If DJI’s last two terrestrial product releases failed to fill you with joy, perhaps the new budget-focused Neo drone will spark some happiness in you. Set to launch in South Africa on 20 September and priced at R4,000, this little critter puts 4K video in the palm of your hand. Literally.
It’s freaking tiny, of course, weighing just 136 grams. It’s being pitched at anyone who takes video or photographs of themselves regularly — so influencers and wannabe influencers — and it has the camera needed to make itself attractive to that market (and the rest of Instagram).
Emperor Neo
A casual glance through the DJI Neo’s marketing material is enough to show just how slick this palm-sized drone is. It captures 4K gimbal-stabilised video from its f/2.8 12MP camera, thanks to a ½in sensor. 22GB of onboard storage keeps your precious footage safe (as long as the drone is in one piece, we suppose). But it might be the flight performance stats that are the real decider here, provided you’re not silly about it.
The basic version of DJI’s new dinky drone arrives without any extra control methods. It’s the Neo and a bunch of spares but if you’re in the market for some aftermarket purchases, it’s compatible with various DJI control methods beyond the smartphone app. You can even go full FPV if you’ve got the hardware.
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Takeoff and landing is from the palm of your hand, something users will undoubtedly film using another device — possibly a second DJI Neo. Flight time is approximately 18 minutes according to DJI, though some stores list up to 25 minutes from the Neo. This appears to be based on DJI’s own sales material. Either way, there’s loads of time to get your shot.
Onboard AI (there’s that word again) helps with tracking subjects and the QuickShots mode lets the drone decide how to film you. Propeller guards keep those fragile spinning blades in one piece, and there’s also a spare set of those included with the base model Neo. The only question now is what you’ll do with all your newly-acquired fake internet points.