DJI Neo review: the drone for everyone, at a low price

A conventional drone, the DJ Neo? Not really ! With this model, the Chinese manufacturer is venturing into the very little cleared territory of flying cameras. We have already told you about the Hover Air X1, one of the rare representatives of this category.

Launched by a start-up based in Hong Kong, it had limited distribution because its creators did not have the support of a large manufacturer. This is of course not the case for DJI, a recognized world expert in recreational drones.

The era of the ego-drone has arrived!

The Neo is therefore a flying camera. It is characterized by automated control, light weight (135 grams), minimal dimensions (130 x 157 x 48.5 mm) as well as great ease of use.

The concept fits perfectly with the time, since this “ego-drone” allows its owner to be filmed from every angle while he engages in exhilarating activities. He can then share them in a few seconds on social networks or with his loved ones.

At first contact, the DJI Neo impresses with its compactness and light weight (130 x 157 x 48.5 mm for 135 grams). It has four rotors whose propellers are protected by a gray plastic fairing to avoid any problems in the event of a collision.

Power is provided by an extractable battery housed at the rear and which can be easily clipped or unclipped. It is charged via a USB-C connector housed in the drone or by using an optional charger: we will talk about this later.

It therefore consists of a shooting module stabilized on the vertical axis and four rotors protected by a plastic fairing. Power is provided by a removable battery that is recharged via the device’s USB-C port, which prevents it from being taken off.

You can also purchase an optional mini station capable of recharging three batteries simultaneously. It’s not luxury, the flight autonomy is not very high: 17 minutes according to DJI, but closer to 15 minutes effective in real life.

His master’s hand

In its simplest use, the drone does not need a radio control to operate: its automatic piloting makes it optional. A minimalist interface consisting of a button and six LEDs allows you to select one of the pre-programmed capture types.

“Tracking” mode is enabled by default and films the subject while following it. “Dronie” remains centered on it and moves away from it before returning to its starting point. “Circle” rotates around him staying at a fixed distance. “Rocket” records video moving away from the subject vertically, while “Spotlight” hovers while remaining centered on the subject.

Finally, the last mode is fully customizable. It is possible to select and configure it using the dedicated application installed on your smartphone. Three options are offered: “DirectionTrack” precedes the subject it is filming by moving backwards; “Spiral” spins around and “Boomerang” goes back and forth. The six modes allow adjustment of the main parameters (distance, maximum altitude, shooting mode) in order to personalize the result.

A well-designed tutorial explains step by step how to use Neo and makes the user aware of the absence of proximity sensors on the sides. It is therefore better to do a few dry runs before embarking on a hike, for example.

Funny detail, the device only takes off from the user’s hand after identifying their face. At the end of the shooting cycle, or when the subject remains still for more than 3 seconds, it automatically returns in front of them and lands gently on their outstretched hand.

The automatic takeoff/landing mechanism works very well as long as you are careful not to find yourself in backlight. In this case, Neo may have difficulty identifying the user and may not be able to land in their hand.

The fairing is sufficiently strong to protect the device as well as the obstacle it encounters. During our tests, we hit three trees, a building and a dog: no damage to report and the dog never came near Neo again…

Optional smartphone

The companion app also allows you to control Neo using virtual joysticks, as you would with a classic controller. Don’t expect crazy responsiveness or breathtaking bursts of speed: the Neo is not made for that.

First-person piloting remains possible, but will be even more pleasant if you use the RC-N3 radio control. This is optional and can be acquired alone or in a bundle. Fly More » with the drone. In this case both will be accompanied by a fast charger and two additional batteries, all sold for €349.

Finally, let us point out that Neo is offered in a “Motion Fly More” bundle sold for €529. It includes, in addition to the drone, the RC Motion 3 joystick, the Goggles N3 glasses (similar to those fitted to the DJI Avata 2 that we tested) as well as two additional batteries and a fast charger. In this configuration, piloting takes on a whole new dimension.

Satisfactory image quality

Photos and videos taken with Neo are stored in 22 GB of its non-expandable internal memory. File recovery is carried out either using the smartphone or by connecting it to a computer.

We were initially disappointed by the lack of a micro SD slot. In use, it is clear that the internal memory proves to be more than sufficient. File transfer is simply done quickly via WiFi or via a USB-C cable, the drone being recognized as an external drive.

We had a lot of fun testing this little drone that’s not really like the others. The automatic functions are reliable, the stabilization is correct and the tracking surprisingly precise. Neo is capable of following a moving subject at up to 20 km/h: you can therefore film your hikes, your jogging and possibly your bike rides if you are careful.

Direction Trackwhich allows you to film yourself from the front while moving, proves reliable as long as the subject does not turn suddenly (tracking is carried out on the face). Voice control, promised by DJI and available since a recent update, is not extraordinary.

Unsurprisingly it is done through the smartphone (even if this takes away some of its interest), the noise of the engines making any other solution illusory on a machine of this size. More annoying, he only understands English, all his commands having to be preceded by “hey Fly!” »

And the quality of the images in all this? The Neo can record 4K sequences at 30 fps maximum. The quality is good in bright light, but drops in dark areas, especially if the sky is cloudy. We sometimes notice the appearance of pixelation in the image due to the compression applied as well as the digital stabilization which complements that of the gimbal.

Is it embarrassing? Not really, Neo is designed to produce images that will end up in stories or be shared on social networks. If you plan to make a semi-pro or pro film, you will have to opt for another drone.

The production of still images is of course planned and also proves correct in good lighting. We just regret that it is not possible to create panoramas by automatic assembly.

Discover the DJI Neo Fly More

What we think of the DJI Neo

Neo is a fun little drone, easy to use and producing very good results considering its price. Sold for 199 euros without radio control, it will allow you to make souvenir videos or to share on social networks.

We especially appreciate its automatic operation, the quality of movement tracking as well as its not too high price. It forms a very suitable entry point for initiation into the joys of flying video.