We recently reviewed the DJI Neo, which is an excellent drone for beginners looking to explore and operate a drone. When it was launched in the Philippines, we were informed that it was selling out rapidly, both as a standalone unit and in the Fly More Bundle. Now, they are introducing a way to convert your DJI Neo into an FPV drone, making it an even better option for those starting in FPV flying. Let’s explore the capabilities of the DJI Neo as an FPV drone.
The Goggles and RC Motion Controller
To use the DJI Neo as an FPV drone, you need the Goggles and Motion Controller. We have the DJI Goggles N3 and DJI RC Motion 3, which will be available for purchase individually or as a bundle with the DJI Neo, allowing you to upgrade your existing DJI Neo if you have already purchased it.
The DJI Goggles N3 features a different design compared to the included goggles of the DJI Avata 2. Aside from its aesthetics, it has slightly reduced specifications. The N3 has a single 3.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p and a refresh rate of 60Hz, in contrast to the DJI Goggles 3, which boasts two 0.49-inch displays with the same resolution and a refresh rate of 100Hz. Additionally, the N3 offers a wider FOV of 54 degrees, compared to the 44 degrees found in the Goggles 3.
In terms of video transmission, the DJI Goggles N3 utilizes O4 technology with a frequency range of 2.400-2.4835 GHz, 5.150-5.250 GHz, and 5.725-5.850 GHz, which is the same as the Goggles 3. For recording, the Goggles N3 supports MP4 and MOV video coding formats, has a panoramic video option, and can record at 4K@60fps. The microSD card slot located at the top front of the Goggles N3 supports microSD cards of up to 512GB.
As for the controls, the DJI RC Motion 3 remains unchanged from what is found with the DJI Avata 2. Therefore, if you have experience flying with the DJI Avata 2, you should have a similar experience flying the DJI Neo with the DJI RC Motion 3.
DJI Neo as FPV Drone Experience
When you first operate the FPV feature of the DJI Neo, it will present a tutorial that guides you through all the settings and instructions on how to operate it. After successfully finishing the tutorial, the drone will set itself to Beginner Mode, which has a slower speed. You can switch this off once you feel confident with its controls.
For my first FPV flight experience, I practiced in my room while completing the necessary firmware updates. Pairing the device was quite challenging, as no documentation was provided. However, I found helpful resources on YouTube, where some users had already connected the DJI Goggles 3, included with the Avata 2. I followed the same procedure they used for the Goggles N3. Hopefully, the retail version will include a manual, as our demo box did not.
The speed we can achieve with the DJI Neo is around 6 m/s, and its manual ascent speed is only 0.5 m/s. However, you can increase the altitude to ascend at approximately 2 m/s.
The features available for FPV are quite minimal and do not match what the DJI Avata 2 can accomplish. Nevertheless, it provides a valuable experience in operating an FPV system with the DJI Neo. Therefore, it is commendable that DJI created this drone, as it introduces users to the world of drones and FPV flying.
I would like to note that if you already have a DJI RC-N3 remote controller, which is bundled with the DJI Neo in the Fly More Combo or purchased separately, unfortunately, you cannot connect it to the Goggles N3, as it can only connect with the DJI RC Motion 3.
Price and Availability
The DJI Goggles N3 and DJI RC Motion 3 are available for purchase either separately or as a bundle. You can buy the DJI Goggles N3 for Php 12,190 and the DJI RC Motion 3 for Php 4,790. The DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo is priced at Php 28,490.
