HoverAir’s ingenious self-flying drone can transform into a pocket gimbal camera - and unlike DJI, it just got FCC approval

FCC Revokes HoverAir Versa Certification

HoverAir launched the Versa drone on Indiegogo last week, promoting it as the world's first 2-in-1 pocket gimbal camera and drone and claiming it had received FCC certification, which would have allowed sales in the US. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has stated that the certification was granted erroneously and has been removed from the public database, directing HoverAir to cease any importing, marketing, or selling of the device in the US immediately.

In a statement, the FCC said: "Importing, marketing, or selling this device in the United States is a violation of U.S. law, and the FCC has directed HoverAir to cease any such activity immediately." The agency also said it is considering further action against HoverAir for "apparently willfully violating the FCC's Covered List rules." The FCC has also sent guidance to all Telecommunications Certification Bodies to strengthen due diligence to avoid certifying equipment on the Covered List.

HoverAir's Response and the Device's Design

A HoverAir representative told PCMag that the Flight Kit, which converts the Versa into a drone, contains no RF transmitters and therefore did not require a separate FCC ID. The Versa camera alone is a prohibited UAS critical component produced in a foreign country, and when the Flight Kit is included, the device falls under the ban on UAS produced in a foreign country, according to the FCC. This places HoverAir's pitch to US consumers in doubt, as the device is now on the FCC Covered List.

Versa Features and Pricing

The Versa can be switched from a 230g self-flying 4K camera to a 163g pocket gimbal camera by removing its wings. It shoots 4K video up to 60fps, 4K HDR up to 30fps with 10-bit color, and has a 1/1.3-inch sensor. The device has a 1.64-inch rotating OLED haptic screen with 800 nits of brightness, and flight features include palm take-off, AI subject tracking, auto framing, and voice and gesture commands. It can be paired with a phone or HoverAir's Beacon for audio, has a maximum flight time of 14 minutes, and a top speed of 36km/h.

Pricing starts at $499 for the Versa alone, with a Fly More Combo at $887 and a Creator Combo at $1,270, with early backer discounts for 24 hours. The Versa will make its public debut at the IFA trade show in Berlin from September 4-8, and is expected to ship to backers in October 2026. As of this week, the Indiegogo campaign had already raised more than $350,000 in pledges.

The Foreign Drone Ban Context

HoverAir, an imprint of China's Zero Zero Robotics, has run into the US foreign drone ban before: its waterproof Aqua drone, which debuted on Indiegogo last year, never reached US customers. The company's history with the ban makes the Versa distinctively names it as both the first and latest victim, as reported by PCMag.

Meanwhile, DJI, the market leader, is still banned from selling new products in the US, but its ban remains in place. A judge is set to review evidence that categorizes DJI as a Chinese military company, a move DJI described as "a significant step toward correcting an unjustified designation." When DJI responded to HoverAir's earlier X1 with the Neo and Neo 2 at lower cost, the rivalry has been noted.

The FCC's coverage of the Versa adds to a broader push against foreign-made drones on the Covered List, which also includes the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P. The FCC's action here is notable for being the first to draw a line between a gimbal camera and a drone accessory, but the agency's position is that the device is clearly a prohibited component.