Singapore: 6 September 2024: DJI’s latest 135g, S$249 drone is one that let’s anybody get their own smooth drone shots, no experience necessary.
The NEO features self-flying, and palm takeoff and landing, without the need for even a mobile phone to connect and control the drone from. Simply select the flight mode from 6 preset functions via the selection button, and then hold the selection button to prepare the drone for takeoff from your hand.
Some self-flying modes include:
Spotlight: The drone stays where it is and follows your subject.
Follow: The drone follows you whether your front or back is turned towards it, and tries to follow the path you set. Information is fed through its cameras, and it will try to follow around corners and under obstacles.
Circle: The drone will fly in a circular path around you, showing the scenery around you, your own little Chinese robot Michael Bay.
Rocket: The drone pulls out and up to reveal the wider location you’re in.
With DJI’s expertise in drone technology, it trickles down to their smallest, lightest, cheapest drone yet. While its unique proposition is aimed at beginners that have never flown a drone before, the NEO can be paired with a Fly More Combo, which includes 2 additional batteries, a 3-battery charger that can charge in parallel (wattage allowing), an RC-N3 controller and more.
When paired to the appropriate controllers and/or goggles, the Neo can be flown as a controlled drone or an FPV drone. During the local launch at Action Motion Arena, drone experts showcased their skills by flying through the obstacle courses with the NEO.
While its 135g weight still boasts a 4k/30fps stabilised footage output, its minute size still relies on a 1/2″ CMOS sensor, so drone footage will be noticeably lacking in dynamic range and sharpness, compared to the higher-tier drones that are commonly available now.
The NEO has an 18 minute flight time when the included propeller guards are removed, and 17 mintues with the guards on.
While I understand the drawbacks of such a drone, at S$250, this still provides a super-accessible entry point for the layperson who is delving into drones.
One particular potential for this drone I forsee would be for vloggers. While the drone makes a significant amount of high-pitched buzzing, once taken off, it’ll keep a distance away from you. If it was able to be paired with a DJI MIC 2 TX for natively-synced audio with active noise cancellation, I think it would set the path for a one-man production setup, without the need for tripod and camera remotes to film vlogs, with the added bonus of being able to be tracked by the camera independently. Addditionally, the further distances from the subject would minimise the benefits of a comparative setup having a larger sensor up close.
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