DJI Neo 2 Review: The Pocket Drone I Love With One Serious Limitation

If you like drones but dislike carrying half your body weight in batteries, controllers, and cables, the DJI Neo 2 might be right up your street. I have been using this drone for about a month now, and it has quickly become my go-to option for casual flying, family fun, and grabbing quick shots when I am out and about. Even my son has decided this is his favourite drone.

Still, it’s not perfect. There are a few limitations and minor quirks to consider, along with one fundamental issue you should know about before you buy. Read on to discover what I love about this compact drone and what could influence your decision.

I can’t see the DJI Neo 2 ever replacing my Mini 4 Pro or Air 3S, but it does offer a number of advantages over these drones. It focuses on being small, clever and fun, while still packing in some genuinely impressive features. Think of it less as a professional camera drone and more as a flying mate that just happens to fit in your pocket.

Before getting into the details, here is a quick overview of the key points.

Quick Overview

Here’s a quick rundown of the main points from this article. These are the features and things I wish I’d known before buying the DJI Neo 2.

1. Extremely lightweight at 151g (without the transceiver)
2. Fits in a large pocket and is perfect for travel and walks
3. Gesture controls are genuinely useful and very cool
4. Can fly with no controller at all or scale up to full FPV
5. Shoots 4K video up to 60fps (great upgrade from the Neo, which shoots 4K 30fps)
6. Great value at £209 (drone only)
7. Battery life is short so spare batteries are a must (12 mins)
8. Image quality is good, but not professional level (low light is quite fuzzy)
9. No external SD card slot, internal storage only at 49GB
10. Dual-axis gimbal, no more tilting in the wind. (Neo 1)
11. Obstacle sensing has a huge blind spot

Now, let me get into a bit more detail.

First Impressions and Design

The first thing I noticed about the DJI Neo 2 is how small it is. This thing is tiny. At 151g, it’s ridiculously light and genuinely pocket-sized. I regularly take it out on walks, and it barely registers in my jacket pocket. No backpack. No controller. No excuses.

I also like the darker grey colour, which is also a nice touch. It stands out much more easily against the UK grey skies. Small wins count, especially when the weather is doing its usual British thing.

Build quality feels solid and very DJI. It does not feel like a fragile toy, even though it very much sits in the fun end of the drone spectrum.

I love the follow-me capabilities, which are available on the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S, but this one seems a little more agile, and I’m less worried about it bumping into something. Mostly because the propellers are protected, but also because it’s a lot cheaper to replace if it does crash.

I also love the dual-axis gimbal, which is a very welcome upgrade from the Neo. I’ll talk about this more in the camera and video section.

Flying Experience and Controls

One of my favourite things about the Neo 2 is how flexible it is to fly. You can use it completely on its own with no controller, using hand gestures to launch, follow and land. Yes, you can literally hold your hand out, and it will land in your palm like some sort of robotic pigeon. It never gets old.

Hand Gesture Controls – Not so Good in Tight Spaces

The gesture controls work surprisingly well and make the drone ideal for quick selfies, short videos, and family shots. However, I found they can be hit and miss in tight spaces. Gesture control works much better in wide, open areas. When obstacles are nearby, it can become unresponsive, briefly locking onto your hand and then losing track.

Keep this in mind if you plan to use the drone indoors, in built-up areas, or in woods and forests. In open spaces, the controls feel natural and respond quickly to hand gestures. Here’s an example in my garden, where I couldn’t get the drone to respond to my hand gestures.

More Control Options – Smart Phone, DJI RC2 and Full FPV

If you want more control, you can connect it to your phone. This gives you extra flexibility and reassurance, especially when flying in slightly trickier environments. There are loads of options and manual controls to choose from.

Adding the Transceiver

Then there is the transceiver. For just £19, this little add-on massively upgrades the drone. With it, you unlock compatibility with the DJI RC 2, DJI Goggles 3, Goggles N3, Motion Controller 3 and the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3. It improves signal reliability, reduces latency and turns the Neo 2 into a proper FPV experience. Honestly, for the price, it is a no-brainer.

I don’t currently have goggles to use this drone in FPV mode, but I will be buying some when my budget allows. I want to fully experience this drone to its full potential. For now, I’m going to connect the Neo 2 to my DJI RC 2 controller that I purchased with my Mini 4 Pro. That’s the cool thing about the DJI RC 2, as it’s compatible with lots of different drones. See here for how to connect multiple drones to your DJI RC 2.

Camera and Video Quality

The DJI Neo 2 can now shoot 4K video at up to 60fps, a welcome upgrade over the original Neo, which could only manage 30fps at 4K. For a drone this size, the results are genuinely impressive. Colours look good, the footage is smooth, and it is more than enough for social media, family videos, and action shots.

The dual-axis gimbal is a nice upgrade for the Neo 2. The Neo had a single-axis gimbal and would tilt in the wind or when flying sideways. The dual-axis gimbal keeps the camera level at all times, which makes for a smoother flight experience.

That said, it is not a professional camera drone. There is no D-Log option, and the half-inch sensor, while decent, does not compete with the 1/1.3 inch sensor on the Mini 4 Pro or the 1-inch sensor on the Ais 3S. Read here why image sensor size is important. Image and video quality are noticeably lower if you compare them side by side. This is not the drone I would use for paid work.

Here are three still images. One from each of my drones, starting with the Neo 2. You can see a good comparison between them.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life is probably the biggest downside. I was getting around 10-12 minutes per battery, sometimes less. You will want spare batteries. Trust me. The Fly More Combo is well worth it unless you enjoy watching battery warnings more than flying.

