DJI Neo is extremely compact and very fast, which honestly is a sign of foolishness that it genuinely makes me worried about peace of mind in neighborhoods all over the United States and beyond. The first very small and very cheap drone from DJI comes with many features that you might need from a more professional device, but at an initial and reasonably cheap price, which competes with helicopters that don’t offer the same versatility at all. It’s a little monster that pierces ears for something very small, worse than any bug buzzing directly next to your ear. Although it compensates with its bee-like controls. It’s energy-thirsty to the point that it drains the battery from 100% to empty in 15 minutes, and captures video in 4K resolution, but it will capture high-quality video from heights up to 120 meters, much higher than the treetop line and high enough to match skyscrapers. However, DJI positions the Neo drone as a tool for video bloggers, but with its limitations, it won’t be the only drone you’ll ever buy if you want to become the next aerial influencer.
DJI Neo
At $200, it’s an excellent and lively drone that’s easy to use and captures decent 4K video quality. That’s hampered only by the limited battery life.
Pros
- Speedy and maneuverable for its price
- Good quality 4K video
- Excellent pre-set “Quick Shots” make it easy for beginners to use the Neo
Cons
- Requires 15-minute battery life and easily accessible spare batteries
- You need additional control units to maximize the drone’s speed
- Mobile phone controls are not as responsive as the remote controller
It’s a device full of contradictions. The Neo device requires very little setup; you can launch it from the comfort of your extended hand with just one button press on the DJI Fly app. At 135 grams or 0.3 pounds, it’s so light that moderate winds will dangerously tilt the drone in its flight path. The cage around the propellers is made of thin plastic, and I feared that gripping it with excessive force may break it (DJI sells alternatives for the frames for $9 and new propellers for only $5).
You also don’t get much for the basic set. You get a $200 drone and one battery. Neo is compatible with the rest of DJI accessories, such as RC-N3 controller, RC Motion 3, and Goggles 3, but anyone buying the basic version needs to control it using the app. No, the DJI Fly app itself is not as accurate or practical as using a $130 remote controller, but it can work fully using your phone only. It’s especially easy if you use it with pre-set quick shot options or set it to Follow mode that tracks you at the eye level.
To get the most out of DJI Neo, you may spend more money over time to buy additional batteries at $40 each, a charging hub for $40, and an RC-N3 controller for $130. DJI also sells a “No-RC” kit for $280 with three batteries and a charging hub. This costs almost the same as the previous $200 drone from DJI, the DJI Mini. Once you start buying peripherals, the $200 drone becomes much more costly. However, if Neo is the latest gateway drug for drones, it may be the most addictive of its kind.
DJI Neo Review: Build Quality
By its materials, DJI Neo looks like a $200 drone. The outer part is made entirely of plastic, from the propellers to the guards and the lens cover attached to the axles. When not in use, the only lens protection is a thin, transparent plastic cover that can be attached over and around the axle holder.
My drone survived some minor accidents without damage but with some scratches. I avoided recklessly flying it into a brick wall. You should too. If used smartly, it’s very difficult to damage. You can switch between multiple landing modes in DJI Fly that place Neo directly on the ground or on your extended hand. When you press a button in the app or the device’s battery is low, Neo uses DJI’s auto return function to get back to the original take-off point, as long as there are no trees or obstacles obstructing its landing.
The drone has two real control elements: Power and Mode buttons. The mode lets you choose between “Quick Shots” automatically. These work if you just want a video clip of your drone spinning around you or hovering upwards. There’s a backward “Drone-y” shot, a spiral shot, and a “Reveal” mode that flies around the target in an elliptical rectangle shape. Just make sure you have enough headroom for any shots that require your drone to fly in the sky, like the “Rocket” setup.
DJI Neo Review: Control Elements and Maneuverability
DJI Neo is the small drone that can. It’s fast and smart. If you desire it, it will soar from your extended hand quickly, so you won’t hear its evil scream. However, to reach maximum speed, you’ll need a physical controller. The full climbing speed of 3 m/s (6.7 mph) and 8 m/s horizontally (17 mph) in sport mode can’t be accessed through the app. For the maximum horizontal speed of 16 m/s (36 mph) in Manual mode, you need a specific FPV controller, so I couldn’t test this feature. On the phone, you’re stuck at 6 m/s horizontally and 2 m/s vertically in Standard mode.
