Pocket sized with the ability to launch, auto-follow you, and film all without a separate remote control, the new DJI Neo drone can capture you and your friends’ action quickly and easily.
Oh, and it can fly at up to 35mph, so it can also keep up with your vehicle on most trails.
Designed as a flying personal videographer, the Neo is DJI’s smallest consumer drone capable of 4K footage. It weighs just 135g and costs only $199, so it’s legal pretty much anywhere drones are legal without a license and won’t break the bank.
The DJI Neo has integrated propeller guards and comes with one Intelligent Flight Battery good for up to 18 minutes of flight time. Buy the DJI Neo Combo kit (two extra batteries + charging hub) to max out the on-board 22GB of storage, which can hold up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps footage. Once done, use the DJI Fly app to transfer footage to your phone for editing and sharing (or to AirDrop it to your computer for more post production).
You can also use the app to pair their wireless DJI Mic 2 Bluetooth mic with the drone so it’ll sync your narration with the footage, and the Fly App will automatically cut out any propeller noise when it’s flying close to you. Or just use your paired smartphone as the mic and record audio directly within the app.
To control it, you can simply turn it on, press the desired filming mode button on the drone itself, and send it into the air. It’ll snap stills or shoot video, then return to the palm of your hand.
You can also manually control it with your phone, up to 50m away via WiFi connection, using the virtual joy sticks on the Fly App or with voice commands.
For more range, up to 10km, pair it with their RC Motion 3 or FPV Remote 3 and DJI Goggles for FPV flight controls, or the DJI RC-N3 remote control for maximum range. Use the RC Motion 3 to (try to) recreate those indoor shots like in the video above.
The onboard camera has a 1/2″ sensor with single-axis gimbal and their RockSteady and HorizonBalancing digital stabilization. This keeps footage smooth, and it’s strong enough (and has the sensors) to stabilize itself in windy conditions, too.
Quick capture intelligent modes include:
- Dronie: The drone flies backward and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video.
- Circle: The drone circles around the subject.
- Rocket: The drone ascends with the camera pointing downward.
- Spotlight: The drone rotates while keeping the object of interest within the frame
- Helix: The drone ascends and spirals around the subject.
- Boomerang: The drone flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away from its starting point and descending as it flies back. The aircraft’s starting point forms one end of the oval’s long axis, while the other end is at the subject’s opposite side from the starting point.
Note that only Helix and Boomerang modes work through the app, others may require a separate remote control.
Should I buy the DJI Neo?
If you’re more interested in capturing your activities outside of the vehicle or don’t want to spend a ton, then yes.
The only caveats for overlanders who like to get out there are that it has a maximum takeoff ceiling of 2000m (6,600ft), has no obstacle avoidance, and its AI subject detection is limited to people.
The latter means you could probably have it glide beside your vehicle if it can see you in the window, but it may not follow as well as the more advanced (and absolutely amazing) DJI Mini 4 Pro. And if you’re going to fly it higher and further from your vehicle for epic landscape shots, you’ll want to add the DJI RC-N3 remote ($129), which uses your phone as the screen.
Available now at DJI.com.
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