DJI Neo 2 Announced – Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, 4K/100fps, 12 m/s Tracking

DJI has unveiled the NEO 2, a beginner-friendly observe me digital camera drone launching globally at present (besides within the US…) that addresses nearly each limitation of its predecessor. The light-weight 151g drone options full omnidirectional impediment sensing with forward-facing LiDAR, a 2-axis mechanical gimbal, 4K video at as much as 100fps, and monitoring speeds reaching 12 m/s. Further highlights embody 49GB inside storage, gesture management 2.0 with return to palm performance, a brand new SelfieShot mode, and an non-compulsory O4 digital transceiver for prolonged 10km transmission vary. Pricing begins at £209 / €239 / AU$409 for the drone-only package deal, although the NEO 2 is not going to be formally out there in america market at launch.The DJI Neo 2 systematically fixes the primary era’s ache factors. The place the unique supplied palm takeoff however no impediment avoidance, the NEO 2 supplies omnidirectional sensing. The place monitoring topped out at jogging velocity, the NEO 2 follows cyclists and intermediate skiers. The brand new mannequin provides a built-in display and mode choice buttons, enabling mode adjustments with out connecting to the DJI Fly app. Full-coverage propeller guards stay normal with removable, replaceable elements.Omnidirectional impediment sensing addresses the largest weaknessThe single most important improve tackles the unique Neo’s full absence of impediment avoidance. The NEO 2 implements an omnidirectional monocular imaginative and prescient system paired with downward infrared sensing and forward-facing LiDAR. The ahead LiDAR supplies 0.3-8m measurement vary with 60-degree horizontal and vertical FOV, whereas imaginative and prescient sensors detect obstacles from 0.5-15m in all instructions.This transforms the NEO 2 from a drone requiring fixed visible monitoring into one executing automated flight modes safely. For first-time customers, omnidirectional sensing supplies real peace of thoughts throughout palm operations. Past impediment detection, the improved sensors allow steady hovering over water, close to constructing edges, on snow, and at cliff edges, eventualities that beforehand prompted drift and positioning instability with the unique’s restricted downward imaginative and prescient system.The DJI NEO 2 will get omnidirectional impediment sensing, which the unique Neo was lacking. Picture credit score: DJITracking reaches motion sports activities speedsMaximum monitoring velocity jumps from 8 m/s to 12 m/s (43 km/h), crossing into sensible motion sports activities documentation. The sooner monitoring accommodates informal biking and intermediate snowboarding, eventualities the place the primary era couldn’t preserve tempo. DJI optimized the algorithm particularly for biking with sooner response instances and extra dependable topic locking, plus steady pursuit throughout dramatic directional adjustments in snowboarding runs.Customers can regulate the drone’s place throughout monitoring utilizing gesture management with out interrupting flight. Single-hand palm gestures management left/proper positioning and altitude, whereas dual-hand gestures regulate distance. This eliminates touchdown and repositioning for angle changes. The omnidirectional sensing integrates with sooner monitoring, enabling entrance and aspect angles with collision avoidance lively all through pursuit.Topic monitoring now additionally works effectively for outside sports activities due to the elevated speeds the DJI NEO 2 can fly with. Picture credit score: DJIImage high quality and stabilization upgradesThe 1/2-inch CMOS sensor now pairs with a 2-axis mechanical gimbal overlaying tilt and roll, in comparison with single-axis on the unique. This dual-axis stabilization works alongside RockSteady EIS for smoother footage. The gimbal supplies -90 to 70-degree controllable tilt vary with 100 levels per second most velocity and ±0.01-degree angular vibration vary.Video specs attain 4K (3840×2880) at 60fps in 4:3 format by way of Wi-Fi, with 100fps functionality in each 4K 16:9 (3840×2160) and 1080p when paired with a distant controller. For vertical content material, the NEO 2 captures 2.7K decision (1512×2688) at 