I could see right away how DJI's $200 Neo drone, which is small and lightweight, could be a useful addition to my vlogger gear, complementing my Mini 4 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro. Planning is necessary for the entire process of operating those advanced drones. However, the Neo's features, such voice control and palm takeoff, let it to be launched at will to capture quick and enjoyable photos. Additionally, its simplicity of usage makes it perfect for social media influencers.
Despite being easy for beginners, it has a lot of power. Features like ActiveTrack, FPV capability, and even support for DJI's Mic 2 are included, which are found in DJI's larger drones. And disregard the grainy footage you might have seen from other low-cost drones. The Neo is a good option for content creators that require inexpensive aerial video because it records in crisp 4K.
It's not flawless, though; influencers will probably want vertical video, and the Neo is noisy. Nevertheless, it appeared to be the kind of product that would be useful to a wide range of consumers, including drone enthusiasts like myself who already own several drones. We put it through a range of settings, including parties, weddings, and even casual flight, to see how it worked.
Design and Features
The Neo exudes a sense of security and friendliness with its gently sculpted appearance and sturdy propeller guards. At 135 grams—less than half the weight of the Mini 4—it is by far DJI's lightest drone and compact enough to slide into a roomy jacket pocket. Due to its small size, the device is also exempt from drone license restrictions.
Despite the Neo's extensive feature set, all you really need to take off is your hand. The Neo only needs to be held in your palm for it to launch and execute one of six pre-programmed "smart shots." Press the new mode button on the front. These are the following: Spotlight (which keeps you stationary in the frame but tracks you), Dronie (which starts tight on your face and flies up and away from you), Circle (which circles you), Rocket (which starts at face level and flies straight up), and Direction Track (which is for vlogging). Once the shot is complete, place your hand underneath the Neo to make the landing.
Voice control, which allows you to fly and shoot video by speaking into the Fly More app, is another fantastic choice for beginners. In my initial hands-on tests, I was unable to test this capability; however, a firmware update has enabled it. To speak a command or activate the wake word settings, simply tap the voice button. Then, all you have to do is say "Hey Fly" to make it work.
Saying the word "dronie," for example, initiates the drone's flying pattern and begins recording. Then, using instructions like "closer," "farther," and "higher," you can adjust the parameters. The safety instructions "land," "stop," and "brake" are also included.
Without requiring them to touch a controller, the option is an excellent method to give users some control over the social media-focused short photos. It was simple to set up, and when I gave it instructions, it complied promptly and consistently. But, while the Neo is close by, you'll need to hold the phone's microphone close to your lips to avoid having your voice overpowered by the propeller whining.
Additionally, the Neo is the first drone from DJI that can be controlled just with a smartphone. When the app is in manual mode, a touch screen with complete navigation controls appears. It also has a return-to-home option and a camera/video mode. However, as I'll explain in a moment, there's a big disclaimer when utilizing it. The Neo can be used with other DJI controllers (separately marketed), such as the smartphone-required RC N3 model, for more advanced flying. When combined with DJI's RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3, you can even use it as an FPV drone. The majority of the functionality found on other DJI camera drones, such as auto and manual video settings, cinema, regular, and sport modes, are available on those controls.
One reason the Neo is so inexpensive is that it lacks obstacle detection sensors. The camera's AI for subject identification, an infrared landing sensor looking downward, and a sturdy construction resistant to little mishaps are the only crash prevention features.
With no microSD card slot, the Neo's capacity is limited to 22GB, which can store 40 minutes of 4K video or 55 minutes of 1080p video. Through the USB-C charging port on the back, you can move the files to a PC or another device. Even if this isn't ideal, the cost is kept low.
Performance
Prepare to be happily delighted if your expectations for a 5-ounce, $200 drone are low; the Neo is nimble, quick, and entertaining. In sport mode, it can reach up to 18 mph, which is half the speed of the Mini 4 Pro but still very high for this class. Even moderately gusty gusts up to 18 mph will allow you to fly it, but if you let it get too far away, it may get blown into another county.
Another feature included in a firmware upgrade after launch allows the Neo to fly at twice that speed in manual mode, although it also requires DJI's FPV Controller 3. I drove it to its maximum speed with that controller and the firmware update. It's significantly quicker than any drone this size at 36 mph, but it never felt uncontrollable. But the noise level at that pace is like a swarm of especially angry hornets.
You may also engage in acrobatic (or acro) flying using the FPV Controller 3, which enables you to execute flips, spins, and other tricks. That sounds like a lot of fun, especially considering that the drone is only $200, which is extremely cheap by drone standards, and is also crash proof. Although I'm not an acro pilot, the Neo can perform some amazing maneuvers when flown by a pro like quadmovr.
First-time users who wish to experiment with first-person video flying (FPV) but aren't ready for the challenging Controller 3 might consider DJI's Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3. Even if it's not quite as fast and agile as the Avata 2, it's still a lot of fun. Because of its inexpensive cost and durability, it's actually an excellent learning tool for aspiring FPV pilots using either of those controllers.
