I do a lot of fieldwork, so the smaller and lighter my gear, the better!
Most of the time, I only need a drone for quick inspections of places I can’t easily reach, like bird nests in trees, bridges, or eaves. Sometimes, I just need a quick aerial shot from about 10 meters up.
Being able to slip this drone into my hoodie pocket and control it from my phone has saved me so much time and keeps my bag free for other equipment.
To clarify, this isn’t my only drone. It fills a specific need for those quick, close-up jobs when I don’t plan on bringing a full-sized one. For that, it is fantastic!
I’ve encountered a few quirks. For example, if I’m only using my phone and the drone moves into a darker area (like under a bridge or beneath trees), the visual positioning can get confused, and it might try to land right where it is, even in a tree.
The biggest advantage I have noticed is that I’m using a drone more often for work. It’s become a go-to tool just because it’s so small, easy to carry, and quick to launch! It’s as simple as opening the app on my phone and taking off.
I know the Mini 3 isn’t much bigger, but this tiny drone with phone controls has really changed how I pack my gear in the morning. Now, I almost always have a drone with me!
I have been considering both the Neo and the Mini 4K, but I’m still undecided. I haven’t owned a drone yet, though I have flown RC planes in the past and spent quite a bit of time using drones in RealFlight (including the DJI-style ones). If you could only pick one, either the Neo or the Mini, which would it be?
I would go with the Mini 3! It offers more functionality for work, like stockpile volume calculations, orthomosaic mapping, DSM elevations, and NDVI measurements for fields. The Neo is more of a quick snapshot drone, while the Mini 3 is a real workhorse.
I haven’t explored the Neo much, but I got a Mini 4K about two weeks ago as my first real drone. It’s super easy to use, and I absolutely love it. It has all the features a beginner like me could need. I take it out almost daily, and it never gets old!
Yeah, I’m leaning toward the Mini 4K as well. I enjoy flying helicopters in RealFlight, so manual mode is something I’d like, but I’m not quite ready to jump into FPV, which makes me think the Neo might not be the best starter drone for me.
Price-wise, the Mini 4K and Neo are pretty similar when you factor in the controller. Unfortunately, the Mini 4K doesn’t have an option with a built-in screen on the controller. I’ll probably go for the bundle with the 3 batteries.
I got the fly more combo with the batteries, charger, bag etc and I love it to death, makes going out and taking it somewhere so much more with it having an hour or more to fly around rather than just 20 or so minutes and then you’re done is so much more enjoyable and worth the extra money. The bag is also great quality, it’s no hard case but by no means is it Cheaply made
These two drones are quite different, and honestly, you might want both!
For capturing great aerial photos or videos, the Mini 4K is the better choice. But if you’re looking to have fun flying in tight spaces, indoors, or around people, the Neo is perfect for that in ways the Mini can’t match.
