DJI Neo Review
DJI has once again pushed the boundaries of drone technology with its latest offering, the DJI Neo. This compact drone is set to revolutionize the way we capture aerial footage, especially for vloggers and travel enthusiasts. It is an impressive attempt to democratize drone flying to more Filipinos, and sets a precedent for better things.
Build and Design
The DJI Neo is a testament to DJI’s commitment to innovation and portability. Weighing in at a mere 135 grams, it claims the title of DJI’s lightest drone to date. This featherweight design not only makes it incredibly portable but also exempts it from FAA registration requirements for recreational use in the United States.
Despite its diminutive size, the Neo boasts impressive durability. The full-coverage propeller guards are a standout feature, providing robust protection for the propellers. During testing, the drone survived multiple drops without any damage to the propellers or camera lens, showcasing its resilience in real-world conditions. (Yes, I dropped this drone twice during my tests and it is still working fine.)
The Neo’s design draws inspiration from the DJI Avata series, featuring a compact body with integrated propeller guards. This design choice not only enhances durability but also makes it safer for indoor flights and operation in confined spaces. The drone’s small form factor allows for easy storage and transportation, making it an ideal companion for travelers and content creators on the go.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Neo’s design is its versatility in control options. The drone can be operated without a controller, using palm-based gestures for takeoff and landing. This feature, combined with its lightweight nature, makes it incredibly user-friendly, especially for beginners or those looking for quick, hassle-free aerial shots.
Software and AI Features
The DJI Neo shines in its software capabilities and AI-powered features, making it a powerful tool for content creation despite its small size.
QuickShots and Intelligent Modes
The Neo comes equipped with DJI’s QuickShots feature, offering a variety of pre-programmed flight patterns for cinematic footage. While the selection might seem limited compared to larger DJI models, the available QuickShots are well-chosen and highly effective for creating engaging content. These automated flight modes allow even novice users to capture professional-looking aerial footage with minimal effort.
The drone’s AI capabilities extend to subject tracking, enabling it to follow and film a subject autonomously. This feature is particularly useful for solo content creators or vloggers who want to include dynamic aerial shots in their videos without the need for a dedicated camera operator.
DJI Fly App Integration
The DJI Fly app serves as the control center for the Neo, offering an intuitive interface for flight control, camera settings, and content management. The app’s integration with the drone allows for easy access to all features, including QuickShots and intelligent flight modes. Additionally, the app facilitates quick transfer of footage to your mobile device, streamlining the post-production workflow.
Compatibility with Advanced Accessories
While the Neo is designed for simplicity, it doesn’t skimp on advanced features for more experienced users. The drone is compatible with DJI’s RC Motion controller and DJI Goggles (with Easy ACRO and Head Tracking support), enabling FPV (First Person View) flight experiences. This compatibility extends the Neo’s capabilities, allowing it to serve as a compact FPV drone for those interested in more immersive flight experiences.
Connected Mic Feature
One of the most innovative features of the DJI Neo is its connected mic capability, addressing a long-standing challenge in drone videography – capturing high-quality audio alongside aerial footage.
The Neo allows for audio recording when used with the DJI Fly app, offering multiple options for sound capture. Users can pair the drone with external microphones, such as the DJI Mic 2, or utilize the built-in microphone of their smartphone. This feature significantly enhances the drone’s vlogging capabilities, allowing creators to narrate their aerial footage in real-time.
DJI has implemented advanced noise cancellation technology to improve audio quality, particularly when using the phone’s built-in microphone or any connected bluetooth microphone. While this can sometimes result in a slightly muffled sound, it effectively reduces wind and propeller noise, ensuring that voice recordings are clear and intelligible.
The integration of audio recording capabilities sets the Neo apart from many other compact drones, making it a more complete tool for content creation. This feature is particularly valuable for vloggers and journalists who need to provide commentary alongside their aerial footage.
Battery Performance
Battery life is often a concern with compact drones, but the DJI Neo manages to deliver respectable flight times despite its small size. The drone comes equipped with a 1,435mAh battery, which provides approximately 18 minutes of flight time under ideal conditions.
In real-world usage, factors such as wind conditions and flight patterns will affect battery life. However, even with these variables, users can expect to achieve 15-16 minutes of active flight time per battery. This duration strikes a good balance between portability and usability, allowing for meaningful capture sessions without the need for frequent battery swaps. In my experience in Cabanatuan and Las Pinas, flight time per battery is within the 13 to 15 minutes range due to strong winds.
For those requiring extended flight times, DJI offers a Fly More Combo that includes additional batteries and a charging hub. The charging hub is particularly noteworthy, as it can simultaneously charge multiple batteries, significantly reducing downtime between flights.
Verdict
The DJI Neo represents a significant step forward in the realm of compact, consumer-friendly drones. Its combination of portability, advanced features, and user-friendly design makes it an attractive option for a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced drone pilots.
The DJI Neo excels as a vlogging and travel companion, offering 4K video capabilities in a package that can easily fit in a pocket or small bag. Its ability to capture both aerial footage and synchronized audio makes it a versatile tool for content creators.
While the 22GB internal storage might seem limiting, it proves sufficient for most day-to-day use cases, especially when paired with the quick transfer feature to offload footage to a smartphone. In my experience, after exhausting the three batteries in multiple flights and recordings, I found my shots to be more than enough. I can just simply do a Quicktransfer it to my phone, and edit my clips using Capcut or publish it straight to my favorite social media platform.
At a price point of PhP10,799 for the basic package and PhP18,999 for the Fly More Combo, the DJI Neo offers excellent value for its capabilities. The Fly More Combo, in particular, is recommended for those looking to maximize their experience with additional batteries and accessories.
The DJI Neo successfully bridges the gap between toy drones and more professional models, offering a compelling package for enthusiasts and content creators alike. Its combination of portability, advanced features, and user-friendly design makes it a standout product in the compact drone market. Whether you’re a vlogger looking to add aerial perspectives to your content or a traveler wanting to capture memories from above, the DJI Neo proves to be a capable and innovative companion. If you’re happy with your DJI Osmo Pocket 3, you can optimize your arsenal with a pocket-sized drone like the DJI Neo.
But the next question that even I cannot answer: Is the Philippines ready for this kind of drone?
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
