FCC opens a narrow import lane for Chinese 'toy' drones — too narrow for the DJI Neo
New models of low-capability Chinese drones can be imported again, per a June 16 FCC decision — but reporting suggests the thresholds exclude anything most pilots would actually want.
The FCC said on June 16 that it will allow new models of Chinese toy drones to be imported into the United States — the first loosening of the import posture since DJI and other Chinese manufacturers were added to the FCC's Covered List in December 2025, per Reuters.
The carve-out is narrow. DroneXL's analysis of the rule's capability thresholds concludes they are tight enough that even the DJI Neo — DJI's 135-gram palm-launch selfie drone — doesn't qualify, meaning the lane exists for genuinely toy-grade aircraft, not the camera drones the Covered List actually affects.
For buyers, this doesn't change the picture we laid out in our DJI ban explainer: existing DJI drones remain legal to own and fly, new-model imports remain blocked above toy-grade thresholds, and authorized-dealer stock of current models continues to deplete. If you're shopping in 2026, the practical question is still 'what's actually available and supported,' not 'what's technically banned.'
Sources
On Drone Authority
Educational, not legal advice. Claims above are attributed to the linked sources; verify current rules with the FAA at faa.gov/uas before you fly.