DJI Neo hands-on: A powerful and lightweight $200 drone

The $200 DJI Neo drone offers advanced features, lightweight design, and versatile shooting modes for content creators and casual users.

: The DJI Neo is a newly unveiled $200 drone targeting content creators and casual users. Despite its compact size and 135-gram weight, it offers features like 4K recording, smartphone and voice control, and advanced shooting modes such as ActiveTrack. However, it lacks obstacle detection and has noisy small propellers. Available for pre-order, it is expected to become a hit in the market.

DJI has introduced the Neo, its much-leaked $200 drone aimed at both content creators and casual users. This compact drone weighs just 135 grams, nearly fitting into a pocket, and impressively supports 4K video recording, smartphone and voice control, and advanced shooting modes like ActiveTrack and Quick Shots.

Despite its small size and affordability, the Neo is equipped with many features usually found in higher-end drones, such as the ability to perform automated smart shots and precise manual mode flying. However, it lacks obstacle detection, relying solely on the main camera's AI and a downward-facing IR landing sensor, while its small propellers tend to be quite noisy.

With a flight time of about 13 to 14 minutes and 22GB of internal storage for around 40 minutes of 4K footage, the Neo offers excellent value. It also supports DJI's RC controllers and FPV goggles, making it versatile for different user preferences. The drone's pricing, combined with its capabilities, has it poised to be a significant player in the market.

DJI Neodronetechnology