DJI NEO | 2 Months Later Pros & Cons - IS IT OVER HYPED?

Summary

In this video, the creator shares a thorough review of the DJI Neo drone, highlighting both its strengths and limitations after over two months of usage. They discuss its affordability, durability, and fun flying experience, as well as its ease of use for beginners. The review covers the drone's performance in various settings, including its image quality, battery life, wind resistance, and subject tracking. Additionally, the video introduces new features like vertical video recording, improved controls, and FPV options. Despite some drawbacks such as limited battery life and lack of obstacle avoidance, the DJI Neo proves to be an excellent, portable, and affordable drone for casual and novice users.

Takeaways

• 😀 The DJI Neo is affordable and provides great value for money at £69 ($199), making it an accessible option for beginners.
• 😀 The drone's resilient design, including a fully enclosed gimbal and clip-on prop guards, reduces the risk of damage during crashes.
• 😀 The image quality of the DJI Neo is acceptable for social media use, but it has limitations in low-light situations and lacks high-end features.
• 😀 A firmware update now allows users to export videos in a vertical 9x6 aspect ratio, ideal for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
• 😀 The DJI Neo is best used in bright environments due to its small sensor and aperture, which struggles in dull or low-light conditions.
• 😀 The drone is incredibly easy to use, especially with its fully autonomous flight capabilities, making it suitable for quick, spontaneous captures.
• 😀 The DJI Neo offers versatile flying options, including smartphone control, traditional controllers, and FPV goggles, enhancing the flying experience.
• 😀 While using a smartphone to fly the drone is convenient, it has weak transmission and lacks a return-to-home feature, posing risks if the signal is lost.
• 😀 The DJI goggles N3, which are affordable and comfortable, offer a great option for immersive FPV flying without requiring the high-end goggles.
• 😀 The drone has no obstacle avoidance, requiring users to be cautious when flying in narrow or complex environments to avoid crashes.
• 😀 Battery life on the DJI Neo is short, with around 10-15 minutes of flight time per battery, but it is sufficient for beginners and those capturing quick shots.

Q & A

What is the primary reason the reviewer initially criticized the DJI Neo drone?

The reviewer initially criticized the DJI Neo mainly due to concerns about its image quality and performance, without fully factoring in its affordability and the cost-to-benefit ratio.

How does the cost of the DJI Neo impact its value for money?

At a starting price of £69 or $199, the DJI Neo offers excellent value for money. Its affordable price lowers the barrier to entry for beginners who want to get into drone flying.

What feature makes the DJI Neo resilient to crashes?

The DJI Neo is designed with its gimbal enclosed within the frame and clip-on prop guards that fully protect the propellers from all sides, making it highly resistant to damage during crashes.

What update improved the DJI Neo's functionality for social media users?

A firmware update added the ability to export in a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, which is perfect for platforms like Instagram or TikTok, making it easier to create content for these platforms.

What is the main issue with the image quality of the DJI Neo?

The image quality of the DJI Neo is limited by its small sensor (1/2 inch) and f/2.8 aperture. It performs well in bright light but suffers from noise and poor performance in low-light conditions, such as at sunset or sunrise.

How does the DJI Neo handle image sharpness when flying with a controller?

When flying with a controller, users can adjust the sharpness in the settings, which improves the overall image quality. However, this adjustment is not available when flying with just a smartphone.

What is one of the key advantages of flying the DJI Neo autonomously?

Flying the DJI Neo autonomously is incredibly easy and quick, as it doesn't require a controller. This makes it highly convenient for capturing spontaneous shots, especially for those who want to capture clips during travel or adventures.

What are the different control methods available for flying the DJI Neo?

The DJI Neo can be flown using a smartphone, a traditional controller (like the DJI RC-N2 or RC2), or with goggles and a motion controller, offering users multiple options for flying the drone.

What is a significant limitation when flying the DJI Neo using just a smartphone?

When flying with a smartphone, there is no return-to-home feature. If the drone loses signal, such as when flying over water, it cannot return to the operator and may crash once the battery runs out.

What is the DJI Neo's battery life like, and how does it compare to other drones?

The battery life of the DJI Neo is relatively short, offering around 10-15 minutes of flight time, depending on the conditions. This is shorter compared to higher-end drones, but for beginners, it's generally sufficient for capturing several shots. Extra batteries can help extend flight time.

What feature does the DJI Neo lack that could pose a risk to users while flying?

The DJI Neo lacks obstacle avoidance, meaning it doesn't stop itself if it approaches an obstacle. This requires users to be cautious, especially when using the drone autonomously or when tracking themselves in complex environments.

What is a unique benefit of the DJI Neo for content creators?

The DJI Neo's ability to fly autonomously and capture footage without requiring a second person is a major advantage for content creators. It allows for creative and dynamic shots, making it ideal for solo filming or vlogging.