligible weight would make stealth accessible to operators using commercial hardware.

Turkey's defense industry has already proved with the Bayraktar TB2 that affordable unmanned systems can reshape battlefields before Western analysts fully appreciate the shift.

However, at the time of writing, no independent testing verified this technology, and the relevant radar frequency bands for operational use remain unspecified.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and a single attenuation figure from unpublished testing does not yet meet that standard.

The volcanic materials themselves are inexpensive and abundant, which is scientifically reasonable.

But laboratory measurements rarely survive translation to field conditions with vibration, weather, and real-world radar frequency variations.

Until independent verification appears across operationally relevant bands, Kürşat 3.0 remains an intriguing research outcome rather than a military breakthrough.

Via Defence Blog

'There's nothing else like it on the water' — the HoverAir Aqua drone is practically a must-buy for solo watersports fans

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

HoverAir Aqua: One-minute review

The HoverAir Aqua is a drone unlike anything else on the market right now, and for once that's not marketing hyperbole. Manufacturer Zero Zero Robotics has built the world's first truly waterproof self-flying camera — one that can take off from and land on the surface of the water, and follow you through waves and spray that would destroy most consumer drones. If you're a solo watersports enthusiast who's ever wished you could capture good-quality aerial footage of yourself without hiring a drone operator, the Aqua is literally the only game in town.

That monopoly on novelty is both the Aqua's greatest strength, but also the lens through which you need to evaluate it. Because while the concept itself is undeniably thrilling, my real-world testing revealed a product that feels very much like a v1.0: innovative and impressive in the right conditions, but rough around the edges in ways that its steep asking price make harder to forgive.

The Aqua is the first waterproof consumer camera drone, and an impressive feat of design (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Perhaps the most important thing to understand before buying is how the Aqua's tracking works. Unlike DJI drones that use computer vision to lock onto and frame a subject, the Aqua tracks the Lighthouse, a wearable device you strap to your arm. While this is an eminently sensible solution for an environment where reflections, spray and constantly moving surfaces would confound visual tracking, it has real consequences for your footage: in Orbit mode, for instance, I found my head was consistently cropped out of frame, because the drone is circling the Lighthouse, not me.

There are other niggles too. My review sample suffered from persistent Lighthouse connection drops — reconnecting almost immediately each time, but loudly announcing every single event via an intrusive, irritating voice alert. And one of my best video clips was ruined by a water droplet on the supposedly hydrophobic lens, which feels like a major concern for a drone built around water compatibility.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

It's also worth noting that the Aqua's maintenance demands are higher than any non-aquatic drone I've tested: after saltwater sessions, you'll be rinsing, patting dry and checking battery compartments as soon as you get home.

That being said, take it out on a calm sea on a bright morning with your paddleboard, and it does something no other drone can do. For the right user — the solo surfer, kayaker or SUP rider who wants hands-free aerial footage without risking a wrecked drone — the Aqua is really the only viable option on the market.

HoverAir Aqua: Price and release date

Launched globally on May 28 2026 — except in US
Priced from $1,299 / £1,129 / AU$1,999
Fly More Combo available online only

The HoverAir Aqua has had a long road to market, being initially teased in August 2025 ahead of a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Nearly a year on, it's now available globally — except in the United States, where it's apparently falling foul of the same regulatory issues that have kept DJI's recent launches off the shelves. So while I've been given US pricing, it's not yet available in buy in the States.

Three bundles are available at launch. The Standard Combo ($1,299 / £1,129 / AU$1,999) covers the basics: the Aqua itself with one battery, a USB-C cable, the Lighthouse wearable with armband, a repair kit, and a single waterproof battery bag. The Basic Combo ($1,399 / £1,219 / AU$2,199) adds a second waterproof bag, an extra smart battery, and a charging hub. Step up to the Fly More Combo ($1,499 / £1,299 / AU$2,986, online only) and you get two additional smart batteries, three waterproof battery bags, a maintenance kit, and the charging hub — the most complete package for anyone planning longer sessions on the water.

Given that the Aqua's 23-minute battery life is on the shorter side for a drone at this price point, those extra batteries in the higher-tier bundles are well worth considering. A single charge isn't going to last a through even a modest paddle session, so building a battery collection from day one makes sense.

At $1,299 / £1,129 / AU$1,999 for the entry-level bundle, the Aqua is a significant investment. It's substantially more expensive than the HoverAir X1 Pro and well above most entry-level drones from DJI. Zero Zero Robotics is clearly pitching this as a premium, specialized product for water sports enthusiasts rather than a mass-market flyer, and the pricing reflects that.

Price score: 3.5/5

HoverAir Aqua: Specs

HoverAir Aqua specs
Camera:	12MP 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor
Video resolution:	4K, 2.7K (vertical only), 1080p
Frame rates:	100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps
Flight modes:	15+ specialized modes
Beacon range:	Up to 1km
Wind resistance:	Level 7 (up to 33 knots / 38mph)
Waterproof rating:	IP67
Storage:	128GB internal (no microSD slot)
Battery:	2013mAh, up to 23 minutes flight time
Charger type:	USB-C / charging hub
Weight:	249g / 8.8oz (approx.)
Dimensions:	202 x 206 x 64mm

HoverAir Aqua: Design and build quality

Non-foldable quadcopter body weighing 249g
Striking hot orange finish
No carrying case included in any bundle

The Aqua cuts a distinctive figure on the beach. Where most consumer drones play it safe with black, grey or white, HoverAir has gone for a vivid hot orange color finish. The color makes the drone easy to spot both in the air and on the water, as well as conjuring up images of life jackets and buoys. It feels entirely appropriate for a water-focused drone.

While folding drones dominate the market, the Aqua is a rigid, non-foldable quadcopter — a deliberate decision by HoverAir to preserve structural integrity and waterproofing. At 202 x 206 x 64mm and 249g, it's lightweight and compact but certainly not pocketable; the non-folding body means it takes up noticeably more bag space than a DJI Lito or Mini would.

Which brings me to the Aqua's most glaring accessory omission: there's no carrying case or pouch included with any of the three bundles. The higher-tier combos include waterproof bags for the batteries, but nothing to protect the drone itself. That leaves the lens and propellers exposed to whatever else is rattling around in your backpack. For a drone pitched at outdoor adventurers, I felt this was a pretty major oversight.

The drone works best when paired with the Lighthouse beacon unit, which can attach to the user's arm.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The Lighthouse has some basic controls on board, but generally acts as a beacon for the drone to autonomously follow.Future | Sam Kieldsen

Drones and water don't usually mix, but the Aqua is happiest when floating.Future | Sam Kieldsen

At under 250g with a 0 class rating, it can be flown close to people and buildings too.Future | Sam Kieldsen

With minimal clearance between the propellers and the underside of the body, the Aqua needs either a flat, hard surface or a dedicated landing pad for land-based launches — I'd strongly recommend picking one up if you ever plan to use it away from the water. You can hand-launch and catch it in the air instead, which is what I did throughout testing, but that's not something I would necessarily recommend to anyone new to drones.

On the front of the drone sits a 1.6-inch AMOLED screen, which lets you switch flight modes and review settings without reaching for your phone. In bright sunlight it's big and bright enough to be legible, and when you're balanced on a paddleboard in the middle of the sea, not having to fumble with a smartphone is a welcome convenience. The Lighthouse wearable is similarly straightforward: a chunky, rubberized device designed to be worn and forgotten while you focus on whatever you're riding.

As mentioned above, the Aqua's maintenance demands are quite extensive. After flying in salt water, the drone needs a thorough rinse in fresh water and a careful pat-down with a clean cloth before its next flight. The battery compartment features a color-coded indicator strip that flags the presence of any moisture before you insert a battery, which is a clever touch, but you'll also need to remember to fully dry your hands before swapping cells on the water. So, owning the Aqua comes with an ongoing upkeep commitment that goes well beyond what you'd expect from a conventional drone.

Design score: 4/5

HoverAir Aqua: Features and flight performance

Up to 23 minutes of battery life
Tracks using Lighthouse unit rather than camera
No object avoidance tech

The most important thing to understand about how the Aqua flies is also the thing that most sets it apart from conventional follow-me drones. Rather than using computer vision to identify and frame a human subject — the approach DJI takes with its excellent ActiveTrack tech — the Aqua locks onto the Lighthouse wearable.

In a watery environment, where reflective surfaces, spray and constant movement would make visual tracking unreliable, this makes sound engineering sense. In practice, however, it produces some frustrating results. During an Orbit flight — where the drone circles you at a set distance — my head was consistently cropped out of frame, because the drone is orbiting the Lighthouse on my arm rather than centering me as a subject. Anyone who cares about precise, well-composed shots should know that the Aqua will keep you in the frame most of the time, but it won't always frame you the way a human operator would.

So planning your shots is key – and because you can adjust tracking distance and height, you should be able to get the angles and framing you're looking for. It might just take a couple of attempts.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

That said, the SUP mode I tested (designed specifically for stand-up paddleboarding) performed very well. With a calm sea, minimal wind and good visibility during a rare UK May heatwave, the Aqua tracked my position reliably and kept pace with me comfortably. The drone can theoretically fly as close as 50cm above the waves, and in calm water it did so confidently.

I'd be keen to test it in choppier conditions, where the claimed Level 7 wind resistance and wave-skimming abilities might face a stiffer challenge, but those aren't the conditions I had available. For now, consider the flight performance assessment here a fair-weather one.

One highlight that absolutely does deliver as promised is the turtle flip: should the Aqua end up upside down on the water, it can right itself and take off again without any intervention. I tested this, and it works exactly as advertised. A small thing perhaps, but a reassuring one.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Less reassuring was the persistent connection instability between the drone and the Lighthouse. On every single flight I conducted, the two devices repeatedly lost and immediately re-established their link. Each dropout triggers an audible robotic voice announcement — both for the disconnect and the reconnect — which quickly becomes maddening. Whether this is a hardware defect specific to my review sample or a wider software issue remains to be seen, but it's something HoverAir will need to address urgently. A drone that narrates its own technical difficulties every few minutes is not a relaxing filming companion.

The Aqua offers three control methods beyond the automated flight modes. The Lighthouse itself handles single-button launches and returns; the HoverAir app provides touchscreen manual control, though with a short effective range and imprecise joystick inputs that make smooth maneuvers difficult; and HOVERAir's Beacon twin-stick controller offers what could well be the most satisfying manual flying experience of the three — but without one, I wasn't able to test it during this review.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Battery life came in slightly under the claimed 23 minutes during real-world use, which is par for the course with drone manufacturers' quoted figures. The more meaningful battery consideration is simply having enough of them: 23 minutes goes quickly when you're mid-session, and the Fly More Combo's three-battery setup feels sensible.

It's also worth noting that, like all HoverAir drones, the Aqua uses ShadowTrack positioning rather than active obstacle avoidance — meaning it won't autonomously fly around objects in its path. On open water that's rarely going to be an issue, but it's worth bearing in mind if you plan to fly it on narrower waterways or on land. Thankfully, the sturdiness of the design and the protected propellers means that minor, lowish speed collisions with trees or fences shouldn't result in a wrecked drone.

Flight performance score: 4/5

HoverAir Aqua: Image and video quality

1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor offering 4K up to 100fps
H-Log (10-bit) support for post-production grading
Hydrophobic lens

The camera features a hydrophobic, self-heating anti-fog lens and single-axis gimbal. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Let's start with the elephant (or should that be whale?) in the room. The Aqua's lens is treated with a hydrophobic coating designed to repel water droplets, which seems to me a vital feature for a drone that launches directly off the surface of the sea. During my testing, a single water droplet on said lens ruined several minutes of otherwise usable footage. For a drone whose entire identity is built around being in and around water, a wet lens is inevitable. This issue alone has the potential to leave users seriously frustrated — even if, as with me, it only happens the one time.

When the lens is clear, the results are encouraging. With a maximum bitrate of 160Mbps (double that of the DJI Neo 2) the Aqua produces clean, detailed 4K footage in good lighting conditions. There are two main shooting options to choose between: the default color profile delivers vibrant, punchy footage at up to 60fps, and is perfectly usable straight out of the drone; the flat H-Log profile, which tops out at 30fps, gives you more latitude in post-production. I graded some H-Log footage and was able to dial back the slightly over-saturated tendencies of the default color science to arrive at something more true-to-life and cinematic. For anyone planning to edit their water sports footage seriously, shooting H-Log is probably the way to go.

The hardware has its limits, though. The 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.55 aperture and single-axis mechanical gimbal mean the Aqua can't compete with the best camera drones on pure image quality — the DJI Air 3S, for instance, produces far superior footage, and costs less.

But that comparison only tells part of the story: the Air 3S would not survive the conditions the Aqua was built for. Judged purely as a water-capable camera, the Aqua has no rivals. Judged as a camera drone in general, it sits firmly in the average tier for its price bracket. The 2x digital zoom is soft, as it tends to be on small sensors, and low-light performance isn't a strong suit given the narrow aperture.

