DJI will launch new product DJI NEO soon

Industry Insights: DJI NEO - A Compact Powerhouse for Entry-Level Aerial Photography

DJI’s latest release, the DJI NEO, is a compact drone designed for beginners and travel vloggers. Despite its small size, the NEO is equipped with advanced features, making it a strong contender in the entry-level drone market. However, it also comes with some limitations that potential users should consider.

O4 Transmission System

The DJI NEO features the advanced O4 transmission system, which provides high-quality real-time viewing at 1080p/30fps when used with the DJI RC-N3 controller. This system operates across multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5.1 GHz, and 5.8 GHz), ensuring reliable performance in various environments. The maximum transmission distance varies by region, with the longest reaching up to 10 kilometers (FCC). The communication bandwidth peaks at 40 MHz, and the transmitter power (EIRP) ranges from <26 dBm to <14 dBm, depending on the frequency band and region.

The interference range is categorized into three levels:

• Strong (Urban landscape): 1.5-3 kilometers
• Medium (Suburban): 3-6 kilometers
• Low (Open/Seaside): 6-10 kilometers

Camera and Imaging Capabilities

The DJI NEO is equipped with a 1/2-inch image sensor, offering a 117.6° FOV with a 14mm equivalent lens and an f/2.8 aperture. The camera supports an ISO range of 100-6400 (both automatic and manual). The maximum image size is 12 MP, with a resolution of 4000 × 3000 in 4:3 mode and 4000 × 2256 in 16:9 mode.

Video capabilities include up to 4K resolution at 30fps with electronic image stabilization (EIS) enabled, and a maximum video bitrate of 75 Mbps. The shutter speed for video ranges from 1/8000 to 1/30 seconds, and for photos, it’s between 1/8000 to 1/10 seconds. The drone supports single-shot and timed photo capture modes, with JPEG as the photo format and MP4 for video. The file system is exFAT.

Physical Specifications and Flight Performance

Weighing in at just 135 grams, the DJI NEO is incredibly lightweight, making it easy to carry but also limiting its wind resistance to 8 m/s (Beaufort scale 4). The drone’s dimensions are 130 × 157 × 48.5 mm (L × W × H), making it extremely compact.

Flight time is approximately 18 minutes, or 17 minutes with propeller guards, and the maximum flight distance is 7 kilometers (about 4 miles). The drone operates within a temperature range of -10°C to 40°C (14°F to 104°F) and supports multiple satellite systems, including GLONASS, GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou. It comes with 22 GB of internal storage but does not support microSD cards, which might be a limitation for users needing more storage capacity.

Flight Modes and Control Precision

The DJI NEO offers multiple flight modes with varying performance metrics:

• Maximum Ascent Speed: 0.5 m/s in Cinema mode, 2 m/s in Normal mode, and 3 m/s in Sport mode
• Maximum Descent Speed: 0.5 m/s in Cinema mode, 2 m/s in Normal and Sport modes
• Maximum Horizontal Speed: 6 m/s in Normal mode, 8 m/s in Sport mode, and 16 m/s in Manual mode
• Maximum Takeoff Altitude: 2000 meters in Sport mode, with a vertical climb measurement of 120 meters (from 100% to 20% battery)

Hovering precision is remarkable, with vertical accuracy of ±0.1 meters using visual positioning and ±0.5 meters using GNSS, and horizontal accuracy of ±0.3 meters using visual positioning and ±1.5 meters using GNSS.

Market Considerations

While the DJI NEO lacks support for RAW or DNG photo formats and offers limited internal storage, its ease of use, portability, and solid imaging capabilities make it a great option for beginners and those looking to capture quick, high-quality aerial content. The drone’s limitations might be a drawback for professionals, but for its intended audience, the DJI NEO offers a balanced mix of features at an attractive price point.