I understand it’s not as good as the Mini series, but I’ve heard people claim the Hover Air is better.
I’ve watched a few comparisons, and in my opinion, the Neo has better quality than the much more expensive HoverAir.
I’m sure there will be a Pro version with 8k resolution or something similar, but do you think that will significantly improve the quality?
As it stands, the quality on the Neo seems pretty good and should only improve once we have the option to reduce sharpness, even without the controller.
This is my first drone, and I’m not a drone enthusiast or a pro at videography/photography. I’m just a regular guy, and for me, the quality is fine. I’d say it’s similar to the Hover Air X1, but that one was overpriced in my opinion. The newer Hover Air models will probably outperform the Neo, but they are in a different price range, so it’s not worth comparing.
The Neo was a smart move by DJI. It’s great for beginners like me who just want something simple to capture some extra footage. It also appeals to DJI fans who already have controllers or goggles, at $199, it’s an affordable, fun option compared to more expensive drones.
I am just hoping for a firmware update that includes:
I feel the same way. My dad has the 4K drone, but the rules in Germany are pretty strict, so I hardly ever fly it. This drone, though, is perfect for me. The automatic follow feature is exactly what I was looking for. Sure, capturing landscapes is cool, but it’s often not allowed, so having the Neo and the controller gives me that option.
What I really love is how easy it is to use, just take it out of the backpack, press a button, and it’s up in the air. I’d gladly pay more for a better camera.
The only thing the Hover does better is being more compact. I’m heading to Florida soon, and the Hover would fit in my backpack a lot easier.
I do bike packing and touring, and that’s exactly why I got this drone.
I don’t go on tours to make videos, I do it because I love it, especially camping out in nature. So, I don’t want a bulky or intrusive camera setup.
I already have a DJI Action 3 mounted on my bike with a selfie stick, and it takes just two seconds to turn it on while riding.
Now, with this compact drone, I can easily capture better footage. It’s always within reach, even while I’m on the bike. Just press a button, grab some shots, and that’s it.
I agree, I have seen comparison shots, and it clearly doesn’t look as good. Plus, it’s a lot more expensive, and I doubt any new version will be any cheaper.
That is why I don’t get why the Neo gets so much hate. It’s a lot cheaper and has better quality. The footage looks great on my phone and iPad. Sure, it’s not as good on my TV as a bigger drone, but I’m not a YouTuber, so it’s fine for me.
Would the Neo be an upgrade over the Mini 1? From what I’ve seen, the Neo has a better sensor size (1/2 vs 1/2.3), supports 4K video compared to 2.7K, and has a higher bitrate. But for some reason, people on YouTube really dislike the Neo. I think you are right though, for the price and features, the Neo has no real competition. I just hope the video quality is at least better than the Mini 1, as I sold mine because it was too choppy and a hassle to use.
The quality on my phone and iPad looks really good to me, almost like my iPhone 15 Pro. Maybe I’m just not seeing the difference clearly, haha. When I watch Neo videos on my big 4K TV, you can tell it’s not as sharp, but since I mostly watch my footage on my iPhone and iPad, it works for me. That said, I love it so much that I’d upgrade in a heartbeat if they improved the camera.
It’s so easy to use, just press a button, and it’s flying. I showed it to my family, and they were amazed at how simple it is!
I bought it mainly to share videos with friends and family of things we do, like walking and cycling. Since they’ll be watching on phones and tablets, I think the video quality will be more than enough for that. Plus, being able to control it with my phone is a huge plus. If I ever want to make more “serious” videos, I still have my Mini, though it doesn’t get used as much because I need a bag to carry it around.
I think the Neo’s video quality is similar to the Hover X1 Air. Sometimes I prefer one over the other when comparing examples online, but neither is great. My first DJI drone was the Mavic Pro from 2016, and I think its camera was better than the Neo’s, which is one of DJI’s weakest cameras. The cameras in the Mini lineup, including the 2.7K models, are far superior. The Spark from years ago might have had similar quality, but I would need to review the footage. Given that the Neo is priced at $199 and offers a lot of features, maybe the quality is what you’d expect, but it’s still very noticeable and gets a lot of attention.
As for the upcoming 8K Hover X1 Pro Max, it has a much larger and newer 1/1.3 inch sensor, and the footage examples look great, much better than what you get with the older drones or the Neo. However, it costs over three times as much as the Neo, so it should be better!
I have a Mini 2 with 4K video, so if I try to combine footage from that and the Neo, there will be a noticeable difference in quality. I want to get the Neo mainly for its automatic follow feature during our driving and hiking trips on vacation. However, I can’t justify spending even $199 on it right now, given the video quality mismatch and knowing that DJI will likely release a new version of the Neo next year with better features.
It is not meant for professional-grade footage. If you are looking for that level of quality, you will need to spend more and deal with legal complexities. The Neo is a selfie drone priced well for social media content. You get what you pay for, and it’s more than adequate for the price. It’s a great way to introduce newcomers to drones without a big initial investment and a steep learning curve.