DJI Neo – Initial Setup Guide (with Video)

Combo Package

• DJI Neo
• Intelligent Flight Battery x 3
• Charging Hub
• Spare propeller x 2
• Screwdriver
• USB-C charging and data cable

Our Pick

DJI RC-N3 Combo Package

• DJI Neo
• DJI RC-N3 Remote Controller
• Intelligent Flight Battery x 3
• Charging Hub
• Spare propeller x 2
• Screwdriver
• USB-C charging and data cable

The DJI Neo

Looking at the Neo, we see it is quite small in hand and is very lightweight.

Starting with the front, a small gimbal guard protects the Neo’s single-axis gimbal. 

Unlike traditional camera drones, which generally have three-axis gimbals, the single-axis gimbal on the Neo is electronically stabilized. 

The stabilization on the DJI Neo is similar to that of DJI’s action cameras, which utilize DJI’s proprietary EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) technology.

To remove the gimbal cover, simply press down on the cover with 2 fingers and pull the cover off.

Continuing around the drone, we see two buttons: one on the rear and one towards the front. The button towards the front is used to choose the various autonomous flight modes. 

The DJI Neo intelligent flight modes are:

• Follow Me
• Dronie
• Circle
• Rocket
• Spotlight
• Custom – this allows the user to define exactly what the flight mode does

To choose the flight mode, press the selection button until you locate your desired mode. 

The button on the rear of the Neo is dual-purpose: it turns the Neo on and off and is also used to pair the Neo with a physical remote control. 

To power on the Neo, press the power button once then hold it, you will hear an audible tone and see the LED light up. To turn the Neo off, you would press the power button once and then hold it. 

Below the power button on the back, there is a USB-C port that can be used to:

• charge the battery when installed in the Neo
• update the Neo’s firmware, using the supplied data and charging cable – which we’ll discuss further in this article, and
• transfer footage from the internal storage to a computer or mobile device

Regarding internal storage, you’ll notice there is no SD card slot on the Neo.

This is because, like the non-Pro versions of DJI’s Mini drones, the Neo does not use Micro SD cards. All footage from the Neo is saved on 22 GB of internal storage.

Thankfully, in addition to accessing the footage from a PC or Mac, footage can be wirelessly transferred to a mobile device using DJI’s QuickTransfer feature.

Sensors

At the bottom of the Neo, there are infrared vision sensors. These sensors help the Neo remain stable and maintain a steady hover. 

Although the Neo does a great job tracking subjects, it does not have obstacle avoidance sensors. The lack of these sensors can result in a crash if flying close to obstacles.

Intelligent Flight Batteries

The intelligent flight batteries provide the Neo with up to 17 minutes of flight time, with the prop guards installed. 

If the propeller guards are removed, the flight time increases to 18 minutes. Of course, flight times will vary based on actual flight conditions.

To remove the battery, press the tab and slide out the battery. To put the battery back in, align the grooves on the battery with those on the Neo and slide the battery in. You’ll hear a click when the battery sits correctly.

To Charge the Batteries

There are two different ways to charge the Neo’s batteries.

Sadly, as with most of DJIs newest drones, a wall charger is not included. While DJI suggests using their 65-watt charger, we’ve found that any 65-watt or even 100-watt PD charger’s will work well.

If you have the Drone Only kit, you will need to charge the battery while it is inserted into the Neo.

To charge the single battery within the Neo, locate the USB-C port at the rear of the Neo. Plug the supplied USB-C charging cable into the port and then into your charger.

If you have either of the Combo Packages, with the three batteries and battery hub, you will be able to charge all three batteries, simultaneously, in the hub. This can be done with any charger rated 45 watts or higher.

To check how much battery power is left in the batteries, while in the charging hub, press the power button on the side of the hub.

To charge the batteries within the battery hub, ensure they are fully seated in the hub. Plug the charger into an outlet and then plug in the supplied USB-C cable into the hub. After a moment you will see the batteries begin to charge.

If you opted for the combo with the RC-N3 remote controller, you will also need to charge the RC.

To charge the RC-N3 Remote Controller, locate the USB-C port on the bottom of the controller and plug it in. 

When charging starts, the LEDs on the front of the remote controller will begin to blink, signifying charging.

DJI Fly Software

With all of the batteries charged and ready to go, there is a very important step needed to start flying the Neo.

Yes, the Neo is unique in that it doesn’t need a controller or a phone to fly, however, to fly the Neo, you will need to activate it and update the firmware, using your phone. 

To do this, you will need to have the DJI Fly app installed on your phone.

If using an iPhone, you can search for the DJI Fly app in the Apple App Store.

The DJI Fly app for Android is only available online on DJI’s site.

Where to Download DJI Fly

If you are using either an Android or iOS phone, the links to download the DJI Fly app are as follows:

Additionally, from your smartphone, you can do a Google Search for “DJI Download Center”.

In the results, choose DJI Fly and you will be brought to the software downloads page.

Note: the DJI Fly app for Android is only available online at the link above, and is no longer available in the Google Play store, whereas the iOS version for Apple devices is accessible via the App Store.

Activating the DJI Neo

STEP 1: After you’ve installed the DJI Fly app, open DJI Fly. Next turn on the Neo by pressing the power button once, then holding the power button.

STEP 2: On the left of the main DJI Fly home screen, you will see a glowing outline around the message: “QuickTransfer – New DJI-NEO-xxxx detected”. Tap that box.

The Neo will now start the process of connecting to the DJY Fly app, via WiFi.

STEP 3: Press and hold the power button on the Neo for 3 seconds. After a few seconds, you should be presented with the option to join the Neo’s WiFi network. – press JOIN.

After a few seconds, the Neo will be paired with the DJI Fly app.

STEP 4: On the Activate DJI Device screen, choose ACTIVATE. At this point either log in with your DJI account if you have one or create a new account.

Once logged in, the Neo will begin activating. You can either choose to Bind the Activation code or SKIP. After you make your choice, you’ll be brought back to the main DJI Fly home screen.

Installing the Neo Firmware

At this point, you will need to install the new Neo Firmware. 

At the main DJI Fly home screen, choose INSTALL (on the right side of the screen) to begin the process. Tap DOWNLOAD and the new firmware will begin installing on the Neo.

The process can take a few minutes to complete. After 100% completion, the firmware will be fully installed.

If your Neo does not automatically restart after the firmware has been updated, turn the Neo back on, then tap CONNECT on the main screen.

You will then be brought into the Neo section of DJI fly where you can either watch a few getting started tutorials or skip to the main page with options to change the parameters of the various intelligent flight modes.