Xtra Muse 2 Pro refunds begin after preorder pause
Xtra says it will refund $20 Muse 2 Pro deposits after pausing preorders and removing the camera from its landing page.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
Xtra Muse 2 Pro refunds are on the way after Xtra Technology paused preorders for the camera and removed it from the landing page on its website. The move matters because the product had been positioned as another U.S.-sold camera closely tied to DJI hardware at a time when federal regulators are scrutinizing DJI-linked devices.
Xtra said on its website that it cannot give a dependable launch date for the Muse 2 Pro. The company also said it has not made a final decision on future availability and has not announced a new product launch schedule.
The company had collected $20 deposits for early reservations, according to The Verge. Xtra says those payments will be refunded automatically to the original payment method within 5 to 10 business days.
Why is Xtra refunding Muse 2 Pro preorders?
Xtra says the pause is because it cannot confirm when the camera would be ready to launch. Its FAQ page says customers who reserved the Muse 2 Pro will also receive a single-use 10 percent discount code for Xtra’s online store, valid for 30 days.
The Verge reported that the timing follows recent Federal Communications Commission action involving Xtra and other companies accused of helping DJI technology reach U.S. buyers despite restrictions on some foreign drone technology. Xtra did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
The Muse 2 Pro was shown at a Los Angeles launch event only days before the preorder pause, according to The Verge. The camera had appeared to be Xtra’s version of DJI’s dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4 Pro, following Xtra’s earlier sale of a product The Verge described as closely resembling the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
What does FCC authorization mean for a camera like this?
FCC authorization is required before a radio-equipped device can be imported, sold or marketed legally in the United States, according to The Verge. That rule can apply to cameras when they include wireless radios, even if the product is not a drone.
The Verge reported that the FCC proposed a $25,000 fine on July 10 against Xtra and each of Skyrover’s suppliers after they allegedly failed to answer questions about the origin of their technology. On July 17, the FCC proposed blocking those companies from continuing to sell existing products as well, according to the same report.
The status of Xtra’s FCC approvals is unclear. The Verge reported that DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 Pro had been approved before the drone ban took effect last December, and that Xtra’s version received approval on June 17, but those filings no longer appear in FCC search results.
The FCC did not respond to The Verge’s requests for comment. DJI also has not answered The Verge’s questions about Xtra and other companies described in the reporting as linked to DJI technology.
Xtra is still selling its other cameras for now, according to The Verge. For customers who placed Muse 2 Pro reservations, the main immediate effect is the automatic refund and the short-term discount code tied to Xtra’s online storefront.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.