Storage is also limited to 49GB of internal memory with no option for external cards, which I find a bit annoying. I like being able to transfer files quickly to my computer. I have also had some issues connecting the drone to my MacBook to transfer files, which was a bit annoying. It works eventually, but it is not as smooth as it should be. It seems to be an intermittent issue or something to do with the method I’m using.

It seems that most times when I connect the drone directly to my MacBook, the drone is recognised as ‘internal sto’, but upon opening the drive, nothing is displayed. Just an empty folder. Very frustrating. I’ve tried connecting the drone, then switching it on. I’ve tried switching the drone on, then connecting it to the computer. I’m just not having any luck! If anyone knows the answer please let me know. At the moment, I’m having to transfer files to my phone, then over to my computer.

Safety and Tracking – The Fundamental Flaw

Obstacle avoidance is basic. It exists, but do not trust it with your life. I managed to clip a tree branch while running, which was a humbling experience for both me and the drone. It got stuck in a tree, and we had to climb up to get it.

The Fundamental Flaw with the DJI Neo 2

The biggest issues with this drone are the massive blind spots to the sides. There are two sensors at the rear, one above and one below the body. Due to the design, the bottom sensor is obstructed by the landing feet.

I get it, they are there to protect the sensor when landing, but this design choice means the sensor can’t see huge areas to the side of the drone, which is made even worse when the drone is flying sideways, like when it is in circle mode, for example. Here’s a diagram to illustrate the issue.

You can also see examples of these blind spots when using follow mode, when the drone is circling behind the subject, whilst travelling downhill. I’ve seen it in skiing videos and biking videos. The drone is fine when simply following the subject, but as soon as it flies sideways, downhill, CRASH!

CRASH – Example of DJI Neo 2’s Blind Spot

The DJI Neo 2 has a significant blind spot on either side, especially when flying sideways. This video demonstrates where the drone was unable to sense the bush on this sloped landscape.

I’d personally be very careful flying the Neo 2 over water or anywhere else where retrieval is difficult or impossible.

Please note that obstacle avoidance when flying forwards or backwards is much better, as the sensors have a much better field of view.

Follow Me Mode and Tracking

Overall, I like the follow me mode with this drone; however, it’s worth noting a couple of things.

Follow me mode works well most of the time, but it did lose me once and ended up hovering in someone else’s garden. I was using the Neo 2 as the drone only, no controller of smart phone. It was set to follow me as I ran in and out of trees. During one tight turn, it lost me a flew forwards into someone’s garden. There was no easy way to retrieve it. Nothing says awkward quite like knocking on a stranger’s door to explain your drone is having a moment.

One other thing I noted is the smoothness of the flying. It’s not amazing. During a change of direction or slight wind, the drone does feel a little jerky. I’ve compared it to my Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S, and here are the comparisons. Here’s a quick video where I set each drone to circle mode and took a quick shot on each. What do you think of the tracking ability and video quality?

What I Love About the DJI Neo 2

• Extremely clever little drone – simple, intuitive, and fun
• Hand gesture controls are brilliant, especially for quick selfies and videos
• Travel light – no controller needed, though you can add one for more control
• Super portable – fits in a pocket and is perfect for spontaneous use
• Great for kids and beginners – easy to fly and not intimidating
• Highly versatile setup options:
  • Fly completely standalone
  • Use with an iPhone for more control
  • Pair with the transceiver to unlock advanced features
  • Full FPV drone when used with DJI Goggles 3 or Goggles N3 and Motion 3 or FPV Remote Controller 3
• Excellent value at £209 – incredible for what it offers (drone only price)
• On-drone button controls let you change settings without an app
• Palm landing is fantastic – just hold your hand out and it lands
• Darker grey colour is easier to see in gloomy UK skies (unfortunately relatable!)
• 4K video at up to 60fps, which wasn’t available on the original Neo

Things Worth Knowing Before Buying

While I really enjoy the Neo 2, there are some limitations worth knowing:

• No external storage – limited to 49GB internal storage only
• File transfer issues – I’ve had problems connecting it to my MacBook (Although this might be user error)
• Battery life is short – I was barely getting 12 minutes per battery
  • I’d strongly recommend the Fly More Combo for extra batteries
• Obstacle avoidance is basic – it crashed into the floor on multiple ocassions
• Follow Me mode isn’t perfect – it once lost me and hovered in someone’s garden until I reconnected
• No D-Log or flat profiles for video
• Image and video quality are noticeably below my DJI Mini 4 Pro
  • The half-inch sensor is decent, but this isn’t a professional camera drone

This is very much a fun, consumer-level drone, not a tool for paid work.

Final Verdict: Who Is the DJI Neo 2 For?

I really like the DJI Neo 2. It is clever, fun and incredibly easy to live with, but it’s not without a few limitations. It will not replace my Mini 4 Pro or Air 3S, but it was never meant to.

This drone is perfect for beginners, kids, families and anyone who wants exciting footage without the hassle. It is great for cycling, running, skiing, hiking and general outdoor adventures. It is also an excellent starter FPV drone and cheap enough that crashes do not ruin your week. Just be prepared to pull this one out of a tree or two.

If you want a serious filmmaking tool, look elsewhere. If you want a flying selfie stick with attitude that fits in your pocket and makes you smile every time you use it, the DJI Neo 2 absolutely delivers.