Stills come in at 12MPwith HDR support, plus the ability to shoot in RAW DNG, and are competent if unspectacular — serviceable for social media use, but not the Aqua's primary selling point.

Image and video quality score: 4/5

HoverAir Aqua: Testing scorecard

DJI Lito X1
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Expensive for its tracking and camera performance.	3.5/5
Design	A robust aquatic design let down by the lack of an included carrying case.	4/5
Features and flight	The Lighthouse tracking system is an ingenious solution to the challenges of flying over water.	4/5
Image and video quality	Solid 4K footage with useful H-Log support, but a water droplet on the supposedly hydrophobic lens ruined one of my best clips.	4/5

Should I buy the HoverAir Aqua?

Buy it if...

You're a solo watersports enthusiast
If you surf, SUP, kayak, wakeboard or foil and you've ever wanted aerial footage of yourself without a dedicated camera operator, the Aqua is the only drone that can safely go where you go.

You already own a conventional drone
The Aqua makes the most sense as a specialist companion to a regular land-based flyer rather than as your only drone. Pair it with a DJI Lito X1 or Mini 5 Pro and you have a capable all-conditions setup.

Don't buy it if...

You want a general-purpose drone
On land, the Aqua is a below-average performer for its price. The DJI Lito X1 delivers better image quality for a fraction of the cost, and handles everyday aerial photography and videography far more capably.

Precise framing matters to you
The Aqua tracks the Lighthouse wearable, not you as a subject. If you need a drone that keeps you centered in the frame the way a human camera operator would, the Aqua isn't the best choice.

HoverAir Aqua: also consider

DJI Air 3S

If your priority is camera performance rather than water compatibility, the Air 3S is where to look. It costs a similar amount to the Aqua's Standard Combo yet delivers near-professional image and video quality that the Aqua simply can't match. For anyone who primarily shoots over land, the Air 3S is the stronger all-round investment. Just don't expect it to survive a touchdown on the surface of the sea.

Read our in-depth DJI Air 3S review

DJI Neo 2

The Neo 2 is the closest thing in concept to the Aqua among conventional drones — a compact, lightweight selfie-style flyer that tracks and films you autonomously without needing a controller. It's considerably smaller and lighter than the Aqua, and a fraction of the price, making it the obvious starting point for anyone drawn to hands-free aerial filming. Just don't take it into the water...

Read our in-depth DJI Neo 2 review

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

How I tested the HoverAir Aqua

Tested during SUP session and from dry land
I tested various control methods and flight modes
I captured both videos and photos

I was provided with a review sample of the Aqua well ahead of its global launch, which gave me time to test it over several sessions on the UK coast, mainly in hot, sunny conditions that were ideal for getting out on the water, if not entirely representative of the rougher seas and stronger winds that the Aqua may face in the hands of real-world buyers.

My primary test was a SUP session at the beach, during which I flew the Aqua using the SUP automated flight mode and assessed its tracking performance, framing and reliability in a real watersports context. I also flew it over dry land to evaluate its capabilities as a general-purpose drone. I tested the app-based manual controls, though I wasn't able to assess the Beacon twin-stick controller during the review period.

On the camera side, I captured footage using both the default color profile and the flat H-Log setting, grading the latter in post-production using DaVinci Resolve. I also ran through the Aqua's post-flight maintenance routine — including a fresh water rinse and dry-down after saltwater use — to evaluate the ownership demands of an aquatic drone.

First reviewed: May 2026
Read more about how we test

Custom drone makers hit 453mph to (unofficially) break the record for fastest drone on earth — and hand-made sawtooth carbon fiber propellors made all the difference

Jon Stapley — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:36:25 +0000

Though unofficial due to no pro observer, a new world speed record for drones has been hit
The first run was a disaster – the drone lost contact and crashed
Record is almost twice the speed of a Formula 1 car (730 km/h compared to 397 km/h

The battle for the title of the fastest drone in existence has become unexpectedly thrilling over the past year. The current officially recognized Guinness World Record was set by Luke Maximo Bell in December 2025, with his custom-built Peregreen V4 hitting 658 km/h. However, this was unofficially broken by Australian duo Ben Biggs and Aidan Kelly of Drone Pro Hub in February 2026 when they hit 690 km/h, and now has been broken again with a staggering top flight speed of 730 km/h.

The reason this record is unofficial is because the pair didn't have a professional observer present to ratify the attempt. However, you can see in the video below the attempts made to break the record, the last of which is successful. The record-smashing drone is called the 'Blackbird', a scratch-built device made by Biggs, an engineer – it's quite a different beast to the consumer camera drones we usually review.

Watch the video below. It's worth reiterating that the pair are Australian, and there is an amount of colorful language.

The first attempt to re-break the record is an unmitigated disaster – the pair reach 630 km/h, but lose video contact with the drone. Their theory is that this is caused by some combination of a blind spot in the drone's antennae, a Doppler shift compromising the video link, and an overloaded signal as the drone passed the pilot at close range (though there's a spirited debate currently going on in the video comments). But whatever the cause, the result was the same: a wrecked Blackbird.

Fortunately, the pair had another prototype ready to go, and the next round of testing smashed the record. The Blackbird achieved a verified average speed of 685 km/h (426 mph), with a peak downwind speed of 730 km/h (453 mph). This was confirmed by GPS and by on-camera telemetry.

How the Blackbird was pushed even faster

According to Biggs, the key to making the Blackbird faster than ever before came from a set of updated custom carbon fiber propeller blades. These blades were hand-made by friends of the channel, and were built with a sawtooth leading edge, which generates vortices that keep the air moving towards the back of the blade rather than sliding off the side, increasing efficiency. The blades are also angled more towards the direction of flight, again improving efficiency by minimally disrupting airflow – as Tom's Hardware explains.

The trade-off is that this design provides a lot less power at low speeds, meaning that functions like take-off and landing can be extremely power-intensive. Well, to be fair, the entire operation is extremely power-intensive – at its peak, the Blackbird produced a power draw of 400 amps for 10 seconds. When it came down following its successful flight, its batteries were smoking and its wires melted.

Fortunately, the drone was not permanently damaged, and we have a feeling it won't be long before Biggs and Kelly are back with an official observer in tow to officially reclaim their Guinness World Record. And beyond that – who knows? We now officially have a drone capable of travelling at more than 700 km/h. Could 800 km/h be on the horizon?

While the Blackbird is not commercially available, Pro Drone Hub are planning to distribute the blueprints in order to allow people to 3D print the components for themselves – you can sign up at their website to be notified when the release is made official.

The DJI Mini 4K is 'the most capable drone for beginners for the money' — and it's now back to a record-low price on Amazon

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:37:45 +0000

If you're buying your first drone, you'll want a beginner-friendly model that includes everything you need to get flying straight away. One drone that ticks all those boxes is this DJI Mini 4K at Amazon for £189 (was £242). That discount drops the four-and-a-half-star-rated drone back to its lowest price ever.

This particular bundle includes the drone, an RC-N1C controller, and one battery. That means you'll be up and flying in no time at all, capturing breathtaking 4K video.

One of the best things about the DJI Mini 4K is how portable it is. At less than 249g, you can throw it into a camera bag or rucksack and take it anywhere you want. The fact that it's now discounted by so much only sweetens the deal more.

Today's best DJI drone deal

This drone continues to hold the title of the best budget option in our best drones guide. With decent 4K video image quality, a 31-minute flight time, and downward obstacle sensing, you're getting a great collection of features for the price. And it's an even better buy now that you can get it for a record-low price once again.View Deal

Take a read of our in-depth DJI Mini 4K review, where our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, took the popular drone out for a test spin. It didn't take long for him to be impressed by the high-resolution 4K video, the set of features that are perfect for beginners, and its excellent value. And don't forget, that was at full price.

Beyond this, the drone offers level 5 wind resistance, dynamic movement presets, and a battery that will last for a maximum of 31 minutes. This will be enough for most flights, but if that's going to be an issue, then we recommend investing in additional batteries.

To give you a complete picture, the Mini 4K lacks object-collision sensors and subject tracking, which will make it difficult to fly through tight spaces. If you require this feature, then the DJI Mini 4 Pro would be a viable alternative. But this Mini 4K has all the essential features you would need for your first drone at a much more reasonable price.

The Mini 4K is ideal for beginners, but if you're looking for something more advanced, then our guide to the best drones is a great place to start. And if you're set on DJI, then we have a dedicated best DJI drones buying guide just for you.

War, drones, and the energy reckoning: How the Iran war is reshaping tech investment

Daiva Rakauskaitė — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:59:33 +0000

The Iran war has driven up fuel and freight costs, exposed vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, and forced investors to rethink which technologies matter most in a more volatile world.

Two themes stand out: low-cost autonomous defense systems and energy technologies that reduce exposure to fossil-fuel shocks.

Evolution of drones

The war in Ukraine has already shown what that first trend looks like in practice. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, one of Ukraine’s main defenses against the larger and better-resourced Russian army were Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, which reportedly cost several million dollars.

Now, a few years later, Ukraine increasingly relies on domestically produced and locally assembled drones. For example, Vyriy, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, says that it has localized production of frames, controllers, and radio control systems, while other components, like cameras, are provided by local companies.

Some of the company’s first-person-view drones reportedly cost as little as $500.

Another Ukrainian company, Wild Hornets, recently said a Ukrainian operator used its Sting interceptor system to shoot down two Russian drones located 500 km away, highlighting the increasing capabilities of low-cost defense systems.

Beyond the ability to test and improve drones in real-world conditions, the main reason companies can make drones cheaper and more effective is the ability to produce them at scale.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced plans to manufacture around 7 million drones this year alone, after producing more than 4 million in 2025. According to the ministry, currently, there are more than 200 Ukrainian companies involved in producing AI-powered drones.

Technological capabilities also play a significant role in making them widespread and effective. AI systems are being used on the front lines for target detection, obstacle avoidance, and battlefield data analysis.

Benefits beyond military

The Iran war was another reminder that warfare is changing, showing how cheap systems can make a difference. Iranian drones and missiles have targeted or threatened regional energy infrastructure, while the US, for the first time, used low-cost one-way attack drones modeled after Iranian designs.

Even before the war, investors had already ramped up investments in defense. Last year, venture capital investments in defense startups, including those that include dual-use technologies used by civilians, grew to $49.1 billion from $27.2 billion a year earlier, according to PitchBook calculations.

PitchBook also claims that autonomous systems were among the most funded startups, while counter-unmanned aerial systems and autonomous manufacturing are rapidly emerging as priorities.

I expect the Iran war also to drive even more investments in defense, particularly in drones and anti-drone systems. Oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are already looking for ways to defend themselves against Iranian threats, which will likely spur further investment.

Advances in military technology, together with falling production costs, could accelerate the development of civilian drone applications in package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying and public-safety operations.

This can mean medicine arriving faster in remote areas, small household items delivered in minutes, and lower delivery costs. Recently, Barclays estimated that autonomous delivery costs could fall from $5–$7 per order to $1 in the long term, Reuters reported.

Energy security

Another area where the war is going to have a significant footprint is energy security. Rising oil prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to call it the biggest energy crisis in history.

The head of IEA has warned that some European airlines have only six weeks of fuel left.

Even if the Iran war ends soon, it would be naive to expect such oil shocks to never happen again. This is another major energy shock within four years. The last one, which followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, accelerated the push into renewables, grid infrastructure, storage, and electrification, especially in Europe.

We are likely to see a similar pattern now, and the more negatively the war affects the economy, the stronger the incentive to reduce oil exposure becomes. This should accelerate the adoption of transport powered by alternative fuels, as well as the expansion of the infrastructure needed to support it.

Advances in technology can also help reduce dependency on oil. AI tools can help forecast electricity demand, making grids more efficient and reducing unnecessary fossil-fuel backup. It can improve the integration of solar and wind by predicting generation patterns more accurately.

AI can also optimize battery storage, deciding when to store power and when to release it to the grid. And in buildings, AI can help manage heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation in real time, cutting energy waste.

For investors, that makes the takeaway from Iran much broader than a short-term spike in oil. It is a reminder that resilience is becoming a core investment theme.

In a world of cheap drones and expensive energy insecurity, the winners are likely to be the companies that can make protection cheaper and energy systems less exposed to geopolitical shocks.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

The DJI Mini 3 is 'an entry-level DJI drone with a strong set of video features' — it's now back to a record-low price on Amazon

paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton) — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:52:23 +0000

Light and compact drones don't get much better than the DJI Mini 3, which has recently had its price slashed at Amazon down to $499 (was $719). I'll do the math for you: that's a huge $220 off the retail price.

This is actually for the combo package, so you get even more for your money. The bundle includes a DJI Remote Controller for advanced flying maneuvers and three batteries for 114 minutes of flight time. You'll look like the consummate professional even though you've paid no more than $500 for the privilege.

We're also big fans of the true vertical shooting for social media optimized shots. That means no more faffing around with crops in post. The Mini 3 will handle everything for you in-camera. This really is a fantastic drone package for any hobbyist or beginner professional – now back to its record-low price.

