DJI Neo Drone: A Game-Changer in Selfie-Drones

The DJI Neo drone, priced at $199, is poised to outshine the popular HoverAir X1 in sales. This new drone, designed for social media enthusiasts, offers similar features to the $350 X1 but with added functionalities. Users can effortlessly capture footage by selecting predefined flight modes like follow, hover, orbit, and zoom without the need for manual control.

With its user-friendly design, the Neo simplifies the drone experience by flying autonomously and landing back in the user’s hand. Despite the risk of crashing near obstacles, its durable frame, akin to the X1, ensures resilience to impacts, making it a reliable choice for beginners.

Autonomous Flight and Easy Operation

The DJI Neo drone streamlines the recording process for social media content creation, eliminating the need for manual control. By offering predefined flight modes and autonomous operation, users can effortlessly capture footage without prior flying experience.

The drone’s quick launch and recording capabilities enhance convenience, making it an ideal choice for users seeking a hassle-free recording experience.While the Neo may be prone to crashes near obstacles, its sturdy frame can withstand impacts, ensuring durability and longevity for users exploring aerial photography and videography.

Durable Design and Versatile Functionality

The DJI Neo drone, priced competitively at $199, offers a cost-effective solution for users seeking a versatile and durable drone for capturing social media content. Its ability to survive crashes, similar to the HoverAir X1, underscores its robust design and suitability for beginners.

With features like automatic flight modes and easy operation, the Neo stands out as a game-changer in the realm of selfie-drones, promising an enhanced recording experience for users of all skill levels.

Neo Drone Features

The Neo drone offers return to home capabilities, allowing it to fly back autonomously.

It can fly farther distances when paired with a controller due to its dual antennas, providing a maximum video transmission distance of 10km. By using DJI’s accessories like the RC-N3 Remote Controller, Goggles 3, and motion controllers, users can capture panoramic shots and perform acrobatic stunts in a first-person view. However, the Neo is not as advanced as other DJI drones with features like obstacle avoidance and improved stabilization.

Limitations of the Neo Drone

While the Neo drone offers impressive capabilities for its price range, it lacks advanced features found in more powerful DJI drones.

Users should not expect obstacle avoidance, better stabilization, or improved optics when using the Neo. It is best suited for capturing aerial shots and performing basic maneuvers rather than complex tasks requiring advanced drone technology.

Shortcoming of DJI Neo for Selfie-Drone Use

The DJI Neo lacks a portrait video mode, which is a major drawback for its use as a selfie-drone.

DJI’s European spokesperson mentioned that user feedback will be considered regarding this missing feature. Despite this limitation, the Neo can shoot in 4K at 30fps, a capability not available in the X1 model. It features a half-inch sensor for video recording in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with the option for 60fps in 1080p mode.

Additionally, it can capture 12-megapixel stills in different aspect ratios and offers minimal single-axis mechanical gimbal stabilization along with software stabilization features. Although DJI claims it can shoot video in 4:3 as well, this option was not available in the tested firmware.

The Neo drone has 20GB of onboard storage and does not have any expansion options, similar to the X1.

Despite the lack of expandable storage, this does not seem to be a problem as 4K videos are typically short. The DJI’s battery lasts up to 18 minutes, making it slightly heavier than the X1, but still below the 250g threshold for drone licensing requirements.

The Neo drone is available in a $289 Combo bundle, which includes three batteries and a USB-C charging hub.

The charging hub can charge all three batteries simultaneously in about an hour with a 45W charger. Additionally, the drone has a built-in USB-C port that allows the removable battery to be charged in approximately 50 minutes using a 15W charger. However, there have been instances where this feature stopped working in pre-release firmware.

Control and Recording Capabilities

The Neo drone does not have gesture controls but can be operated using voice commands by saying “Hey! Fly!” It can also be controlled through the DJI Fly app on a phone via direct Wi-Fi connection. The drone can record audio from the phone’s built-in mic, which DJI overlays onto recorded videos without background propeller noise.

Furthermore, audio can be recorded using DJI’s Mic 2 when connected via Bluetooth. Video files in 4K format, ranging from 80MB to 200MB, can be quickly transferred to phones over direct Wi-Fi or to laptops using a USB-C cable.