60fps, considerably improved from the unique’s 1080p vertical capturing. This 2.7K footage comes from the 4:3 sensor with out cropping.Portrait mode optimization robotically enhances facial brightness, adjusts distinction, and optimizes pores and skin tones when monitoring people in ActiveTrack, QuickShots, or SelfieShot modes. Most video bitrate reaches 80 Mbps. The NEO 2 continues JPEG-only for stills at 12MP decision (4000×3000 in 4:3 or 4000×2250 in 16:9).SelfieShot automates group photographyThe new SelfieShot function addresses {couples}, households, or good friend teams wanting photographs with out recruiting strangers or organising tripods. The mode helps single and group topics with three framing choices: waist-up, full-body, and extensive pictures. The drone handles composition and digital camera motion robotically with portrait optimization making certain well-lit faces and pure pores and skin tones. This transforms the NEO 2 from simply an motion monitoring software right into a complete content material creation companion for journey and household occasions.The drone could be operated with gestures, with out controller, and likewise has a show built-in that reveals the present mode that’s chosen. Picture credit score: DJIEnhanced gesture management with return to palmGesture management expands past the unique’s palm takeoff. Face the drone with a single palm to regulate lateral motion and altitude. Prolong each palms and transfer them aside to ship the drone farther, or carry them collectively to attract it nearer, working in Highlight and Observe modes for real-time composition changes.The system extends to topic switching throughout flight. One other particular person dealing with the drone with palm prolonged triggers a blue LED flash confirming profitable recognition, then switches monitoring to the brand new topic with out touchdown. Return to palm performance reverses takeoff autonomously. Stand dealing with the drone with palm prolonged, and as soon as recognition succeeds (blue LED flash), the NEO 2 robotically flies again and lands in your hand.Storage doubles, switch speeds accelerateInternal storage greater than doubles from 22GB to 49GB, offering roughly 105 minutes at 4K/60fps or 175 minutes at 4K/30fps. Wi-Fi 6 connectivity permits obtain speeds as much as 80 MB/s throughout QuickTransfer, downloading full storage contents in roughly 11 minutes. The drone makes use of exFAT file system however doesn’t help microSD card enlargement, requiring common offloading to handle the fastened 49GB capability.Whereas the DJI NEO 2 could be operated with gestures or by way of Wifi with a telephone, utilizing the non-compulsory distant unlocks a wider flight vary and even increased body fee recording. Picture credit score: DJIFlight efficiency specificationsMaximum flight time reaches 19 minutes with out propeller guards (17 minutes with guards), a one-minute enchancment over the unique’s 18-minute spec. Every absolutely charged battery permits a minimum of 20 palm takeoff and touchdown cycles utilizing Circle, Rocket, and Dronie modes. Battery capability will increase from 1430 mAh to 1606 mAh, with direct charging requiring roughly 70 minutes from 0-100% at 15W most energy. The 2-way charging hub costs three batteries concurrently in about 68 minutes when provided with 60W energy.Wind resistance improves from Stage 4 (8 m/s) to Stage 5 (10.7 m/s). The 151g weight (160g with non-compulsory digital transceiver) in comparison with the unique’s 135g doesn’t considerably impression flight, whereas enhanced motors and sensing ship extra assured dealing with. Most horizontal speeds attain 12 m/s in Sport mode and monitoring, up from 8 m/s. Ascent speeds climb to five m/s in Sport mode (versus 3 m/s beforehand), whereas descent stays capped at 3 m/s. Most takeoff altitude stays at 2000m above sea stage.The gimbal was upgraded from one to 2 axis with the DJI NEO 2. Picture credit score: DJITransmission choices increase with O4Standard NEO 2 depends on Wi-Fi with 500m efficient vary, matching the unique for typical leisure use. The non-compulsory DJI NEO 2 Digital Transceiver module permits O4 video transmission, extending vary to 10km (FCC) or 6km (CE/SRRC/MIC) in unobstructed environments. Dwell view reaches 1080p/100fps with DJI