So we have a little bit of a clash today between two brand new drones from DJI, the Lito X1 and the Lito 1. The goal was simple: put both drones through a real-world tracking gauntlet and see how well DJI Lito X1 vs Lito 1 Obstacle Avoidance handle and ActiveTrack performance. It was always going to be a close call, but the results were genuinely surprising.
Before getting into it, it is worth understanding what makes these two drones similar and where they differ. Both the Lito X1 and the Lito 1 are omnidirectional obstacle avoidance drones, meaning they feature sensors on the top and bottom to detect and avoid obstacles in all directions.
However, the big calling card of the X1 is its lidar sensor on the front. That lidar sensor allows the X1 to track and avoid obstacles in low light conditions, such as returning after sunset or flying in a dark environment. The Lito 1 does not feature lidar. So while both drones are omnidirectional, the X1 has a clear advantage when it comes to low light obstacle avoidance.
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DJI Lito X1 Obstacle Avoidance Test
Starting out with the Lito X1, the conditions were not exactly ideal. It was a relatively windy day, though the test was conducted in a secluded wooded area surrounded by tall trees, which made it a perfect environment for an obstacle avoidance challenge. The drone was placed into ActiveTrack 360 mode straight away.
The first thing that stood out was just how quiet this drone is. Unbelievably quiet. It is the kind of subtle hum that makes you question whether you are actually hearing it at all.
Watching it dart between the tall trees while handling gusty wind conditions was genuinely impressive. The area was ideal for this kind of test because the trees were tall with no small low-hanging branches to catch the drone off guard.
Navigating the Outer and Inner Tracking Circles
With ActiveTrack 360, the drone gives you the flexibility to change where it follows you from at any point. Tracking from behind is the default, but switching to a diagonal follow or positioning it out on the outer circle at a greater distance and higher altitude is seamless. The drone adjusted well even when direction changes were made mid-walk.
One of the standout features during the test was the vision assist overlay. Accessible from the bottom right corner of the ActiveTrack 360 window, vision assist shows a live feed of what the obstacle avoidance sensors are detecting in real time. You can look in all directions and even bring it up full screen or look directly downward.
The radar map, displayed as red and orange angled lines, clearly showed where obstacles were being detected, and the drone was picking everything up accurately considering it relies on just two obstacle avoidance sensors positioned on the top and bottom.
Switching between the outer and inner tracking positions, the drone handled everything without fault. Whether it was following from the right at close range, from the left at a distance, or from directly in front, the Lito X1 consistently repositioned itself through the trees smoothly and confidently.
Jogging Test and Low Light Performance
Picking up the pace to a jog while changing direction and weaving between trees is where obstacle avoidance systems can start to break down. The Lito X1 handled it without any issues at all. Darting between trees, looping around a single tree, cutting through tight gaps, the drone tracked through all of it without clipping anything or losing meaningful ground.
As the test progressed, the lighting conditions began to worsen, which actually made it a more interesting scenario given that the X1 features the lidar sensor specifically for low light obstacle avoidance. Even as it got darker, the drone continued to perform well.
It maintained smooth tracking, kept up with directional changes, and showed no signs of struggling with the reduced visibility. The wind also picked up during this portion of the test, with gusts reportedly reaching around 46 km/h, yet the drone remained solid and stable in the air. The Lito X1 passed this test with flying colours. Quiet, stable, responsive, and capable in low light conditions.
DJI Lito 1 Obstacle Avoidance Test
Switching over to the Lito 1, the aim was to replicate a similar path through the same wooded area. Like its sibling, the Lito 1 is also a very quiet drone that carries itself well in the air. The sun had come back out by this point, which actually worked in the Lito 1’s favour given that it does not have the lidar sensor and relies more heavily on its standard vision sensors for obstacle detection.
Early in the test, the drone briefly lost tracking and continued following nothing for a short moment before recovering. It was a minor hiccup, but worth noting. Once back on track, it started darting between the trees and keeping up well with directional changes.
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ActiveTrack Behaviour and Obstacle Navigation
Something interesting observed during the Lito 1 test, and it has been seen on other DJI drones before, is that when in ActiveTrack 360 mode, even when a specific follow direction is selected, the drone will sometimes prioritise following from behind if the scenario becomes complex.
For example, the screen might indicate it should be following from the right, but visually it appears to be tracking from the rear. It is not necessarily a flaw, more of a built-in safety behaviour, but it is something to be aware of.
Repositioning the drone to follow from the front required it to swing wide around several trees, and it handled that manoeuvre nicely. Enabling the vision assist on the Lito 1 produced a similar interface to the X1, showing real-time obstacle detection as it navigated the course. Through a cluster of four trees positioned quite close together, it passed through cleanly and confidently.
The Tree Collision
Then it happened. While jogging and changing direction, the Lito 1 clipped a tree. The drone came down after the impact, but fortunately survived in good shape. The gimbal was still functioning, the camera was working, and remarkably the propellers showed no chips or significant damage. Just a few light scuffs and some debris here and there.
It is hard to say exactly what caused it. The path was not identical to the one taken with the X1, and there are always variables at play in a real-world outdoor test like this. Maybe the trees were positioned slightly differently at that moment. Maybe the way the Lito 1 is programmed differs slightly from the X1. Or maybe, just maybe, the lidar sensor on the X1 made a tangible difference in how it detected and reacted to that particular obstacle.
After recovering the drone, it was put back into tracking mode to confirm everything was still working. It continued to follow well through the trees, losing track briefly here and there but recovering and continuing without further incident.
Final Verdict
Both drones performed impressively throughout this DJI Lito X1 vs Lito 1 obstacle avoidance test. Their flight characteristics, reactivity, and overall tracking behaviour were remarkably similar. Both are quiet, stable, and capable of navigating a challenging wooded environment with genuine confidence.
The key difference that emerged from this test is that the Lito 1 hit a tree and the Lito X1 did not. Whether that comes down to the lidar sensor on the X1, a slight variation in programming, or simply the variables of a real-world outdoor test is impossible to say with absolute certainty. But the outcome speaks for itself.
If you are flying primarily in well-lit conditions and on a tighter budget, the Lito 1 is still an excellent drone that handles obstacle avoidance well. However, if you regularly fly in low light conditions, shoot near sunset, or want that extra layer of confidence from the lidar sensor, the Lito X1 is the clear choice.
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