Today's best DJI drone deal

Save a whopping $220 on the four-star drone combo package which includes a DJI Remote Controller and three batteries. That's everything you need to be instantly up and running and capturing 4K video. Yours now for a record-low price.View Deal

In our DJI Mini 3 review, we rated this drone four out of five stars and praised its affordability, great image quality, and small form factor. In terms of image output, the Mini 3 can capture 12 MP photos (RAW and JPEG) and 4K video at 30fps. That's enough resolution to cover most purposes, especially considering the more budget nature of this drone.

It's a great all-rounder that does all the basics well. It's not as fully featured as some drones, though, as evidenced by the lack of collision avoidance. But if you plan on flying in open spaces most of the time, you won't miss it at all, especially if you take advantage of QuickShot's automated flight patterns.

Check out our extensive guide to the best DJI drones if your heart is set on this popular brand. If, on the other hand, you're open to other options, then our best drones guide is worth checking out instead.

DJI drone ban still in full-force — but the US government has issued a small software reprieve, and is letting you have your say

hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector) — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:38:30 +0000

The FCC has extended its waiver on software updates for DJI drones
The latest extension ends on January 1, 2029
You can also have your say on the DJI ban

The US Federal Communications Commission’s ban on new DJI drones and its other technology has been a frustrating one for camera enthusiasts and professionals alike — as they’re set to miss out on 25 launches this year alone — but we finally have a silver lining, even if it is a small one.

Your older DJI drones should stay reliable for a little while longer.

That’s because the FCC has announced that it’s extending the waiver for certain drones to receive software updates in the US. Previously, it was set to expire on January 1, 2027, but now it will last until at least January 1, 2029 — foreign internet routers have also had their software access extended until this date (via Tom’s Hardware).

In terms of hardware access, nothing has changed, but it means that manufacturers shouldn't get blocked from releasing essential security or bug fix patches to already sold tech (at least not until 2029). Previously, this was a fear once the waiver ran out, and could have left some tech unable to function if it encountered a glitch, or turn your drone into the sort of security risk that the FCC’s ban is meant to avoid.

Meanwhile, DJI is attempting to appeal the FCC’s ruling in US courts. The ban came about when DJI was put on the 'Covered List' — a list of entities thought to be a threat to national security — though neither the FCC nor the US government has explained exactly what DJI has done to deserve this designation.

At the same time, these entities refused to perform a security audit of DJI, despite the company submitting to one.

The whole process has been a frustrating one to watch play out — especially given the excellent quality of DJI’s camera and drone tech. Hopefully, this waiver extension will help alleviate some issues, but we’ll have to wait and see how the DJI appeal goes for a more definitive verdict on the drone brand’s US fate.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Have your say

If you’re frustrated with the DJI ban, the FCC is currently giving the public a chance to submit comments on its measures — though the form closes today (May 11), so you don’t have much time left.

As highlighted on the r/drones subreddit, you just need to go to the FCC’s Submit an Express Comment page and fill in the short form; in the first box, type "26-22" to find the DJI ruling where you'll want to comment.

You will need to provide some personal information (such as your name and address), and then provide your comment on the ban. You can highlight how DJI drones have positively impacted your life, and/or you could question the confusing implementation of the ban — how it affects all of DJI’s tech rather than just its drones, or how the ban doesn’t seem to be applied fairly to other similar drone makers.

Equally, if you think the ban has had a positive impact (though we here at TechRadar wouldn’t agree), you can also leave a comment explaining why you hope the ban stays in place.

Just remember to keep your comments civil, the FCC likely won’t appreciate being bombarded with rude or hateful comments — and harsher words wouldn’t help either side’s arguments in this technology debate.

I turned my local beauty spot into an immersive 3D environment using Splatica and my Insta360 cameras — and the whole process is surprisingly easy

Sam Kieldsen — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Your 360 camera — or 360 drone — has a new hidden talent: the ability to build eerily accurate 3D models of real places and objects, with almost zero effort from you.

It's all down to a process known as 3D Gaussian Splatting, made more accessible than ever by a cloud platform called Splatica. And I've tried it, using both my Antigravity A1 360 drone and Insta360 X5 360 camera to recreate rooms in my house and landmarks in my hometown. Here's how it works, how easy it is to use, how much it costs – and what I think of it.

How 3D Gaussian Splatting works

At its core, 3D Gaussian Splatting is a method for reconstructing a real-world environment as a fully navigable 3D scene, using nothing more than video footage as its raw material. When you feed footage into the system, it first analyses the frames to work out where the camera was positioned at each moment – a process called structure-from-motion. From that, it builds a rough point cloud: a sparse, skeletal map of the space.

The clever part comes next. Rather than trying to construct traditional polygon meshes and textures the way a game artist would, the algorithm instead populates that point cloud with millions of tiny mathematical shapes called Gaussian ellipsoids. You can think of them as small, semi-transparent blobs, each precisely sized, oriented, and colored to represent a fragment of the scene's geometry and lighting. Stacked together in their millions, these ellipsoids collectively "paint" a photorealistic picture of the environment.

What makes 3DGS stand out from earlier techniques is how efficiently it handles the rendering side. A previous approach called Neural Radiance Fields, or NeRF, could produce stunning results but was notoriously slow to process and render. Gaussian Splatting sidesteps many of NeRF's bottlenecks by using a highly parallelizable architecture, meaning modern GPUs can tear through the calculations at speed.

The result is real-time rendering of scenes that look almost indistinguishable from the original footage – complete with accurate lighting, reflections, and fine surface detail. And crucially for Splatica's workflow, 360-degree cameras are an ideal capture tool for this process: their full-sphere field of view means the algorithm has data from every angle of a space simultaneously, leaving far fewer gaps or blind spots in the final model than a standard camera pass could ever achieve.

What do you need to create your own scenes?

Which brings me neatly to a discussion of the gear you can use to create your own Splatica scenes. Currently, it supports Insta360 cameras and the Antigravity A1 (which uses Insta360 tech). I used the Insta360 X5 camera as well as the A1 to create scenes, but the Insta360 X2, X3, X4 and One RS will also do the job.

Splatica's website gives detailed information on the camera settings you should use for the best results, and on the camera moves you should attempt while capturing the scene. Slow, even movements are recommended for the best results, with the camera recording multiple passes of the same subject at different heights. The idea is to capture your chosen subject from several angles to cover any potential blind spots.

Crucially, each scene must be created from a single, continuous clip – ideally two to four minutes long when using an Insta360 camera, or three to five minutes long while using the Antigravity A1. Longer clips are supported, but aren't described as optimal – perhaps because they'll take longer to process?

The Insta360 X5 – ideal for creating Splatica scenes at home. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

For my first Splatica scene, I decided to keep things simple. I grabbed my Insta360 X5, mounted it on its selfie stick, tweaked the camera settings to the tutorial's suggestions and proceeded to record a single 8K 30fps video of my living room, skirting it in an anti-clockwise direction three times at three different heights (chest level, hip level and overhead), as well as walking diagonally across the center of the room, then capturing one final skirt of the room at chest height in a clockwise direction.

The resulting clip was three minutes long, and a chunky 4.29GB in size. I uploaded it to the Splatica website, which took about an hour on my rather sluggish copper wire broadband, then waited. Splatica takes a few hours to create scenes, but it's possible to get a rough idea of how the process is going by viewing your gallery page on the site, which shows a progress bar over the scene. Being that it was late afternoon when I uploaded the video, I decided to return the next morning to check.

The next day, when I clicked on my living room scene, my first feeling was one of disappointment: the Splatica site threw up an error message. But thankfully it seems to be a Chrome browser issue (as no other scenes would load on Chrome, either); when I cut and pasted the link into Safari everything loaded up just fine – and the result was far more impressive than I'd been expecting.

How much does Splatica cost?

Sadly, there's currently no free trial available for Splatica, so if you want to make your own scenes, you'll need to pay for it via a monthly subscription (which can be cancelled at any time).

The cheapest monthly subscription, the Basic tier, costs $49.95 a month and provides 300 monthly points – enough for around one scene / five-minute video. The Pro tier is $149.95, and comes with 900 points, while the top Studio tier is $299.95 a month for 2100 points. At the time of writing, there's a 30% discount for the first two months of your subscription, which reduces the initial outlay to $34.95 / $104.95 / $209.95 for the three respective tiers. Note that both the Pro and Studio tiers also allow subscribers to embed their scenes on external websites.

Users can also pay for additional points if they need to, but they're pricey at 25c per point on the Basic tier, 23c per point on the Pro tier and 18c on Studio.

Splatica had rendered a crisp and detailed 3D replica of my room, with accurate colors, where text on bookends and magazine covers was easily legible. All trace of me, meanwhile, was removed – the software appears trained to recognise moving people and erase them from the creation process.

You can view the scene here.

Visually, there's certainly an element of patchiness to things rather than true-to-life detail across the whole scene – it's quite painterly, in my eyes – but given how fast and painless the creation process is, I think that's totally acceptable. I can see now why Splatica is such a hit in the real estate community.

In a web browser, Scenes can be "flown" through with your mouse or keyboard, to be viewed from different angles. You can save up to 10 of your favorite angles, or "poses" as Splatica calls them, then fly through these as an animated sequence. It's also possible to download the scenes in PLY file format, for viewing in 3D model software on your computer, where they'll appear as a ghostly apparition displaying every single point of reference captured by the camera.

The 3D PLY file shows the point cloud of my living room in stark monochrome detail. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Up, up and away

My second test was a little more ambitious – I decided to strap on the FPV goggles and take the Antigravity A1 for a flight around a local landmark: the small lighthouse at the mouth of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour (UK). Because of the goggles (annoyingly, there's no other way to fly the A1 than using them), UK drone laws meant I had to bring along a spotter. So that's one aspect of this process that I don't particularly like – hopefully Splatica adds support for the DJI Avata 360 soon, so that I can create more aerial scenes without the need to bring a companion along.

A photo I took of Ramsgate's lighthouse several years ago. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The recording process is a little more challenging here, due to the increased verticality of the scene and the A1's idiosyncratic motion-based flight controls, which even as a highly experienced drone pilot, I've always found awkward and unintuitive. Now, having to pilot the drone at a steady speed along a relatively narrow flight path, I found them even more of a challenge.

Feeling that the A1's waypoint-based flight mode might come to my rescue, I built my ideal flight path first, dropping key waypoints, then had the drone autopilot along it – the idea being that this would keep things smooth and even while recording the video.

Sadly, this didn't work out: the drone's close proximity to the lighthouse – Splatica advises you to fly as close as safety allows to your subject, in order to capture the most detail – caused the autonomous flight to immediately cancel itself. So in the end I had to fly it manually, spiralling around the lighthouse several times in FPV mode before completing a wider loop of the scene and landing. You can see the results below, or view the scene in your browser here.

The lighthouse, as rendered by Splatica.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The Splatica viewer can display the exact flight path used to capture a scene.Future | Sam Kieldsen

While moving humans are scrubbed from the scene, sitting ones apparently are not. This is me and my spotter (aka my wife).Future | Sam Kieldsen

So, is Splatica worth it?

Splatica isn't cheap, and unless you really need it for some commercial purpose or have oodles of disposable income to play with, it's going to be hard to justify the cost. Otherwise, it feels like yet another expensive monthly subscription that'll part you from cash which is probably best spent on essentials like food and bills.

Still, I can't deny that the process of creating these scenes has been a lot of fun, as well as opening my eyes to just how powerful our modern day cameras can be. If your 360 camera is gathering dust right now, Splatica is probably the best excuse to pull it off the shelf and get back outside with it.

'Straight out of a fairyland' — winner of the 11th DJI and SkyPixel photo and video contest stunned judges with 'unique and otherworldly landscape' to bag the grand prize in the $200,000 pot, and it was captured with a Mavic 3 Pro

Timothy Coleman — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:13:44 +0000

Want a glimpse of the world's best aerial photography? DJI and SkyPixel's annual photo and video contest is the place to go, and this year's winners have just been announced after the early contenders were teased a couple of months ago.

The stunning winning photos and videos of the 11th edition of the contest were selected from over 95,000 entries and 96 countries and regions — and drone pilot Filip Hrebenda scooped the grand prize in the contest's $200,000 pot with his aerial image The Gate (see below).

Contest judge Zhu Jiong described the scene as "straight out of a fairyland — layered mountains wrapped in mist.

"The image feels calm on the outside, yet somehow breathtaking."

I must admit I haven't seen such a composition before, so it is a unique and fresh shot
Daniel Kordan, contest judge

Four judges praised the grand prize winner, saying: "The location and conditions feel rare, especially with the fog and elevation, making the scene stand out."

Judge Daniel Kordan goes on to say: "I must admit I haven't seen such a composition before, so it is a unique and fresh shot."

The remote aerial scene was taken in Buskerud, Norway, with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro — a pro triple camera drone which we gave a five-star rating, and which has since been updated with the Mavic 4 Pro. We rank the Pro series as the best camera drones for consumers.

