Almost a year since the FCC banned most drones: We rank the ones still on sale

A market slowed by the ban

The FCC’s decision to block imports of foreign-made drones effectively brought the category to a halt. The article says only a handful of new models appeared in stores this year.

Most of those launches were possible because the drones had been approved before the ban. As a result, the available choices have remained largely unchanged.

New models remain uncertain

Companies including DJI are still releasing new drones outside the United States. The article raises the question of whether U.S.-approved models could eventually become harder to find. It does not say when supplies might run low. For now, the focus is on models that are still available for sale.

How the options are ranked

The list is not intended to cover every drone on the market. It focuses instead on models considered worth watching as possible alternatives if top recommendations go out of stock.

Some listed drones have been tested, while others have not. Their rough ranking considers camera quality, battery power, range and price.