DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Mini 4K

The Neo 2 behaves like an automated personal camera: it follows a subject, launches from a palm and works with several control methods. The Mini 4K is a traditional folding drone built around flight time, three-axis stabilization and composing shots with a controller. Decide which of those you want before comparing anything else.

The Neo 2 uses a 1/2-inch 12 MP sensor at f/2.2; the Mini 4K a smaller 1/2.3-inch 12 MP sensor at f/2.8. On paper that gives the Neo 2 the edge in lower light. Its 119.8° field of view suits close follow shots and an FPV look, while the Mini 4K's 83° view gives a more conventional aerial perspective that is easier to compose for scenery.

The Neo 2 records 4K at up to 60fps, 4K slow motion at up to 100fps (with a compatible motion controller or remote controller), and 2.7K portrait video at up to 60fps. The Mini 4K records 4K at up to 30fps and 2.7K at up to 60fps. Its 100 Mbps bitrate is higher than the Neo 2's 80 Mbps, though bitrate alone doesn't decide image quality. For stills, only the Mini 4K shoots DNG RAW.

The Neo 2's two-axis gimbal stabilizes tilt and roll, with electronic stabilization handling the rest; with stabilization off, supported clips can be processed in Gyroflow. The Mini 4K's three-axis gimbal also controls pan, which helps with slow, manually composed moves and a level horizon through turns.

The Neo 2 supports ActiveTrack (including a cycling option), Spotlight and Point of Interest, plus SelfieShot, Dolly Zoom, MasterShots and QuickShots. Gesture control and Return to Palm let you grab common shots without a controller. The Mini 4K has QuickShots and panoramas but no comparable follow-me system.

For sensing, the Neo 2 combines omnidirectional monocular vision with a forward LiDAR and downward infrared, which supports braking and avoidance while tracking. The Mini 4K only has downward sensors for positioning and landing, so you need to check QuickShot routes yourself and leave extra room around trees and cables. The Neo 2's system still struggles with darkness, reflective surfaces, water, low-detail objects and speed, and its guards reduce contact damage without making crashes harmless.

The Mini 4K is rated for 31 minutes, 16 m/s and a 15.7 km maximum flight distance. The Neo 2 is rated for about 19 minutes without guards and 17 with them, 12 m/s, and a 7 km maximum flight distance.

On range, the Neo 2 reaches 500 m over Wi-Fi (FCC). With the optional Digital Transceiver and a compatible controller or goggles it uses O4 at up to 10 km FCC and 6 km CE, SRRC and MIC, though its 7 km flight-distance rating means the battery runs out first. The Mini 4K lists the same 10 km and 6 km figures on O2 without any add-on.

The Neo 2 weighs 151 g (without the transceiver) against 246 g for the Mini 4K, but its fixed guarded frame measures 147×171×41 mm, while the Mini 4K folds to 138×81×58 mm. The lighter drone isn't the smaller one in a bag.

Both are under 250 g. In the US, recreational flyers generally qualify for the FAA's registration weight exception, but any drone flown under Part 107 must be registered. In the EU both are camera-equipped C0 drones, so the operator generally must register with the national aviation authority and fly under A1 rules. The registration-by-weight guide has more detail.