The DJI Neo 2 review comes down to one question: does it make filming an eMTB ride easier, or does it become another gadget that spends most of its time at home?

After using it to film solo riding, the answer is largely positive. The DJI Neo 2 is small enough to carry without resenting the extra weight, quick enough to launch without interrupting the ride and capable of producing genuinely useful follow footage without needing another person behind the camera.

That simplicity is its biggest strength. Palm take-off, automatic tracking and controller-free shooting lower the barrier between deciding you want a clip and actually recording one. Instead of planning an entire ride around filming, the Neo 2 can be pulled from a bag, launched for a short section and packed away again.

It is not completely carefree. Dense woodland remains a serious challenge, fine branches can defeat the obstacle-detection system and changing modes without the controller can feel more awkward than it should. Battery life also makes far more sense when you buy the three-battery package.

However, the core experience is excellent. For eMTB riders who want third-person footage without turning every trail ride into a production, the DJI Neo 2 is one of the most convincing compact follow drones available.

DJI Neo 2: Review

Setup and ease of use

The best thing about the DJI Neo 2 is how little friction there is between deciding you want a shot and actually recording it.

That sounds simple, but it is what separates a useful trail-filming tool from a drone that spends most of its life packed away. Traditional drones often require a controller, phone connection, suitable take-off area and several minutes of preparation. By that point, the flow of the ride has already disappeared.

The Neo 2 is different. It can launch directly from your palm, perform an automatic flight and return without needing a conventional take-off area. This is particularly valuable on muddy UK trails where there may be nowhere clean or level to place a drone.

The onboard controls allow you to choose a shooting mode before launch, while gesture controls can adjust its direction and distance. For quick follow clips, this makes the Neo 2 feel less like a traditional drone and more like a flying action camera.

It is also small enough to carry on rides where filming is not the main purpose. That matters. A technically superior drone has little value if it is too large, fragile or inconvenient to bring with you.

The propeller guards add confidence when handling and launching it, while the compact shape fits more easily into a riding pack than a conventional folding camera drone. It feels like equipment you can realistically bring on a normal eMTB loop rather than something reserved for dedicated filming days.

The controller-free system is not perfect. Moving through modes using the buttons on the drone can feel slow, particularly when you are trying to select a precise shot before riding a section. Gesture control is useful, but it does not offer the same certainty or accuracy as using the RC-N3.

For quick follow shots, palm control is excellent. For precise positioning, camera adjustment and more deliberate filming, the controller remains the better option.

Tracking an eMTB

Tracking is the reason most mountain bikers will consider the DJI Neo 2, and it is where the drone makes the strongest impression.

In suitable conditions, the Neo 2 tracks remarkably well. It follows changes in speed and direction convincingly and gives enough confidence that you can concentrate on riding rather than constantly turning around to check whether the drone is still there.

That confidence is vital. A follow drone only works if the rider trusts it enough to focus on the trail. Constantly worrying about whether it has lost you defeats the point of automatic filming.

In open terrain and on wider trails, tracking is very consistent. The claimed 12m/s maximum tracking speed is equivalent to just over 26mph, giving the Neo 2 enough pace for most normal trail-riding footage.

It can follow from several directions rather than simply sitting directly behind the rider. Side, diagonal and front-facing positions create more interesting footage and prevent every clip from looking identical.

The drone also coped better than expected with changes in direction. It could adjust when the trail turned or the rider moved across the track without immediately losing its subject.

This makes it particularly useful for filming solo. You can capture the sort of external footage that would normally require another rider, a tripod or several repeated attempts with a static camera.

Woodland tracking and obstacle avoidance

Woodland is the real test for any follow drone. Narrow trails, changing light, overhanging branches and closely spaced trees create far more work for the sensors than an open field or wide fire road.

The Neo 2 is significantly more reassuring than a drone with no obstacle detection. Its omnidirectional vision system, forward LiDAR and downward infrared sensor help it identify larger objects and change its route rather than simply flying into them.

Large trees were handled well enough to give genuine confidence, and the drone could follow through relatively open woodland without feeling like an accident waiting to happen.

