SkyRover X1 Drone Mimics DJI Mini 4 Pro Amid US Ban

A new drone called the SkyRover X1 has appeared on Amazon for $758, and researchers say it’s more than just a look-alike for DJI’s Mini 4 Pro. With DJI effectively blocked from US customs, the SkyRover X1 may be the company’s clever workaround—and the evidence is stacking up.

Hidden Identity

Security experts Kevin Finisterre and Jon Sawyer have dug into the SkyRover X1’s firmware and app. Here’s what they found:

• Identical specs and features to the DJI Mini 4 Pro
• Connections to DJI’s FlySafe and enterprise servers
• Same encryption keys buried in renamed code
• Ability to log in with DJI usernames and passwords

Tests also reveal the SkyRover X1 won’t use DJI batteries or controllers, and has a slightly different camera module. But these tweaks may be cosmetic—designed to evade legal and regulatory scrutiny.

Review Clauses and Industry Loopholes

Drone reviewer AirPhotography admitted he signed an agreement barring him from naming any other brands when testing the SkyRover X1. Such NDAs raise questions about transparency in the review process.

This isn’t DJI’s first detour around US restrictions. The company has used partners like Anzu Robotics to launch Mavic 3 clones (Raptor) and Hong Kong’s Cogito for Specta models. FCC filings show the SkyRover X1 made by Malaysia’s SZ Knowact, another safe harbor from US tariffs.

Regulatory Backdrop

Although US Customs won’t publicly confirm blocking DJI imports, stock shortages and price hikes tell the story. The Commerce Department launched a formal probe on July 1 to assess national security risks. If no agency clears DJI, a full ban could lock out its products by December.

With the SkyRover X1’s near-perfect mimicry, regulators and buyers face a tough question: will these drone knock-offs slip through enforcement, or trigger tighter controls on third-party manufacturers?