Regarding actual control of Neo, you can use the app or DJI’s multiple physical control options. It’s the first DJI drone that features phone controls, and yet I greatly prefer using the RC-N3 controller that physically connects to your phone. If you have no other option, the phone works, although I found touch control tools to be less responsive. Even when the drone was a foot away from my phone, there was a noticeable lag between input and drone response.
Nevertheless, even without a controller, you can get some easy video clips with DJI Neo thanks to the automatic Quick Shots. My favorite was the Follow mode. This pairs the drone with your face and then tracks you at eye level as you move. If you crouch, it will follow your steps. The drone lacks obstacle sensors and relies on face tracking and two infrared sensors to keep it at ground level. Yet, it maneuvered remarkably well. I wasn’t able to navigate tight submarine tunnels, but even in the relatively narrow office, it didn’t fail or get stuck in a coworker’s hair.
Then again, you shouldn’t use Neo indoors, or at least where anyone can hear it. This device emits a supernatural whine during flight; if you’re close, just putting your teeth on the edge is enough. It also requires you to speak near your phone if you attempt any voice control elements. It will annoy any unlucky enough person around.
However, when outdoors, you can access a total height of 120 meters above ground before the drone cuts you off. DJI states that the drone’s operating range is about 50 meters. I took it outside to Calvert Vaux Park in Coney Island, one of the few locations in New York City where it’s legal to fly drones. I let it travel midway across the field and didn’t encounter any disturbances or delays, even on a clear day with relatively light winds.
I also don’t trust the drone much in any strong storms. It flew 120 meters high and slightly tilted. Thankfully, the resulting video was fairly stable nonetheless with automatic stabilization.
DJI Neo Review: Video Quality
DJI emphasizes the 4K shooting capability of DJI Neo, but the device defaults to shooting at 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. It’s a 0.5-inch sensor with a field of view of 117.6 degrees and an aperture of f/2.8. If you’re hoping for high-quality video without the need for any additional editing, this won’t be the case. You also can’t choose to shoot in vertical format as well, so all TikTok stars need to do some extra work to incorporate Neo into their video lineup.
It’s hard to complain about the results of a $200 drone. The shots I captured of Coney Island from above were breathtaking on a bright, clear day. The footage in bright sunlight tends to wash out without professional video settings. Low-light shots also had some graininess. Again, you won’t get studio-quality shots without spending studio money. Neo is ideal for quick clips if you just need a drone to spy camera. You can’t do much with this small sensor to get longer or high-detail video.
The mounted sensor on the axle moves from -90 degrees to 60 degrees. When pointed directly towards the ground, I found the shots tended to be tilted at an annoying angle even when stable.
Despite those issues and the lack of detailed shots, I was quite satisfied with DJI Neo’s capabilities. The wide, dynamic, and lively shots I captured of Brooklyn’s Lower East Side were impressive and became more epic due to the fact that I filmed them with such a cheap device. For quick shots, you can’t find better or cheaper than Neo.
DJI Neo Review: Battery Life
Perhaps, DJI hinted that the advertised maximum distance of 50 meters indicates that the drone needs enough time to return to the user once it reports that its battery is about to run out. You can get over a dozen takeoff operations through short video clips and quick shots before needing a recharge, but any longer video will impact the battery life. You can also shoot in 1080 pixels to enhance battery life.
DJI claims that charging three batteries with a power of 1435 mAh will take 60 minutes with the charging hub from 0 to 100% using a 60-watt power unit. When connected to the drone, it takes about 50 minutes. This is not the kind of device you can operate briefly, then charge, then fly immediately into the sky.
DJI Neo Review: Verdict
DJI Neo would be the perfect drone for a thriving content creator or a great, cheap, and useful drone for a power user. But I think there’s more to it. It’s the cheapest drone in the market with these capabilities. It’s too good, too easy, to the extent that I can imagine that most people who just want a drone with a spy camera won’t need to go any further than this.
The initial price is still hefty, considering the lack of significant competition. The competitive, small drone from HOVERAir, X1, costs $350 on Amazon. Usually, with budget tech, some trade-offs easily push some towards saving for a more expensive product or ignoring it altogether. DJI is very attractive at this price point to the extent that I can envision a whole cohort of new drone buyers entering the fray. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you hear an evil scream this Halloween, only to look up and see DJI Neo buzzing above your head.
