DJI has officially launched the DJI Neo, their lightest and most compact drone to date, weighing just under 5 ounces (135g). Designed to capture everyday moments with ease, the Neo is incredibly user-friendly, requiring no remote control and featuring a single “mode” button for QuickShots or voice operation.

The drone can take off and land from the palm of your hand and offers a flight time of up to 18 minutes. Despite numerous rumors and leaks, the official launch of the DJI Neo brings a sense of excitement and anticipation.

The palm-sized DJI Neo with its full-coverage propeller guards fitted.
DJI Neo: The Ultimate Palm-Sized Drone for Everyday Adventures

Palm-Sized and Remote-Free

The DJI Neo is designed to be ultra-portable, making it perfect for capturing everyday moments. With a weight of just 135g, it’s DJI’s lightest drone yet.

Despite its small size, the Neo packs a punch when it comes to features:

  • 4K UHD video capture at 30fps
  • 12MP still images from a 1/2-inch image sensor
  • AI subject tracking for dynamic shots
  • Six intelligent QuickShot modes for creative filming
  • Up to 18 minutes of flight time
  • Full-coverage propeller guards for safe indoor and outdoor use

The drone can be fully controlled without a remote, launched, and landed from the palm of your hand. This simplicity makes it accessible for users of all skill levels.

The DJI Neo lifting off from an outstretched palm with no remote controller.
DJI Neo: The Ultimate Palm-Sized Drone for Everyday Adventures
“At DJI we are always studying everyday camera use so that we can help people capture their videos and photos in the most convenient way possible,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “The DJI Neo strives to give people the latest tech in the smallest form factor so that they can capture their daily lives, saved as treasured memories, safely and with ease.”

AI Subject Tracking and QuickShots

One of the standout features of the DJI Neo is its AI subject tracking. The drone’s algorithms are designed to follow the subject within the frame, making it easy to capture dynamic shots whether you’re cycling, skateboarding, or hiking.

The DJI Neo following a moving subject using its AI tracking.
DJI Neo: The Ultimate Palm-Sized Drone for Everyday Adventures

Additionally, the Neo offers six QuickShots modes, providing a variety of creative shooting options:

  • 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.
White arrow traces the DJI Neo climbing straight up from a woman's outstretched hand.
A skateboarder carves a turn as the Neo traces a white orbit around him.
Two children run through a clover field while the Neo arcs alongside them.
A cyclist on a folding bike as the Neo circles her beside a lake.
A white arrow shows the Neo climbing away from two people and a dog.

Versatile Control Options

The DJI Neo can be operated in multiple ways. While it’s designed to function without a remote control, it can also be paired with the DJI Fly app, remote controllers, RC Motion, DJI Goggles, and even voice-operated for increased flight and camera control.

The palm-launched DJI Neo, which can also be flown from the DJI Fly app.
DJI Neo: The Ultimate Palm-Sized Drone for Everyday Adventures

The DJI Fly app allows for virtual joystick control with a range of up to 50 meters. When combined with the DJI RC-N3, the Neo can achieve a maximum video transmission distance of 6 miles or 10 kilometers, offering the opportunity to capture professional-level shots.

The DJI Neo paired with a controller for longer-range flying.
DJI Neo: The Ultimate Palm-Sized Drone for Everyday Adventures

For those looking for an immersive drone experience, the DJI Neo can be paired with DJI Goggles 3, RC Motion 3, or FPV Remote Controller 3. When used with RC Motion 3, the Neo masters the art of one-press aerobatics and seamless indoor navigation, making it easy to maneuver through tight spaces.

Stabilization and Storage

Equipped with a single-axis mechanical gimbal, the DJI Neo ensures stable footage even in high-speed flights or windy conditions. The drone features RockSteady and HorizonBalancing stabilization, significantly reducing image shake and correcting horizon tilt within ±45°. This ensures smooth and stable footage that maintains clarity in both highlight and shadow areas.

Using an infrared and monocular vision positioning system, the DJI Neo can hover steadily in the air, maintaining stability even in wind conditions up to Level 4. It also supports automatic Return to Home (RTH) for convenient, worry-free operation.

With 22GB of internal storage, the Neo can save up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p/60fps video. Transferring footage is easy via Wi-Fi to the DJI Fly app, which also offers editing tools for quick and easy post-production.

