DJI launches the tiny Neo drone

By Mike O'Connor | 10 September 2024

DJI's newest drone, the Neo, has arrived.

The Chinese drone manufacturer says the new eye in the sky costs $299, and yet only weighs 135g.

Image: DJI
Image: DJI

The company describes the Neo as "a vlogging tool ideal for capturing everyday life, leisure activities, family moments, and pets."

Despite the low cost of entry and low weight, it's still capable of capturing 4K video, and can fly for up to 18 minutes.

It's also aimed at being very user-friendly. DJI says that by simply pressing the drone's mode button and selecting the desired shooting mode, Neo will automatically do the rest without the need for a remote control.

"After snapping 12MP stills with its 1/2-inch image sensor or using DJI's powerful stabilisation algorithms to produce 4K UHD stabilised videos straight out of the camera at 4K/30fps, the drone will return to the user's palm," the company says.

Image: DJI
Image: DJI

To help, a series of AI algorithms have been created to follow the subject within the frame. There are six intelligent shooting modes, offering a range of different recording angles:

  • Dronie: The drone flies backward and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video.

  • Circle: The drone circles around the subject.

  • Rocket: The drone ascends with the camera pointing downward.

  • Spotlight: The drone rotates while keeping the object of interest within the frame

  • Helix: The drone ascends and spirals around the subject.

  • Boomerang: The drone flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away from its starting point and descending as it flies back. The aircraft’s starting point forms one end of the oval’s long axis, while the other end is at the subject's opposite side from the starting point.

As mentioned earlier, the DJI Neo has been designed to be operated without an additional remote control, however, it can also be paired with the DJI Fly app, remote controllers, RC Motion, DJI Goggles, and even voice operated.

DJI says the Neo is equipped with a single-axis mechanical gimbal and is capable of handling high-speed or flights with lots of manoeuvres, as well as up to 'Level-4' wind conditions.

Image: DJI
Image: DJI

In addition, there are also tools to correct for shake - DJI's RockSteady or HorizonBalancing stabilisation tools help reduce shake and horizon tilt is corrected within ±45°1, for smooth and stable footage.

Onboard, there's 22GB internal storage, meaning the Neo can save up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p/60fps video. Once saved, no extra data cables are needed to transfer the footage; connecting to a phone by Wi-Fi will transfer it to DJI's Fly App.

Audio can also easily be recorded by connecting the Neo to a smartphone. A tap of the audio record button on the DJI Fly app will start recording through the phone's built-in microphone, although sound can be improved by pairing it with the DJI Mic 2 via a Bluetooth connection.

The DJI Neo is available to order from store.dji.com/au now, as a standard drone for $299 or a Fly More Combo for $539.