The winning The Gate image in full (Image credit: © Filip Hrebenda)

Details on the SkyPixel contest's site suggest Hrebenda used the main 24mm camera with variable aperture, which utilizes a micro four thirds sensor – that's bigger than those used in DJI's sub-250g drones.

Hrebenda had this to say about his winning image:

"Captured in the far north of Norway during the autumn of 2025, this photograph was taken in a remote and extremely difficult-to-reach location. At sunrise, the landscape was covered by dense fog that filled the valleys and concealed the dramatic terrain.

"After a demanding ascent, we finally rose above the cloud layer, revealing this surreal and almost otherworldly view. The natural stone arch, resembling a monumental gate carved by time, stands suspended above a deep valley, surrounded by rugged cliffs and distant mountain silhouettes emerging from the sea of mist. The lone figure on the rock emphasizes the scale and raw beauty of the landscape.

"To capture this composition, finding the perfect perspective was essential. This was made possible with the help of a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone, which allowed me to position the camera precisely and reveal the full geometry of this extraordinary natural formation."

All the winning images can be seen at the SkyPixel site and also include the early front-runner Carpet Fields, which ended up being a finalist and was captured with the older Mavic 2 Pro.

It's truly amazing the standard of photography that camera drone pilots are creating with what is relatively affordable gear.

‘Poultry in motion’: South Korea tests fried chicken delivery to remote island using a drone and four-wheel robot in the world’s most elaborate takeaway operation

David Nield — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:28:30 +0000

Drone deliveries are becoming more ambitious
A new South Korean trial delivered fried chicken to a remote island
It's one of 80 test runs over the past month

Delivery drone programs are getting smarter and more ambitious: a trial scheme in South Korea has successfully delivered an order of fried chicken to a customer on the remote Biyang Island, via both a drone and an autonomous four-wheel robot.

The delivery drone traveled over three kilometers (1.86 miles) of ocean to reach its destination and transfer its delicious cargo, The Korea Times reports. There's no indication of how the takeaway meal actually tasted, but the "local resident" involved didn't lodge any complaints.

This is part of an extensive test by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), backed by the government in South Korea. Around 80 such deliveries have been completed in the past month.

And Biyang Island is a particularly suitable challenge for this autonomous delivery technology. Not only is the location remote, it also features narrow alleys winding through the volcanic island, which traditional delivery vehicles would struggle with.

Ready to replace existing logistics

✔️드론과 자율주행 로봇 협업의‘문 앞 배송 서비스’ 제주 금능포구~비양도 일대에서 현장 테스트 수행!📦 최대 40kg 화물을 실은 드론이배송지 인근까지 비행하면,🤖 로봇이 물품을 전달받아문 앞까지 직접 배송합니다.#KASA #우주항공청 #한국전자통신연구원 #드론배송 #로봇배송 #제주도 pic.twitter.com/fXaV4e3LDlApril 24, 2026

While commercial drones typically carry payloads of around three kilograms in weight, the flying machines tested here can hold up to 40 kilograms, which means a lot of items can be packed together in a single delivery and sent off.

"It is rare to repeatedly test high-payload deliveries under such varied conditions," said KASA, as per the report in The Korea Times. "This technology is reaching a level where it can replace everyday logistics operations."

There's still plenty of work to do, however: commercial services won't be ready for another five years, as the technology is developed further, and concerns over privacy and safety are worked out with regulators.

Even if it's not ready for the masses yet, it's an exciting glimpse into the future of drone-robot deliveries, with the tech advancing rapidly — and it's those in the most remote, difficult-to-reach locations that are set to benefit the most.

This Skyrover S1 Mini drone could be the perfect alternative to the DJI Mini 4k and DJI Lito X1

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:11:10 +0000

The DJI Mini 4k and new DJI Lito are fantastic options if you're looking for your first drone, but I've had my eye on an alternative from a no-name brand that seems to be generating a fair share of hype at the moment.

Right now, you can get the Skyrover S1 Mini with three batteries and a case for just $359 (was $499) at Amazon, which seems like an absolute bargain to me.

The S1 Mini isn't a model that we've reviewed here personally at TechRadar, but it's been favorably compared to the DJI Mini 4k, which has been a solid favorite of ours ever since we reviewed it.

On paper, the models are certainly similar, but the S1 has the edge. Like the Mini 4K, the S1 is under 249g (no registration required), but it features a larger 1/2-inch sensor with support for 60fps at 4K, as well as forward obstacle detection. The DJI, in comparison, has more basic obstacle detection — and it caps out at 30fps at 4K.

Of course, the DJI Mini 4K is also on sale for just $209 (was $299) at Amazon right now, so it's still a fantastic all-around choice. If you're looking for a compelling alternative with slightly more advanced flight modes and a bigger sensor, however, then I think the Skyrover S1 Mini could be worth a shot.

Skyrover S1 Mini drone deal at Amazon

Today's deal on the Skyrover S1 Mini 4K at Amazon knocks an impressive $140 off the 3-battery combo pack. This compact drone not only weighs under 250g, but it also packs in impressive specs like a 1/2-inch Sony sensor, a 3-axis gimbal for smooth footage, and intelligent flight modes. We haven't reviewed this drone, but users have favorably compared it to the excellent DJI Mini 4k, which is one of our favorite drones for beginners.View Deal

Also consider...

The excellent DJI Mini 4K has just hit its lowest-ever price over at Amazon, giving beginner drone pilots the perfect opportunity to pick up one of our favourite models. Alongside excellent 4K footage, the Mini 4K also boasts 31 minutes of flight time, a useful 2x digital zoom, and a three-axis gimbal for smooth video capture. View Deal

How does the S1 compare to the DJI Lito?

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Skyrover S1 Mini is roughly equivalent to the new DJI Lito, but the higher-end DJI Lito X1 is a little stronger overall in terms of specs. The X1 features a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor and support for 10-bit HDR footage, so it's the natural choice for serious videographers looking to grade footage.

Right now, however, both the DJI Lito and Lito X1 have yet to materialize on US store pages, and the federal ban means they'll likely only be available via third-party resellers. By comparison, the Skyrover is more readily available, so again, it's a strong alternative.

The best DJI Lito alternatives — including 'your best first drone', and one serious curve-ball option

Ruth Hamilton — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:30:00 +0000

There's a winning new affordable drone on the market. But while the outstanding DJI Lito has winged its way to the UK and Australia, thanks to that pesky DJI ban, US shoppers are currently missing out. If you live in the US and are looking for a budget-friendly drone to buy now (or even if you're in the UK and want to explore all your options), I've rounded up the best Lito alternatives below.

The main model to consider is the Lito's predecessor, the DJI Mini 4K, which at time of writing holds the #2 spot in TechRadar's best drone ranking. It packs some impressive specs for an affordable price, and is an especially strong choice for beginners (we crowned it "your best first drone"). You can see exactly how it matches up against its replacement in our DJI Lito X1 vs DJI Mini 4K comparison.

For content creators looking to capture short selfie video clips and photos for social media, the obvious choice is the DJI Neo 2. It's compact, simple and wallet-friendly. And if you're looking to steer clear of DJI altogether, the Potensic Atom 2 is well worth a look.

Finally, there's a curve-ball option from TechRadar's Cameras editor Tim Coleman. "A left-field alternative is a 360 camera with a long selfie stick — you can get drone-like effects with those," he explains. You could pick any option from TechRadar's best 360 cameras guide, but for those seeking to keep the price down, Tim suggests the Insta360 Invisible selfie stick paired with the Insta360 X3 camera — this model has been upgraded twice over (with the X4 and X5) but it's still available, capable, and at this point very affordable. Who needs a Lito anyway?

DJI Lito alternatives

DJI

Mini 4K

DJI

Mini 4k Fly More Combo

Very nearly lowest ever price, only very briefly cheaper once

DJI

Mini 3

DJI

Mini 3 Fly More Combo

DJI

Neo 2

Potensic

Atom 2

Insta360

X3 360 Action Camera

Insta360

Invisible Selfie Stick

'The death of Top Gun' — Ukraine becomes the first to scale remotely operated interceptors that can score aerial kills from "thousands of kilometers" away while staying in bunkers as era of pilotless dogfighting and zero crew casualties takes to the sky

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:05:00 +0000

Ukraine scales remote interceptor drones capable of destroying aerial targets from distant protected locations
Operators control aerial interceptors from bunkers thousands of kilometers away instead of front lines
Demonstrations prove long-distance drone interception works across more than 1,240 miles

Ukraine has become the first country to scale remotely operated interceptor drones capable of destroying aerial targets over vast distances, opening the door to air combat carried out far from the battlefield itself.

Operators can now guide interceptor drones from secure bunkers hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away, allowing aerial targets to be destroyed without pilots or launch crews exposed to direct danger.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the capability is already working in combat conditions, with confirmed interceptions taking place across long distances.

Government-backed Brave1 platform

"A year ago, through Brave1, we initiated the development and testing of remote control technology for interceptor drones. Today, we have a confirmed result — shooting down targets at distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometers," Fedorov wrote on social media.

Brave1 is a government-backed platform created to speed up development of new defense technologies through coordination between engineers and manufacturers.

Fedorov added that Ukraine is the first country to scale the remote control of interceptor drones at a systematic level, describing the effort as the creation of a new standard in air defense.

"The pilot is no longer tied to a position. The drone is in the sky — control comes from a protected environment in Kyiv, Lviv, or even abroad," he wrote.

Those changes mean interceptor operators no longer need to sit close to launch positions, allowing operations to be controlled from protected locations far from the battlefield.

"This increases interception efficiency, minimizes risks for operators, and allows capabilities to scale without being tied to the front," Fedorov wrote.

He also said that more than 10 defense manufacturers have already integrated the remote-control capability into their interceptor systems.

One recent demonstration pushed the concept into long-distance territory when Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets flew its Sting interceptor drone across roughly 1,240 miles, or about 2,000 kilometers, while the operator remained based in northern Ukraine, according to reporting from The Kyiv Independent.

That flight relied on the company’s Hornet Vision Ctrl system to maintain continuous control across the entire route, with the system now being deployed across interceptor platforms, the news site reported.

Traditional interception missions placed pilots or crews directly into contested airspace, forcing aircraft and personnel into positions where reaction time and survival depended on seconds.

Remote interceptor systems replace those risks with long-distance command links and hardened shelters, allowing aerial engagements to take place without crews entering the sky at all.

If production continues expanding across manufacturers, interception missions could increasingly move toward remote operation rather than cockpit-based combat, reducing the number of personnel exposed during aerial defense.

DJI Lito 1 vs DJI Mini 4K — here's what I'd buy right now

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The DJI Mini 4K has been our favorite drone for beginners for a while now, but the Chinese brand has just released a brand new sub-249g contender in the form of the DJI Lito 1.

The new model features a larger sensor, more flight time, and better obstacle detection, so it's an easy choice, right? Well, unfortunately, it's not that simple.

For one, listings for the new Lito series have yet to materialize in the States. While the drones have had official launches and support in other markets, the DJI drone ban in the US means that we'll likely have to wait a while until grey market listings appear at retailers like Amazon. The drones don't have any official pricing, either, meaning we don't know exactly how much these drones will cost if and when they do appear.

The older DJI Mini 4K is also currently on sale for a record-low price of just $209 (was $299) at Amazon right now, which is a very, very strong deal. If you're looking for a bargain, there's an argument to pick up the Mini 4K while it's still available for such a low price.

Today's best DJI drone deal

See more: check out all of today's drone deals at Amazon

Is it worth waiting for the new drones?

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Lito is a direct upgrade to the Mini 4K, so we're expecting the Mini to be discontinued in favor of the new model. As of writing, I haven't seen any listings for the Lito or Lito X1, so it's hard to say if or when they'll be available.

We'll likely see third-party sellers and importers offer both drones in the near future, but they could be a little pricier than the Mini 4k. For reference, the Lito starts at £299 / AU$539 in the UK and Australia, respectively.

In the meantime, I highly recommend checking out our freshly published DJI Lito X1 review. We awarded the higher-end model a full five stars out of five, and you can also see plenty of sample footage from the drone's excellent 1/1.3-inch sensor.

DJI Lito X1 vs DJI Mini 4K: 7 reasons to upgrade to DJI's latest beginner drone

Sam Kieldsen — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:39:18 +0000

DJI

Lito X1

DJI

Mini 4K

DJI just launched the Lito series, a new range of camera drones pitched at the beginner market. With all the usual safety and flight tech we've come to expect from DJI drones, plus well-specced 4K cameras, the Lito 1 and Lito X1 are very assured entry-level models for the price.

But they aren't DJI's cheapest quadcopters. The DJI Mini 4K has been around since 2024, and has been our pick for best beginner camera drone up to now (while the Neo 2 is even cheaper, but that's a type of selfie drone with propellor guards). The Mini 4K remains on sale as part of DJI's line-up (for now at least), available for significantly less than the Lito X1, plus it can be picked up in the US where Lito models aren't available yet.

