At last, the ideal travel drone, the DJI Neo

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At last, the ideal travel drone, the DJI Neo

A new palm-sized drone that flies itself is a real game changer for travellers who like to have a drone in their toolkit.

The DJI Neo can launch and land from the palm of your hand, and it weighs only 135g — making it a perfect, easy-to-pack travel companion.

The tiny drone can be fully controlled without a remote control and it has full-coverage propeller guards so can safely record your adventures.

Camera IconDJI Neo landing after an auto flight. Credit: DJI

Simply place it on the palm of your hand, press the mode button to select a ********* mode, and it will do the rest.

Neo’s six ********* modes offer a range of different recording angles. You can, for example, ask it to perform a Dronie, where the drone flies backwards and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video. Or it can perform a Helix manoeuvre, where the drone ascends and spirals around the subject.

The drone’s clever algorithms have been created so it can follow a subject within the frame, so it is easy to capture footage and stills while you are cycling or hiking.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDJI Neo controlled by the DJI Fly app on a smartphone. Credit: DJIControl it your way

The DJI Neo can also be paired with the DJI Fly app and remote controllers for increased flight and camera control.

A wi-fi connection to smartphones enables Neo to be controlled using virtual joysticks on the DJI Fly app interface with a control range of up to 50m. The app also allows the tracking angle and distance to be set, giving extra freedom to ****** from afar or up close.

When combined with the DJI RC-N3, DJI Neo can achieve a maximum video transmission distance of 10km and offers the opportunity to flexibly operate the camera using traditional RC control sticks to capture professional-level shots.

With its 22GB internal storage, Neo can save up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p/60fps video. Once saved, you can connect to your phone by wi-fi and transfer the files to the DJI Fly app, enabling smooth post-production and sharing.

Fun and games

I have a lot of fun testing out the DJI Neo. The first time I launch it from the palm of my hand without any form of help from the DJI Fly app or the DJI controller is a little disconcerting, but this proves totally unfounded.

When I ask it to do a Dronie, it does exactly that: launching from my palm, flying backwards while ascending to 4m from me before returning and landing on my palm.

My first video with the Neo is in the bag.

I try the other modes. Again no problem, it does exactly as it says it will. I ask it to follow me, and it does — it’s all amazingly easy.

Being a very lightweight drone, it is quite susceptible to wind. It often leans into the wind to stay stable but the single-axis gimbal and the stabilisation software does a pretty good job of keeping image shake and horizon tilt to a minimum.

One of the great things about this drone is that you can also fly it safely inside.

I wouldn’t launch it inside the Louvre and ask it to follow me, but in the privacy of your home or another safe place you can have a lot of fun with it.

I set the follow distance to close and the follow height to flat and try it out inside my house. It follows me nicely around the lounge room, but it easily gets a little confused when I move through doorways too quickly. But there’s no panic. If it can’t reacquire its target, it simply lands on the floor and turns off.

The verdictdata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDJI Neo in flight. Credit: DJI

The Neo is an amazing little drone, and the price makes it a very affordable additional tool to have in your travel kit.

The QuickShots ********* modes make it easy and quick to send it up to capture footage, but I also like that it can be controlled directly from the DJI Fly app on my smartphone, so all you need to pack is the phone and the drone.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconMogens Johansen with the DJI Neo drone. Credit: Stephen Scourfield/The West ***********

Serious drone shooters may scoff a little at the image and video quality when compared to that of a larger drone, but that would be missing the point of the Neo. It’s a fun and easy drone to use — and the quality of the 4K video and 12MP stills it produces will, I’m sure, satisfy most users.

I like that I can record audio via my phone when flying the drone from the DJI Fly app. A simple tap of the audio record button on the app will start recording through the phone’s built-in microphone. For those looking for additional audio quality, the DJI Mic 2 can be used via a Bluetooth connection. The app automatically eliminates propeller noise and merges the audio track with the footage, ensuring clear sound even when ********* low-angle vlogs.

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The Neo has a flight time of up to 18 minutes but that will vary depending on factors such as wind. It can ****** 4K UHD stabilised videos straight out of the camera at 4K/30fps and 12MP stills.

The six QuickShots modes are:

Dronie: The drone flies backwards and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video.

Circle: The drone circles around the subject.

Rocket: The drone ascends with the camera pointing downwards.

Spotlight: The drone rotates while keeping the object of interest within the frame.

Helix: The drone ascends and spirals around the subject.

Boomerang: The drone flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away from its starting point and descending as it flies back.

The DJI Fly app also offers a vast selection of templates, sound and image effects, for quick and easy editing. Create and share videos efficiently without needing to download the footage to edit, saving storage space on the phone.

The DJI Neo retails for $299 and you can get it with a Fly More Combo with a remote controller, two extra batteries and spare propellers for $539.

You can buy it from camera shops like Camera Electronic and DigiDirect or direct from DJI.

To find out more and to check out more specifications, visit

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data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconSelfie pic of Mogens Johansen taken with the DJI Neo drone. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West ***********data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDJI Neo Fly More Combo. Credit: DJI

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