The king of the skies, DJI, has had a massive year packed with action camera, 360-camera and drone launches. I had an inkling it was going to be a good year for drones when the DJI Flip came out in January, and the Chinese manufacturer hopes to close the year big with the DJI Neo 2, the successor to the one-year-old Neo.
The DJI Neo 2 could be the brand's last big launch before its drones are (potentially) banned in the U.S. And it's going out with a bang.
I've spent a couple weeks testing the Neo 2, and while I was anticipating minor improvements, I didn't expect DJI to go above and beyond to deliver the quintessential flying experience for beginners and enthusiasts. The Neo 2 feels like the grown-up version of its predecessor, packed with features you don't usually find in budget drones.
The Neo 2 rectifies the original Neo's weaknesses while adding even more features: 4K/60fps video, two-axis mechanical gimbal offering better stabilization, Gesture Control, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, bigger internal storage, (slightly) longer flight time, and lots more. If you're thinking of picking up a selfie drone, I can't think of one better than the Neo 2 —here's why.
What makes the Neo 2 different from the Neo?
I've given you a snapshot of the upgrades introduced in the DJI Neo 2 so let's talk about that in more detail. Firstly, both the Neo 2 and the Neo feature the same 12MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor, with the only difference being the aperture (f/2.2 on the Neo 2 versus f/2.8 on the Neo). The Neo 2, however, has received a bump in video quality and it can now shoot 4K/60fps (versus 4K/30fps on the Neo). Also, the Neo 2 has better stabilization thanks to the new and improved two-axis mechanical gimbal.
The biggest upgrade lies in the Neo 2's omnidirectional obstacle avoidance powered by forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system. This means that it can either brake in front of or bypass obstacles in all directions — something that was missing from the Neo. This is a fantastic safety feature not just for beginners but for advanced pilots, too.
Internal storage has been increased from 22GB on the Neo to 49GB on the Neo 2 but at the cost of a microSD card slot, so you can't expand the Neo 2's storage. And while the Neo 2 can be flown with a controller or smartphone, it can also be flown hands-free via Gesture Control, making you feel like a Jedi Master!
Oh, and the Neo 2 comes fitted with a Digital Transceiver (depending on the variant you buy) which lets you connect it with various DJI controllers and the DJI Goggles N3 FPV headset.
Hands-free flying like never before
Now that you know the differences between the DJI Neo 2 and the DJI Neo, let's talk more about what makes the former the best budget drone on the market today.
One thing I love about the Neo 2 — and something the Neo didn't have — is Gesture Control. You need to enable this via the DJI Fly app on your smartphone, and once that's done, you can use your hands to control the drone. You know, like a Jedi (or a Sith).
A sensor present next to the drone's gimbal recognizes and detects your hand movements and mimics them. Sounds great in theory, but does it work in the real world? Oh yes it does.
I had a lot of fun playing around with this feature, and I was able to guide the drone up and down, and move it side to side with ease. You can see how impressive it is (and how goofy I look) in the YouTuve clip above.
The Neo 2's tiny screen next to the gimbal is a winner, too. This is a new addition so it wasn't present on the Neo, and the only way to tell what mode the Neo was in was through LED lamps and an automated voice prompt.
The Neo 2's screen, on the other hand, shows you the flight mode and parameters, which can be changed on the fly via buttons on its body, so there really is no need for a controller or smartphone (unless you want to fly in Manual).
Combine this with Gesture Control and this is what hands-free flying truly looks like.
Avoiding anything in its way
I have flown and tested many, many drones, and one of my favorite features — usually reserved for pricier quadcopters — is obstacle avoidance. This can be either forward-facing or omnidirectional, but the latter is obviously better, as it heavily negates the possibility of your drone crashing. It's a must-have feature for beginner and advanced pilots alike.
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance is something I've seen on the DJI Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Air 3S, and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro — much pricier drones that not everyone can necessarily afford. As a result, it's excellent news that the DJI Neo 2 has it, even though the Neo didn't.
This upgrade alone makes the Neo 2 a far better choice over its predecessor, and every other selfie drone, like the HoverAir X1 and the HoverAir X1 Pro, which feature obstacle avoidance but are more expensive.
Solo or together, this drone is fun all the time
When I'm testing drones for work, I usually fly them on my own — unless it's an FPV headset and I need a spotter, in which instance my partner tags along. (Rather, I drag her out with me.) Flying drones can sometimes get lonely, but the DJI Neo 2 helps combat that feeling of loneliness by simply being a fantastic drone for solo pilots as well as pilots flying with other people.
The Neo 2 features DJI's trademark QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, such as Rocket, Spiral, Dronie, Circle, Follow, and so on. You can take timed selfie shots, too — perfect for group photos — and create MasterShots, where the drone records QuickShot modes and stitches them together, depending on the environment.
And you know what I love? The fact that Gesture Control feels like magic. My partner tried it, as did two of my friends and all of them were delighted by it, and it made flying the Neo 2 in a group of people a lot more fun! The Neo 2 has made an already formidable drone even better, and honestly? It's a must-have for all pilots.
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