Is DJI Owned By Apple?

If you are a fan of drones, you have probably heard of DJI, one of the largest drone manufacturers. In just a few years, DJI took over the world of drones and got the name “Apple of the drone world.” Many have compared DJI to Apple and various stories linking the companies have circulated on the Internet. You are probably interested in learning exactly what the connection is between these two companies.

Apple does not own DJI. There has been speculation that Apple is buying DJI but in fact, Apple does not have any direct role in this company whatsoever. However, DJI emulates Apple’s ecosystem, and Apple has in fact started selling DJI drones as a simple partnership between the two companies.

This partnership is a perfect fit. People who buy DJI products are already devoted to Apple and use their devices to shoot and edit the footage they made with DJI drones. This strategic cooperation is an ideal example of how a Chinese company wants to be positioned in the market.

I believe this will succeed because Apple is already the most valuable company in the world and can serve as a great example of a successful business. In the following sections, you will learn more about DJI and its partnership with Apple Company.

Who Owns DJI?  #

The Internet was full of myths related to ownership of the DJI Company. One of them is a widespread belief by officials and media that the Chinese government owns DJI. Numerous blogs were writing that DJI poses a national security risk. People opposing DJI drones state that drones automatically send pictures and information to China and DJI.

DJI Company has repeatedly spoken out about these claims and debunked some of the myths. The company also notes that pictures and videos that customers shoot are not in possession of DJI or the government. Furthermore, users themselves can control whether to share their data with someone else.

As a result of these fallacious rumors, the US army banned all DJI drones in 2018. And the Chinese company is a new member of the US trade blacklist. Along with other Chinese companies who are on the list, the U.S. recognized DJI as a company that enabled the abuse of human rights through data collections and high technology surveillance.

At this time, the U.S. administration has used sanctions to clamp down on Chinese technology giants, sometimes on contradictory grounds. After the announcement, DJI asserted that Americans could still buy and use their drones.

These are not the only myths about DJI Company. People have many things to say about DJI but the truth is that their drones do not provide the government with any information, nor does it serve as a tool for businessmen, governments, and scientists. Let’s learn more about the real owner of DJI.

SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd., or as its trade name – DJI – was founded in 2016 and is a private company. Its founder, Frank Wang is CEO of DJI and the first drone billionaire. Wang went to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and built the first DJI prototypes in his dorm room. In the beginning, he was selling the flight control components to universities and electric companies in China.

Later on, Wang decided to pursue his passion after education and move his start-up to Shenzhen. He hired a few members of staff and began the journey that would eventually prove a huge success. The startup company mostly relied on financial support from Wang’s family friend. Although the business suffered financially at first, later on, it experienced a boom. Wang hired more people who participated in building drones that soon became bestsellers. Their first model of the Phantom drone became commercially successful. 

Today, DJI has its headquarters in Shenzhen, China, and Guangdong, and has many manufacturing facilities around the world. Its annual revenue of almost $3 billion helped the company reach an enviable position among other companies. The music, television, and film industries widely use drone technology, with DJI drones at the top of the market demand. 

At the time of the COVID outbreak in 2020, many countries began to use DJI drones to combat the virus. Police forces use drones to prompt people to wear masks. Other countries also use drones to disinfect urban areas to stop the spread of COVID. The successful operation of DJI overwhelmingly dominates most of the other competitors on the market.

Does Apple Manufacture Drones? #

Apple is certainly one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world, especially considering the relatively small number of products it sells. Surprisingly for such a huge company, Apple limited its products to mobile phones, computers, tablets, and smartwatches. Its products also include professional software applications such as iPhone OS, and iCloud, and a variety of accessories.

The company has in fact filed a patent describing a drone control system. Apple has shown some interest in drone technology, but that does not mean that we can really expect some Apple drones in the near future. However, there is a possibility that Apple will use this technology for other operations. In 2018, Apple confirmed the use of drones to improve Apple Maps data. These include DJI’s drones as well as drones of Intel and Parrot. 

