DJI’s teeny tiny Neo 2 bounced around the internet for a while before its official Chinese launch. Now, an international launch has arrived, and South Africa is on the guest list. The ultra-portable camera drone starts in SA at between R4,200 and R4,700, with a slightly higher premium for the inevitable Fly More Combo.

The full details for DJI’s newest and second-smallest (the original Neo is lighter) drone emerged at the Chinese launch, but we left that one alone because… well, we were waiting for local availability.

Neo 2: Whoa intensifies

The DJI Neo 2 weighs just 151 grams, rising to 160 grams when you add the drone’s new digital transceiver. It’ll fly for 19 minutes on a charge at speeds of up to five metres per second (2m/s is more standard). An improved wind rating should see it hold steadier in the sky, and there is 49GB of storage onboard.

A more advanced forward-facing LIDAR system helps with navigation, compared with the original Neo, which could only look down. Fewer crashes and better obstacle avoidance means more footage with fewer visits to the store for spares.

There are three different combo packs in South Africa if you need more than the base drone. The Fly More Combo (R6,400) adds extra batteries, propellers, and other replaceable parts. The second Fly More package (R8,400) adds an RC-N3 controller, for control options beyond the smartphone app or gestures (yes, those are an option). The priciest bundle is the Motion Fly More Combo (R11,700), which outfits new Neo 2 owners with a Goggles N3 FPV helmet and RC Motion N3 controller in addition to the other extras on offer.