So, should you stick with the cheaper, slightly older drone or opt for the shiny new release? Here's how the DJI Mini 4K stacks up next to its spiritual successor the DJI Lito X1*, starting with specs and then moving onto seven key differences.

*I've tested the pricier Lito X1 which is my top pick of the two new Lito models. The cheaper Lito 1 is closer in quality and price to the Mini 4K.

DJI Lito X1 vs DJI Mini 4K: spec compared

If you want a little more data on how the two drones compare, check out the spec comparison table below.

DJI Lito X1 and DJI Mini 4K specs
	DJI Lito X1	DJI Mini 4K
Camera sensor:	48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor	12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
Camera lens:	FOV 82.1º, f/1.7	FOV 83º, f/2.8
ISO range:	100-12800	100-3200
Video resolution:	4K	4K
Frame rates:	60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps	30, 25, 24fps
Flight modes:	Cine, Normal, Sport	Cine, Normal, Sport
Storage:	42GB internal, microSD card slot	microSD card slot
Battery:	2590mAh, up to 36 minutes flight time	2250mAh, up to 31 minutes flight time
Max horizontal speed:	18m/s	16m/s
Max wind resistance:	10.7m/s	10.7m/s
Charger type:	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:	249g / 8.8oz (approx.)	246g / 8.8oz (approx.)
Dimensions:	149 x 94 x 62mm (folded)	138 x 81 x 58mm (folded)

1. Video and photo quality

The DJI Mini 4K's suffers by comparison to the new Lito X1's offering (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Both drones shoot 4K video, but the Lito X1 shoots a much better variety of it. Its 1/1.3-inch sensor can capture footage at up to 4K resolution and 60fps, and supports a 10-bit D-log M color profile — features that will come in highly useful for anyone happy to color grade and correct their footage in post-production. It can also take 48MP photos.

The Mini 4K employs a much smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor, recording 4K at 8-bit quality and up to 30fps. It's fine in good lighting conditions, but lacks the detail, color depth and dynamic range of the Lito X1's setup. Its maximum resolution for photos is 12MP.

2. Storage space

The Lito X1 comes with 42GB of built-in storage as well as a microSD card slot, while the Mini 4K (and Lito 1) has no internal storage – just the card slot.

3. Weight and design

The Lito X1 falls into the new UK0 category in the UK, and 0 elsewhere. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Both drones weigh approximately 249g, putting them in a highly desirable low-restriction category in most countries. In the US, for instance, you won't need to register either drone before flying (assuming the Lito X1 ever makes it to the US), while in the UK you can fly them close to and over uninvolved people and in residential, commercial and recreational locations like towns, beaches and parks.

Design-wise, both drones use a familiar folding quadcopter shape that's easy to store and transport.

4. Battery life

There's not a lot of daylight between the drones here. In ideal conditions, a fully charged battery on the Mini 4K offers up to 31 minutes of flight time. On the Lito X1, it's 36 minutes. In real-world conditions, you'll get a bit less time in the air, but I'd call both pretty respectable.

The Lito X1 is compatible with an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus that DJI says provides up to 52 minutes of flight time. It will, however, increase the drone's weight above 249g – which may in turn restrict where it can be flown.

5. Safety features

You'll find a downward-facing vision sensor on the Mini 4K – but nothing facing in other directions. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Lito X1 soars above and beyond here, boasting an omnidirectional vision sensor setup plus forward-facing LiDAR and a downward-facing infrared sensor. This helps it spot and avoid hazards no matter which direction it's travelling in, and the LiDAR works even in low light conditions.

The Mini 4K can't compare, really, It only uses a single downward-facing vision sensor (mainly for landing), so users need to be careful when flying – the drone won't help them out by braking or swerving around a tree, fence or lamppost.

Such advanced safety features offered by the Lito X1 are usually found in much pricier and heavier models. It's understandable that you don't usually get an omnidirectional vision sensor in a cheap beginner model, but the irony is that it's beginners who will, arguably, benefit from the feature the most.

6. Special flight modes

The Lito X1 comes with a host of automated flight modes, including ActiveTrack (where the drone will autonomously follow a selected human or vehicle, avoiding obstacles while it does so), SpotLight (similar, but with manual flight controls while the camera keeps the subject centred), MasterShots (a series of interesting camera moves on a selected subject or location) and QuickShots (similar, but one move at a time), plus one-button return-to-home.

The Mini 4K offers only QuickShots and return-to-home, making it feel rather barebones on the Intelligent Flight front.

7. Price

The DJI Lito X1 costs about £120 more than the DJI Mini 4K – but I think it's well worth the premium. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Here's the one area where the Mini 4K gets to shine, as it starts from just £242 (with an RC-N1C remote controller). The Lito X1 costs £369 (with the similar, but newer, RC-N3 controller), making it quite a bit pricier than its predecessor.

However, I do think that the extra camera, safety and Intelligent Flight Mode capabilities offered by the Lito X1 make it very good value. Not only will your footage and photos look sharper and richer, but you're far less likely to crash it – and you can set it to automatically follow you while you ride your bike through a forest, run along a beach or even drive down a desert highway! The Mini 4K remains a decent beginner drone, but if your budget can stretch a little further, the Lito X1 has plenty that'll appeal to intermediate users too.

Hit me with any questions you have about the new DJI Lito X1 and the best beginner drones in the comments below.

"Push them to the limit": MIT researchers almost double SSD performance 'for free' but only for data centers

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:27:59 +0000

Sandook software coordinates many SSDs to avoid slowdowns from garbage collection
Two-tier control system reroutes workloads across pooled drives in real time
Performance gains approach theoretical limits but depend on large clustered storage environments

Researchers at MIT and Tufts University have built a storage management system called Sandook that pushes pooled SSDs closer to their theoretical limits. The project, targets a long-standing issue inside large storage clusters where identical drives rarely perform in identical ways.

Solid-state drives slow down for a number of reasons, including internal garbage collection cycles and the slower nature of write operations compared with reads. Those slowdowns can ripple across workloads when multiple applications share the same storage pool.

Rather than leaving each SSD to handle performance issues on its own, the system splits control duties across two coordinated layers that manage activity across the full drive pool.

Unleashing the potential of data center SSDs

As Blocks & Files reports, a central controller collects performance telemetry from each large SSD and revises scheduling choices about 5x per second.

Local agents inside storage servers pass along performance signals and congestion warnings as workloads change.

When a drive begins housekeeping duties such as garbage collection, the system lowers its priority and transfers traffic to healthier drives in the pool. That rerouting happens without requiring changes to applications accessing the storage.

The method builds on techniques already used in enterprise storage, including block replication for reads and log-structured writes that can land on any available device.

Trials included database processing, neural network training, large-scale image compression, and latency-critical storage services, and the system reportedly delivered between 30 and 82 percent higher raw input and output throughput compared with earlier approaches that targeted single bottlenecks.

Across pooled workloads, application performance gains ranged from 12 to 94 percent, with latency reductions reaching up to 88 percent. In some cases, storage throughput reached roughly 1.7x previous levels.

The gains come entirely from software, which means commodity off-the-shelf SSDs remain unchanged. CPU and memory overhead for monitoring dozens of drives per server was described as being minimal.

The research paper, titled “Unleashing The Potential of Datacenter SSDs by Taming Performance Variability,” is available to view here.

Despite the headline numbers, this isn’t something most consumers could run at home. The design depends on large groups of SSDs working together, along with Linux-based infrastructure and enterprise networking setups common in data centers.

That pooling effect is where most of the performance improvement comes from. Without spare drives to shift workloads onto, a single-drive system would see little benefit.

Blocks & Files notes the work will be discussed at the USENIX NSDI 2026 event in May, where the researchers plan to show how coordinated scheduling helps solve unpredictable SSD behavior across large clusters.

The new DJI Lito beginner drone has landed — but right now the 'superb' DJI Mini 4K has nose-dived to a new low price

Ruth Hamilton — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Following weeks of speculation, DJI's new entry-level drone landed today in the UK and Australia. The DJI Lito is available in two iterations — we got our hands on the more advanced option ahead of its launch, and awarded it a perfect five stars in our DJI Lito X1 review.

But what about those of you living in the US, where — thanks to a ban on new DJI products — the Lito won't be arriving any time soon? Although we're hopeful this pocket-sized powerhouse might land on US shores at some point (the DJI Mini 5 Pro was similarly absent from the brand's official US store at its October 2025 launch, but has now made its way to third-party retailers in the US), if you don't want to wait around, I have good news.

The DJI Mini 4K (the model the new Lito will essentially replace) has dropped to an incredibly low price at Amazon right now. The Mini 4K holds the #2 spot in our best drone ranking, and in our review our Cameras editor Tim Coleman called it a "superb" choice for newbies, crowning it "your best first drone". Although the entry-level Lito 1 boasts slightly better specs in a number of areas, the Mini 4K is still a stellar drone — and even more appealing with the current discounts.

There are big price-drops across all three bundle options. You can pick up the drone on its own for $209 at Amazon (was ~~$299~~), which is very nearly the cheapest-ever price for a drone that is usually sold at full whack. Pricier, but better value if you want to take to the skies on a regular basis, is the Fly More bundle. This adds spare batteries and a charging hub, and is also significantly cheaper than usual right now, down to $309 from its usual price of ~~$449~~.

DJI Mini 4k deals

DJI

Mini 4K

DJI

Mini 4k Camera Drone Combo

Matches lowest ever price, very rare to see it this cheap

DJI

Mini 4k Fly More Combo

Very nearly lowest ever price, only very briefly cheaper once

More affordable drones to consider

Not sure the Lito is the right drone for you? We've rounded up some alternatives to consider below. Unfortunately given the current situation, DJI remains the standout brand in this area.

For those who want to shoot selfie video, the DJI Neo 2 is an unbeatable affordable option. It's not discounted right now, but even at full price it's very budget-friendly. The DJI Mini 3 is a pricier option but has some deep discounts (we called it a "fantastic entry-level choice"). There aren't tons of non-DJI options we'd recommend, with the exception of the Potensic Atom 2, which is well worth a look.

DJI

Mini 3

DJI

Mini 3 Fly More Combo

DJI

Neo 2

Potensic

Atom 2 Fly More Combo

'A huge step up over the Mini 4K, and my favorite new beginner drone’ — the DJI Lito X1 quadcopter sets new standards, and it’s incredible value too

Sam Kieldsen — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

DJI Lito X1 and Lito 1: One-minute review

DJI's Lito series represents the company's latest bid to own the entry-level camera drone market — and with the Lito X1 and the more affordable Lito 1, it's made a compelling case. Both are compact folding drones in the same pocket-friendly mould as DJI's Mini series, weighing under 250g and earning a C0/UK0 class designation that means you can fly them almost anywhere, including over people.

Out in the field, the Lito models impress on almost every front. Flight performance is smooth and stable; I flew in challenging coastal conditions in the UK and the drones held their own, and despite an 81dB noise rating, both models are surprisingly unobtrusive in the air.

Battery life is a high point too, with up to 36 minutes on a charge comfortably outpacing DJI's Neo 2 and other entry-level rivals. What really sets the Lito apart at this price, though, is its obstacle sensing: full omnidirectional coverage comes as standard on both models, while the X1 adds forward-facing LiDAR for even sharper hazard detection — a significant upgrade over the downward-only sensor on the DJI Mini 4K.

@techradar
♬ original sound - TechRadar

The DJI Lito X1 drone is well equipped and specced for the asking price. And its sister drone, the Lito 1, is even cheaper. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

On the camera front, both drones punch above their weight. The Lito X1's 1/1.3-inch sensor captures 10-bit 4K 60fps footage with D-Log M support and 14 stops of dynamic range, giving videographers real room to work in post. The Lito 1's 1/2-inch sensor is no slouch either, though it lacks that dynamic range, and isn't as comfortable in lower-light situations.

I'd recommend most buyers stretch to the X1; the small premium over the Lito 1 also gets you LiDAR, 10-bit shooting and 42GB of built-in storage, which is a lot of extras for a modest price jump. Neither drone is perfect: the digital zoom gets noticeably soft at its tightest setting, the X1 has a default tendency to overexpose, and neither camera can rotate to shoot vertical video natively.

At £299 / AU$539 for the Lito 1 and £369 / AU$619 for the Lito X1, DJI has priced this series aggressively. The X1 in particular offers a spec sheet that rivals far pricier drones, making it one of the best-value camera drones available right now. US buyers should note that, like other recent DJI products, the Lito series isn't officially available stateside and can only be sourced through grey market channels. For everyone else, it's an easy recommendation from me.

DJI Lito X1 and Lito 1: Price and release date

Launched on April 23 2026
Lito 1 priced from £299 / AU$539, Lito X1 from £369 / AU$619
Fly More Combo bundles available for both drones

The Lito series was introduced worldwide on April 23 2026, and is available to order now from DJI's website and other retailers – except in the United States where, as with all recent DJI products, there are no plans to bring it to retailers (although buyers may be able to acquire it through certain retailers on the grey market).

