DJI NEO Review

DJI has released the Neo, a new affordable drone designed for taking selfies and capturing everyday moments. With a price of $199, it is DJI’s first entry-level model, making it easy for beginners to use and appealing to experienced creators.

The Neo is lightweight and comes with features that makes flying simple, like palm takeoff and voice control. This allows users to quickly launch the drone, which is great for social media. It also includes useful tools like AI Subject Tracking and can record high-quality 4K video, which is better than many other budget drones.

DJI Neo might not have all the advanced features like most of the expensive models but still it offers a good balance of quality and price. After testing it for a month in different situations, I will discuss whether NEO is worth buying and if it should be part of your drone collection.

Design and Built Quality

At just 135 grams, the Neo is the lightest drone DJI has ever made, and it’s remarkably portable. Its small size makes it easy to carry in a large jacket pocket making it convenient for use on the go. It is also this diminutive design which makes it exempt from most drone licensing requirements, allowing it to be used by casual users who may not wish to navigate through complex regulations.

When I see the Neo’s sleek, futuristic design, inspired by the DJI Avata 2, it truly stands out. Its light gray color, reminiscent of the Mini drone series, adds a modern touch. The integrated frame around the propellers not only enhances its style but also ensures robust protection, making it a practical choice that doesn’t compromise on safety.

The Neo is a small thing, but it feels robust, made of good stuff that will last. An integrated propeller protection frame is included in the design, not only visually distinctive but also providing a practical safety benefit during flight. The Neo also has upper and lower propeller guards to keep fingers safe when landing in hand.

One standout feature is the front-mounted camera, which features mechanical stabilization on the tilt axis and electronic stabilization for horizontal movement. With this setup, the video capture is very smooth and of high quality. The power button and mode selection button mounted at the top of the drone features pictograms and indicator lights to let the user easily operate the operation.

Camera Capabilities

The protective casing on the DJI Neo partially encloses a gimbal that allows for a 60-degree upward tilt and a 90-degree downward tilt. Featuring a 1/2-inch, 12MP sensor with a 13 mm equivalent focal length and f/2.8 aperture, it offers capabilities comparable to those of decent smartphones.

While the NEO’s video specs are more modest than other DJI drones, the footage is crisp for the money. Capable of shooting 4K in 30fps and 1080p in up to 60fps, it’s ideal for most social media users. Additionally, it supports 4K in a 4:3 aspect ratio and the same format at 60fps, 1080p.

The Neo does not feature D-LogM for enhanced dynamic range, and its small sensor struggles in low-light conditions. However, the video remains sharp and color-accurate, surpassing expectations for its price point, making it suitable for hobbyists.

However, the camera lacks the sideways tilt capability that makes the vertical video quite tricky. This is a negative for that audience, but of course adding such functionality would increase complexity and cost. Shoot in 4K and then crop to a 1080×1920 format if you’re a social media enthusiast.

The Neo also uses DJI’s RockSteady software stabilization in combination with the stabilized gimbal tilt controls for smoother video. Some users shut stabilization off and they use the GyroFlow app after shooting. Horizontal Balancing is a feature that enables level footage to be achieved even when turning sharply. For audio, recording can be done with the help of the DJI Fly app. The connection of such an external microphone as DJI Mic 2 improves sound quality by minimizing drone noise, recording voices without distortion in spite of some degree of distortion.

Performance

The DJI Neo is a lightweight drone that costs about $200. It weighs just 5 ounces, making it easy to fly. In sport mode, it can go up to 18 mph, which is good for a small drone, even if it’s not as fast as the Mini 4 Pro. It can also handle winds up to 18 mph, but be careful. If you fly it too far, it might drift away.

The Neo reaches a top speed of 36 mph in manual mode, which was made possible by a firmware update (You need a controller to achieve that). This is very fast for a drone of this size, and it does so while maintaining stability during flight. However, do not expect quiet operations because the fan will sound like a buzzing swarm when running at maximum capacity.

For those interested in acrobatic flying, the Neo offers a fun experience with capabilities for flips and spins. Given its low price point and durability, it’s a fantastic option for both novices and experienced pilots. While it may not match the nimbleness of the Avata 2, it still provides an enjoyable introduction to FPV flying.

The Neo is great for event videography, as it provides the opportunity to choose different shots and make movements. Its propeller guards improve safety for people on the ground, but the noise could be a problem in events such as weddings. It has ActiveTrack, Spotlight, and Point of Interest (POI) tracking modes, and the Direction Track mode is helpful for vloggers to stay in frame while they are walking. In testing, the Neo did enter some branches but remained airborne and continued to do so without incident, proving its robustness.

