DJI is about to unveil its smallest drone to date. The DJI Neo is said to weigh just 135 grams and is easy to use. Shortly before the official release, interesting details and the first press photos have leaked out.
DJI plans to release the new DJI Neo on August 20th. Jasper Ellens a well-known leaker on the platform X (formerly Twitter) and the X user Arsene Lupin are among the latest sources to share extensive information and even pictures of the new model. Where these came from remained unclear – some things were already known.
The DJI Neo stands out above all for its small dimensions. With dimensions of 130 x 157 x 48.5 millimeters and a weight of just 135 grams, it is even lighter than many current smartphones. For comparison: an iPhone 15 weighs 171 grams. In contrast to most modern drones, DJI has dispensed with a foldable design for the Neo. Instead, the rotors are firmly mounted on the fuselage and surrounded by a protective grille that can optionally be removed.
Despite its compact design, the DJI Neo is said to have a 1/2-inch sensor with a 12-megapixel camera. This supposedly enables video recordings in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (FPS) or in Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) at 60 FPS. The lens has a focal length of 14 millimeters, an aperture of f/2.8 and a field of view of 117.6 degrees. However, the Neo has to make do without a mechanical gimbal; image stabilization is exclusively electronic (EIS). The ISO range is 100-6400 (automatic and manual), and the shutter speed ranges from 1/8000 to 1/30 second for videos and up to 1/10 second for photos.
A special feature of the DJI Neo is the built-in internal memory of 22 GB. Unlike many other drone models, there is apparently no slot for SD cards to expand the memory. This could be a challenge, especially for longer recordings in high resolution, especially since the maximum video bitrate is 75 Mbps. This means that you could store around 39 minutes of video recordings with the internal memory.
The drone is equipped with a 1435 mAh battery, which should enable a flight time of up to 18 minutes. With propeller guards installed, this time is reduced to 17 minutes. The fact that the rotors are particularly quiet, according to the leak, contributes to the ease of use.
The DJI Neo will be equipped with seven different flight modes, including Normal, Cinema, Sport and Manual. In addition, there will be three QuickShot functions such as “Rocket”, in which the drone quickly ascends while the camera is pointed downwards.
The maximum flight distance is stated as seven kilometers. The maximum flight speed varies depending on the mode: 6 m/s in normal mode, 8 m/s in sport mode and up to 16 m/s in manual mode. The drone should be able to withstand wind speeds of up to 8 m/s (wind force 4).
There will be various accessories for the DJI Neo. These include a charging station for three batteries, which allows for quick changing. Although the Neo is not a dedicated FPV drone (First Person View), it is said to be compatible with the DJI Goggles 3 – but it is not marketed as an FPV drone. The “Fly More Combo” will probably include the DJI RC-N3 remote control.
With the Neo, DJI seems to be targeting beginners and occasional users in particular. The ease of use, compact design and the ability to launch the drone from the palm of your hand prove that it was designed as a “flying camera” for spontaneous shots. It could therefore be an alternative for those looking for an even smaller solution than the DJI Mini 4.
The official release is expected on August 20th, followed by the release of the DJI Action 5 Pro action camera on August 28th. Specific pricing information has not yet been leaked. What do you think of DJI’s latest mini drone? Do you see potential for beginners or are there important features missing? Share your opinion in the comments and let us know if you would use such a compact drone for your recordings!
DJI Neo Drone Specifications
| Weight | Approx. 135 g |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 130 × 157 × 48.5mm |
| Max. climb rate | 0.5 m/s (Cinema), 2 m/s (Normal), 3 m/s (Sport) |
| Max. sink rate | 0.5 m/s (cinema), 2 m/s (normal/sports) |
| Max. speed | 6 m/s (Normal), 8 m/s (Sport), 16 m/s (Manual) |
| Max. flight time | Approx. 18 min. (17 min. with propeller guard) |
| Max. takeoff height | 2000 m above sea level |
| camera | 1/2-inch sensor, 12 MP, FOV: 117.6°, f/2.8 |
| ISO range | 100-6400 (auto/manual) |
| Shutter speed | Video: 1/8000-1/30 s, Photo: 1/8000-1/10 s |
| video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/50/30fps |
| Max. bit rate | 75Mbps |
| Video format | MP4 |
| Photo format | JPEG |
| reach | Up to 7 km (under ideal conditions) |
| Wind resistance | 8 m/s (level 4) |
| Operating temp. | -10° to 40° C |
| navigation | GLONASS, GPS, Galileo, BeiDou |
| Hovering accuracy | Vertical: ±0.1 m (visual), ±0.5 m (GNSS) Horizontal: ±0.3 m (visual), ±1.5 m (GNSS) |
| memory | 22 GB internal |
| File system | exFAT |
| EU class | C0 |
