For years, one thing has stopped most people from ever buying a drone: fear of crashing it. No one wants to see a shiny new gadget nosedive into a tree seconds after takeoff. DJI’s new Neo 2 aims to erase that fear completely. And in doing so, it might just become the first drone anyone can confidently fly.
Officially unveiled in China today, the DJI Neo 2 builds on the original Neo’s simple, phone-controlled design and takes it several steps further. With full propeller guards, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, one-tap flight modes, and palm takeoff and landing, it’s light enough to feel like a toy, but smart enough to perform like a pro. It’s essentially DJI’s answer to everyone who’s ever said, “I’d love to try a drone, but I’m scared I’ll crash it.”
At just 151 grams, the Neo 2 is barely heavier than the original Neo, yet it packs serious intelligence. DJI has fitted it with a new omnidirectional monocular vision system plus a forward-facing LiDAR sensor, creating a 360-degree awareness bubble around the drone. That means if you fly too close to a wall, tree, or pole, the Neo 2 will automatically slow down or stop before impact. Combined with its fully enclosed propeller guards, this makes it one of the safest drones ever made, especially for beginners.
The new DJI drone also improves hovering and positioning in tough environments like indoors, near buildings, or over reflective surfaces such as water or snow. For control, you don’t need a remote at all. You can guide it with hand gestures, speak to it through voice commands, or pair it with the DJI Fly app on your phone for more detailed control. There’s even a tiny display screen right on the body, so you can switch modes or start recording without connecting anything.
Of course, if you want to take it further, the Neo 2 is compatible with DJI’s RC 2, RC-N2, and RC-N3 controllers, as well as RC Motion 3 and FPV Goggles N3 for a full-on immersive flying experience.
DJI, meanwhile, is positioning the Neo 2 as a “flying photographer” that follows you around, and it’s easy to see why. The new Smart Selfie mode automatically frames you in the shot — upper body, full body, or wide group — then handles camera movement and timing on its own. Its Intelligent Follow system can track people running, cycling, or walking at speeds up to 12 m/s (27 mph), keeping subjects perfectly centered. There’s even a Riding Follow mode for cyclists and a Master Lens mode for quick cinematic sequences.
For creators, this means you can shoot stable, cinematic clips without needing a second person or advanced flying skills. And it helps that Neo 2 comes with even better image quality. It features a 12MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.2 aperture — an upgrade over the original Neo’s smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor.
It supports 4K/60fps video, 4K/100fps slow motion, and 2.7K vertical video — perfect for TikTok or Instagram Reels. Combined with the new dual-axis gimbal stabilization, footage looks steady and cinematic straight out of the drone.
There’s also 49GB of built-in storage (up from 16GB before), so you can record plenty of 4K footage without worrying about memory cards. And transferring those clips is faster now too, with Wi-Fi speeds up to 80MB/s.
One of the most practical upgrades? The Neo 2’s new 1606 mAh battery. It offers up to 19 minutes of flight time, which is, technically, only a minute longer than before, but it packs in a more reliable power management system that maintains consistent performance. DJI also added dual-mode charging, which can juice up three batteries at once.
Everything about the Neo 2 is designed to make flying fun and stress-free. As a hobbyist, you don’t need to register it with the FAA (it’s well under 250g), you don’t need to worry about propeller injuries, and you don’t need to learn complex controls. It’s light enough to toss in a backpack, stable enough for outdoor shots, and smart enough to stay out of trouble. It’s not quite a toy; it’s better. It’s the kind of drone that breaks the barrier to entry beautifully, making flight accessible to anyone who’s ever been intimidated by drones.
But there’s still one big question: when, or if, it’ll arrive in the US.
The DJI Neo 2 already cleared certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) back in July, as we reported earlier, meaning it can legally be sold in the US. However, DJI’s broader situation today complicates things.
Customs officials have been detaining certain DJI shipments since late 2024 under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, despite DJI insisting its products are made in Shenzhen and Malaysia, not Xinjiang. On top of that, the FCC recently voted to expand its “Covered List” rule, which could retroactively ban products from companies flagged as security risks.
Now, DJI hasn’t been flagged as one yet. But, under the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a national security agency must complete a risk assessment of DJI drones before the end of this year. And if that assessment is not completed, DJI will automatically be added to the FCC Covered List, without any evidence of wrongdoing or the right to appeal. As of now, no US agency has stepped forward to start this review process.
And this is why, while the Neo 2 steals headlines, the original DJI Neo is quietly one of the best-value drones on the market right now. It’s still available in the US, and that too at a steep discount:
- DJI Neo: $159 (was $199)
Just the drone and single battery unit (no controller). Affordable entry point. - DJI Neo Three-Battery Combo: $229 (was $289)
Drone + extra batteries + charging hub + accessories. Good for extended sessions. - DJI Neo Fly More Combo: $279 (was $349)
Drone + RC-N3 remote controller + extra batteries + charging hub + accessories. Great for precise aerial acrobatics.
It offers 4K video, gesture and voice control, and the same safe propeller cage. If you’ve been thinking about getting into drones, now’s the time, because future DJI launches might not make it across the Pacific anytime soon.
More: New DJI gimbal brings 360° magic, if it can escape US ban
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