DJI Neo vs Neo2 vs Hover Air X1 Pro Max: I Tested All Three in Extreme Cold

I took the original DJI Neo, the new DJI Neo2, and the Hover Air X1 Pro Max out to test and compare in some of the harshest conditions I could find here in Alaska. We’re talking 6 below zero to 10 below zero Fahrenheit (around -17°C to -22°C). These follow drones all promise to track you and capture great footage, but which one actually delivers when it matters?

Just so we’re clear: DJI didn’t send me either of the Neos. I bought and paid for both of them. The Hover Air was sent to me originally for a review, but they have nothing to do with this video, and nobody’s sponsoring this comparison. Here’s what I found.

The Image Quality Surprised Me

One thing is definitely clear between these three drones: the original Neo has the worst image quality by far. There’s a substantial improvement in the Neo2. But honestly, the one that surprised me the most was the Hover Air X1 Pro Max.

It has fantastic looking footage, and it’s the only one that offers a log profile and shoots in 10-bit color. If you’re someone who color grades your footage or wants to match it to other cameras, that’s a significant advantage neither Neo offers.

Between the Neo2 and the Hover Air, both look really good. But the Hover Air just looks fantastic, which is really impressive given its size. DJI does a great job with their standard color profile on the Neo2, but you’re limited to straight-out-of-camera colors with no log option.

Control Options and Range

All three drones can be used with your phone, or you can use them without a controller at all with preset modes. I recommend using your phone at least to set initial settings.

Both Neos can be flown with DJI goggles in FPV mode, a regular controller, the RC2, or the little stick hand controller. The Hover Air generally flies by itself, but they have a beacon that works pretty well, and you can also set it up with a controller to fly it more like a regular drone.

Out of these, the Neo2 has the best range by far, largely due to that OcuSync 4 module on the back. DJI is just so far ahead of the game when it comes to their control link and video feeds.

Tracking and Flight Modes

The way most people use these is just as a follow drone, either with a phone or without. Here’s how they compare:

The original Neo is the most limited. You get six options and that’s about it. You can’t make changes while flying, and there’s no obstacle avoidance. There are some downward sensors, but they didn’t work for me once on the ice – it flew directly into the ice one time.

The Neo2 gives you considerably more options, including MasterShots for grabbing multiple shots automatically. It tracks from the front, side, rear left, rear right – you can really customize where you want it to follow from. It includes all the quick shot modes like Rocket, Circle, Helix, Boomerang, and Dronie.

The Hover Air sits in between. It tracks from the rear, does Dolly Track from the side or front, and includes all the typical shots like Rocket, Dronie, and Circle. Both the Neo2 and Hover Air have modes customized for cycling and skiing.

One unique feature on the Neo2 is gesture control. You can use your hands to position the drone, and it stays in that position when tracking. Super useful when you don’t want to pull out your phone or land the drone to make adjustments.

Battery Life in Extreme Cold

The original Neo has the least battery life, which surprised me since I expected the Hover Air might. In extreme cold, batteries drain quickly, and I had to keep the Neo tucked in my jacket between flights just to warm it up enough for another go.

The Neo2 definitely has the most battery life. I was getting about 10 to 12 minutes with the Neo2 and about 8 to 10 minutes with the Hover Air. Considering we’re talking about temperatures where my hand warmers couldn’t keep batteries warm, those numbers are respectable.

Obstacle Avoidance and Durability

The original Neo has no obstacle avoidance at all. The Neo2 has 360-degree visual obstacle avoidance plus a LiDAR sensor for forward-facing detection and better subject tracking. It works okay, though I’ve definitely had it crash on me.

The Hover Air has a downward-facing sensor for distance and a backward-facing sensor to help avoid obstacles when flying in reverse. I’ve had all three crash fairly often, but they’re all quite durable because of their ducted propellers. They handle crashes really well.

Storage and Build Differences

Both the Neo and Neo2 have built-in memory only. The Hover Air has built-in memory plus an SD card slot, so you can record directly to an SD card if you don’t want to plug the drones in afterward.

The Hover Air is also the only one that folds up, making for a very small and lightweight package when you’re on the go.

Pricing Comparison

The Hover Air X1 Pro Max is definitely the most expensive, but it shoots 8K and delivers what I think is the best image quality of the three. The Neo2 sits in the middle and represents the best balance of features for most users. The original Neo is the budget option, but its limited video quality makes it hard to recommend unless you just want to try drones and see if you even like using them.

Which Follow Drone Should You Choose?

I wouldn’t get the original Neo unless you want a drone just to try and see if you even like using drones at all.

The Neo2 is, I think, probably the best follow drone overall. It tracks really well, it stays with you, and it has the best obstacle avoidance. It is a little more difficult to get in the US, so I’ve included updated links below for wherever has them in stock, plus places to get them from South Korea via eBay without paying tariffs.

If you want the best image quality, that’s really close between the Neo2 and Hover Air. But honestly, I think the Hover Air X1 Pro Max has just really fantastic image quality. Not to mention that you can actually film in a 10-bit log color profile, so if you want to match footage to other cameras, the Pro Max gives you that flexibility the Neo2 can’t.

For more Neo2 coverage, check out where to buy the DJI Neo2 in the USA and our previous Neo vs Hover Air comparison.

If you have questions, ask me in the comments below. Or you can join my live stream, which happens most Wednesday nights at 4:00 p.m. Alaska time, 8:00 p.m. Eastern. We can have more of a conversation, and I can answer questions that maybe I didn’t get to in this comparison.