Overhead render of the DJI Neo with its 22GB internal storage highlighted.
No microSD card slot but 22GB internal storage

The DJI Fly app provides a vast selection of templates, sound and image effects, allowing users to create and share videos efficiently without needing to download the footage to edit, saving storage space on the phone.

Audio Recording and Charging

Audio can be easily recorded by connecting the Neo to a smartphone. A simple tap of the audio record button on the DJI Fly app will start recording through the phone’s built-in microphone.

For those looking for additional audio quality, the DJI Mic 2 can be used via a Bluetooth connection. The app automatically eliminates propeller noise and merges the audio track with the footage, ensuring clear sound even when shooting low-angle vlogs.

The DJI Neo can be conveniently charged by connecting it directly to a power source using a Type-C data cable. Additionally, the Two-Way Charging Hub can charge three batteries simultaneously, increasing both charging speed and efficiency.

Presales and Availability

The DJI Neo will not be immediately available for sale in the United States, but presales are open. Visitors to IFA in Germany from September 6-10, 2024, can be among the first to experience the DJI Neo at DJI’s booth (Hall 17-110).

The DJI Neo banks through hazy air above a lake, propeller guards visible.
DJI Neo in flight

DroneXL’s Take

The launch of the DJI Neo marks another significant step in the evolution of drone technology. Its compact size, ease of use, and advanced features make it an ideal choice for capturing everyday moments. As drone technology continues to advance, we see more innovative and user-friendly features being integrated into these devices.

For more on DJI’s latest innovations, check out our recent articles on the DJI Air 3S and the DJI Avata 2. The future of drone technology is looking brighter than ever, and we’re excited to see what’s next.

What are your thoughts on the DJI Neo? Leave your comments below!

Product view of the DJI Neo, DJI's lightest drone at under 5 ounces (135 grams).
Gallery frame of the Neo tracking a subject during outdoor filming.
Gallery view of the Neo taking off from a hand with no controller in sight.
DJI Neo press image released for the September 2024 launch.
The Neo shown again with its controller in the DJI Neo photo gallery.
Another look at the caged DJI Neo airframe from the launch gallery.
A pilot flies the Neo with the DJI RC-N controller in open countryside.
The Neo hovers just above an open palm against a pale blue sky.
The Neo hovers inside a white curved interior, its shadow cast on the wall.
A woman in DJI Goggles flies the Neo by the coast using a motion controller.
A helmeted cyclist looks on as the Neo flies beside a lakeside road.
A woman in athletic wear checks her phone while the Neo hovers over the lake.
Live video of a cyclist on the controller screen while the Neo tracks ahead.
Hands cradle the palm-sized Neo, its four propeller guards clearly visible.
Side view of the airborne DJI Neo showing its camera and caged rotors.
A skateboarder crouches into a turn as the Neo trails just behind him.
Macro view of a Neo propeller guard with the gimbal camera behind it.
A cyclist reaches out a gloved hand to catch the returning Neo.
Phone-based virtual joysticks steer the Neo as a skateboarder and dog pass.
The Neo hovers level with a woman pausing on her folding bike by a lake.
A woman issues a voice command to her phone while the Neo follows a runner.
Top-down shot of a picnic under a tarp with the Neo shown alongside.
The Neo hovers at head height as a woman glances back over her shoulder.
Seated in a tent, a pilot wearing DJI Goggles flies the Neo by motion controller.
The Neo is lifted out of a black sling bag worn at the hip.
The Neo sits on a mossy rock next to a spare flight battery.
A gloved finger presses the Neo's mode button while holding the drone.
The Neo rests on a wooden table beside a phone running the DJI Fly app.
The Neo hovers high over a lakeside lawn where a pair sit with their dog.
DJI Fly manual control screen alongside a family reviewing footage at a campsite.
Studio close-up of the Neo's rotor cages and airframe against a dark backdrop.
The Neo on a dark surface with a removable propeller guard set beside it.

Shot on DJI Neo

Overhead Neo shot of two friends waving on the grass with a border collie.
Straight-down Neo frame of a cyclist riding a paved path beside a hedge.
Neo landscape frame of three people on a grassy hill under a willow tree.
Overhead Neo shot of two people relaxing on grass beneath a picnic canopy.
Neo footage of a cyclist on a lakeside road with mountains beyond.
A helmeted road cyclist rides toward the Neo along a lakeside path.
Two runners on a lakeside promenade captured from the Neo at low altitude.