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

Versa is the world's first 2-in-1 pocket gimbal camera and drone It launched on Indiegogo on August 18, with pricing starting at $499 HoverAir says Versa has FCC approval, so it should be available in the US DJI dominates the drone space, leaving precious little room for others.

However, HoverAir has repeatedly had a go at cracking the market, innovating in gaps left by the leading drone maker.

First we had the X1 , the first self-flying drone that took off from the palm of your hand for easy aerial 4K selfies, which was followed up by HoverAir's X1 Pro with beefier 8K video.

DJI reacted swiftly, answering with the Neo (and consequently Neo 2 ), which cost much less than HoverAir's.

Then there was HoverAir's Aqua , the world's first waterproof drone, which remains unique today.

Now, we have the new Versa — the first 2-in-1 pocket gimbal camera and drone — making a trio of firsts.

The Versa looks like HoverAir's previous X1-series efforts, only its wings can be removed in a simple motion, leaving the drone body as a DJI Pocket-like pocket gimbal camera.

Drones and gimbal cameras are two increasingly popular camera categories — and the Versa can be both.

It seems like an obvious move when you think about it.

After all, both camera types feature a camera unit supported with a 3-axis gimbal.

But can the Versa genuinely serve in both capacities? We'll find out very soon, once our Versa review sample lands.

HoverAir has, it seems, another advantage over DJI, saying the Versa has US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification.

This means the Versa can be sold in the US, while DJI is still banned from selling its new products there.

There could be light at the end of the US ban tunnel for DJI, mind you, with recent news that a judge is set to review evidence that has categorized DJI as a Chinese military company .