Goggles 3 at 50ms minimal latency, 1080p/60fps with Goggles N3 at 54ms latency, or 1080p/60fps with RC-N3/RC 2 controllers at 120ms latency.The O4 system operates throughout 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands with 60MHz most bandwidth and 2T2R antenna configuration supporting 60 Mbps video bitrates. Controller compatibility spans the RC-N3, RC-N2, and RC 2 for traditional operation, plus Goggles 3 or Goggles N3 with RC Movement 3 or FPV Distant Controller 3 for immersive guide flight.QuickShots and extra featuresSix QuickShots modes present pre-programmed actions together with Dronie, Circle, Rocket, and Boomerang. The brand new Hitchcock impact (dolly zoom) creates distinctive foreground/background perspective shifts for dramatic social content material. MasterShots captures a number of pictures with assorted actions, then robotically edits footage with music for polished closing movies.Voice Management 2.0 affords enhanced recognition accuracy. When paired with Bluetooth earphones or an Apple Watch, customers concern fundamental instructions throughout biking or snowboarding when palms stay occupied. The built-in display and mode buttons allow full configuration with out smartphone or controller connection.The triple charger included with the Fly Extra combo may be very small and straightforward to take alongside. Picture credit score: DJIDJI NEO 2 vs. unique DJI NeoThe NEO 2 addresses nearly each main limitation. Impediment avoidance transforms from zero to omnidirectional sensing with LiDAR. Monitoring velocity elevated 50% from 8 m/s to 12 m/s. Stabilization upgraded from single-axis to dual-axis gimbal. Video jumped from 4K/30fps to 4K/100fps. Vertical video improved from 1080p to 2.7K. Storage doubled from 22GB to 49GB.Weight elevated modestly from 135g to 151g (160g with transceiver), remaining beneath most registration thresholds. Flight time improved marginally from 18 to 19 minutes. Wind resistance upgraded from Stage 4 to Stage 5. Battery capability grew from 1430 mAh to 1606 mAh, although charging time elevated from 50 to 70 minutes. Positioning instability over water, snow, and edges resolves by way of enhanced sensing. The non-compulsory O4 transceiver supplies prolonged vary unavailable on the Wi-Fi-only unique.Pricing and availabilityThe DJI Neo 2 launches with 4 package deal configurations at various value factors. The drone-only package deal retails for £209 / €239 / AU$409, representing a modest premium over the unique Neo’s £169 entry value. This fundamental configuration contains the drone, one battery, and propeller guards however no distant controller or charging hub.The DJI NEO 2 Fly Extra Combo (Drone Solely) retails for £289 / €329 / AU$549, including extra batteries and the two-way charging hub whereas sustaining controller-free operation. For customers wanting distant management functionality, the usual DJI NEO 2 Fly Extra Combo retails for £349 / €399 / AU$709, bundling the RC-N3 controller with three batteries and charging hub. The highest-tier DJI NEO 2 Movement Fly Extra Combo retails for £509 / €579 / AU$989, together with goggles and movement controller for immersive FPV flight.The DJI NEO 2 Fly Extra Combo together with the RC-N3 controller comes at an aggressive value. Picture credit score: DJINotably, the DJI Neo 2 is not going to launch in america market by way of official channels. Based on a DJI spokesperson, “The DJI NEO 2 is not going to be formally out there within the US market by way of official web sites following the worldwide launch on November 13. DJI stays dedicated to the U.S. market and is optimizing our technique to greatest serve our clients amidst evolving native situations.” This follows ongoing regulatory tensions (together with the approaching DJI US ban on all DJI merchandise) affecting DJI’s US operations, although the corporate has not specified when or if US availability would possibly materialize.Does the omnidirectional impediment sensing make this a real newbie drone now, or do the monitoring enhancements matter extra for motion sports activities? Will the 2-axis gimbal justify upgrading from the unique Neo? And the way considerably will the US market absence impression DJI’s client drone technique? Don’t hesitate to tell us within the feedback beneath!