With its ability to be maneuvered practically anywhere to capture some interesting or dramatic views, the Neo is also perfect for event videography. It is also safe to use in close proximity to humans thanks to the propeller protectors. It's noisy again, therefore it's obviously inappropriate to use at a loud event like a best man speech or wedding.
To track or follow you, the DJI drone's ActiveTrack, Spotlight, and Point of Interest (POI) modes function identically to those on other DJI models. Direction Track, which enables walk-and-talk vlogging with your face visible, is a crucial mode for content makers. You'll need a free path because, at that setting, the Neo typically flies backwards without a rear obstacle sensor. The drone I used to test this went off course and struck some tree branches, yet it continued to fly.
Although I never intentionally try to crash drones, I have had a few accidents. The Neo once bonked a hard interior floor and struck a few trees before crashing onto the ground. Not only did it keep working flawlessly, but there wasn't even a single noticeable damage, indicating that DJI did an excellent job with durability. Having said that, a one-year insurance policy covering mishaps and drone loss can be bought for a little $22 for the Neo.
The Neo's line-of-sight range in the US is 6.2 miles with a controller and DJI's O4 transmission; in Europe, where transmission power is restricted, the range is 3.7 miles. That's precisely half of the Mini Pro 4, but considering the size, that's fairly amazing - though I doubt anyone would ever want to fly a lightweight drone that far away. With no signal loss, I was able to fly it approximately half a mile away, which was far enough for me. In contrast, the user can select an infinite maximum altitude.
The maximum range of smartphone Wi-Fi control is only 165 feet, thus it's primarily limited to inside or close-by outdoor use. Based on Wi-Fi range, this also functions as a geofence for beginners, as the drone just stops and hovers when it leaves Wi-Fi range. Furthermore, the maximum altitude you may reach with the voice or palm controls is approximately 100 feet.
The Neo's 1,435mAh lithium-ion Intelligent Flight Batteries are lightweight and compact, yet they can provide up to 17 minutes of flight time—roughly 13 to 14 minutes in real life—which is decent for this category. It takes an hour to charge a single battery inside the drone using just the Neo. You can, however, juice three batteries in the same 60 minutes if you purchase the $289 combination kit, which also includes the drone, two extra batteries, and a three-battery charger.
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Camera
The gimbal can tilt up to 60 degrees and down to 90 degrees, and it is nestled inside a protective shell. A good smartphone should have a 1/2-inch 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.8 aperture and an ultra-wide 13mm equivalent focal length.
Although the Neo has less powerful video specs than other DJI drones, I was nevertheless pleased with the quality of my footage given the Neo's pricing. Its 4K 30p and 1080p 60 frames per second video capture speeds are more than sufficient for the majority of social media users. Additionally, it offers 1080p at up to 60 frames per second in the same aspect ratio as 4K at 30 frames per second.
It cannot record vertical video since the camera cannot swivel sideways as the Mini 4 Pro can. That's regrettable given the intended audience, but incorporating that feature will undoubtedly raise costs and complicate things more. For social media users, shooting in 4K and then cropping to a 1080x1920 9:16 ratio is your best chance.
Additionally, it lacks the D-LogM feature that most other DJI drones have, which increases dynamic range. Additionally, because the sensor is so small, it has poor low-light performance. The video, however, is more better than you would anticipate at this price range. It is crisp and color accurate. The 12-megapixel images are plenty for social media users and amateurs both. I'm sure the typical buyer who wants to take aerial photos of their house, family, and travels will be happy to oblige.
Together with gimbal tilt stabilization, the Neo also includes DJI's software-based RockSteady stabilization. For the majority of users, that should offer smooth enough video. Alternatively, you can utilize DJI's GyroFlow program in post-production to achieve better results and completely disable stabilization. Additionally, the Neo has support for HorizonBalancing, which keeps the camera level even when the drone banks up to 45 degrees. It should be noted that there is no electrical image stabilization available for 4:3 video settings. As such, you will need to use GyroFlow or another program to steady the film afterwards.
By simply hitting the audio record button on the Fly More app, the Neo can even record audio with your phone. Using DJI's Mic 2 or an external microphone will yield higher quality. Given how loud the Neo is, the Mic 2 will muffle a lot of the shrieking from the props, keeping your voice recognizable and distinct despite some distortion.
Conclusion
Despite its diminutive size, DJI's Neo is capable of taking affordable, high-quality video and pictures in close proximity to humans. Despite only being on sale for a few weeks, it has already sold out on DJI's website, demonstrating how well the product has piqued the interest of the public.
Beginners to experts alike are among the potential customers who wish to purchase a compact, user-friendly drone for Instagram stories and other purposes. It can function as a robot videographer to assist you in creating material independently, which makes it perfect for TikTok and other creators. The loudness, lack of vertical video, and short battery life are the main problems you'll have to deal with.
For $200, or $289 if you choose the three-battery combo kit with charger included, the Neo is an obvious choice for many designers. The $350 HoverAir X1, which is more expensive and provides video with a lesser resolution, is the sole true rival. But the Neo offers superior value because it offers higher quality video for less money.