DJI Neo 2 Is My All-Time Favorite Drone – Here’s Why I’ll Fly It More Than My Mavic 4 Pro

2025 is coming to an end, and I’ve been reflecting on what an incredible lineup DJI has when it comes to drones. No matter what your needs, no matter your budget, there’s a perfect drone for you. I get asked all the time about my favorite drone or which one I recommend. I usually give general recommendations since everyone’s needs differ based on budget and intended use.

But I thought I’d finally answer the question directly: what’s my favorite drone out of all the current DJI options? The one I think I’ll fly most in 2026? Some of these were released last year, like the Avata 2 and the Air 3S, but DJI introduced some really interesting ones this year – the Mavic 4 Pro, the Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Flip. And their latest drone, the new DJI Neo 2.

Different Drones for Different Tasks

Depending on what I’m filming, different drones are designed for different tasks. If I’m filming something that needs absolute best quality – something cinematic – I’m going to choose either the Mavic 4 Pro or my Air 3S. If I need to fly with fewer regulations here in Canada, where we can fly mini drones beyond visual line of sight and above 400 feet, I’ll grab my Mini 4. Unfortunately, I can’t choose the Mini 5 Pro for those situations because it weighs over 250 grams.

But in general, my favorite drone out of everything on my table might actually surprise you: it’s the new Neo 2.

Why the Neo 2 Wins

I think I’m going to fly this drone and make use of it more than some of my other drones this coming year. And that’s due to its flexibility. With its new upgrades – higher quality video, faster tracking speeds – this thing is going to be a useful tool for me.

Quite often when I’m out filming, I need something that can track me, something I can put up quickly without a controller, grab the shots I want, and move on. The Neo 2 really delivers when it comes to performance and overall simplicity. For me, that’s extremely important. I don’t like lugging a lot of gear when I’m out capturing.

Something like the Neo 2 can get me some really nice B-roll shots – both for my YouTube channel when reviewing products and for my general personal social media. The Neo 2 can actually capture some gorgeous footage.

The Ultimate Drone for Most People

I think for a lot of people, this is going to be the ultimate drone because it’s affordably priced. You don’t have to spend as much to get up and running compared to DJI’s other drones. And it’s incredibly versatile:

• Fly it with a controller
• Fly it with your smartphone
• Fly it autonomously without any controller
• Connect goggles and an FPV controller for immersive FPV flight

When you take all that into consideration, I think this is a great choice for beginners. But not only beginners – even professionals. I have a couple real estate friends using their Neo 2 now for some of their work. It’s an extremely capable drone, and in some scenarios, it’s the perfect drone.

Why the Flip Falls Short

When it comes to the drone I’ll probably fly least, that would be the Flip. I like the Flip – it’s got really good quality video – but it doesn’t give me any real advantage over the Neo 2. The video quality on the Flip is a little better, but the performance of the Neo 2, in my opinion, is much better than the Flip.

The Flip doesn’t do very well in the wind. You have to be very careful on windy days. The Neo 2, which I demonstrated in my full review, actually does pretty good in the wind. It’s not going to perform as well as some of these larger drones, but on average windy days, it gives you the performance you need.

Simplicity Is Everything

Going into 2026, the Neo 2 is probably going to be my most-used drone. I just love its simplicity, its compact size – it’s not a burden to bring along. Whether I’m going to use it that day or not, it’s not inconvenient.

Some of my other drones require a conscious decision to bring because there’s a lot of gear to pack: the drone, a controller, extra batteries. With the Neo 2, it’s kind of a no-brainer. You can stick it in a little shoulder bag. If you’ve got baggy pockets on a hoodie, it’ll fit right inside. The batteries are small, so you can bring a couple spares in a pocket. Pull out your smartphone if you want to grab a few cinematic shots. And then you’ve got all the autonomous features.

I’m really curious what your favorite drone is – either ones released this year or DJI’s drones in general. Let me know in the comments which drone you think you’ll be flying most in 2026.

Check out Shawn’s video above and subscribe to Air Photography on YouTube for more drone tutorials.