DJI has led the consumer market with a wide variety of high-quality but expensive drones. TheDJI Neois the company’s first low-cost model, with a $199 retail price. While there are obviously some trade-offs, the Neo is perfect for beginners to take flight into the hobby.
The DJI Neo is an inexpensive and fun way to take to the skies. The drone can shoot 4K video and 12MP still images. For easy operation, there are a number of Smart Snaps, like a mode that will automatically follow you in an activity. You can also manually fly the drone directly from the DJI Neo app without the need for an external controller. The included battery will provide up to 18 minutes of flight time.
Price and Availability
The DJI Neo is available for $199 from Amazon, DJI, and other retailers. It only comes with a single battery, so if you’d like to keep the drone in the air for more than a single, 15-minute flight, consider checking out the$288 Fly More Combo. It includes two additional batteries and a charging hub.
Specifications
Small, Lightweight, and Surprisingly Sturdy
After removing the DJI Neo from its packaging, I was still surprised with how small the drone is. It can literally fit in the palm of your hand with a 5.11 inches length and 6.1 inch depth. It’s less than 2 inches tall. The lightest drone ever from DJI, it weighs 0.29 pounds or 135g.
There are only two buttons on the drone, one for power and the other to switch modes. The battery snaps into the bottom part of the drone.
Since it weighs less than 250g, there’s no need to worry about registering the drone with the FAA.
Along with the drone, DJI provides a single battery, propeller guards, spare propellers and hardware, a gimble protector, and a USB-C cable. After fully charging the battery, you can get to flying. Most importantly, you’ll want to download the DJI Fly app for iPhone or Android before beginning.
If you’re completely new to drone technology, the app is a perfect place to go before your first flight. It offers a huge variety of videos for beginners and even experienced pilots. I was able to watch a few videos and was ready to go.
Controllable Directly Through the DJI App
Unlike all the other DJI drones, the Neo can be controlled with just your smartphone and DJI Fly app using Wi-Fi. You can even start six different Smart Snaps by just pressing a mode button on the drone.
Before beginning, head to the app to see more about each mode—Follow, Drone, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, and Custom. You can better customize each one to your liking. When you’re ready, you can place the drone in the palm of your hand. There are two ways to start a flight. The easiest is to just press and hold the mode button. You can also start a flight with the app.
All the different modes provided some unique videos. My favorite mode was Follow, which will tag along with you while you’re cycling, running, or something else. When you’re done filming, just head back to the app and press Stop. The drone can then land in your palm.
Another unique feature is that you’re able to record audio from your phone’s built-in microphone when using one of the Smart Snaps. When done flying, the app will eliminate propeller noise and merge the audio track with the footage.
For even easier control, the DJI Fly app’s Voice Control can pilot the drone without worrying about constantly fiddling with the screen. With the app open, just say “Hey Fly” and then you can speak basic flight commands like “takeoff.” This worked really well and provided another simple way to control the Neo.
If you get tired of the Smart Snaps, it’s time to take flight with manual control through the app. You can take off from the ground or even your palm. Flip your smartphone to landscape mode to see the best view from the drone. If you’re new to piloting drones, make sure to take your time learning how to control it. But in just a few minutes, I was easily able to get up and running.
Two virtual joysticks on either side of the screen control the Neo. The screen also includes a battery life estimate, a record video button, and a quick button to press to land the drone.
A big part of any drone is capturing video and photos while in the air. The 4K 30fps video quality from the Neo was OK but not extraordinary. At 4K quality, I noticed that the video at times looked over-sharpened. But it’s hard to be tough on the video quality of such a small and inexpensive drone. If you want to save storage space and battery life, you can shoot in lower quality, most notably 1080p at 60fps.
Along with being able to pan right and left, you can tilt the camera up and down.
DJI says a single battery can provide 18 minutes of flight, but just like with other drones, flight time can depend on a number of factors. I was usually able to go around 15 minutes before the battery level would get low enough for the drone to land automatically.
There are a few trade-offs only using the app. You can only fly the Neo up to 30 meters high and 50 meters away from your location. While I thought that would hamper flying the drone, it wasn’t very noticeable.
Instead of worrying about external storage, the Neo sports 22GB of built-in storage. To transfer photos and videos, you’ll just connect the drone to your smartphone and move everything from the DJI Fly. It’s also possible to transfer everything automatically after filming.
With the small size and weight, I was strongly concerned about how well the drone could hold up over time. But I used the drone for a number of flights over two weeks and was impressed with how well the Neo held up. There were a few hard landings, but I didn’t notice any marks on the drone itself.
When flying, you will need to be more careful for a few reasons. Unlike more expensive DJI drones, there is no built-in obstacle avoidance in the Neo. So, I wouldn’t want to see what the Neo looks like after hitting a tree or something else.
Wind is also something you need to monitor before a flight. The Neo is rated with Level 4 wind resistance, which is wind under 18mph. But since wind speeds increase as the drone ascends, winds must be almost calm on the ground. Anything more, and you will be limited about how far up the drone can fly before receiving a wind warning.
Optional Controller Unlocks Further Flights
If you’re looking for more fun with manual flight, the Neo is compatible with theDJI RC-N3 Remote Controller. The controller is $159, almost doubling the price of the drone. You’ll attach your smartphone to the holder on top of the remote to see a live view and other information.
There are several advantages to using the Neo. First, you’re able to fly the Neo from up to 6.2 miles away, though you probably shouldn’t. You can also select from one of three flying modes on the remote. Along with Normal, Cine slows down the drone for more stable recording. When you’re ready for speed and have a huge open area, try out Sport Mode. The Neo will go up to a blazing 17.9 miles per hour.
you’re able to also use the Return to Home functionality when using the remote. Press a button on the screen or remote, and the Neo will automatically return to the exact takeoff location and land. That’s a huge help if you’re having problems piloting the drone or if the battery gets low.
Should You Buy the DJI Neo?
I’ve always been interested in drones but have been turned off by the high cost of entry for even good entry-level drones. So, I was blown away by what theDJI Neooffers. For $199, you’re able to snag a high-quality 4K drone that is easy to pilot and enjoy, even for beginners. It’s much more than just a toy.
Along with some fun modes to capture unique videos, manual flight can let you explore anywhere with just your phone. I was up and flying around my neighborhood and local park in just a few minutes. And if you want to take your piloting skills to a new level, you can always purchase additional batteries and the controller to fly further and for longer time periods.
