Designed for Content Creators, This Affordable UAV Packs 4K Video, AI Tech, and Ease of Use into a 135g Frame
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab
DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, recently announced their newest offering, and while it’s a big deal, the drone itself is…small. Like, really small. The new DJI Neo is a personal videography-focused UAV focused on the growing content creator and consumer markets, with a compact, palm-sized frame and vanishingly low (and regulator-friendly) 135 g weight (along with an extremely attractive $200 list price) designed to make it a pocket-sized camera operator that doesn’t require FAA registration unless being used commercially.
To make it the perfect content companion, the NEO uses innovative AI tech to get follow shots,, even during dynamic activities like riding a bike, hiking, or skateboarding. Built-in “QuickShots” provide additional flexibility in filming angles, including dynamic “Rocket” and “Spotlight” modes, and it can even follow your face for “walk and talk” vlog content.
“At DJI we are always studying everyday camera use so that we can help people capture their videos and photos in the most convenient way possible. The DJI Neo strives to give people the latest tech in the smallest form factor so that they can capture their daily lives, saved as treasured memories, safely and with ease,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI.
Due to its low weight and included propeller guards, NEO could work for both indoor and outdoor applications. With 22GB of (non-expandable) internal storage, Neo can save up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p/60fps video, and can quickly offload that footage to a cellphone using the included (and remarkably fully-featured) app.
With a fairly small, lightweight battery, the drone has a reported 18 minutes of flight time (although real-world reviews, like Engadget’s, have seen more like 13-14 minutes) and a top speed of nearly 20 miles per hour while (theoretically) resisting winds up to 18 miles an hour. The NEO also features palm takeoff and landing, where it will automatically start and stop from your hand, and can reach an impressive 2000m of elevation.
The NEO can also be piloted a variety of ways, with DJI’s range of physical controllers (with an impressive 6.3 mile LOS range in the United States), FPV goggles (DJI Goggles 3, RC Motion 3, or FPV Remote Controller 3), and even a smartphone app, and can be integrated with the DJI Mic to improve its audio quality. While it has a relatively low flight volume of 79 db, considerably less than the competing Mavic or Avata, (although early reports are that it does make a relatively high-pitched noise that was compared to a hive of bees or a dustbuster vacuum, although it didn’t bug everyone who tested it).
Early returns on the NEO are mostly positive, with Engadget highlighting its strong performance, excellent camera, and durable build in their review while pointing out that it lacks object avoidance, makes the aforementioned loud, high-pitched noise, and is too light to be used in really difficult conditions despite its excellent built-in stabilization.
Tom’s Guide said largely the same things, highlighting its extreme ease of use and and compact size, while also noting its susceptibility to gusts of wind and relatively short flight time (although that can be extended by swapping its lithium ion batteries with extras, which are available for purchase).
TechRadar lauded its FPV potential, ease of use, and video quality while pointing out the high cost of compatible FPV accessories and the technical decision to make photo files exportable only in JPEG and in one of only two aspect ratios, limiting the potential flexibility of the NEO to create high-quality stills (although the focus is clearly on video).
The NEO is now available for $199 at a variety of online and brick-and-mortar retailers. More information about the NEO and DJI’s other products are available here.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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