As mentioned above, there are two models available at launch: the barebones Lito 1, and the more premium Lito X1. These are priced at £299 / AU$539 and £369 / AU$619 respectively, and are also available in Fly More Combos for £429 / AU$779 and £599 / AU$1,069. The Lito 1 Fly More Combo comes with two additional batteries, a three-battery charging cradle, an RC-N3 controller, and a carrying bag; the Lito X1 features the same, but swaps the RC-N3 controller for the touchscreen-equipped RC 2 model.

The RC 2 controller and battery charging cradle are included in the Lito X1 Fly More Combo, alongside a small but well-designed sling bag. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Litos are slotting in right at the bottom of DJI's drone range, alongside models like the Mini 4K, Neo 2 and Flip. In fact, I suspect the Mini 4K is about to be phased out in favor of the Lito, as the Lito is superior in every major respect, but the Neo 2 and Flip will remain, as they offer something a little different.

Is the Lito good value? Yes, in short — it's the same price as the Flip and more expensive than the Neo 2, but offers better battery life than both (significantly so, compared to the Neo 2) and better obstacle sensing than the Flip. In fact, the Lito X1 offers similar specs to the Mini 4 Pro (another drone that I believe may be on the way out of DJI's lineup) at a significantly lower price.

Price score: 5/5

DJI Lito X1 and DJI Lito: Specs

DJI Lito 1 and Lito X1 specs
	DJI Lito X1	DJI Lito 1
Camera:	48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor	48MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor
Video resolution:	4K	4K
Frame rates:	60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps	60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps
Flight modes:	Cine, Normal, Sport	Cine, Normal, Sport
Storage:	42GB internal, microSD card slot	microSD card slot
Battery:	2590mAh, up to 36 minutes flight time	2590mAh, up to 36 minutes flight time
Charger type:	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub	USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:	249g / 8.8oz (approx.)	249g / 8.8oz (approx.)
Dimensions:	149 x 94 x 62mm (folded)	149 x 94 x 62mm (folded)

DJI Lito X1: Design and build quality

Folding sub-250g body, similar to Mini series
Labelled UK0 / C0 class
42GB of internal storage (X1 model only) plus microSD slot

The Lito X1 and Lito 1 are virtually identical in design, with the only real physical difference being a (very) slight variation in the color of their plastic bodies. If not for that, and the product name displayed on their prop arms, the two drones would be impossible to tell apart.

The folding design is reminiscent of DJI's Mini series, and like those drones, the Lito weighs under 250g. As a result it's classed C0 in Europe and UK0 in the United Kingdom, meaning it can be flown almost anywhere, as well as close to and above "uninvolved" people. Additionally, the Lito's folding design means it's one of the few drones out there that I could genuinely say is pocket-sized – although we're talking trenchcoat pocket rather than jeans pocket here.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

As with most of its drones, DJI supplies the Lito with a plastic cap to protect the camera and gimbal when they're not in use, but no carry case by default — you'll have to upgrade to the Fly More Combo if you want a bag.

In general, the drone is well built, despite its weight. The plastic used for the body is sturdy, with built-in feet/landing gear to prevent the sensors getting damaged when it's sitting on a surface; the propellers, however, are largely unprotected, so some care is required when handling.

The battery slides in and out from the back, which is also where you'll find the USB-C port and microSD slot. The USB port can be used for charging and data transfer, while the microSD slot supports storage. The Lito X1 also includes 42GB of built-in storage space, which can be supplemented with microSD if required, but you'll need a microSD card for the Lito 1.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The RC 2 and RC-N3 controllers supplied with the Lito are tried and tested models that we've covered in previous DJI drone reviews. Suffice to say they're solidly built and comfortable in the hand, and the RC 2 has a very impressive built-in touchscreen.

Design score: 5/5

DJI Lito X1: Features and flight performance

QuickTransfer uses Wi-Fi 6 to move files quickly to a mobile device
Both Lito 1 and Lito X1 offer omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, plus LiDAR on Lito X1
Up to 36 minutes of flight time per battery

We've always rated the DJI Mini 4K as the company's best bang-for-buck beginner's model, but it had one drawback: a lack of object detection, leaving it liable to crashing into fences, lampposts, tree branches and the like.

The Lito drones, however, come with full omnidirectional object sensing, allowing them to dodge structures and hazards with ease. In fact, the Lito X1 even comes with forward-facing LiDAR, giving it even better hazard perception, even in the sort of low-light situations where the Lito 1's vision-based system proves incapable.

The Lito models also come with the usual DJI boons like one-button take-off, return-to-home and landing, highly accurate GPS and good in-flight stability. DJI claims the Lito models offer wind resistance up to 10.7m/s, but having flown them in wind speeds far exceeding that, I'd say the company is being conservative.

The Lito X1 includes a front-facing LiDAR sensor to help map complex environments and avoid collisions, even in low-light conditions (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Using either the RC 2 or RC-N3 controller and the DJI Fly app, flying the Lito is a piece of cake. The drone nimbly responds to the controls and boasts a video transmission range far longer than anyone would reasonably want to test, along with impressive battery life. You can get up to 36 minutes of flying time on a single charge, says DJI, and while the reality is likely to be more like 25 minutes of anxiety-free flying before the app repeatedly nags you into landing, that's a lot of air time for a cheap, entry-level drone.

Other features worth mentioning are the bevy of automated flight modes, such as Spotlight (which keeps the camera trained on a subject while you pilot the drone), ActiveTrack (which follows moving vehicles and people while navigating around obstacles) and user-set waypoint flying, plus the Wi-Fi 6-based QuickTransfer system, which can move huge video files from the drone to your mobile device's storage in seconds.

Flight performance score: 5/5

DJI Lito X1: Image and video quality

Lito X1 has 1/1.3-inch sensor, while Lito 1 has 1/2-inch sensor
Lito X1 supports 10-bit video and D-log M color profile
Both drones shoot JPEG and DNG photos at 12MP and 48MP

Most of DJI's drones now record 4K video — even the bargain-basement original DJI Neo — but the Lito X1 and Lito 1 offer a better flavor of 4K than the existing entry-level Mini 4K model's 4K 30fps footage, captured from a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Lito 1 records 8-bit 4K 60fps video from a slightly larger 1/2-inch sensor (presumably the same one that's in the DJI Neo 2), while the Lito X1 records 10-bit 4K 60fps video using a 1/1.3-inch sensor (which I suspect is the same as the one in the DJI Flip, Mini 4 Pro and Avata 2). Both use a 3-axis gimbal to steady the camera as they shoot.

The Lito X1 also supports the flat D-log M color profile, offering a dynamic range of up to 14 stops when graded in post-production — something that's sure to appeal to demanding aerial videographers who enjoy tweaking their own footage to perfection. You can see both straight-from-the-camera and graded footage in my sample video above, and further down there's another video showcasing the Lito 1's camera which, while certainly a step down from the X1's, is no slouch itself, especially in good lighting.

I'm impressed with the results from both cameras, both video and 12MP/48MP stills (which can be captured in raw DNG as well as JPEG); the Lito X1 is especially noteworthy.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

That being said, these are still entry-level models, and they can't match results from the likes of the DJI Mini 5 Pro or Air 3S. This is especially true when you attempt to 'zoom' in, which is where the sensors' small sizes shows their limitations. You can see examples in my videos, but the digital zooms on both Litos are somewhat disappointing. I also felt that the X1 had a tendency to overexpose its video by default, but even if this isn't tweaked in a future firmware update it's something the user can fix by adjusting the EV.

Overall, it's fair to say that the cameras on the Lito X1 and Lito 1 are really solid by entry-level standards, and a step up over what we've seen on the Mini 4K.

Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Lito X1: Testing scorecard

DJI Lito X1
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	Both models are great value for their performance and camera quality.	5/5
Design	The folding quadcopter design is a classic for a reason.	5/5
Features and flight	Packed with safety features and a breeze to fly.	5/5
Image and video quality	Strong by entry-level standards, particularly on the X1 model.	4.5/5

Should I buy the DJI Lito X1/Lito 1?

Buy it if...

You want a superb entry-level option
With 10-bit 4K 60fps video and LiDAR sensor, the Lito X1 is a huge step up over the Mini 4K, and our favorite new beginner drone.

You need longer battery life
With up to 36 minutes of flight time per battery, the Lito beats DJI's other entry-level drones for stamina.

Don't buy it if...

You want the cheapest good drone
DJI's tiny Neo 2 is even cheaper, and it offers similar image quality to the Lito 1. Its battery life is only half as long, however.

You need the best image quality
The Lito X1 has an excellent camera by entry-level standards, but you'll need a Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S or Mavic for sharp zoomed-in shots.

DJI Lito X1: also consider

DJI Mini 5 Pro

Both small and mighty, the Mini 5 Pro is the current ultralight king. Despite being the same size and weight as the Lito, this drone's 1-inch camera sensor makes it a much better performer for pixel peepers. You'll have to pay for that image quality bump, though – it's around three times the price of the Lito 1.

Read our in-depth DJI Mini 5 Pro review

DJI Neo 2

Even more affordable and lightweight than the Lito, the Neo 2 looks like a toy. But, while it's a ton of fun, it's a seriously impressive flyer, able to track fast-moving subjects while dodging obstacles and fly without a controller. It's upgradeable too, and can be turned into an FPV or long-range flyer with ease.

Read our in-depth DJI Neo 2 review

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

How I tested the DJI Lito X1 and Lito 1

I tested all flight modes and control methods
I captured both videos and photos
I tested the drones' tracking and safety features

About a week before the official launch, DJI sent me both the Lito X1 Fly More Combo and the basic Lito 1 package (including the RC-N3 controller) to test. That gave me a few days to take both drones out and about for real-world flight and camera tests in a range of conditions.

I flew in both windy and calm weather, and was able to test the two drones' cameras in low-light conditions. I tested not only manual flight, but autonomous modes like Spotlight, ActiveTrack and MasterShots, as well as assessing how DJI's battery-life and object-avoidance claims held up to real-world conditions.

After flying, I edited together the videos you see above using DaVinci Resolve 20, including using LUTs and color correction for the D-log M footage I captured with the Lito X1. I also tweaked the DNG raw still photographs I took with both drones using Adobe Lightroom.

First reviewed: April 2026
Read more about how we test

The $5 Drone Killer: The Navy’s new 20kW LOCUST laser just proved its "unlimited magazine depth" on the USS George H.W. Bush — it neutralized multiple UAVs for a fraction of the cost of a missile, protecting the fleet from cheap enemy drone swarms

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:40:00 +0000

LOCUST laser tested aboard USS George H.W. Bush during live drone engagement
Palletized system deployed without permanent ship modification during demonstration
Newer Locust versions introduce AI-assisted tracking and higher power output

Drone warfare has expanded rapidly in recent years, with large numbers of low-cost systems used across conflicts such as Ukraine and in operations linked to Iran.

Defending against repeated drone attacks has exposed the limits of traditional interceptors, leading the US military (and others) to explore laser weapons that can fire repeatedly without running out of ammunition.

AeroVironment says it has successfully demonstrated its LOCUST laser weapon system aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during a live-fire exercise carried out with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

Intended to counter smaller drones

The palletized LOCUST Laser Weapon System was deployed onto the carrier and tracked, engaged, and neutralized multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, showing that the system could operate from a moving carrier environment.

The high-energy laser is mounted in a turret that can be rolled onto different platforms. This design allows the system to operate from either its own battery bank or draw power directly from a ship, reducing the need for permanent installation work.

“LOCUST delivers effective, all-domain protection against emerging drone threats at the speed of light — on any platform, in any domain, for any mission,” said John Garrity, Vice President of Directed Energy Systems at AV.

“Rolling LOCUST onto a ship and quickly initiating operations facilitates the expanded use of high-energy lasers across the Fleet without the need for costly, time-consuming ship modifications. This is a game-changer for the Navy and for our national security.”

AeroVironment said the system demonstrated target tracking and beam control while operating aboard the carrier, and the same core system architecture is shared across multiple military services, so the technology can be used on land-based vehicles as well as ships.

The War Zone says this appears to be the first time a laser weapon of this type has been installed on a U.S. aircraft carrier, and that systems like LOCUST typically operate in the roughly 20kW power range. This places them in the category of weapons intended primarily to counter smaller drones.

TWZ also points out that lasers still face practical limits in operational settings. Beam effectiveness decreases over distance, and weather conditions such as dust, smoke, or moisture can reduce performance before the beam reaches its target.

Defense Express notes that AeroVironment has continued developing newer versions of the system, including an updated model known as Locust X3.

This version supports power levels between 20kW and 35kW and includes AI-assisted detection and tracking tools.

Defense Express also reports that shooting down one drone using Locust X3 laser system only costs five dollars, without the need for reloading, making it useful over extended periods.

