Back in 2013, DJI revolutionized the aerial photography segment with the release of its inaugural drone known as the Phantom. While there were already other drones on the market, the DJI Phantom stood out from the crowd with its combination of simple intuitive controls, cutting-edge tech, and an accessible price. And for the brand’s latest drone, the company is turning over a new leaf while also returning to its roots, launching its smallest and most affordable model to date, while still being largely characterized by the principles that defined the original Phantom with this all-new drone being technologically advanced, easy-to-fly, and highly affordable.
The Basics
Measuring just 5.11” x 6.18” x 1.9”, the Neo is DJI’s smallest and most compact drone to date — as well as its most affordable, by a pretty huge margin. Tipping the scales at under 5oz, the drone is so small and lightweight that it’s actually been designed to takeoff and land from the palm of your hand. Despite its diminutive sizing, the thing benefits from some advanced tech borrowed from DJI’s more costly drones. The drone uses a traditional quadcopter setup with full-coverage propeller guards at all four corners.
Recording Capabilities
Armed with a 0.5-inch image sensor, the DJI Neo is capable of recording 4K video at 30FPS, plus can shoot 12-megapixel stills. Also benefitting from a built-in single-axis mechanical gimbal, this pocketable drone sports a 177.6-degree field-of-vision and can also record audio using DJI’s Mic 2.
Onboard Tech
The DJI Neo comes loaded with a slew of cutting-edge tech and amenities. This includes the company’s RockSteady advanced stabilization algorithm, a built-in horizon lock, and AI-powered subject tracking. It also features multiple control options ranging from using a traditional remote control to using your smartphone to using voice commands.
Flight Capabilities
Despite its tiny size, the Neo actually boasts some pretty impressive flight capabilities. This includes the ability to climb to altitudes of up to 2,000 meters, as well as offering a maximum flight distance of over 4 miles. Able to maintain its position in the sky in wind conditions up to Level 4, the thing also has an effective operating range of 164’.
Battery Life
DJI’s new Neo drone runs off of a 1,435-mAh, 10.5-Wh Li-ion battery — three of which can be simultaneously charged in just an hour using DJI’s two-way charging hub. Each cell offers a cool 18 minutes of flight time, too.
What Makes It Special
There are numerous factors that make DJI’s new Neo drone so noteworthy. On top of being incredibly affordable, it borrows a good deal of tech from some of the brand’s pricier existing drones. It’s also incredibly small, fitting in the palm of your hand, plus is highly portable and travel-friendly. Add in its super simple and intuitive controls, and the Neo does a phenomenal job of opening up the hobby of aerial photography to the masses, as just about anyone can afford and learn to pilot one — something that can’t be said for most other drones from major brands. It’s also DJI’s lightest and most compact aerial videographer to date.
Spec Sheet
Brand: DJI
Model: Neo
Size: 5.11” x 6.18” x 1.9”
Sensor: 0.5”
FOV: 117.6°
Max Video Quality: 4K @ 30FPS
Max Still Quality: 12MP
Auto-Tracking: Yes
Image Stabilization: Yes
Horizon Lock: Yes
Weight: 4.76oz
Max Altitude: 6,561’
Max Flight Distance: 4 Miles
Effective Operating Range: 164’
Max Flight Time: 18 Minutes
Battery: 1,435-mAh Li-Ion
Starting Price: $199
Pricing & Availability
The DJI Neo drone is available for order now, with pricing starting from just $199 — making it DJI’s most affordable drone to date, and by a pretty huge margin.
Recap
DJI Neo Drone
Representing the brand’s lightest and most compact aerial videographer to date — at just 5.11” x 6.18” x 1.9” and 135 grams — DJI’s all-new Neo drone is a highly-affordable, high-tech drone that borrows a host of features and tech from its pricier counterparts.
