🔬 DJI Neo

The DJI Neo is a new entry-level offering from the “so famous it’s infamous” drone company. Priced at an impressive $199, this drone fits in a jacket pocket between flights, shoots 4K video at 30 fps, supports subject tracking and templated flight paths, and can be paired with optional accessories to function as a first-person view or aerobatic drone. It also weighs just 135 grams, meaning it does not need to be registered with the FAA to fly in the United States.

On paper, it’s a fantastic starter drone for just about anyone—whether they’re dipping their toes into the world of drones or a professional content creator looking for a lightweight way to capture good-looking aerial B-roll. However, there’s a very real possibility it will be banned or rendered inoperable in the U.S. by the end of this year. Why?

You’ve probably noticed U.S. regulatory authorities have a contentious relationship with Chinese tech companies. Earlier this month, the U.S. government banned TikTok for a little less than 24 hours over what should be considered fairly realistic concerns about the Chinese government “weaponizing” information and influence through the app. Now, imagine how regulators might feel about a Chinese firm’s products, with a history of actually being weaponized for surveillance and kinetic effects, that can be flown anywhere in the U.S.

Suffice to say, there are real questions about the future of this product. Allow me some brief comments on the drone itself before weighing in on the issues.

Performance

This is my fourth DJI drone in the last 10 years, and I must say I’m impressed with their steady pace of iterative improvement.

From a video performance perspective, it’s astonishing this drone offers as good or better performance than previous models, which cost four times as much and at least twice the size. Is it the best video in the world? No. But is it outstanding for a sub-$200 camera, let alone one that can fly and follow you on adventures? Absolutely.

From a drone performance perspective, I’ve had mixed results. It’s designed primarily as a selfie drone, meaning its main function is to launch, take a video of you, and return. It does this very well and the clever built-in controls make it remarkably easy to get excellent results right away—no calibration or controller required—so long as you have enough open space for it to operate. It has excellent forward-facing obstruction detection/avoidance, but lacks sensors in other directions, so you must be mindful of your surroundings if it’s performing shots that involve zooming backward or gliding sideways.

While it doesn’t ship with a controller, it can be paired with one, or you can simply use your iPhone or Android device to control it over an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection (though range is limited). Due to its small size, it’s much more susceptible to wind, making control occasionally dicey. The Neo drifts noticeably when attempting to hover stationary, more so than any other DJI drone I’ve used. This is partly due to its size, but also because it lacks GPS tracking capabilities—relying solely on downward-facing sensors to orient itself based on ground patterns.

The upside of not requiring GPS is that it launches immediately, with no need for calibration or locking onto satellites. The downside is that it’s less reliable in flight compared to other models and absolutely cannot be used over water due to its reliance on ground patterns for stabilization.

My take? It’s excellent for what it’s meant to be: a pocketable, affordable selfie drone for fun footage in nature while hiking, mountain biking, or any similar activities. However, it’s not a good starter drone for those wanting to learn how to pilot remote-controlled aerial platforms.

The Catch

That brings us to The Catch. I see two major issues with this product:

1. The very real possibility it will be bricked or banned by this time next year. While it’s not guaranteed, given how things played out with TikTok, it wouldn’t be surprising. It’s highly unlikely anyone from the government is going to go door-to-door collecting these from folks, but it is certainly possible their use becomes outlawed and the DJI app is removed from all the app stores. Honestly, I’d say it’s a coin toss whether that happens or not. At $199, it’s not a huge gamble if you go in with eyes wide open, but it is a real risk.
2. The second concern is the potential for these devices to passively “spy” on you as you use them. In response to fear and accusations, DJI introduced a Local Data Mode, which lets you fly their devices without requiring an internet connection—presumably protecting you from remote monitoring of video footage and flight paths. However, this requires a degree of trust in DJI’s claims about what the mode does and doesn’t do. Then again, the same can be said for most modern consumer technology. Personally, I think short of all out warfare between China and the US, it’s unlikely these drones will be used to spy on the vast majority of their owners. Certain public figures and professions, however, are very likely to be targeted by all means possible, and this drone is certainly one more vector they should consider in their threat model.

In my view, this product is likely to have a limited shelf life for U.S. users. If you’re comfortable spending $200 on a toy that might only work for a year—and you’re not planning to use it for anything sensitive—it’s fun and effective. But if the current price tag is already a reach or you need something guaranteed to last, I’d look elsewhere.

As for me, I’ll be taking mine out from time to time for documenting fun adventures, but for the most part I plan to keep it quarantined in the Lab.