The 'immersive' DJI Avata 2 just hit a new record-low price — this is your cue to get into FPV drones

alex.whitelock@futurenet.com (Alex Whitelock) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:28:52 +0000

FPV drones often represent a relatively niche choice for prospective pilots, but every now and again, a deal pops up that can make them an enticing choice. Right now, for example, you can pick up the excellent DJI Avata 2 for just $859 (was $1,019) at both Amazon and B&H Photo.

This particular deal is a record-low price, and it's also convenient for the Fly More combo package. In short, this is the combo pack you want if you're looking for an all-in-one setup that's good to go right out of the box. Included is the drone itself, a pair of FPV goggles, a handy sling bag, and three extra batteries, which are crucial for maximizing flight time.

Considering the batteries retail for around $120 to $150 seperately, it makes sense to go for the Fly More combo if you're serious about picking up the Avata 2. Each one gives an extra 26 minutes of flight time, so they are pretty handy if you're planning on spending more time out in the field. The sling bag is also a nice addition, meaning your drone will be safe and sound in a container that's specifically tailored to this model.

Today's record-low DJI Avata 2 Fly More deal

Today's discounts at Amazon bring the excellent DJI Avata 2 down to its lowest ever price. If you're looking for an easy entry point into the world of FPV drones, then this is a fantastic option, with its intuitive flight-assistance features, 4K 60fps video, and a generous 26 minutes of flight time. Today's deals span a range of configurations (including the drone by itself), but I'd recommend this Fly More combo that includes three extra batteries and a handy sling bag. This deal is also available at B&H Photo for the same price. View Deal

A good option for FPV beginners

(Image credit: Future | Nico Goodden)

FPV drones are notoriously difficult to pilot for beginners, but the DJI Avata 2 is a great option if you're looking to dip your toes in the water. Our full DJI Avata 2 review in particular praised its ease of use for beginners.

For example, if you're just looking for stress-free piloting, then you can simply fly with the Avata's Normal mode, which includes auto return and take-off, as well as collision detection. If you feel more confident, the Sport mode lets you take more direct control of the drone with faster flight speeds.

There is also a manual mode with full control, but we found the Avata to be best suited for the more restricted modes, as similar drones in the FPV category offer better handling. With that said, the Avata 2 is very impressive, with the 1/3" sensor offering crisp 4K footage up to 60fps and the option for slo-mo-ready 1080p at 120fps.

Robots are fighting wars and helping to quash riots — China is arming riot police with squads of AI controlled drones and Ukraine wants to man the frontlines with 25,000 robots

benedict.collins@futurenet.com (Benedict Collins) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:05:00 +0000

China and Ukraine are testing new robotic capabilities
Robots are being deployed to the frontlines of the war with Russia
Protests in China could soon be policed using squads of robots and drones

Robots can’t surrender, don’t suffer issues with morale, and won’t refuse an order. That’s why militaries and law enforcement see them as the future.

Ukraine has already employed robots in multiple roles across its armed forces - from seaborne and airborne drones, to CASEVAC and logistics vehicles - and now wants to deploy 25,000 more in frontline positions.

China is also flirting with the idea of kitting out its armed police and riot units with squads entirely made of robots, controlled by a central AI, with remote human input only to prevent the bots from being too heavy handed.

Ukraine to deploy 25,000 ground robots

In order to supplement its existing capabilities, the Ukraine Ministry of Defense has announced that it will seek to deploy an additional 25,000 robots in the first half of 2026. “Our goal — 100% of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine’s industry for robots and drones has exploded with over 280 companies now actively producing systems and solutions to help the war effort.

Ukraine has already claimed to have taken a trench system using a team made entirely of robots, in what could be a first of its kind engagement. There are also novel deployments of drones and robots with mounted weapons, including machine guns and rocket launchers.

The government is also setting up a center to help the Armed Forces, General Staff, and robotics manufacturers cooperate, ensuring smooth manufacturing and deployment.

China testing riot robots

The People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) theorized a scenario where it a protest is quelled in an urban environment using a riot squad made entirely of robots.

The squad, made up of reconnaissance drones, armored vehicles, and robot dogs would isolate and detain instigators, removing the protest’s organizational backbone. The rest of the protest, cut off from the internet and lacking leadership, would then disperse on its own.

Aerial drones would use pattern recognition to identify agitators, before ‘kettling’ the protest with robotic barriers. Arrests are then made, using nets and tasers to neutralize threats.

The system would require very little human input, instead using AI as its center of command. Arrests would remain a human decision, albeit a remote one.

The scenario, set in “New City”, bears a striking resemblance to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, which China has claimed to be an inalienable part of the mainland since the Kuomintang-led Republic of China government lost the Chinese civil war and fled to the island nation.

Chasing a 'slightly ridiculous' 250mph goal: Engineer behind the world’s fastest 3D-printed, drone-powered RC car pushes for a new record

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Record-setting RC car reached 234.7mph in February using drone-powered drivetrain
Project 250 redesign focuses on narrowing chassis and increasing electrical power
Engineer aims to exceed current world record with upgraded motors and higher voltage

Stephen Wallis, a part-time motorcycle engineer from Rugby, UK, set a Guinness World Record in February 2026 when his remote control car reached 234.7mph, and he is already working on a redesigned machine built to push beyond 250mph.

The record-setting vehicle, known as The Beast, measures 3ft 2in long, about 1m, and took more than a year to design and build using 3D-printed components and high-powered drone motors.

Four motors are bolted directly to the wheels, which connect straight to the chassis to reduce mechanical losses and keep the drivetrain simple at very high speeds.

A slightly ridiculous goal: 250mph

Wallis said his interest in radio-controlled cars stems from his childhood. "It goes back to when I was eight years old and got my first radio controlled car," Wallis told the BBC.

The final recorded speed of The Beast placed the small vehicle ahead of the top speed of a production McLaren F1, offering a useful comparison with a well-known performance benchmark.

Reaching 240mph had been a private goal during the original project, although his attention has now shifted to an even more demanding target.

In a recent video update, Wallis explained how he is rebuilding the car to chase higher speeds and break his own record.

“Today, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm evolving my RC car to beat my Guinness World Record of 234.7 mph and chase a slightly ridiculous goal: 250,” he said.

The new build, known as Project 250, keeps the general layout of The Beast while introducing several mechanical and electrical upgrades.

Reducing overall width is a key change, as narrower bodywork cuts drag and helps maintain stability at higher speeds.

Larger 5215 motors are also being introduced to deliver more torque and manage heat more effectively under heavy loads. Battery capacity is increasing as well, with an additional two-cell unit raising the system to a 20-cell, 84V setup.

“I've got ideas: make it narrower, fit bigger motors, and run more voltage. Now, I need to turn those ideas into a real design,” he said.

Changes to wheel mounting and steering components were required to achieve the narrower layout, including revised adapters that place the wheel closer to the motor face.

Weight balance is another challenge, as shifting batteries and electronics can change how the car behaves at extreme speeds.

“I need to design a car capable of 250 mph and build it in time for the next speedrun season, which starts in 8 weeks,” he said.

Prototype parts have already been produced using 3D printing to confirm fit and layout and the final components will be manufactured from aluminum and carbon fiber.

'No onboard pilot needed': Massive 2-ton VTOL “mega drone” just hauled fresh tea leaves over 75 miles autonomously

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:05:00 +0000

Autonomous cargo aircraft completed 120km mountain delivery in just 37 minutes
Hybrid air and rail transport enabled fresh tea delivery within 24 hours
CarryAll drone carries up to 400kg with 200km operational range

Chinese-founded aerospace company AutoFlight has carried out a 2-ton-class eVTOL transport trial moving fresh spring tea across mountainous terrain in Guizhou province.

The test used its CarryAll (V2000CG), an unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, to move freshly harvested tea between the cities of Anshun and Guiyang, roughly 120km apart.

That flight crossed rugged mountain terrain in 37 minutes, a trip that typically takes far longer by road due to winding routes and elevation changes common in the region.

Maximum payload of 400kg

Once the aircraft delivered the tea to Guiyang, the shipment continued by high-speed rail to Shanghai, covering close to 2,000km in total distance.

The combined use of aircraft and rail allowed the tea to reach consumers within 24 hours of harvesting, offering a different way to move time-sensitive agricultural products from remote regions.

Unlike conventional cargo aircraft, the CarryAll operates without an onboard pilot, relying on autonomous flight systems to handle navigation and route execution.

The aircraft supports a maximum payload of 400kg and has a range of up to 200km, with a cruise speed of about 180km/h, making it suited to medium-distance cargo routes where roads are slow or unreliable.

Vertical takeoff and landing capability removes the need for runways, allowing operations from compact pads near farms or logistics hubs, which could simplify deployment in mountainous or isolated areas.

AutoFlight said the CarryAll (V2000CG) holds Type, Production, and Airworthiness Certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, making it one of the earliest large cargo eVTOL platforms to reach that stage of regulatory approval.

“This innovative ‘autonomous eVTOL air transfer + high-speed rail trunk line’ model breaks logistics bottlenecks in high-altitude mountainous areas. AutoFlight will join hands with more partners to extend this efficient, green autonomous cargo model to more specialty agricultural producing areas," said Li Yun, CCO of AutoFlight.

"This will help more high-quality local agricultural products reach national markets quickly, driving regional industrial upgrading and rural revitalization.”

AutoFlight's cargo aircraft have previously flown missions involving offshore platforms, intercity freight, and emergency fire-fighting support, showing how the technology is being tested beyond controlled demonstrations.

The company is also working on a six-seat passenger version, identified as the V2000EM Prosperity, which is undergoing airworthiness certification under Chinese aviation authorities.

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: I compared the world's first 360 camera drones, and there was one clear winner

Sam Kieldsen — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

techradar

DJI Avata 360

360 drone with 8K 60fps video recording, omnidirectional sensors and FPV and standard controller options.

techradar

Antigravity A1

Sub-250g 360 camera drone with FPV flight, 8K video up to 30fps, and front and down-facing object detection.

Until very recently, 360 cameras and drones occupied entirely separate corners of the imaging market. Then, in late 2025, Antigravity, a new drone brand incubated by Insta360, launched the A1, a sub-250g quadcopter with a pair of fisheye lenses built into its airframe and the ability to capture full spherical 8K video in a single flight.

It was a truly innovative product; drones had been used to carry 360 cameras before, but never with this level of integration, this small a footprint, or with this kind of "fly first, frame later" workflow baked in.

DJI's response wasn't long in coming. The Avata 360, launched in March 2026, is the drone giant's first purpose-built 360 flyer, and it takes a markedly different approach, being larger, heavier, faster, and with higher spec cameras. It also costs considerably less.

So which of these two pioneering drones is actually worth your money? I've put both through extensive real-world testing to find out.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

1. Price and availability

DJI Avata 360 starts at £409 / AU$799 (not officially available in US)
Antigravity A1 starts at $1,599 / £1,219 / AU$2,199

The DJI Avata 360 is the considerably more affordable of the two 360 drones, no matter which package you choose — and given the relative specification of the two drones, I'm impressed that DJI has managed to keep the price so accessible. DJI's size as a company, and its position as the world's leading producer of consumer drones, seems to have allowed it to drastically undercut its competitor, despite the Avata 360 having significantly higher camera specs.

In the US, the Avata 360 is available from third-party retailers including Amazon and B&H Photo from approximately $549 for the drone alone – though it's worth noting that, like several recent DJI products, it isn't officially sold through DJI's own US channels. If you want to fly with FPV goggles and a motion controller, the Motion Fly More Combo comes in at around $999; the RC 2 Fly More Combo costs the same. In the UK, the drone-only option is priced at £409, with the RC 2 controller bundle at £639 and the two Fly More Combos at £829 each. Australian buyers can pick it up from AU$799.

The Antigravity A1, by contrast, comes as an all-in-one proposition. In other words, you can't buy the drone without the Vision Goggles and Grip controller, which means the $1,599 Standard Bundle is the entry point in the US. That's nearly three times the cost of the Avata 360's cheapest drone-only option. In the UK, the A1's Standard Bundle costs £1,219, with Explorer and Infinity Bundles at £1,399 and £1,499 respectively. In Australia, expect to pay AU$2,199 for the Standard Bundle, AU$2,799 for the Explorer and AU$2,899 for the Infinity.

2. Design and build quality

DJI Avata 360 weighs 455g, has a flat cinewhoop-style design and is classed UK1 / C1
Antigravity A1 weighs 249g, has a folding design and is classed C1 or Open A1

Future | Sam Kieldsen

When the A1 is unfolded, it's roughly the same size as the Avata 360 – but nowhere near as sturdy.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The A1 and Avata 360 are drastically different in size, shape and weight. Antigravity has concentrated on keeping the A1 as compact and lightweight as possible: its four prop arms fold in for easy transport (there's a nice hard-sided case to keep it in) and it weighs 249g, making it subject to few flight restrictions.

By contrast, the Avata 360 is a flat, non-folding drone that weighs almost twice as much – but thanks to falling into the UK's new UK1 category, I was thankfully able to fly it in exactly the same locations as the sub-250g A1 while testing. And, despite its inability to fold up, the design incorporates built-in prop guards and seems, to me at least, far more aerodynamic than the A1's. So there are some key boons to DJI's choices here.

