The DJI Neo is so compact, so speedy, and so idiot-proof that it honestly makes me concerned for the peace of mind of neighborhoods across the U.S. and beyond. DJI’s first ultra-small, ultra-cheap drone has many of the bells and whistles you would want from a more professional device, but it’s at a starting price range that is cheap enough that it’s competing with toy helicopters that don’t offer nearly the same versatility.
It’s a deafening beast for something so tiny, worse than any insect buzzing directly next to your ear, though it makes up for it with its wasp-like controls. It’s so hungry for power it will drain a battery from 100% to dead in 15 minutes, shooting in 4K, but it will shoot good-quality video from upwards of 120 meters, well above the tree line and high enough to match skyscrapers. Still, DJI positions the Neo as the starter drone in the vlogger’s toolkit, but with its limitations, it won’t be the only drone you ever buy if you want to become the next aerial influencer.
DJI Neo
For $200, its an excellent, zippy drone that’s easy to use and shoots fair-quality video at 4K. It’s only held back by a limited battery life and
Pros
- Fast and maneuverable for its price
- Good-quality 4K video
- Excellent preset “quick shots” make the Neo easy for a novice
Cons
- 15-minute battery life requires having extra batteries on hand
- You need extra controllers to get the most out of drone’s speed
- Controls on mobile aren’t as responsive as controller
It’s a device full of contradictions. The Neo takes so little setup; you can launch it from your outstretched palm with a single button on the DJI Fly app. At 135 grams or .3 pounds, it’s so light that a mild wind will cause the drone to wobble dangerously in its flight path. The cage surrounding the propellers is made of thin plastic, and I feared holding it with much force would break it (DJI sells replacements on the frames for $9 and new propellers for a mere $5).
You also don’t get much for the base kit. You’re $200 nets you the drone and a single battery. The Neo is compatible with the rest of DJI’s accessories, like the RC-N3 controller, RC Motion 3, and Goggles 3, but anybody who buys the base version needs to control it using the app. No, the DJI Fly app by itself is not nearly as precise or practical as using the $130 controller, but it’s fully workable with just your phone. It’s especially easy if you use it with preset automatic shot options or set it to Follow mode that tracks you around at eye level.
To get the most out of the DJI Neo, you may spend more money over time for extra batteries at $40 a pop, a charging hub for $40, and the $130 RC-N3 controller. DJI also sells a $280 “No-RC” combo with three batteries and the charging hub. That costs around the same as DJI’s former starter drone, the DJI Mini. Once you start buying the peripherals, the $200 drone becomes far more expensive. However, if the Neo is the latest gateway drug into drones, it may be the most addicting of its kind.
DJI Neo Review: Build Quality
Judging by its materials, the DJI Neo feels like a $200 drone. The exterior is fully plastic, from the propellers to the guards and gimbal-mounted lens casing. When not in use, the only protection for the lens is a thin, clear plastic cap that fits over and around the gimbal mount.
My drone survived a few mild crashes without damage but for a few scuffs. I avoided running it headlong into a brick wall; you should, too. If you’re using it with any amount of intelligence, it’s honestly pretty hard to damage it. You can toggle multiple automatic landing modes in the DJI Fly that set the Neo straight down onto the ground or your outstretched palm. When you press a button on the app, or it’s low on battery, the Neo uses DJI’s automatic return function to head back to its original launch point, so long as no trees or other obstructions are blocking its descent.
The drone has two physical controls: a power button and a mode button. The mode lets you select between automatic “quick shots.” These work if you only want a video with your drone circling you or rocketing upwards. There’s a “dronie” backward ascending shot, a “helix” spiraling shot, and a “boomerang” mode that flies around the subject in an oblong oval. Just make sure you have enough headroom to do any of the shots that ask the drone to fly up into the sky, like the “rocket” setting.
DJI Neo Review: Controls and Maneuverability
The DJI Neo is the little drone that could. It’s fast and nimble; if you want it to, it will rocket up from your outstretched palm so fast in a few seconds that you won’t hear its bansheed screeching. However, to get the most speed, you’ll need a physical controller. The 3 m/s (6.7 MPH) ascent speed and 8 m/s horizontal (17 MPH) in Sport mode aren’t accessible with the app. For the top 16 m/s (36 MPH) horizontal speed in Manual mode, you need the specific FPV controller, so I wasn’t able to test that capability. On the phone, you’re stuck with 6 m/s horizontal and 2 m/s vertical with Normal mode.