However, obstacle sensing should not be mistaken for complete protection. Fine branches, leafless twigs and narrow gaps remain difficult for the drone to identify, especially when the rider is moving quickly.

Independent mountain-bike testing has reached a similar conclusion. Larger trees are generally detected reliably, while small or bare branches can still be missed at higher speeds. Short woodland sequences are realistic, but expecting the drone to follow an entire dense trail without interruption is asking too much.

Light also matters. DJI says the vision system requires surfaces with identifiable patterns and adequate lighting. Dark woodland, strong contrast between sunlight and shade or featureless surroundings can reduce how confidently the system operates.

For eMTB filming, the sensible approach is to choose shorter sections with enough width around the rider. Open woodland, trail-centre clearings, moorland and wider descending tracks play to the Neo 2’s strengths.

Tight tree tunnels and trails filled with fine branches remain risky. The obstacle system improves the odds, but it does not replace choosing a suitable line for the drone.

Video quality

The DJI Neo 2 wins this review through usability rather than outright camera performance.

The 1/2-inch sensor records clean and stable footage in good light, and 4K/60fps is enough for YouTube videos, website content, Instagram edits and most other riding footage. The two-axis mechanical gimbal also produces a more controlled image than purely electronic stabilisation.

Vertical 2.7K recording is useful for Instagram Reels and other portrait-led platforms. It avoids relying entirely on a heavy crop from a horizontal file and makes the drone more practical for social content.

The 4K/100fps mode adds proper slow-motion capability, although it requires the remote controller or motion-control setup rather than basic palm operation.

Image quality is strongest in bright or evenly lit conditions. Woodland introduces more noise, flatter detail and occasional exposure changes as the drone moves between sunlight and shadow.

It is still more than usable, but this is not a miniature professional camera drone. The fixed f/2.2 lens, Normal colour profile and relatively small sensor leave less room for aggressive colour grading than a larger, more expensive drone.

That is the right compromise for the product. The Neo 2 is designed to capture footage that would otherwise be difficult to get, not to replace a high-end aerial camera.

It also complements rather than replaces an action camera. A helmet- or chest-mounted camera remains easier for recording an entire descent, while the Neo 2 provides the external follow shots that make an edit more interesting. Our guide to DJI versus GoPro for eMTB riders covers the differences between those two styles of filming.

Battery life and the Fly More Combo

DJI quotes up to 19 minutes of flight time without the propeller guards, dropping to approximately 17 minutes with them installed.

Those figures are measured in controlled conditions. Real riding use will vary depending on wind, tracking speed, obstacle avoidance, temperature and how much time the drone spends repositioning.

One battery is enough for several short clips, but it does not feel sufficient for a full day of filming. You quickly become selective about launching when every flight uses a meaningful portion of the available charge.

That is why the Fly More Combo makes far more sense than the drone-only package for mountain bikers. It includes three batteries and a charging hub, turning the Neo 2 from something suited to a couple of quick shots into a practical tool for a full ride.

You are unlikely to keep it airborne continuously. A normal pattern is to launch for one trail section, land, ride to another location and repeat. Three batteries provide enough flexibility to capture several different parts of a ride without constantly monitoring the remaining percentage.

The charging hub can charge three batteries simultaneously when used with a sufficiently powerful charger. DJI quotes approximately 68 minutes to charge all three from empty with a suitable 65W supply.

For weekends away or van-based riding, a portable power station also makes it possible to recharge drone batteries alongside cameras and other equipment. Our DJI Power 1000 Mini review covers one option for keeping riding and filming equipment powered away from home.

Portability and durability

The Neo 2 feels designed to be used rather than treated as a fragile display item.

Its integrated protective structure surrounds the propellers, reducing the chance of damage when launching, landing or clipping something at low speed. It also makes palm handling less intimidating for inexperienced pilots.

The small size is perhaps even more important. It occupies a believable amount of space in an MTB pack and does not require the substantial hard case associated with larger drones.

That makes spontaneous filming possible. You can carry it on a ride without knowing whether you will use it and decide based on the trail, weather and available time.