The NEO comes with a 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery, for which I have flown it for hours to test, and the NEO provides around 13 to 14 minutes of flight time in real-world conditions, which is pretty good. Now charging a single battery takes an hour, though with the $289 combo kit you can charge three batteries at the same time for quicker results.

Features

The DJI Neo offers a wide variety of autonomous flight modes that are easily accessible with the press of a button on the drone or from the DJI Fly app. This intuitive mode selector offers six different flight modes and a customizable mode, for a total of eight different functions. One of these is the popular QuickShots feature, which allows you to capture dynamic videos using pre-programmed flight paths.

The Neo features two primary tracking modes that focus on subjects. The Intelligent Tracking mode identifies a user’s face and keeps it centered in the captured scene. Users can adjust the tracking distance and altitude; however, this mode is specifically designed for tracking people rather than cars or animals. In contrast, the DirectionTrack mode positions the drone in front of the subject, maintaining a constant orientation, either head-on or at a specific angle.

The Neo excels at subject tracking, performing seamlessly across diverse terrains—whether navigating climbs, descents, or corners. If a subject temporarily moves out of the drone’s field of view due to speed or obstacles, the Neo quickly reacquires the target and resumes tracking, showcasing its impressive reliability.

Beyond tracking capabilities, the Neo includes six QuickShots modes, each designed to produce captivating cinematic footage:

– Dronie: The drone flies backward and upward, capturing a broad overview before returning to its original position. 

– Circle: It circles around the subject, creating a dynamic perspective. 

– Rocket: The drone ascends vertically while keeping the camera focused on the user. 

– Spiral: This mode spirals around the subject, delivering captivating visual effects. 

– Boomerang: The drone travels in a circular path around the subject, providing a panoramic view. 

– Spotlight: This mode goes beyond a typical QuickShot by adjusting the drone’s orientation and camera tilt to keep the subject in focus, making it ideal for vloggers who want to stay on screen while moving.

In each mode, users can customize the flight distance and altitude, and even decide if the drone should rotate during the shot. This level of control makes the DJI Neo a versatile and user-friendly option for both beginners and seasoned pilots. With these features, it really enhances the overall flying and filming experience.

Controller

The DJI Neo offers five unique ways to control your flight experience:

Autonomous Mode

Simply hold the drone in your hand and press the dedicated button to choose a flight mode. The drone will take off automatically and return to your hand when you lift it in front of you.

DJI Fly App

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can use the DJI Fly app on your smartphone instead of a traditional remote. The app is super user-friendly, letting you launch the drone with just a tap, adjust settings easily, and control it using virtual joysticks. You’ll even get to see live video from the camera while you fly! Just keep in mind that since it connects via Wi-Fi, you’ll have a flight range of about 50 meters. It’s a great way to get started without any complicated gear!

DJI RC-N3 Remote Control

If you’ve got the Fly More package or a compatible remote like the DJI RC 2 or RC-N2, you’re in for a treat! You’ll have access to the complete DJI Fly interface, which means you can explore all the different modes and settings. Features like ActiveTrack and Point of Interest tracking make it easy to capture amazing shots. Plus, you can enjoy an impressive transmission range of up to 10 km in FCC mode and 6 km in Europe, giving you plenty of freedom to fly!

FPV Flight with DJI Goggles 3

For a truly immersive flying experience, try pairing the DJI Goggles 3 with the DJI FPV Radio Remote Control 3 or the RC Motion 3. This combination lets you pilot the drone from a first-person perspective, making it feel like you’re actually soaring through the sky. It’s an incredible way to enjoy your flight and see the world from a whole new angle!

Voice Control

You can also command the Neo using voice instructions. Just say “Hey Fly” followed by your desired command to select one of the available flight modes.

DJI NEO Review: Final verdict

DJI Neo may be compact, but it delivers impressive video and photo quality while flying safely around people. Its popularity is clear, having quickly sold out on DJI’s website just weeks after its release.

This drone appeals to a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced pilots, all looking for a small, user-friendly option for creating Instagram stories and more. It’s especially great for TikTok creators, functioning like a little robot videographer that lets you capture content solo. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider, such as its noise level, lack of vertical video support, and limited battery life.

Priced at just $200—or at $289 for the Neo Triple Kit that comes with three batteries and a charger—the brushless motor offers an incredible value proposition for many content creators today. A principal rival, HoverAir X1, comes with similar features for $350 but has a lower resolution. In general, the quality of the Neo is higher, and the price is lower, so it will be suitable for anyone who wants to produce high-quality content.

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