Particularly small, particularly light and particularly safe: with the new DJI Neo, the top dog in the drone sector is offering a new model that is explicitly aimed at beginners. As such, I had a lot of fun with the small aircraft when I tested the Neo.
Technical data
| Name | DJI Neo(official product page) |
| Drone class | C0 |
| weight | 135 g |
| Dimensions | 13 x 15.7 x 4.8 cm |
| Features | – App control (iOS + Android) – 6 autonomous flight modes |
| Maximum flight distance | 7 km |
| Video recordings | – 3,840 x 2,880@30fps – 1,920 x 1,080@60fps/50fps/30fps |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to 40°C |
| Memory | 22 GB internal memory |
| Price | € 299.99 * (Fly More Combo); 199,00 Euro (drone only) |
DJI Neo test: Not a toy, even if it looks like one
- Incredibly small and light
- plastic construction
- Fully protected rotors
My son is seven years old. He wanted a drone for Christmas last year, so we got him a toy drone. It’s so small and light that it fits in one hand and is particularly safe as the rotors are protected.
Why am I mentioning this? Well, the new DJI Neo looks quite similar to this toy drone and is also particularly compact and lightweight. But don’t let that fool you, because the manufacturer’s new aircraft has a lot to offer and its design is aimed specifically at beginners. And that’s a good thing.
- Find out more: Guide to drones: What you should look out for before buying
The Neo is the manufacturer’s smallest and lightest drone. It measures just 130 x 157 x 48.5 mm and therefore easily fits in the palm of your hand. Without the battery, it weighs just 92 grams; with the battery inserted, it weighs just 138 grams.
The drone also achieves this thanks to its gray plastic housing, which is kept very simple. No question: the Neo doesn’t feel really robust, but the design and workmanship fulfill their purpose. The design is somewhat reminiscent of the manufacturer’s Avata 2, with the difference that the DJI Neo is noticeably smaller and the rotors are fully protected – so nothing can happen here, even to the most incompetent laymen.
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The battery is plugged into the drone at the bottom; the gimbal camera at the front is protected by a cover that must be removed before flight.
DJI Neo Review: camera and memory
- 4K with 30 fps, but…
- … only mediocre video and photo quality
- 22 gigabytes of internal memory
Let’s get this out of the way: If you want to take impressive pictures and videos with a drone, the DJI Neo will probably only be of limited use to you. The video quality in particular is only average.
Of course, this is a compromise that you have to make given the handy dimensions. DJI has equipped the drone with a 1/2-inch sensor, which is considerably smaller than its 1/1.3-inch counterpart in the DJI Mini 3, for example. The resolution of 12 megapixels and the aperture of f/2.8 are also significantly lower. However, the field of view is pleasantly large at 117.6°.
The lens records videos in a maximum of 4K at 30 frames per second, either with or without image stabilization. Alternatively, 1080p recordings with up to 60 fps are also possible. Unfortunately, the Neo does not support slow-motion recording. The shutter speed can be adjusted between 1/8000 second and 1/30 s, the ISO range is 100 to 6,400, whereby the parameters are also regulated automatically. However, manual adjustments are of course possible.
There is no SD card slot, photos and videos are saved on the 22 gigabyte internal memory and can be transferred quickly either via the drone’s USB-C port or via the DJI Fly app
The quality of videos and photos is okay, but larger models deliver much better quality for the money. The images from the DJI Neo lack sharpness and detail in particular.
DJI Neo Review: Setup and control
- Simple setup
- Completely controllable via smartphone
- Precise control with controller
The DJI Neo is designed to be particularly beginner-friendly and this is also reflected in the setup and control. By pressing and holding the rear button, the drone is switched on and can then be connected to the DJI Fly app via the smartphone.
After a short delay, the drone is then quickly found and connected immediately. Practical: Various video tutorials can be displayed at the start to familiarize you with the drone’s functions.
The entire operation is then carried out conveniently via the companion app. If you like, you can switch back and forth between the different modes such as drone, rocket, circling and more on the top of the Neo, which can also be easily selected in the app.
Various settings can also be made within the app, especially when it comes to recording videos and photos. Everything is wonderfully explained, even for non-experts.
