In 2017, DJI launched the Spark, a compact, palm-sized drone designed specifically for social media enthusiasts. With its gesture control features and an affordable price point below $500, it quickly became known as the “selfie drone.” Despite gaining a dedicated fan base, the Spark was discontinued in 2019, making way for the Mavic Mini, DJI’s smallest folding consumer drone.
This week at IFA Berlin, DJI is back with another small drone, the Neo. Like the Spark, one of Neo’s standout features is its ability to land in the palm of the user’s hand, underscoring its ultra-compact design. Weighing just 135 grams (0.3 pounds), DJI claims it is the “most compact and lightest” drone they have ever produced. This makes it significantly lighter than both the Spark (300 grams) and the Mavic Mini (249 grams). However, its small size does come with limitations, including a battery life of just 18 minutes per charge.
Unlike the Mavic Mini series, the Neo is not intended as a direct replacement. Instead, its emphasis on remote-free control and palm landing positions it squarely in the social media and influencer market, much like the Spark before it. Similar to the now-discontinued Snap Pixy, the Neo is aimed at casual users seeking simplicity and portability.
The potential market for such compact drones is uncertain, but DJI’s return to this category is notable. The Neo features fully enclosed blades, enhancing safety for beginners—a lesson learned after early users of the Spark reported minor injuries. Its navigation relies heavily on AI-powered subject tracking and offers several preset shooting modes, including Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang.
Currently, the Neo is available for pre-order in the U.S., but the shipping date has yet to be announced. The base model is priced at $199, while a bundle that includes three extra batteries is offered at $289.
