I’m considering purchasing the DJI Neo. Do you think it’s worth buying just the drone for my travel vlogs, even without an RC or FPV controller?
It really depends on the type of shots you want. I use the Neo without a controller. You can control it fully with just your phone and the app (though range is limited to about 50 meters), and you can quickly capture a shot without taking your phone out.
If you don’t need cinema-grade footage but want to capture moments from the air quickly, it’s a great option.
@Cameron
If I’m controlling the drone with my phone and it goes out of range, what happens next? Does it just hover, or does it have a Return to Home (RTH) feature?
Wynn said:
@Cameron
If I’m controlling the drone with my phone and it goes out of range, what happens next? Does it just hover, or does it have a Return to Home (RTH) feature?
It will hover until you regain connection or until it runs out of battery and lands itself.
I highly recommend the Fly More Combo if you can swing it.
Wynn said:
@Cameron
If I’m controlling the drone with my phone and it goes out of range, what happens next? Does it just hover, or does it have a Return to Home (RTH) feature?
I think it just hovers until the battery dies.
Wynn said:
@Cameron
If I’m controlling the drone with my phone and it goes out of range, what happens next? Does it just hover, or does it have a Return to Home (RTH) feature?
From what I understand, RTH only activates if you launch the drone with the controller.
I own both the Mini 4 Pro and the Neo, and each serves a different purpose. I mountain bike, and the Neo is convenient for quick shots; it’s portable and sturdy.
No controller or phone needed—I’ve only used the app to adjust the follow distance and download videos. The latest firmware has made it extremely reliable.
I have both the Mini 3 and the Neo Fly More Combo. They serve different needs, but the Neo is super convenient and user-friendly. Its main advantages are its small size and the ability to fly without a dedicated controller or by connecting to your phone.
If you plan on flying longer distances and think you’ll need a controller, I’d recommend looking into the Flip, which is a great middle-ground option with better wind resistance compared to the Neo.
And I agree, the Fly More Combo is worth it for the extra batteries and charging bank.
Nah, I’d recommend the Fly More Combo. It’s affordable and comes with everything you need. You might also want to get a fourth battery, a case, and some extras—they’re all pretty cheap.
No, don’t risk it. You definitely need a controller.
If you’re travel vlogging and only need fixed, follow, and automated shots, then yes, just get the bare Neo. It does a great job minimizing prop noise when recording in the app, and you can connect external mics. If you’re fine with around 15 minutes of footage between charges, it’s a handy addition for your vlog. It can do much more as a drone, but it’s primarily designed for vlogs. I have the Fly More Motion Combo and the FPV3 controller, but I also take the drone along as if it were a pocket camera.
Consider buying refurbished directly from DJI.
I’ve used it both ways, and I strongly believe it’s NOT worth it without a controller. The range is pretty tiny without one, and the preset modes are quite limited. The best one is follow mode if you want it to track you.
When using just your smartphone, the drone’s behavior is concerning; if it loses connection, it doesn’t return home—you’ll have to retrieve it manually by hand gestures or the app, risking it landing in an inaccessible area. Connecting an Occusync controller dramatically increases range and enables RTH, so in case of connection loss, it can return to your location via GPS. I’d only consider using the Neo hands-free in low-risk scenarios, like hiking in areas with no potential for it to stop in a hard-to-reach location.
Honestly, the Neo and Flip aren’t worth it even with a controller, let alone without one.