Memorial Day. You know what that means. Grills are hot, families are annoyed, and tech sales are bleeding out inventory. DJI joined the mix. They cut the price on their newest toy. The DJI Neo.
It used to sit just under $200 on Amazon. Not exactly luxury, but not dirt cheap either. Today, May 19? It dropped $30. You pick it up for $169. Fifteen percent off. Small change? Maybe. For a beginner? It changes everything.
Here is why this matters. Most people hear “drone” and think “hobbyist tax.” They think of expensive gear that breaks if you look at it wrong. This one? It weighs 135 grams. Light. Too light to worry about the FAA. No registration required. No Remote ID tag needed. Just buy it and fly it. How is that even possible?
The tech is solid enough, though. You want 4K video? You get it. DJI’s stabilization software smooths out the shakiness, so your vlog doesn’t look like a car crash. There are wind gusts in level-4 resistance. That is more than enough for backyard tinkering. The props have full coverage guards, too, because yes, you will hit a tree.
“It supports subject tracking.”
That means it follows you. You have eight QuickShots modes. It’s automated content creation for people who hate editing. You can talk to it (English and Chinese voices, oddly enough). Or use the app. Or ignore the controller entirely and just launch it with your phone. Versatile. Or lazy. Take your pick.
Now, let’s address the elephant. Or rather, the import restrictions. Everyone is whispering about the new US rules. Are they gone? No. Will they disappear from shelves tomorrow? No, at least not the stock sitting there now. These new laws hit future imports. What’s in the warehouse today? Fair game. Retailers have stock. It’s still available. It’s still usable.
So you have a choice. Wait and see what happens in six months when the regulatory landscape shifts completely. Or buy the $169 toy now. While it’s still legal and in stock.
The deal won’t last forever. Nothing ever does.
The camera is good. The price is worse. For us, I mean. But we bought one anyway. Did I mention the propellers glow in the dark?
