I bought the DJI Neo for my son and he loves it. I think it’s a great deal for the price, especially compared to toy drones. It’s very kid-friendly with its palm takeoff/landing, follow mode, and good stability. My 6-year-old and 3-year-old both enjoy flying it. However, I find the Fly app a little slow, with noticeable lag, and it’s a bit tricky to control. Will getting a controller make it feel faster? I’m not interested in the goggles because they’re too expensive, so I’m deciding between the RC2 controller or the RC-N2/3 without a screen. How does the video work with the N2/3 controllers? Does it connect to the phone through wifi or with a cable? Does the video get better range with the controller or is it still limited by the wifi? Also, does the latency improve when using the controller versus the Fly app with the phone?
TL;DR: I’m thinking about getting the controller for the Neo because I want:
Longer range
Faster, more responsive controls
Better video feed with less latency and more range
Do I need the RC2, or is the RC-N2/3 with a phone enough?
I have the Neo with the RC-N3 controller. If you want a more traditional flying experience, it’s definitely worth getting. I found the Fly app controls a bit slow and stiff. If you’re just taking photos or positioning the drone, it works fine, but controlling it smoothly with just the app is harder. Adjusting the camera tilt is also annoying on the app. With the RC-N3, it’s just as responsive as my Mini Pro, which wasn’t the case with the Fly app.
If you’re using it more for vlog-style shots or following you around, you can get by without the remote. But with the controller, you get a much better connection, and you can fly further. The app’s range is really short. You also get return-to-home with the remote, though it can be a little buggy, so keep it in sight. I like the drone a lot, but it’s not as good as my Mini Pro. It’s quick to set up and has cool features like hand launch/land, but it’s small, and wind can easily push it around. If you’re doing video with side-to-side shots, even light wind can mess up the footage. Once you hit 50m, you’ll start having trouble keeping it stable. It’s a lot of fun to fly, but it has no crash protection. I bumped into a wall, and it fell, but luckily it wasn’t damaged. Since your kids are young, just be extra careful—there’s nothing stopping it from hitting walls or trees.
@Remington
I’m still not clear on how the video works with the RC-N3. Does it connect to the phone, or do you just fly by watching the drone, or is the video available through the Fly app (still limited by wifi range)?
@Dallas
The top of it has a cradle you put your phone in. It has a cord kind of hidden in the cradle area to connect your phone to the remote. So your screen is the phone but the controls are on the remote. You use the fly app
Here’s an image that might explain:
I got the RC-N3 for my Neo, and it was the best $130 I’ve spent. It ticks off all your boxes (though just so you know, it’s not FPV). It’s a blast to fly it 200+ feet high and over half a mile away.
Some people have run into a control issue with the Neo and RC-N3, though. It seems to happen around 20m altitude, and it might be linked to the latest firmware update. My drone lost control and crashed into a building, but luckily it was fine afterward. I’d definitely suggest getting the refresh insurance just in case.
