DJI Launches Compact Drone with 4K Video & AI Features

DJI has introduced Neo, a lightweight drone that offers AI-powered subject tracking, QuickShots, and 4K video, launched directly from the palm of a hand without requiring a remote By William Mackenzie / 10 Sep 2024

Commercial Drones

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 37 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
DJI Launches Compact Drone with 4K Video & AI Features
Follow UST

DJI has unveiled the DJI Neo, the company’s lightest and most compact drone to date, weighing just 135g. 

The drone can be fully operated without a remote control, and launched or landed on the palm of a hand. The Neo features AI subject tracking, QuickShots, and offers 4K ultra-stabilized video with a flight time of up to 18 minutes. 

Whether flown indoors or out, full-coverage propeller guards give users a safe experience when recording video. By pressing the drone’s mode button and selecting the desired shooting mode, Neo automatically does the rest without the need for a remote control. 

The drone will return to the user’s palm after snapping 12MP stills with its 1/2-inch image sensor. Neo can also draw on DJI’s powerful stabilization algorithms to produce 4K UHD stabilized videos straight out of the camera at 4K/30fps.

Find suppliers and manufacturers of Commercial Drones >>

AI Subject Tracking

Neo features advanced AI algorithms designed to follow the subject within the frame. Neo’s QuickShots offers a range of different recording angles, incorporating six intelligent shooting modes:

  • Dronie
    The drone flies backward and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video.
  • Circle
    The drone circles around the subject.
  • Rocket
    The drone ascends with the camera pointing downward.
  • Spotlight
    The drone rotates while keeping the object of interest within the frame.
  • Helix
    The drone ascends and spirals around the subject.
  • Boomerang
    The drone flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away from its starting point and descending as it flies back. The aircraft’s starting point forms one end of the oval’s long axis, while the other end is at the subject’s opposite side from the starting point.

Remote Control Options

The DJI Neo is designed to operate without an additional remote control. However, it can also be paired with the DJI Fly app, external remote controllers, RC Motion, DJI Goggles, and can even function with voice operation. 

Through Wi-Fi connection to a smartphone, the Neo can be controlled using virtual joysticks on the DJI Fly app interface with a control range of up to 50 meters. The app also allows the tracking angle and distance to be set, giving extra freedom to shoot from afar or up close.

Paired with the DJI RC-N3, Neo can transmit video up to 10 kilometers and allows flexible camera operation with traditional RC control sticks for capturing professional-quality shots.

For those looking for an immersive drone experience, DJI Neo can be paired with DJI Goggles 3, RC Motion 3, or FPV Remote Controller 3. When used with RC Motion 3, DJI Neo offers seamless indoor navigation and can be maneuvered through tight spaces with ease.

Video Stabilization

DJI Neo is equipped with a single-axis mechanical gimbal and is capable of handling high-speed or flights with lots of maneuvers, as well as up to Level-4 wind conditions. 

When combined with RockSteady or HorizonBalancing stabilization, overall image shake is significantly reduced and horizon tilt is corrected within ±45°, offering smooth and stable footage that maintains clarity in both highlight and shadow areas.

Using an infrared and monocular vision positioning system, DJI Neo can hover steadily in the air, maintaining stability even in wind conditions up to Level 4. It also supports automatic Return to Home (RTH) for convenient, worry-free operation.

Additional Features

With 22GB internal storage, Neo can save up to 40 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p/60fps video.

Once saved, no extra data cables are needed to transfer the footage; connecting to a phone by Wi-Fi will quickly transfer it to the DJI Fly App enabling smooth post production and sharing.

Audio can also easily be recorded by connecting Neo to a smartphone. A simple tap of the audio record button on the DJI Fly app will start recording through the phone’s built-in microphone. 

For users looking for additional audio quality, the DJI Mic 2 can be used via a Bluetooth connection. The app automatically eliminates propeller noise and merges the audio track with the footage, ensuring clear sound even when shooting low-angle vlogs.

Connect the aircraft directly to a power source using a Type-C data cable for convenient charging. Additionally, DJI Neo’s Two-Way Charging Hub can charge three batteries simultaneously, increasing both charging speed and efficiency.

The Neo made its offline debut at IFA 2024 in Germany. The DJI Neo retails for €199, with the DJI Neo Fly More Combo retailing for €349.

DJI Care Refresh, a comprehensive protection plan for DJI products, is now available for DJI Neo. The replacement service covers accidental damage, including flyaway, collisions and water damage.

Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI, commented, “At DJI we are always studying everyday camera use so that we can help people capture their videos and photos in the most convenient way possible. The DJI Neo strives to give people the latest tech in the smallest form factor so that they can capture their daily lives, saved as treasured memories, safely and with ease.”

Find suppliers and manufacturers of Commercial Drones >>

Posted by William Mackenzie Edited by William Mackenzie, Junior Editor and Copywriter practised in digital content creation and writing about defense and marine technology. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Mar 21, 2025
Ukrainian Drones to Receive Free Cyber Security

To support the drones and unmanned systems involved in the Ukrainian war effort, Periphery is donating its military-grade threat management expertise and software for IoT devices

Mar 21, 2025
Neousys Technology on the Rise of AI Drone Pilots

Learn how Neousys' FLYC-300 NVIDIA® Jetson edge AI computer enhances drone performance by optimizing flight paths, overcoming GPS challenges, and improving efficiency for various applications

Mar 21, 2025
High-Assurance Cryptography Devices Reach Delivery Milestone

Viasat’s encryption team has surpassed 100K high-assurance cryptography devices delivered to government customers, proactively defending the clients’ data communications

Mar 21, 2025
Septentrio Joins Hexagon to Advance Autonomy & Mission-Critical Positioning

Hexagon has acquired Septentrio, a manufacturer of GPS/GNSS positioning technology, to strengthen its autonomy and mission-critical applications, enhancing accessibility to high-accuracy positioning solutions

Mar 21, 2025
New Payload Command and Control Introduced by GA-ASI

TacSit-C2 is a new payload command and control system by GA-ASI which integrates diverse sensor data into a single, intuitive interface

Mar 20, 2025

Featured Content

How IONA Reaches the Last Mile Through Smart Product Development

In this webinar, learn from Drone Industry Insights about scaling production and supply chain challenges, strategies from Arena by PTC to optimize product development, and how IONA Drones are advancing last-mile delivery

Mar 18, 2025
Nokia Talks to UST about 4G/5G Connected Drone-in-a-Box Advancements

How Nokia is revolutionizing drone connectivity with 4G and 5G, and advancing autonomous operations with the cutting-edge drone-in-a-box solution; Nokia Drone Networks

Mar 16, 2025
Ascent AeroSystems Launches AI-Enabled Sub-250g Coaxial Nano UAV

Ascent AeroSystems has unveiled HELIUS, a sub-250g AI-enabled UAV designed for law enforcement, emergency response, and industrial use, offering a compact, NDAA-compliant alternative to existing systems

Mar 13, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.