Both drones are built solidly enough for safe flight, but the A1's lightweight design and lack of prop guards (as standard, anyway) means it feels a lot daintier than its rival. I'd back the Avata 360 to survive a minor collision with a tree pretty much unscathed; I couldn't confidently say the same about the A1.

Future

Future | Sam Kieldsen

A quick word about the drones' respective FPV goggles. Both have internal lenses that can be adjusted for different eye distances and types, and both are nicely lightweight and comfortable to wear.

The A1's Vision Goggles are the smaller and more technically impressive of the two, with a useful exterior display that allows your spotter to follow the A1's live camera feed, plus an exterior camera enabling the wearer to "look through" to the outside world. However, I found the separate battery pack a pain to deal with, and the fact that I had to take my glasses off every time I put the goggles on even more annoying.

The DJI Goggles N3 that come in the Avata 360's FPV Fly More Combo are a much simpler affair, with no display and no front camera, but I found them much more practical due to their integrated battery pack (built into the headband) and the fact I could keep my specs on while wearing them. Sometimes these little touches are more important than cool features.

3. Camera performance

DJI Avata: 2 x 1/1.1-inch sensor with 8K recording up to 60fps and D Log M color profile
Antigravity A1: 2 x 1/1.28-inch sensor with 8K recording up to 30fps, standard color profile only

While both drones capture their 360 footage at 8K resolution, there's a marked difference between the results. You can watch the embedded videos below to see for yourself, but in my opinion the DJI Avata 360 offers much sharper, cleaner and smoother video than the Antigravity A1.

This shouldn't be a surprise, really: the Avata 360 camera's two sensors are 1/1.1-inch in size, while the A1's are smaller at 1/1.28-inch. This might not seem a huge difference, but there's a lot more noise visible in the A1's footage than the Avata 360's. The Avata 360 also supports 60fps recording at full 8K resolution, while the A1 is restricted to 30fps at 8K, and must drop to 5.2K in order to hit 60fps.

Additionally, the Avata 360 supports 10-bit recording and the flat D-Log M color profile, catering to the kind of user who's happiest color grading and correcting footage. The A1's 8- bit footage can be tweaked somewhat in the companion app, but currently there's no log color profile available. It also has Single Lens mode, allowing it to record 4K/60fps footage from just one front-facing camera, which effectively turns it into a "normal" camera drone, albeit one without a proper 3-axis gimbal.

To my eyes, the Avata 360 also seems to offer truly seamless stitching, while it's possible to see a slight "ripple" in the A1's footage where the two video hemispheres have been joined.

Both drones can take still photographs too, and while I didn't make much use of this feature on either (I find 360 drone photos underwhelming compared to video), the Avata 360 is again superior, both in terms of specs (120MP resolution versus the A1's 55MP) and real-world results.

Finally, a quick word on storage for photos and videos. Both drones have built-in storage (20GB on the A1, 42GB on the Avata 360), plus support for microSD cards of up to 1TB capacity. So, while the Avata 360 offers a little more space out of the both, the differences are quite small once you consider expandability.

4. Editing and apps

DJI Avata 360 uses DJI Studio desktop and DJI Fly mobile apps for re-framing and editing videos
Antigravity A1 uses Antigravity Studio desktop and Antigravity mobile apps for the same

Capturing 360 videos and photos is one thing – but the real magic arguably happens in the editing process, where the raw 360 files can be re-framed into "normal" video clips and photos for sharing with others.

Both Antigravity and DJI make impressive mobile and desktop apps dedicated to this process, and they each work in similar ways: you import your fresh 360 file, then choose viewpoints and set keyframes accordingly. The app then adds transitions between keyframes.

There are some differences between the DJI Studio and Antigravity Studio desktop apps, but in general I found them both to be nicely designed and intuitive to use.

On the mobile app side of things, both the DJI Fly and Antigravity apps offer AI-assisted auto-edits, which quickly create shareable videos from a selection of your clips, complete with filters, transitions and backing tracks. I wouldn't say it comes close to beating a human editor, and thankfully there's also full manual editing included in both apps, but it's a fun feature to play with.

5. Safety and flight features

DJI Avata 360 features front-facing LiDAR plus all-round vision and IR sensors
Antigravity A1 offers only front- and down-facing vision and IR sensors

If you're worried about crashing your 360 drone on your maiden flight, you can relax: both of these models come with some clever safety features that make collisions and accidents much more unlikely.

The A1 uses front- and down-facing vision sensors and a down-facing infrared sensor for obstacle detection, but the Avata 360 takes things a little further thanks to front-facing LiDAR alongside full 360-degree vision sensors, and downward infrared sensors. It also has built-in prop guards due to its design, while prop guards are an optional extra on the A1.

Overall, I'd be much happier flying the Avata 360 through tightly confined spaces than I would the A1 — although it's worth noting that both drones support user-replaceable lenses, so if you do scratch the camera while flying the repair is relatively cheap and painless.

The Antigravity A1 in flight (Image credit: James Abbott)

Both drones feature automatic take-off, landing and GPS-powered return-to-home, and the A1 also comes with a waypoint mode allowing you to set a flight path and have the drone automatically follow it. Something similar is reportedly coming to the Avata 360 via a firmware update, too.

The drones' battery lives are pretty much the same, at around 20 minutes of flight time on a fully charged battery.

6. Flight experience and controls

DJI Avata 360 supports both FPV and standard controller flight
Antigravity A1 supports only FPV flight

The DJI Avata 360 can be flown via two control methods: the RC 2 two-stick touchscreen controller or an RC Motion 3/Goggles FPV setup. That means you can fly it like any traditional camera drone, or like a motion-controlled FPV drone. You'll need to bring a spotter (yes, another person) along for FPV flight, but are free to use the RC 2 while on your own.

The Antigravity A1 is only controllable via FPV mode, using its Vision Goggles and motion-sensitive Grip; there's no twin-stick controller option at the time of writing. That means you'll need a companion with you at all times, should you want to fly within the law. That's a big minus point in my book, because it's not always easy to bring along a buddy. Sometimes you just want to go out and fly, and that's much easier to do with the Avata 360.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The first thing I noticed about the DJI Avata 360 in flight is that it's loud – more akin to a swarm of irate hornets than I would have expected given its size. While most wouldn't find this a deal-breaker when buying a drone, if discreet and unobtrusive flying is important to you, I can attest that the A1's rotor soundtrack is much less bothersome. Interestingly, the drones' official noise ratings are only six decibels apart — 81dB and 76dB for the Avata 360 and A1 respectively — but the real-world difference feels much greater.

Aside from that, though, the Avata 360 seems to me the more enjoyable drone to fly and the easier drone to control. The A1's somewhat woolly controls, slower air speed, lighter weight (and subsequent lesser wind resistance) and insistence on FPV and motion-controller flight make flying it a strangely sedate experience. It's quite relaxing, in fact, while the Avata 360 in FPV mode feels a lot nippier, more responsive and precise, and much more thrilling.

The DJI Avata 360 drone in flight (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Verdict

The Antigravity A1 may have been the world's first 360 camera drone, but with the arrival of the Avata 360, it's no longer the best. DJI's drone is more flexible, more enjoyable to fly, and delivers better image quality — and, to top it off, it's cheaper too.

I suspect Antigravity's next drone will take a lot of cues from the Avata 360 — probably offering an alternative control method to FPV and a more affordable price, at least — but for now, the DJI Avata 360 is the 360 drone I'd pick. Its only real issue in my mind is the amount of noise it makes, which I suspect is unlikely to put too many people off.

A Starlink outage left dozens of unmanned US Navy vessels stranded off the California coast — and exposed the Pentagon's worrying reliance on Elon Musk

Darren Allan — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:16:57 +0000

A Starlink outage meant 24 unmanned vessels were left bobbing in the water for almost an hour, according to a report
Reuters claims previous incidents with flaky network connectivity highlight concerns with Starlink and controlling drones
However, an autonomous warfare expert observed: "You accept those vulnerabilities because of the benefits you get from the ubiquity [Starlink] provides."

Tests of US Navy drone vessels have seemingly exposed weaknesses in terms of the reliance on Starlink for network connectivity with these unmanned craft.

Reuters reports that in testing that took place in August of last year, some 24 of these drone vessels – which resemble speedboats without seats – were left floating listlessly in the water off the California coast for the best part of an hour, due to a global outage that hit the Starlink broadband network.

This worrying incident, and others where flaky network connectivity had proved problematic for US operations with drones, were highlighted by an anonymous source, and in internal documents from the Navy which Reuters gained access to.

An intermittent network connection had proved problematic in tests in the weeks running up to the outage in August. Further to that, we're told that in April 2025, Navy tests involving these unmanned boats (and also airborne drones) were disrupted as Starlink "struggled to provide a solid network connection" given the high bandwidth needed due to the number of craft involved.

Reuters observed that the Navy report stated: "Starlink reliance exposed limitations under multiple-vehicle load." (Starlink wasn't the sole point of failure here, though, as there were other issues with the radios used, and a network system provided by Viasat).

The Pentagon wouldn't be drawn to respond to questions on the drone tests, and the US Navy and SpaceX declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Analysis: spacing out

(Image credit: dodochem/Satellite Streak Watcher/Anecdata.org)

Clearly, this is a concerning report, and it raises questions as to whether the US military should be looking at alternatives to using Starlink for controlling drones (or indeed for missile tracking). The trouble is – what are those alternatives? Nothing on the scale of what Elon Musk's SpaceX can offer, of course.

Starlink is, as Reuters points out, a cheap and commercially available service, one bristling with an array of some 10,000 low-earth orbit satellites. The report quotes Clayton Swope, a deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who said: "If there was no Starlink, the US government wouldn't have access to a global constellation of low earth orbit communications."

Regarding the network flakiness observed, Bryan Clark, an autonomous warfare expert at the Hudson Institute, added: "You accept those vulnerabilities because of the benefits you get from the ubiquity it [Starlink] provides."

The online arguments then run along the lines of: well, the US government should be building its own satellite system. Of course, that's a lot easier said than done, and not just from a financial perspective, because SpaceX has a key logistical advantage in terms of its capabilities to get satellites launched into orbit in a timely manner.

Just look at Amazon, which is currently engaged in building its Starlink rival, Leo. This satellite internet service was supposed to be available at the end of 2025, but it won't be until mid-2026 now (it's not yet clear if that means consumers or not, either).

As Engadget recently reported, Amazon was aiming to have 1,600 satellites in orbit by July 2026, and now it expects that Leo will comprise less than half that — around 700 — by that time. Currently, it has 241 satellites operational, a drop in a drone-filled ocean compared to Starlink – and of course it remains to be seen if that downwardly-revised 700 target for the middle of 2026 is hit.

You get the point, then, about the limited options here. Although that doesn't mean the US government couldn't investigate other ways forward in terms of much longer-term planning, mind, because clearly these kinds of systems must be robust and reliable when it comes to using them outside of testing.

'Jesus!': 10,000 drones flock in Texas to tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth — and crush four world records

waynewilliams@onmail.com (Wayne Williams) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:14:23 +0000

Texas drone show retells the story of Jesus using 10,000 synchronized aerial units
Event earns four Guinness World Records including largest QR code formation
Global drone displays continue growing in scale with creative record attempts

One of the largest drone light shows staged in the United States has broken four Guinness World Records while retelling the life of Jesus Christ in the Texas night sky.

The production combined religious storytelling with large-scale aerial visuals, pushing drone choreography to numbers rarely attempted at public events.

The Easter event was staged by Aerial Illuminations Drone Light Shows and was recognized for creating the world’s largest QR code, logo, word and flying LED screen formed entirely by drones.

From birth to resurrection

The drone show took place in Manvel, Texas, across nine nights, beginning with 5,000 drones and building to a peak of 10,000 units.

Scenes followed the life of Jesus from his birth through to the resurrection, with drones forming figures and symbols tied to key moments.

AV Magazine reports the images included Jesus with his disciples, the word Jesus spelled out in the sky, Christ riding a horse, sitting on a large throne, and a crucifixion scene presented on Good Friday.

Organizers spent more than two months preparing the show, coordinating flight paths, animation timing and safety systems across a team of more than 100 crew members.

Large formations required careful synchronization so thousands of drones could act as a single animated surface without collisions or loss of signal.

Large-scale drone displays have been growing in scale over recent years, with several attempts to push numbers higher or introduce new visual concepts.

In May 2025, more than 10,000 drones flew in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

China pushed the numbers even higher in November when nearly 16,000 drones formed a synchronized display in Liuyang, a city often called the fireworks capital of the world.

While not as impressive numbers-wise, in December 2025, 2,800 drones formed a playable version of Tetris in the skies of Dubai, and earlier this year, Apple used 3,000 drones to create a roughly 500-foot Godzilla figure above Hollywood to promote Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season two.