Right after Christmas, I took the plunge and got myself a DJI Neo, drawn in by the promise of its ‘Follow’ feature and low price £169*. I was eager to use it for my outdoor passions: walking, road biking, and mountain biking. After putting it through its paces, here are my first impressions.

Straight Out of the Box: Follow Mode Success!

The DJI Neo is impressively compact – batteries in, box open, and I was ready to go. The first thing I tested was the ‘Follow’ feature. Hopping on my road bike and cycling up and down my street, I was immediately impressed. The Neo tracked my route perfectly, keeping pace and direction. So far, so good!

Ambleside Adventures: ‘Dronies’ and ‘Helixes’ in the Lake District

My first real outing was a visit to Ambleside in the Lake District. Standing with my family overlooking the stunning lake, I launched the Neo in ‘Dronie’ mode. The result? A brilliant photo, something simply impossible to capture with a phone selfie. The aerial perspective was incredible. The next morning, in a field by some Roman ruins, I tried the ‘Helix’ mode. Again, the Neo delivered, capturing a fantastic video spiraling upwards, taking in the field, the ruins, the mountains, and the lake – a truly panoramic shot. The DJI Neo was already proving its worth.

Mountain Biking Debut at Peel Tower

Fast forward a few weeks to a sunny Saturday, March 1st, 2025. It was time for the DJI Neo’s mountain biking debut. Size-wise, it’s a winner. This thing is tiny! It easily slipped into my backpack, and I could even see it fitting in a coat pocket. Arriving at the cobbled climb at the bottom of Peel Tower, I decided to test the ‘Follow|Flat’ mode, perfect for the low tree cover on that section. Launching the drone, it performed brilliantly, tracking me halfway up the climb without a hitch. Further up, I grabbed another ‘Dronie’, this time with my bike and the valley stretching out behind me – video number two in the bag!

Reaching the summit, I wanted to push the Neo further on the downhill. Switching to ‘Follow|Far|High’ mode, which keeps the drone about 10 meters back and higher up, I started my descent down the steep hill. The Neo kept up the whole way, only momentarily snagging on a tree for a split second before continuing its flawless follow. At the bottom, I still had a whopping 60% battery left!

Amazing Little Drone, Big Impact

This little drone is genuinely amazing. I’m completely sold. It’s pocket-sized, easy to use, and the follow modes work like a charm. From now on, the DJI Neo is coming everywhere with me.

A Couple of Things to Note

There are just two things I’d advise being aware of: wind speed and cycling speed. Avoid using it in winds over 12 mph, and keep your cycling speed under 20 mph. But honestly, for the price of only £169*, the DJI Neo is superb value for money.

If you’re considering buying one, take my advice and go for the ‘Fly More Combo’. Having the controller, two batteries, and the charger would be even better than the standard package.

Don’t just take my word for it though – check out my video below and see the DJI Neo in action for yourself!

What are your experiences?

If you’re already using a drone for your outdoor activities, or especially if you’ve tried the DJI Neo, I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips! What are your favourite modes and any advice you’d share for getting the best footage? Let me know in the comments!

* Price at time of press.