DJI Neo 2: the flying camera crew
that films your ride

If you love cycling, you know the problem: the best parts of your ride never get captured properly. An action camera on the handlebars only shows tarmac, and holding a phone is not an option. The DJI Neo 2 solves this in a surprisingly simple way. This drone weighs just 151 grams, takes off from your palm, picks its position behind or beside you and keeps following while you pedal (Oscar Liang).

I focused on the Fly More Combo with three batteries and the charging hub, because that bundle is exactly what turns a fun toy into a usable flying camera crew.

How well the Neo 2 follows a cyclist

The Neo 2 has a reworked ActiveTrack with tracking from eight directions and a maximum following speed of 12 m/s, roughly 43 km/h. That is plenty for a regular e-bike at 25 km/h; on a speed pedelec at full pace you are close to the limit (Quadcopter-shop).

The biggest leap sits up front: the Neo 2 sees with LiDAR plus extra sensors all around, where the first Neo had no obstacle sensing at all. That keeps the drone far more composed along a treeline or between bushes (T3).

• Palm takeoff and Return-to-Palm: launch and land on your hand, no controller needed.
• Voice control: commands in English or Mandarin, together with your phone.
• Audio alerts: the drone beeps on low battery or when it loses track of you — handy when your eyes are on the road.
• Video: 4K up to 60 frames per second, with a 1/2-inch sensor and a two-axis mechanical gimbal plus RockSteady stabilisation.

See for yourself: the Neo 2 in cycling follow mode

The Led Zippo channel put the cycling follow mode to the test. Watch how the drone cuts corners and how it reacts to trees along the road.

Video: DJI Neo 2: Cycling Follow (How good is it?) from the Led Zippo channel.

Why you really need those three batteries

On paper the Neo 2 manages 19 minutes per 1606 mAh battery. In practice it is less: with the transceiver module fitted and constant tracking you land closer to 13 to 15 minutes, and heavy accelerating and altitude changes eat into that further (Oscar Liang, TechRadar).

Three batteries therefore give you roughly 45 minutes to an hour of footage per ride. That is exactly the difference between attempting one shot and calmly filming several passes.

The charging hub: three batteries full in just over an hour

The two-way charging hub in the combo charges three batteries at once and also works as a power bank for your phone. With a 65-watt charger, three empty batteries are full again in about 68 minutes (DJI Store).

Do watch your charger's output. Above 45 watts the hub charges all three batteries at once; between 30 and 45 watts only two; below 30 watts it works through them one by one, starting with the fullest. An old 18-watt phone charger is a bad idea. Charging inside the drone runs at up to 15 watts and takes about 70 minutes for a single battery.

What is in the Fly More Combo?

The Dutch Fly More Combo is complete: alongside the three batteries and the charging hub you also get the RC-N3 controller, which in some other countries is a pricier variant.

• 1x DJI Neo 2 drone and 1x digital transceiver
• 3x intelligent flight battery + 1x two-way charging hub (65 W)
• 1x RC-N3 controller with USB-C and Lightning cables
• 1 pair of spare propellers, 1 pair of propeller guards, screws and a screwdriver
• Gimbal protector and a USB-C data cable

What is not included: a carrying case and a memory-card slot. The Neo 2 has 49 GB of internal storage, good for well over an hour and a half of 4K/60 footage, so offloading over USB-C becomes part of the routine.

Prices: drone only or the full combo?

Conclusion

The DJI Neo 2 is no substitute for a big camera drone: the gimbal has two axes instead of three, there is no D-Log profile, and you should not ask too much of it in wind. But as a flying camera crew for your bike rides it is unbeatably easy. Go for the Fly More Combo with three batteries and the charging hub and the brakes come off: you film an entire ride instead of a single shot, and over a long coffee break a 65 W charger tops up all three batteries in just over an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a controller for follow mode? No. Palm launch, gestures and voice control work with your phone or even entirely without. The RC-N3 that comes with the regular Fly More Combo does give the best range and the finest control.

Can it keep up with a speed pedelec? It tracks up to roughly 43 km/h, so an e-bike at 25 km/h is no problem. A speed pedelec at 45 km/h will outrun it.

Can I add a memory card? No, there is only 49 GB of internal storage. Copy your footage to a laptop or phone over USB-C after every ride.

Sources

• DJI Store — Neo 2 Fly More Combo (contents, charging times)
• Oscar Liang — DJI Neo 2 review (weight, sensors, storage)
• TechRadar — DJI Neo 2 review (real-world flight time)
• T3 — DJI Neo 2 review (LiDAR and obstacle sensing)
• Quadcopter-shop — specifications and tracking modes
• Coolblue — current Neo 2 prices
• Dutch government — registering as a drone operator