DJI Neo Review

The lightweight, pocket-sized DJI Neo takes off and lands in the palm of your hand, all without the need for a controller. It features several creative QuickShot modes, available at the click of a button, allowing you to easily capture perspectives that are impossible with most cameras.

Image Quality

When it comes to image quality, gimbal stabilization is paramount. The DJI Neo features a single-axis gimbal that allows for smooth stabilization along the vertical axis of the camera, which leaves a lot of responsibility on the flight performance of the drone to ensure smooth video capture. The single-axis gimbal of the Neo does a good job of stabilizing the camera, and paired with its steady flight performance, allows it to capture consistently stable video.

The Neo is equipped with a 1/2" camera sensor capable of capturing video in up to 4k resolution and 12-megapixel still images. It captured impressive video with high clarity, but it does seem to struggle with extreme lighting scenarios, such as direct sunlight or very low-light conditions.

Flight Performance

When drones first started gaining popularity, the pilot was almost solely responsible for the flight performance. Advances in the use of sensors have helped drones become much “smarter” and more aware of their surroundings to help pilots avoid potential crashes. Most modern drones feature sensors, and the DJI Neo is no exception, although it only has downward-facing sensors for visual positioning and is not capable of obstacle avoidance.

The DJI Neo is quite small, measuring only 7" diagonally, and being this portable comes with some compromise. In most circumstances, when taking off, the Neo is quite stable and in control. It's able to hover and fly exceptionally well indoors and outside in calm conditions, but when the wind picks up, the Neo struggles to keep control. In fact, during testing in some wind conditions, the Neo actually blew far enough off course that it was unable to return to its takeoff point. Luckily, we were able to find it after it landed a few hundred feet away.

Portability

Weighing in at only 135 grams and measuring only 7 inches diagonally, the DJI Neo is one of the lightest and smallest drones in our testing lineup. The Neo's single-axis camera gimbal is fairly well protected, even when not using the included plastic gimbal protector that snaps in and out of place. It doesn't fold in any way, but it's already pretty small and can conveniently fit in your pocket for transport.

We really liked how the Neo's design allows you to focus less on being careful with it, and we were more willing to pack it along with us wherever we were going. The ability to use the Neo without a controller and easily connect it to your phone, when necessary, makes the Neo supremely portable.

Usability

The Neo is very easy to use and is a great drone for beginners. When in flight, the Neo will complete its course and then return to the spot where it took off and hover, making it easy for you to land right in the palm of your hand. The DJI Neo does not come with a controller, nor does it require one; however, it is compatible with most controllers DJI sells, if you choose to bind one to it. You also have the ability to fly the drone with touchscreen controls via the DJI Fly app; however, the touchscreen control interface is very sluggish.

Most settings and controls can be configured using the button at the top of the drone, which reads the functions aloud as you cycle through them. Downloading the DJI Fly app provides users with an easier way to change settings and control the drone. Keep in mind that the DJI Fly app is not available in the Google Play Store and has to be downloaded from DJI's website for Android users, but is available in the Apple Play Store.

The Neo excels in circumstances where a controller is not necessary. It is capable of performing various types of tracking shots, such as the circle, where the drone locks on to and orbits around you in a circle, and the dronie, where it focuses on you as it slowly flies away from you. Once locked onto you, it can perform a number of different types of tracking shots, including ActiveTrack, where it locks onto you and follows you. The Neo's ActiveTrack works great for walking, running, or hiking, but is a bit too slow for faster activities like dirt biking. The Neo has a removable battery, so you can quickly swap to a fresh one to extend your flights as long as you need to, and it also includes 22 GB of internal storage, but it does not have the ability to expand that storage with an SD card.

Should You Buy the DJI Neo?

The DJI Neo is a convenient and fun drone for both beginners and more advanced users, capable of capturing crisp, stable video, and taking off straight from the palm of your hand. The Neo isn't for everyone, though, and if you're planning on flying your drone with a controller, we wouldn't recommend the Neo. The Neo is lightweight, portable, and convenient, and if you're new to drones or just looking for a new perspective for video capture, the Neo is a great and affordable choice.

What Other Drones Should You Consider?

If the Neo isn't right for you, we'd suggest checking out some of the more capable and powerful drones in our lineup like the DJI Flip, which is still fairly compact and portable, has the ability to take off and land from your hand without a controller, but also comes with a controller and delivers much more capable flight performance to be able to control the drone on your own. More experienced pilots or drone enthusiasts looking to upgrade should check out the DJI Air 3S, which is capable of up to 45 minutes of flight time, flying at up to 47 mph, and capturing 50 MP still images. Both the DJI Flip and Air 3S have three-axis gimbals for superior camera stability, ensuring smooth video capture.