This could be just the right drone for beginners

At IFA I was able to try out the new compact drone DJI Neo for myself.

The DJI Neo has been available for a week. As a big drone fan, I was able to take a look at the market leader’s latest model at the IFA in Berlin.

It is small, light, robust and easy to use. But this model also has its pitfalls.

DJI Neo: The first impression

Anyone who deals with drones from DJI quickly realizes that the Neo is probably the manufacturer’s lightest variant to date.

135 grams weight They’re really not much and for comparison: At just over 180 grams, an iPhone 14 is already heavier than the little plane.

Shrunken: The DJI Neo is handier than its sister models.

The DJI Neo is also significantly smaller and more compact than the other models from DJI. The housing looks like it is made of one piece and has relatively few connection points.

Four rotors lie on one level and are protected by covers on the sides, top and bottom. The camera can be swiveled in the gimbal and offers a removable protective cover, as is usual from DJI.

Battery and mode display and connection buttons are integrated on the top of the device. When I click on the mode button, the voice and light let me know which mode the Neo is currently in.

The modes How Circle or Follow are pre-programmed flight templates for the drone that can also be started without a smartphone. Dedicated buttons on the top of the device make this possible.

There is no SD card slot in this model because the memory is built-in.

The battery can be completely removed from the bottom and load externally. Alternatively, the USB-C interface on the back of the device can be used for this.

The sensors and the flap for the removable batteries are located on the bottom of the DJI Neo.

A small camera and two infrared sensors help keep the drone in position or land it.

Transport and landing

The fit and design are intuitive and show directly what the drone is aimed at: namely, quick and easy use.

Other drone models often rely on a folding mode of the rotors to ensure safe transport. In this case, the rotor arms must be opened manually before take-off and folded back in for transport. The rotors are also usually exposed on the outside, which often only allows easy transport in appropriate transport cases.

The rotor protection in particular should give beginners a good feeling that the drone will not immediately become unusable in the event of a collision.

The DJI Neo, on the other hand, is designed this waythat you can simply take it out of your backpack and start it at the push of a button. The additional AI support sharpens these features for beautiful video results.

Anyone who flies with it will certainly have to experiment a bit until it works, but it promises to be much more intuitive than the standard controller controls.

The hand-held landing worked flawlessly for other visitors to the IFA in practical tests. I wasn’t able to test the aspect on site at the exhibition grounds, but I was able to observe it.

Voice control of the DJI Neo

If you connect your DJI Neo to the DJI Fly app, you can activate the voice control option. This makes the DJI Neo the manufacturer’s first drone that you can control by voice.

Your cell phone then serves as the drone’s voice control center, into which you speak. In the app you can customize and control all voice controls around the drone, such as a start word that starts your drone.

There are also modes like this Follow or Circling around as well as position corrections higher, deeper, closer or further away.

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This new mini drone from DJI follows you automatically

The Neo plays back acoustic signals to you. You have to confirm the start again so that the drone doesn’t fly off accidentally.

Takeoff and landing functions via voice command directly in the hand worked perfectly during the demonstration at the trade fair. The drone quickly understood and implemented even the simplest instructions.

Depending on the background noise However, it may be that the DJI Neo only hears you clearly the second time, but overall it worked perfectly.

DJI Neo: Suitable for beginners

I honestly admit that my first flights with my own drone, a DJI Mini 2, were rather intimidating.

A drone is usually quite loudoften not cheap – at least not in the past – and the fear of damaging them is not unfounded either. I therefore understand anyone who is a little nervous when it comes to taking off the drone.

These problems are successfully solved by the DJI Neo, but the little plane is quite loud.

Convincing size: The DJI Neo’s small dimensions and low weight are particularly likely to impress hard-working outdoor users.

For drone veterans The DJI Neo will probably remain a fun gadget. The short battery life, the lack of obstacle detection and compromises in video material compared to its larger siblings, such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, will probably not be able to convince drone professionals.

The voice control function is practicalif you don’t want to deal with the controls. In my opinion, this won’t give experienced drone pilots the aha effect.

It remains a feature that is intended to offer initial and simple experiences, especially for newcomers and beginners.

Others probably find it easier: The compact drone was designed by DJI primarily for vloggers, but also gives beginners the chance to try it out and familiarize themselves with the manufacturer and flying method.

If you want to become active as a vlogger, you can also use the DJI Mic or your own smartphone to add audio recordings. This means you can add your own voice to your vlog and don’t have to record a voice-over.

The DJI Neo has been available since September 5th and costs 199 euros. If you are looking for a robust and easy-to-use drone, or would like to try your very first flight, you should take a look at the DJI Neo.