As for actually controlling the Neo, you can use the app or DJI’s multiple physical control options. It’s the first DJI drone to have phone controls, yet I still vastly prefer using the RC-N3 controller that physically connects to your phone. If you have no other option, the phone works, though I found the two touch dial controls were less responsive. Even when the drone was a foot from my phone, there was a noticeable lag between the input and the drone’s reaction.
Still, even without a controller, you can get some easy video with the DJI Neo thanks to the automated quick shots. My favorite was the Follow mode. This pairs the drone to your face and then trails you at eye level as you move about. If you squat, it will follow your lead. The drone lacks obstacle detection sensors and relies on face tracking and two downward infrared sensors to keep it level with the ground. And yet, it still maneuvered with a surprising deftness. I wouldn’t take it through the tight confines of a submarine, but even in a relatively cramped office, it didn’t fail or get caught up in a coworker’s hair.
Then again, you shouldn’t use the Neo indoors, or at least where’s there anybody around to hear it. This device issues a piercing whine as it flies; if you’re close, it’s enough to set your teeth on edge. It also means you need to speak really close to your phone if you try to issue any voice controls. It will also annoy the crap out of anybody unlucky enough to be in the vicinity.
When you’re outside, however, you can get to a total of 120 meters above the ground before the drone cuts you off. DJI says the drone’s operating range is around 50 meters. I took it outside to Calvert Vaux Park in Coney Island—one of the few places in New York City where you’re legally allowed to fly drones. I let it travel halfway to one end of the field and saw no disruptions or lag, though that was on a clear day with relatively little wind.
I also wouldn’t trust the drone much in any strong gales. Flying at 120 meters, the drone wobbled a fair bit. Thankfully, the resulting video came out fair anyway with the automated image stabilization.
DJI Neo Review: Video Quality
DJI emphasizes the 4K shooting ability for the DJI Neo, but the device defaults to shooting 1080p at 30 FPS. It’s a .5-inch sensor with a 117.6-degree FOV and an f/2.8 aperture. If you were hoping for supreme video quality without needing any extra editing, this isn’t going to be it. You also can’t choose to shoot in vertical format, either, so all the TikTok stars need to do some extra work to integrate the Neo into their video schedule.
It’s hard to complain about the results of a $200 drone. My high-above shots of Coney Island were spectacular on a bright, clear day. The image in bright sunlight tends to be washed out without fiddling with Pro video settings. Images in low light also had some graininess to them. Again, you won’t get studio-quality footage without spending studio-levels of cash. The Neo is perfect if you all need quick pick-up shots of the city skyline. You can’t do too much with such a small sensor for longer or high-detailed video.
The gimbal-mounted sensor can go from -90 degrees straight down to 60 degrees. When pointing directly toward the earth, I found that shots would tend to tilt at an annoying angle even when stationary.
Aside from those issues and the lack of detailed shots, I was wholly satisfied with the DJI Neo’s capabilities. Wide, panning, and dollying shots of lower Brooklyn were majestic, made all the more epic by the fact that I was filming it with such a cheap device. For quick pickup shots, you can’t find better or cheaper than the Neo.
DJI Neo Review: Battery Life
DJI may have implied its 50-meter stated max distance is because the drone needs enough time to return to the user once it reports that its battery is about to perish. You can get over a dozen takeoffs with short videos and quick shots before needing to charge, but any longer video will tank its longevity. You can also shoot at 1080p for better battery life.
DJI claims it takes 60 minutes to charge three 1435 mAh batteries with the charging hub from 0 to 100% using a large 60W power brick. By itself plugged into the drone, it takes about 50 minutes. This is not the sort of device you can run for a short time, charge up, and then immediately take to the skies.
DJI Neo Review: Verdict
The DJI Neo would be the perfect starter drone for a burgeoning content creator or a great, cheap, utility drone for a power user. But I think there’s more to it than that. This is the cheapest drone on the market with these capabilities. It’s so good, so easy, that I can imagine most people who only want a flying spy camera won’t have to go any further than this.
The starting price is still significant, considering there’s not much competition. HOVERAir’s competing small selfie drone, the X1, goes for $350 on Amazon. Typically, with budget tech, the tradeoffs easily push some to consider saving up for a more expensive product or ignore it altogether. The DJI is so attractive at this price point that I can imagine a whole host of new drone buyers entering the fray. Don’t say didn’t I warn you when you hear a banshee cry this Halloween, only to look up and see a DJI Neo buzzing above your head.