As said before, Apple sells DJI drones in its stores. This is another good indication that Apple does not have active plans to create its own line of drones. However, Apple clearly recognizes the high potential for connecting Apple customers who enjoy their iPhone, iPad, and other devices to the best drone technology available.

I believe that if Apple were to produce its own drone, it would have an elegant and simple design, just like the rest of its products. Surely, the company would carefully design some iDrone and put in a lot of effort both in design and packaging. We just have to wait for what they will come up with next. Still, you never know with Apple. 

Although it is not a manufacturer of drones, Apple still inspires companies like DJI with its business model and practices. In addition, with the launch of DJI drones for sale in its stores, it participates in the success of the DJI company by making its creative technology even more accessible to customers. Now let’s talk about the DJI drones Apple sells.

What Drones Does Apple Sell? #

Phantom 3 Advanced #

The first DJI drone Apple sold was the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Drone for $999.95 online and in stores across the U.S. This drone is capable of shooting at 2.7K resolution, and shoots 12 megapixel photos. The Phantom 3 drone can reach a distance up to 5 kilometers away from the pilot when there is no interference. This drone has GPS navigation with auto takeoff and landing features, as well as an intelligent battery. The safety features help beginners fly the drone more easily. The Phantom 3 Advanced is not currently available for sale on the Apple Store Online, but may be carried by some retail stores. 

Phantom 3 Professional  #

Another drone sold by Apple is the DJI Phantom 3 Professional Camera Drone, similar to the previous one. This drone’s price is $1,259.95 online and in retail stores. This smart drone shoots 4K videos, can reach a maximum of 6,000 meters and its flight time is 25 minutes. If you take videos with this drone, they will turn out stable thanks to an integrated three-axis gimbal. Aerial pictures and videos you take with this drone will be crisp. The Phantom 3 Professional is not currently available for sale on the Apple Store Online, but may be carried by some retail stores. 

Phantom 4 #

Another drone sold by Apple is the DJI Phantom 4 Camera Drone — one of the smartest flying camera drones. It is available in the Apple online store for $2,399.95. It is a re-designed drone and the easiest to fly. Some of the new Phantom 4 features are the sensors that allow the drone to see objects like a human eye. Other features include a new sports mode, with a speed of 45 mph, flight-time of 28 minutes, advanced controls in-app, tap the screen of your iPhone to fly in a direction, and many others. The Phantom 4 is not currently available for sale on the Apple Store Online, but may be carried by some retail stores. 

Mavic Air 2 #

Next on the list is DJI Mavic Air 2. When you visit the Apple Store, you will see that the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone is available and costs $799.95. Also available is the DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More combo for $989.95. This drone has incredible HDR video with a high-performance image sensor. It also offers the most advanced panoramic mode, with vivid and accurate colors.

With an upgraded three-axis gimbal that stabilizes every shot, you will end up with reliable photos and videos, no matter the conditions and environment. I must not forget to mention 34 minutes of flight time and 240 minutes of battery life.

DJI Mini 2 #

The Apple Store Online also currently carries the DJI Mini 2, which is a relatively recent release, as an update on the Mavic Mini. This pocket-sized powerhouse is incredibly popular, especially as it is small enough to not require registration with the FAA. With a host of features that put it way beyond anything else in its league, it’s no wonder Apple wants a piece of the action. For a full review of the DJI Mini, read our article here. The DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo is available on the Apple Store Online for $599.95.

It is worth noting that Apple has the DJI Fly application available in the App Store. This app helps you fly drones with ease. Sadly, it only supports DJI Mavic drones.  

Although these are the only drones Apple sells, these are not the only non-Apple products Apple has in its store. The Apple Store also sells products from leading technology companies including the GoPro HERO4 and the Google Nest Camera home security camera.

This is everything about the DJI owner and his collaboration with Apple. We hope these two successful companies will continue their collaboration as this has proven to be a good option. Time will tell whether Apple will ever have its iDrone, which is sure to be as high quality as DJI ones.