- Various Xtra and SkyRover products are nearly identical to DJI equivalents
- DJI will not confirm or deny a connection to these companies
- DJI is currently placed on the FCC’s ‘Covered List’ and cannot launch new drones in the US
So what’s up with all the apparent DJI camera clones popping up in US stores? From action cameras to drones, near-one-for-one rip-offs of DJI’s most beloved products seem to be popping up everywhere—and the company itself doesn’t seem overly bothered by the situation.
You don’t have to look very hard to find these clones, and it doesn’t take a master detective to spot the similarities. The Xtra Muse vlogging camera, for example, appears to be a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in all but name, with The Verge’s teardown showing that the two products not only share the same hardware, but the same software – albeit with all references to “DJI” removed; the teardown even found that some Osmo Pocket 3 accessories work perfectly with the Muse. Similarly, the Xtra Edge appears to be little more than a re-skinned DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, while the Osmo Nano lookalike Xtra Atto appeared recently.
The maker of these clones, Xtra Technology, came forward recently and describes itself as a “dynamic and independent start-up company registered in Delaware (DE), USA. We are founded with a team of industry professionals from leading innovative companies who have deep expertise in imaging technology and consumer electronics.”
On the drone front, SkyRover, another recently founded company (this time based in Hong Kong, a short drive from DJI’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China), which claims to be “founded by a small team of engineers with backgrounds at DJI,” has been selling consumer drones called the X1 and S1, which closely resemble DJI’s Mini 4 Pro and Mini 4K. Although there are some minor differences, the essential hardware and software technology as well as flight and camera performance appear to be almost identical.
The solution to DJI’s US problems?
While DJI is a hugely strong player in the drone and stabilizer markets and a strong competitor in action cameras, the Chinese company is currently in a difficult spot when it comes to the US market. Not only does it have a complex and costly customs situation to navigate, but it has also come under particular scrutiny from successive US administrations for alleged links to the Chinese military and government.
This investigation has culminated in DJI (along with all foreign drone companies) being placed on the US Federal Communications Commission’s “Covered List”, effectively banning all future DJI products from the US market.
The easiest conclusion to reach when looking at Xtra and SkyRover’s products, and then considering DJI’s current position in the US market, is that the company is actually behind these clones itself, setting up shell companies in an attempt to circumvent restrictions, reduce import costs and keep its products sold in the US.
If so, DJI certainly isn’t saying anything. We reached out to the company’s PR team for comment, but (rather unsurprisingly) received nothing definitive back, except for the following statement from a spokesperson:
“While we cannot comment on non-DJI products, DJI will continue to focus on empowering creators, businesses and public safety organizations worldwide with safe, innovative and accessible technologies. The company remains committed to the US market and will continue to advocate for our US-based operators to government agencies, legislators and the administration.”
I think the most interesting thing about this statement is what it is not: a denial. It would be easy for DJI’s spokesperson to say that the company has no links to Xtra or SkyRover, but they don’t.
What remains to be seen is whether these apparent shell companies can succeed in bringing DJI-like products into the US, avoiding the FCC’s de facto ban and the worst of the US administration’s tariffs. On the drone front in particular, there is no US-based company currently able to compete with DJI (and by extension SkyRover) on performance and price, so consumers will be clamoring for a way to get their hands on affordable, high-quality camera drones. Maybe that will be the way they do it.
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