An MQ-9 Guardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flew deep into Mexico last week, according to flight tracking data. What at least appears publicly to be a very rare event comes as the Trump administration has reportedly authorized the military to take action against cartels in Mexico. The […]
– Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced that is has successfully completed its first series of open-water demonstrations of its advanced maritime Mission Equipment Package (MEP) for counter‑UAS (C‑UAS) naval fleet protection. The DRS maritime MEP is a scalable C-UAS system based on DRS’s proven land-based mobile short-range air defense and C-UAS systems. This system is designed […]
– Auterion, the international defence software company and provider of AI-powered drone software solutions, has announced a landmark commitment to deliver 33,000 artificial intelligence-driven drone ‘strike kits’ to Ukraine. The initiative, backed by a $50 million Pentagon contract, represents a major step forward in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Auterion’s CEO Lorenz Meier highlighted the unprecedented […]
The German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems says it is working on developing a mothership drone called Sparta. As a company spokesperson told hartpunkt, the system, which is currently being developed in Ukraine, is expected to reach series production by the end of the year. He also pointed out that the current design is a prototype, […]
The United States’ decision to sharply raise tariffs on Indian goods threatens to disrupt India’s burgeoning drone sector. In late July 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on most imports from India. It now appears (as of August, 2025) that the rate may double to 50% in response to India’s continued Russian oil purchases. […]
GoTo Foods latest entry in race to make DFW drone delivery capital By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The Dallas/Fort Worth region of Texas, a leading hub for drone-delivery services, recently got a new entry in the race to bring fast food to customers’ doorsteps via UAV. GoTo Foods, the parent company of several popular […]
Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about going for Autel vs. DJI. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I am a professional photographer leaning towards the DJI Air 3S or maybe the Mavic Pro 3 Pro. But, I have been reading more about the issues with the government and DJI.
I was looking at the Autel Robotics EVO II Pro 6K Rugged Bundle. Should I go with a DJI drone or avoid it because of the potential ban? Are Autel’s drones even in the same ballpark?
A professional photographer in Southern California? I got my professional start in the drone world down in SoCal too! Whether you’re working as a wedding photography, on Hollywood films or documenting environmental change for a news outlet, there are so many opportunities in SoCal (and more!) for drone pilots.
Before I dive into helping pick the best drone for you, let me address your concerns about the drone ban:
Is DJI at risk of being banned?
Let’s start off with an important clarification. DJI is a Chinese drone company (perhaps no surprise to anyone). But — despite what many assume — Autel is also a Chinese drone company. If there were to be broad bans or restrictions, they’d likely apply to Autel too, not just DJI.
What’s the latest U.S. policy (and updates on potential bans) around DJI or other Chinese-made drones?
There are all sorts of proposed policies floating about. Here are some of the major ones:
NDAA & FCC “Covered List”: The FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a one-year national security review of Chinese-made drone companies like DJI and Autel. If no agency completes the review by December 23, 2025, their drones could be automatically added to the FCC’s “Covered List,” blocking new imports and sales in the U.S.
Commerce Department Investigations: As of mid‑July 2025, a formal “Section 232” investigation is underway into the import of drones and components from China due to national security and supply-chain concerns. That includes both DJI and Autel. This could result in tariffs or further restrictions.
Executive Orders (June 2025): President Trump issued directives aimed at encouraging U.S. drone manufacturing, easing rules for drone operations and restricting foreign-made drones. U.S. agencies are being pushed to favor domestic products and secure supply chains.
For now, no active ban on drones you already own exists.
Much of this proposed legislation is focused on banning the sale, import, or use of Chinese drones by government agencies, or restricting new sales of consumer drones in the U.S.
It’s not about grounding drones you already own — at least, not at this time. Of course, policy could evolve, but a full ban on flying consumer drones you already purchased seems unlikely, and would likely face significant legal pushback.
So my advice? Go ahead and get the drone that suits your needs best. And hey, now might be the best time to buy a DJI drone. After all, we might see prices go up due to tariffs. Or, outright bans on new drones for import into the U.S. could even make a DJI drone an ultra-hot commodity.
How to pick the best drone for your photography career
With that out of the way, let’s talk about the best drone for your photography business.
DJI Air 3S vs. Mavic 3 Pro: Both are winners (but the Air 3S is a better value)
If budget matters (and for most of us, it does), the Air 3S wins.
That said, the Mavic 3 Pro offers a triple-camera system and a bump in camera quality that seasoned pros might appreciate, especially for high-end commercial work or documentary filmmaking. If your clients demand the absolute best in resolution and flexibility, it might be worth the upgrade.
Autel EVO II Pro vs. DJI Air 3S vs. DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Since you also brought up the Autel EVO II Prov V3, here’s how all three drones compare, side-by-side:
DJI’s drones are stronger overall, especially for the price. I do think the Autel EVO II Pro V3 is an impressive DJI alternative, but if your rationale for needing an alternative is seeking a non-Chinese drone, then the Autel EVO II Pro does not fit that bill.
My advice? Don’t worry about a ban for now. If anything, getting a DJI drone now is better in the event a ban on importing new drones does kick in (though I think that would be unlikely anyway).
Do you have a question I should answer? You can contact me here!
An MQ-9 Guardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flew deep into Mexico last week, according to flight tracking data. What at least appears publicly to be a very rare event comes as the Trump administration has reportedly authorized the military to take action against cartels in Mexico. The […]
