DJI has built its reputation on premium drones that can easily run into the thousands of dollars but here’s the reality: most people just want a lightweight drone that stays under the FAA’s 250-gram registration threshold. Flying without the hassle of paperwork and Remote ID requirements is the sweet spot for casual users who want to keep things simple.
In this sub-250g category, DJI offers several options. The Mini 4K and Mini 4 Pro deliver incredible performance but flirt with the $1,000 mark. The DJI Neo, however, provides a much more accessible entry point while still shooting in 4K. Right now, during the final hours of this Prime Big Deal Day flash sale, it’s dropped to $159 on Amazon (down from $199), which marks an all-time low price. This deal ends tonight and is exclusively for Prime members.
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135 grams of Pure Liberty
The DJI Neo is a feather-light drone and tips the scales at just 135 grams which is even lighter than the majority of smartphones and way under that all-important 250-gram FAA limit. This puts the drone into the recreational flying bracket in the United States without the need to register the drone with the FAA or cope with Remote ID requirements. For travelers, the weight difference is particularly significant as you can stow the drone into a side pocket on your backpack or even into a jacket without noticeably bulking up.
What’s cool is that you can fly the thing without any sort of controller whatsoever: The drone lifts off directly from the palm of your hand with the press of a button on the unit itself. Six pre-sequenced flight modes turn on with button presses or voice activation and allows you to get shots without struggling with a remote or phone. Due to the palm takeoff capability, you can pass the unit along to members of the family who have never even used a drone and they can get usable shots in a matter of minutes. The learning curve basically vanishes.
The subject following feature employs onboard AI to track people and maintain them in frame automatically. Point the Neo at you, switch into tracking mode, and it keeps a steady distance while keeping you in the middle of frame. This renders solo vlogging and action sports capture actually usable. No longer will you be stuck with selfie stick angles or non-moving tripod shots. Eight QuickShots modes provide film-like effects with pre-sets such as flight paths like circle shots, dronie pan and orbit that would demand high-level piloting expertise to be done by hand.
For those who want more control, the Neo offers flexibility: Connect it to your smartphone via the DJI Fly app for manual piloting and advanced settings. Pair it with DJI’s RC-N3 or FPV Remote Controller 3 for traditional stick control.
The 4K UHD camera shoots at 3840 x 2160 resolution at 30 frames per second. DJI’s stabilization ensures that the footage is smooth even when making aggressive flight tactics or when the wind is strong. It is capable of level-4 wind resistance equivalent to gusty winds of 20-24 mph. It is possible to fly when strolling through breezy park walks or when flying along the coast without the footage becoming a jittery mess.
Battery life provides about 18 minutes of flight time per charge which is typical in this weight category. The battery charges via USB-C and charging is convenient when on the go via portable power banks or laptop chargers.
At $159, that’s as low as the DJI Neo drone has gone price-wise since launch. Make sure you don’t miss that final sale on Amazon.