DJI Neo – a selfie drone that takes off from your hand
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Every group photo has the same flaw. Somebody has to take it, and that somebody is never in it. You can use a selfie stick, but then everyone sees the selfie stick.
The DJI Neo is a different answer. It’s a palm-sized drone that weighs 135 grams, takes off from your hand, follows you around and films you in 4K. No remote controller needed.
A flying cameraman that fits in a jacket pocket. I don’t fly drones. I still want this one.
What is the DJI Neo?
DJI is the Chinese company that makes most of the camera drones you’ve ever seen. The Neo launched in September 2024 as its smallest and lightest drone. TechCrunch pointed out it’s less than half the weight of the DJI Spark, an earlier palm drone DJI dropped in 2019.
The propellers sit inside full plastic guards, so it can bump into a branch without chopping anything up. At 135 grams it’s light enough that, according to DJI’s Amazon listing, it needs no FAA registration or Remote ID in the US.
On paper:
- 4K video at 30 fps, stabilized with a single-axis gimbal plus DJI’s electronic stabilization
- 12 MP photos
- About 18 minutes of flight per battery (about 17 with the guards on)
- 22 GB of built-in storage, so no memory card needed
- Level 4 wind resistance
How does the DJI Neo work?
You hold it flat on your palm, press the mode button, pick a shot and let go. The Neo lifts off, does its thing and comes back to land on your hand. DJI says the whole flight runs without a remote.
The shots are where the fun is. Dronie flies backward and up while keeping you in frame. Circle orbits you. Rocket shoots straight up with the camera looking down. Helix spirals up around you, and Boomerang flies an oval past you and back. There’s also plain subject tracking: it follows you while you bike, skate or hike.
If you want more control, you can fly it from the DJI Fly app on your phone, with voice commands (English and Chinese), with DJI’s RC-N3 remote, or with FPV goggles and a motion controller.
The good and the not-so-good
What I like:
- It takes off and lands on your hand. That’s a party trick and a real feature.
- The guards make it a drone you can fly near people and trees without panic.
- 22 GB of storage inside means no forgotten SD card.
- No remote needed for the automatic shots.
What could be better:
- 18 minutes per battery isn’t much. TechCrunch called the battery life the main limit on what you can do per flight. The three-battery combo makes sense.
- Tom’s Guide flew one for ten months and liked the price, but said the single-axis gimbal limits stabilization compared to DJI’s bigger drones.
- DJI’s own Amazon listing says the DJI Fly app was removed from Google Play. Android users have to download it from DJI’s website, and you need the app to activate the drone.
Who is the DJI Neo for?
Travelers, hikers, cyclists and anyone who’s tired of being the person behind the camera. It’s also a good first drone for someone who’s nervous about flying one, because the automatic modes do the flying.
Skip it if you want cinematic footage at sunset over a mountain. A gimbal drone like DJI’s Mini series is the better tool for that. And if you’d rather wear your camera than launch it, the Insta360 GO Ultra clips to your shirt instead. Photo nerds who like a slower pace might prefer the Fujifilm X half.
Where can I buy the DJI Neo?
DJI sells the Neo on Amazon through its own store. The standard version comes with one battery, the propeller guards, spare propellers and a USB-C cable. Bigger combos add extra batteries and a charging hub, a remote, or goggles.
A camera crew of one, launched from your palm. Take my money!