DJI’s Neo 2 selfie drone launches globally, but not in the US

After launching exclusively in China last month, DJI is announcing wider global availability for its Neo 2 selfie drone, including Japan, Canada, the UK, and other countries where the company sells its drones. But as with the Mavic 4 Pro and 8K Osmo 360 camera, the Neo 2 won’t be available in the US. “DJI remains committed to the US market and serving our US-based customers. Like many global companies, we’ve had to adjust our market strategies as the local conditions and industry environment have evolved,” DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong told The Verge in an emailed statement.

The Neo 2’s upgrades include a lidar-based obstacle avoidance system to detect and avoid crash hazards, an improved following speed of nearly 27mph, better wind resistance, and a new gesture control system allowing the drone’s distance and position to be adjusted without a remote. For pilots who prefer a controller, the Neo 2 has an optional antenna that can be installed, but it’s not needed for autonomous flying. Without the DJI Neo 2 Digital Transceiver attached, the drone weighs 151 grams and can fly for up to 19 minutes.

Chinese pricing for the Neo 2 started at 1,499 Chinese yuan, or around $211. DJI does not yet have US pricing for the drone since it’s not planning on selling it here through the company’s official website. Canadian pricing is listed in US dollars at $229 without tax, but the company says “this shouldn’t be considered a proxy for an official US price.” In Europe it will start at €239, or £209 in the UK with taxes included, while Japanese pricing starts at ¥38,390, or around $248.

Some US stores may sell the Neo 2, as was the case with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, but DJI’s spokesperson wouldn’t confirm if the company would honor its warranty if the drone were purchased from an authorized US retailer. For warranty claims, the company instead recommends “customers contact DJI Support to determine if their case qualifies for repair.”