C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- At the IFA 2024 event, DJI unveiled its latest creation: the diminutive yet impressive DJI Neo drone.
- Crafted for comfort and convenience, this compact drone fits effortlessly in the palm of your hand and operates seamlessly without a controller’s guidance.
- The NEO will retail for $199 as a standalone unit or $289 as part of the Combo package, which includes two extra batteries and a multi-charger.
In 2019, DJI introduced the Mavic Mini, a compact drone designed to serve as an accessible gateway for newcomers to aerial photography and videography. While this wearable technology offers a unique feature set, its capabilities far surpass those of a traditional smartphone, as it can literally take to the skies. Since its inception, the Mini has undergone numerous transformations, each successive generation boasting increased sophistication – and a corresponding price tag that rose accordingly. As prices and technological expertise have escalated over the years, the pioneering spirit that defined the Mini brand appears to have fallen by the wayside.
The newly released DJI Neo model has just been unveiled by the company at the IFA 2024 event. This sleek drone is surprisingly compact and user-friendly, making the Mavic Mini seem like a cumbersome giant in comparison? The Neo is incredibly diminutive, easily fitting into the curve of one’s palm.
Without prior instruction, you can effortlessly take to the skies with the intuitive design of the Neo. To capture stunning aerial shots, simply press the “Mode” button on the drone to select from a range of features, including the iconic Dronie mode. With this innovative technology, the drone takes off from the palm of your hand, records either a movie or photograph, and then lands safely back in your palm when complete. With seamless voice control enabled on your linked smartphone, you can effortlessly manage it without needing to physically interact with a controller, granting you an added layer of convenience and flexibility.
Actually, if you need to manage the drone manually, this is feasible. Consider purchasing a DJI-authorized hardware controller for seamless operation, but the DJI Fly app on your smartphone is also a reliable alternative for controlling the device. If you’re genuinely formidable, you might even opt to harness the power of an FPV controller in conjunction with a pair of advanced DJI goggles. These features render the DJI Neo a remarkably adaptable aerial platform.
The stills captured by Neo are expected to feature a high level of quality, courtesy of the 12-megapixel 1/2-inch sensor employed in its imaging setup. If you want to capture a prolonged aerial sequence with the drone, it’s capable of recording up to 40 minutes of stunning 4K video at 60 frames per second, which can be stored on its generous 22GB internal memory.
The DJI Mini 2’s compact design makes it easily concealable in a fanny pack, eliminating the need for a separate controller.
Due to its limited flight time of just 18 minutes, it’s unfortunately not possible to capture 40 minutes of footage with the Neo instantly. Despite these limitations, that should still suffice to capture a quick selfie and shoot a vlog. The Combo drone model includes two extra batteries, increasing your maximum flight duration to an impressive 54 minutes, without the added expense of purchasing separate batteries.
Capturing video footage with this drone is relatively straightforward, although the experience may vary in terms of ease and quality compared to more advanced models like the Mini or higher-end DJI drones. While the DJI Neo’s single-axis gimbal excels at stabilizing vertical movement, it falls short in comparison to pricier drones boasting six-axis gimbals that offer significantly enhanced stabilization capabilities. Fortunately, the digital camera on the Neo features digital picture stabilization (EIS), designed to help alleviate any issues and ensure smoother results.
The Neo’s most impressive capability lies in its ability to continuously monitor your every move? With this wearable camera, you can effortlessly deploy it from the comfort of your hand, then gaze over your shoulder as it captures every moment – whether you’re walking, cycling, or running – seamlessly tracking your every move. Can’t you have it monitor your face so you could make a vlog in a walk-and-talk style? When connecting your DJI Mic 2 to your smartphone, a sophisticated algorithm effectively reduces digital noise generated by the drone, enabling high-quality audio recording even when the drone is positioned just a few feet away from the subject being filmed.
