DJI Neo, the (almost) palm-sized personal imaging drone that is actually affordable, has a successor. Meet the DJI Neo 2, and because of the ongoing trade war initiated by the land of the free—and the paranoia of espionage and whatnot—this awesome gadget has not been announced in North America. The new DJI Neo 2 was announced for the Chinese market late last month, and here’s what you need to know.
The Neo 2 [CH] is DJI’s smallest all-direction obstacle-avoidance drone yet, tipping the scales at just 151g. It is an ultra-light, ultra-smart flying camera that lets even total beginners look like seasoned pilots. There’s no need for a remote if you don’t want one; the Neo 2 takes off straight from your palm and lands back on it with near-surgical precision. If that doesn’t make you feel like Tony Stark, nothing will.
It supports hand gestures, voice commands, and even face tracking, so you can literally wave it around like a pet drone while it records 4K/60fps video on its 12 MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor. With a two-axis gimbal, Hitchcock zoom, and smart auto-framing, it’s basically a flying cinematographer that doesn’t argue with your creative direction.
For outdoor creators, the Neo 2 boasts 10.7 m/s wind resistance, full 360° obstacle detection, and a maximum follow speed of 12 m/s—so yes, it can keep up with your morning jog or your electric scooter adventures. It even has 19 minutes of flight time, which is long enough for you to forget it’s hovering behind you.
The Neo 2 has multiple bundle options, from the basic kit at 1,499 yuan [CH] (around US$205) to the FPV “immersion” package at 3,699 yuan (around US$505). Each bundle includes different accessories like extra batteries, charging hubs, and even FPV goggles for those who like to pretend they’re piloting a TIE Fighter.
The DJI Neo 2 may not be heading to the US anytime soon, but for everyone else, it’s an affordable ticket to aerial filmmaking—minus the FAA paperwork. Oh, it looks like an international—or at least in Singapore—is imminent. The launch date indicated on the DJI Singapore website is November 6. Though I cannot confirm it is the Neo 2. However, the lone image of a grilled tri-blade rotor suggests that it is the Neo 2.
Images: DJI [CH].
