DJI Neo: The latest rumors and everything we know so far about DJI’s tiny drone
DJI’s next drone could be a tiny flying device that takes off from the palm of your hand and works with FPV (first-person view) headsets – if latest rumors about the DJI Neo are true.
A growing series of leaks suggest that the DJI Neo could be the company’s lightest drone yet and the spiritual successor to the DJI Spark. Better yet, the Neo could also be the most affordable drone in DJI’s lineup, with a rumored launch price of just $329 (or around £320 / AU$515).
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the DJI Neo is shaping up to be a fun, affordable flying machine that’s designed to compete with the best entry-level drones. It’s said to borrow in-flight features from some of DJI’s best drones, including QuickShots and new AI-powered subject tracking, to deliver a drone experience that makes it easy to shoot aerial video, indoors and out.
Hello #DJINeo, this Mini 5 is clearly made as a successor to the DJI Spark with instant QuickShots and one-click flying. If these pictures are real, I think the release is a matter of weeks. Hopefully it flies FPV too. Follow for more leaks. Cheers! pic.twitter.com/kKZYa1hyXJJuly 31, 2024
DJI fans have been talking about its design in particular: leaked images show the Neo as a smaller version of the DJI Avata 2, complete with protective propeller guards. With that comes the exciting prospect of possible FPV support.
To give you an overview of what to expect from the DJI Neo, we’ve gathered all the information currently circulating online. From a possible release date to expected features, you’ll find all the latest news here.
DJI Neo: Release Date and Price Rumors
- Leak suggests August 20th release date
- Rumor has it that the Fly More Combo will have a price tag of $329 (or approximately £320 / AU$515).
One of the most exciting rumors surrounding the DJI Neo is its price. A report from DroneMood on X (formerly Twitter) provided pricing information from what appears to be an early Walmart listing. That puts the DJI Neo Fly More Combo at just $329, which likely converts to around £319 / AU$509.
This was supported by a later report from @JasperEllenswhich leaks what appears to be the DJI Neo’s retail packaging. It suggests the Fly More Combo bundle will include three batteries, a charging hub, and some spare propellers, along with propeller guards, a screwdriver, a Type-C cable, and a remote control. The caption also supports the claim of a $329 launch price.
This would make the DJI Neo a very competitive alternative to the HoverAir X1, a similarly sized drone that sells for $399 / £395 with a combo kit. At this price, we can expect the Neo to be one of DJI’s most popular drones, especially with some of the rumored features outlined below.
👉To make the previous post about DJI Neo a bit more interesting. I’ll leave it up to you to judge and discuss. 😋#dji #djineo pic.twitter.com/12m6DrT2xaAugust 6, 2024
Regarding the release date: a recent post on X from @Quadro_News indicates that the DJI Neo could be launched as early as August 20.
The source of this information hasn’t been mentioned, but given the amount of leaks currently circulating around the Neo, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect DJI to make an announcement later this month.
DJI Neo: Design and Build
- Neo could be DJI’s smallest and lightest drone ever
- The protected propeller design is similar to that of the Avata 2
DJI’s latest drone could be its smallest yet, according to a report from a frequent leaker @JasperEllens At X we have what appear to be the dimensions of the Neo – and they are certainly travel-friendly.
Based on a leaked product listing from a Mexican online retailer, the Neo could measure just 157x130x49mm. That would easily make it DJI’s smallest official drone to date (if you don’t count the DJI-powered Ryze Tello).
In another post, @JasperEllens also shares the DJI Neo’s rumored weight, tipping the scales at a feather-light 135g. That would make it considerably lighter than the DJI Mini Pro 4 (249g).
While the Ryze Tello, which uses DJI technology, is lighter at 80g, that drone is made by Chinese manufacturer Ryze. That means the Neo is technically the lightest drone ever launched by DJI.
A webshop in Mexico didn’t hide the #djineo very well: it measures 15.7 x 13 x 4.9 cm. That’s about 5 stacked CD-rom boxes (for those who remember). It’ll probably be a week before we see more pictures. Cheers pic.twitter.com/w5nEzUjvUAAugust 3, 2024
We also have a good idea of what the DJI Neo will look like. A video posted on X by @OsitaLVa leaker with a solid track record shows a compact drone with circular protective plates around all four propellers.
A later message from @JasperEllens offers an even clearer view, with a palm-sized drone with removable propeller cages and a body that somewhat resembles the design of DJI’s Avata series. This similarity to DJI’s existing FPV (first-person view) drones has led to speculation about whether the Neo will have FPV capabilities.
What that photo also seems to confirm is that the Neo won’t have a foldable design like many of DJI’s top drones. As a result, it won’t be much more compact than a folded DJI Mini 4 Pro. The difference in size will only be noticeable in flight, where the Neo will be a much smaller package – as revealed by this helpful size comparison @hakasushi.
A separate message from @hakasushi compares the Neo to the Avata 2 based on leaked dimensions. While there are similarities in design, there is also a significant difference in size.