If you like, you can also control the DJI Neo with the RC-N3 remote control. In this case, the smartphone is plugged into the top. The controller is then operated using two analog sticks. And yes, the whole thing really does control like the gamepad controls of a video game.
Especially cool: Thanks to the protected rotors, the DJI Neo can even take off and land from the palm of your hand. All you have to do is hold out your hand and the drone can take off at the touch of a button.
If you want it to land in your hand again, simply stretch out your arm again and move it under the Neo. It will land smoothly in your hand again.
If this is still too complex for you or if you want to use your smartphone for other purposes, you can also operate the Neo using voice control. The drone is started via the wake-up word “Hey Fly” and you can then use various commands to start and adjust the different flight modes or adjust the flight characteristics.
Intelligent flight modes and manual control
- Practical intelligent flight modes
- cool cinematic effects
- precise manual controls
A special feature of the DJI Neo are the intelligent flight modes, and not just for newcomers. The concept is somewhat reminiscent of the Hoverair X1 (our test) and offers the option of creating cool video effects using various adjustable modes. The integrated AI subject tracking enables the drone to automatically follow the target object and create stable videos from different angles.
A total of six modes are available:
- Dronie: Flies backwards and ascends while the camera remains pointed at the subject.
- Circling: Orbits the target object at a steady pace.
- Rocket: Climbs vertically while the camera is pointed downwards.
- Spotlight: Fixes the subject in the image while the drone rotates on its own axis.
- Helix: Combines ascending and circling to create a dynamic spiral movement.
- Boomerang: Draws an oval trajectory that surrounds the subject.
This allows you to create very short, cinematic shots, for example if you want to showcase yourself or the surroundings. The whole process is so simple that you simply select the mode and start the drone. The Neo does the rest all by itself.
Of course, you have significantly more options with manual control, where you can freely determine every parameter of the flight. The maximum flight distance with the RS-N3 is a whopping 7 kilometers.
There are also three different flight modes to choose from, which differ mainly in terms of climb, descent and maximum horizontal speed: In sport mode, the DJI Neo reaches up to 8 m/s horizontal speed, in normal mode it is still 6 m/s. The third option is the slower cinematic mode, which is particularly suitable for cinematic shots.
Battery life of the DJI Neo
- meagre 16 minutes runtime per battery
Another “problem” with the compact dimensions is, of course, the battery. While DJI’s top models last up to 43 minutes (Magic 3 Pro), the DJI Neo only has a runtime of around 16 minutes before the battery runs out.
Each battery has a capacity of 1,435 mAh and can also be charged directly in the drone via the USB-C port. However, due to the meagre runtime, we would definitely recommend purchasing the Fly More Combo, which includes three batteries and a charging station (and the controller).
DJI Neo Review: Conclusion
The DJI Neo is the manufacturer’s smallest and lightest drone. It scores with practical functions that should please beginners in particular. You can easily take off and land it by hand and create cool shots with six intelligent flight modes without having to operate the device yourself.
If you wish, you can conveniently operate it directly via your smartphone, even using voice control, which works excellently. However, you will then have to contend with some limitations such as somewhat delayed operation and a mixed range of 50 meters.
Unfortunately, the battery life of around 16 minutes is mixed due to the size, but with an RRP of 199.00 euros, the device is also extremely affordable. However, the DJI Neo really comes highly recommended with the Fly More Combo, which not only includes additional batteries but also the practical remote control. At around 350 euros, however, the price is already in the range of some competitors that deliver better image quality.
It is therefore difficult to make a clear, general purchase recommendation for the DJI Neo. In our opinion, the device is particularly suitable for those who want to gain their first experience and own a drone that is as compact and robust as possible.
The DJI Neo is ideal for a relatively inexpensive entry into the world of drones and with a convincing price-performance ratio, it is above all one thing: a lot of fun. At least if you don’t expect too much.
DJI Neo
Design and Workmanship
Hardware
Ease of use
Battery
Camera quality
Value For Money
88/100
Inexpensive and particularly beginner-friendly drone with a compact design and impressive flight characteristics. However, flight time and video and image quality are disappointing.
