I have zero experience with drones and I’m not a professional photographer or videographer. I enjoy traveling and occasionally making videos, but that’s about it.
Recently, I became interested in the Hover Air X1. It’s a cool device, but the price felt a bit too high. I would have considered it for around 200 to 250 euros/dollars.
Then the DJI Neo came along, with rumors of it being more affordable—and since I already own a DJI Action 3, I was intrigued.
The Neo was released at $199, which was perfect timing, just a week before my e-bike tour. I didn’t waste any time and ordered it.
Now, after using it for about a week during my e-bike trip, I can say it’s been an absolute blast! What a fun little device—well done, DJI!
Pros:
Price
At 199 euros/dollars, it’s just right. I wouldn’t have bought it for 300 or more, no matter how great the camera was.
Size
It’s super light and compact. I keep it in a pouch in the front of my bike bag, ready to go at any moment. While it can fit in a pocket, you’d need a fairly large one.
Ease of Use
Just press a button, and it’s airborne. The app works well for manual control, and it’s very easy to operate.
Build Quality
Solid build quality. Even though it’s light and small, it’s durable. Mine has already hit some walls and branches but is still working great.
Neutral:
Camera
For the price, it’s good enough, and I stand by that.
Battery
Works well for me. My shots are usually quick, and the charging speed is good enough that it’s always ready to go. I don’t even need an extra battery pack.
Tracking and Features
I love the one-button quickshots. Most work well, but a few could use some tweaks.
Noise
It’s quieter than I expected, which is a plus.
Cons:
Speed
In both tracking and manual mode, the speed could be faster. If it could reach 30 km/h, it would be more useful for sports and other activities.
Improvements I’d Like to See:
Camera Settings
Options to adjust sharpness and EV would be great. Having manual control over settings would improve this camera a lot.
Speed
An upgrade to 30 km/h in tracking and manual mode would make it much more versatile.
Manual Control
There’s potential to improve manual mode through the app. For instance, being able to “lock” certain movements or directions (like locking a sideways movement to get a side shot while biking) would be awesome. A horizontal full-screen mode with overlaid controls would be helpful too. Even allowing control through Bluetooth devices would be great, but I understand DJI probably wants to sell their own controller.
Tracking
The tracking could use some improvement. I’m still figuring it out, but the “directional track” is inconsistent, sometimes veering dangerously close to me. I also tried to get it to follow me from a specific angle, but it keeps defaulting to a standard position. It would be great if I could get shots from above, looking down while it follows me.
Overall Thoughts:
I’m really happy with the DJI Neo. The price and technology make it a fantastic value. As an entry-level drone, it’s a great “gateway” device for people new to drones.
What Do I Like Most?
I’m on an e-bike tour, and I love just enjoying the journey without focusing too much on capturing the perfect shot. The main goal of my trip is to have fun, not to create a video masterpiece. With the Neo, I can get great footage in just a few minutes, which is invaluable to me. I also use my DJI Action Cam on a selfie stick, which I can easily deploy without stopping. The DJI Neo sits in my front bag, ready to launch with the press of a button, no need to get off my bike. I haven’t tried launching it while riding yet, but it might even be possible at a slow pace.