DJI Neo: Camera Settings
- The camera setup appears to be a tilting gimbal
- Leaked specs promise “4K Ultra-Stabilized Video”
Despite the many leaks surrounding the DJI Neo, very little is known about its camera setup. It’s especially unclear whether the DJI Neo is a flying selfie camera to rival the HoverAir X1, or a cinewhoop-style drone for FPV flight.
Leaked images show a front-facing lens that appears to tilt on a tilting mechanical gimbal. Given that both the HoverAir X1 and DJI Avata 2 use similar setups, this design doesn’t confirm what kind of flying experience the DJI Neo will offer.
Whether it’s an FPV or a flying selfie camera, it’s safe to assume the DJI Neo will have a fixed-focus lens and fixed aperture, much like the HoverAir X1 and DJI Avata 2. We don’t have any information yet on what that aperture will be, though we’d imagine it’ll be somewhere between f/2.4 and f/2.8.
DJI Neo – Initial Specs: 135g, AI Subject Tracking, 4K Ultra Stabilized, 3 Batteries in the Fly More Combo. Priced at just £329? These are going to sell like hotcakes. pic.twitter.com/5Lm8AUScDAJuly 31, 2024
We’re also in the dark about the DJI Neo’s field of view. The HoverAir X1 covers a 90-degree angle, while the DJI Avata 2 goes much wider at 155 degrees. Where the DJI Neo lands within this range has a strong impact on the in-flight experience, but isn’t necessarily indicative of whether it’s a selfie or FPV drone – different FPV pilots prefer different field of view angles.
What we know from a @JasperEllens One thing we’d like to highlight in a post that appears to reveal the DJI Neo’s retail packaging is that the box promises “4K Ultra-Stabilized Video” — a spec that would surpass the HoverAir X1’s 2.7K resolution. Given that DJI has long set the bar for in-flight image stabilization, we expect the DJI Neo to perform well in that department as well.
DJI Neo: Features
- Leaks Promise “AI Subject-Tracking” and “QuickShots”
- Mixed messages about whether Neo will support DJI Goggles 3
That leaked retail box also tells us more about what features we can expect from the DJI Neo. Adding to the idea that the Neo will be a fun, small-group competitor to the HoverAir X1, the packaging touts support for palm take-off and landing – a feature we’ve previously seen on the DJI Spark. This suggests the Neo will be a fun, portable drone for indoor and outdoor flying (wind speed dependent), that you can launch straight from your hand.
That also extends to support for “AI Subject Tracking” and “QuickShots,” both of which are listed on the packaging. As we’ve seen with other DJI drones, including the DJI Mini 4 Pro, these features make it easy for pilots to capture cinematic footage when operating solo by automatically tracking subjects and performing one-touch movements in mid-air.
Spark back to life in Mavic form? pic.twitter.com/V9B19qb5R2July 25, 2024
Conspicuously absent from the retail packaging is any mention of the headset support that would be required for FPV flight. As above, the DJI Neo’s design is one that lends itself well to first-person piloting. It would also contribute to its popularity. However, to work with headsets like the DJI Goggles 3, the Neo would likely require Ocusync 4 connectivity, and we’ve seen no indication of that on the spec sheet.
A Reddit post has now surfaced with a software screenshot that purports to show the Neo on a list of drones with Goggles 3 support, but we’re cautious about the source of this information. Other DJI leakers, including @OsitaLVhave previously indicated that the Neo will not have FPV functionality.
We do have an indication of the battery capacity, based on a leaked model label. This indicates a 1,435mAh cell in the DJI Neo, smaller than the 1,480mAh battery in the DJI Spark. Real-world performance will depend on factors such as aerodynamic efficiency and wind speeds, though various reports on X (formerly Twitter) have reported flight times of 15 or 16 minutes.
DJI Neo: Rumor Roundup
With an entry-level price and small form factor, leaked evidence is increasingly pointing to the DJI Neo as a fun, portable 4K drone that carries on the spirit of the DJI Spark – complete with support for palm take-off and landing. Its design appears to be derived from DJI’s Avata series, with propeller guards making it safe to fly indoors. Leaked dimensions also suggest it’ll be DJI’s smallest and lightest drone yet.
Much of the speculation at the moment revolves around whether the DJI Neo will be a flying selfie camera or an FPV drone with support for DJI’s Goggles 3. From what we’ve seen, the leaked features point more towards the former: we’re led to believe the DJI Neo is designed as a budget-friendly mini-drone that’s easy for beginners to take almost anywhere, with useful in-flight video features like subject tracking and QuickShots. However, it’s looking increasingly likely that it will also support the Goggles 3 for FPV flight.
When you compare the DJI Neo’s low cost (reportedly $329 for the Fly More Combo) to the much higher price of the Avata 2 ($999 / £879 / AU$1,499 for the Fly More Combo), it’s clear that the two drones are aimed at very different markets. Either way, rumors suggest we won’t have to wait too long to find out more, with some leaks pointing to a potential DJI Neo launch as early as this month.
