In a world where social media drives innovation, DJI has just announced a new device that could change the selfie game: the DJI Neo, a compact and economical drone priced at $199.
With its global launch today, the Neo is intended to be accessible to the general public, making it a strong rival in the quickly increasing selfie drone market. With 4K video capability and a slew of sophisticated features, this drone is sure to pique the interest of influencers, content makers, and casual users alike.
The Rise of Selfie Drones: With DJI Neo
Image Credits: PC Mag
The selfie drone concept is not entirely new. Last year, the HoverAir X1 made headlines as one of the first drones to make aerial self-photography easy and accessible. However, DJI, a firm known for pushing the limits of drone technology, has joined the market with the Neo.
Priced competitively at $199, it provides practically everything the HoverAir X1 does and more, at a substantially lesser cost than the X1’s $350 price tag.
The Neo is a drone that you purchase primarily to capture oneself participating in various activities. Whether you’re hiking, cycling, or simply enjoying a day out, the Neo can follow, hover, or orbit around you to snap the ideal shot—no prior flying expertise required.
The beauty of this drone is in its simplicity. With a single button press, you can choose from a variety of predefined flight modes, and the system will handle the rest. When you’re finished, it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
The Neo’s Impressive Features: 4K Video and More
Image Credits: DroneXL
One of the DJI Neo’s distinguishing features is its ability to record 4K video at 30fps. This is a huge leap from the HoverAir X1, which does not support 4K video recording. The Neo’s half-inch sensor records crisp video in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with the option to switch to 60fps at 1080p for smoother results.
It can also capture 12-megapixel still photographs in 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Although the Neo only has single-axis mechanical gimbal stabilization, DJI has used software methods to improve stability even further.
While evaluating the Neo, my colleague Sean Hollister and I were astonished by its capabilities despite its small size.
However, one glaring omission is the absence of portrait video mode, which has grown increasingly vital for social media makers. Matt Bailey, DJI’s European representative, acknowledged this and stated that the company is reviewing user comments on the subject. While it’s strange that such a capability is lacking, the Neo’s 4K video recording still makes it an impressive tool for content creators.
Designed for Everyone: Easy to Use, Hard to Break
The Neo’s attractiveness stems mostly from its ease of usage. The drone is intended for users who may have no prior experience operating drones.
It comes with predetermined flight modes such as follow, hover, orbit, and zoom, allowing users to shoot dynamic pictures without having to manually operate their drone. The Neo also has Return-to-Home (RTH) feature, which ensures that it returns to you when the battery runs low or it flies out of range.
Like the HoverAir X1, the Neo can endure some hard handling. Its flexible structure allows it to withstand mild accidents, making it excellent for beginners who may not yet have a firm grasp on avoiding obstacles. However, users should be cautious when flying it near trees, buildings, or other possible hazards.
The Neo is outfitted with dual antennae, allowing for a maximum video transmission distance of 10km (about six miles). This means that, when combined with DJI’s $129 RC-N3 Remote Controller, the Neo can fly far further than most selfie drones, making it ideal for capturing sweeping panoramic photos with the assurance that it will return safely.
Additionally, if you want to execute acrobatic tricks or have an immersive flying experience, the Neo can be paired with DJI’s $499 Goggles 3 and the company’s latest motion controller or FPV controller.
However, it is important to remember that the Neo is not intended to compete with DJI’s more capable drones, such as the Mavic series. The more sophisticated models have improved obstacle avoidance, stability, and optics. However, at $199, the Neo’s capabilities are still astounding, particularly for those new to the world of drones.
Battery Life, Storage, and Portability: Built for Convenience
One of the Neo’s main benefits over its competitors is its battery life. The drone can fly for up to 18 minutes on a single charge, which is somewhat longer than the HoverAir X1. While the longer battery life makes the Neo slightly heavier than the X1, it still weighs only 135 grams, which is significantly below the 250g barrier that would necessitate stricter drone license in many nations.
The Neo comes with 20GB of inbuilt storage. Like the X1, it lacks extendable storage choices, but this should not be a deal breaker. Given that most 4K video clips shot by the Neo last 10 to 30 seconds, the built-in storage is adequate for most users.
For those who want even more options, DJI provides a $289 combo bundle that contains three batteries and a USB-C charging hub.
When connected to a 45W charger, this two-way charging hub can charge all three batteries at the same time in around an hour. The Neo also includes a USB-C connector, which allows you to charge its replaceable battery in around 50 minutes using a 15W charger.
However, during our testing with prerelease firmware, we encountered occasional issues with USB-C charging, which are expected to be fixed in future software upgrades.
No Gesture Controls, But Voice Commands and App Control Are Handy
Unlike other of DJI’s higher-end drones, the Neo lacks gesture controls, which may be a disadvantage for customers who want hands-free operation. However, the drone has voice command capabilities. You may switch between flight modes without touching the drone by yelling “Hey! Fly!” This feature offers another layer of ease, particularly in instances where you don’t want to deal with controls.
Alternatively, you can control the Neo using your smartphone’s DJI Fly app. The software connects directly to the drone via Wi-Fi, allowing you to easily change flying parameters and take videos.
Another useful feature is that the Neo can capture audio from your phone’s built-in microphone, which DJI will seamlessly sync to your recorded video, completely eliminating the unpleasant buzzing sound of propellers. The Neo also works with DJI’s Mic 2, which can be paired over Bluetooth to record higher-quality audio.
The Neo simplifies file transfers. 4K video files, which commonly vary in size from 80MB to 200MB, can be swiftly uploaded to your phone over direct Wi-Fi or to your laptop via USB-C.