The Neo 2 is not waterproof. DJI specifically advises avoiding contact with water and landing immediately if rain begins. That is a relevant limitation for UK riders because damp trails do not necessarily mean dry air.

It therefore needs to be stored inside a waterproof section of a pack and should not be launched in rain, even if the bike and rider are happy to continue.

The guards improve crash resistance, but they do not make it indestructible. Impacts can still damage propellers, guards or the gimbal. The obstacle system should be treated as assistance rather than permission to fly through unsuitable gaps.

What I didn’t love

The main frustration is the controller-free workflow once you want to move beyond the simplest shots.

Palm launch and basic tracking are extremely easy, but changing modes, adjusting distance and creating a precise composition can take more effort than expected. Using the controller resolves most of this, although carrying it reduces the minimal appeal of the Neo 2.

Battery life is the second limitation. A quoted maximum of 19 minutes sounds reasonable, but real ride filming uses the charge quickly. The Fly More Combo solves much of the problem, but it also means the £349 package is the realistic starting point rather than the £209 drone-only version.

Woodland obstacle avoidance also needs realistic expectations. Large trees are handled convincingly, but fine branches and dense trail furniture remain a threat. I would trust the Neo 2 for selected woodland clips, not for blindly following an entire technical descent.

The final compromise is image quality. The footage is good and far better than having no external shot at all, but it does not have the dynamic range, detail or grading flexibility of a more serious camera drone.

None of these issues ruins the product. They simply define what it is: a compact and convenient follow camera rather than a complete professional aerial-filming system.

Do you need a Flyer ID for the DJI Neo 2?

Yes. The current UK Drone Code requires a Flyer ID for drones weighing 100g or more. Because the DJI Neo 2 also has a camera, its owner or operator must have an Operator ID and display that ID on the drone.

The drone must remain in direct sight, you must retain awareness of the surrounding airspace and you must not fly above 120m. Local airspace restrictions, privacy, landowner rules and site-specific drone bans still apply.

This is especially important when using automatic follow modes while cycling. The drone flying itself does not remove the pilot’s responsibility for the flight. Check the current CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Code before flying.

The CAA’s rules were updated in March 2026 and now require both a Flyer ID and Operator ID for a camera-equipped drone between 100g and 250g.

Final verdict

The DJI Neo 2 is one of the easiest compact drones to recommend to eMTB riders because it removes much of the faff normally associated with solo ride filming.

It is small enough to bring on normal rides, simple enough to launch without a prepared take-off area and capable of tracking a cyclist with genuine confidence in open or moderately wooded terrain.

The footage is good rather than class-leading, but the Neo 2 captures perspectives that are almost impossible to achieve with an action camera alone. Its real value is not that every clip looks cinematic; it is that you are far more likely to carry it, launch it and return home with useful footage.

Dense woodland remains its weak point. Large trees are handled well, but fine branches, narrow gaps and changing light can still overwhelm the sensing system. The controller-free workflow is also at its best when kept simple.

The Fly More Combo is the version to buy. Three batteries transform the Neo 2 from a quick novelty into something that can cover several sections during a full ride.

For solo eMTB riders, website creators and anyone who wants follow footage without recruiting another camera operator, the DJI Neo 2 is an excellent compact filming tool.

DJI Neo 2 competition

DJI Neo 2 FAQs

Is the DJI Neo 2 good for filming eMTB rides?

Yes. The DJI Neo 2 is particularly good for short solo follow shots because it is quick to launch, small enough to carry and capable of tracking cycling at realistic trail speeds.

Does the DJI Neo 2 work in woodland?

Yes, but only with realistic expectations. It handles large, visible trees well, while fine branches, dense vegetation, narrow gaps and higher speeds can still cause tracking or obstacle-avoidance problems.

Can the DJI Neo 2 follow a mountain bike?

Yes. DJI quotes a maximum tracking speed of 12m/s, equivalent to just over 26mph. Open trails and wider woodland sections provide the most reliable results.

Can you use the DJI Neo 2 without a controller?

Yes. Palm controls, gesture controls and the DJI Fly app allow the Neo 2 to be used without a traditional controller. The RC-N3 gives more precise positioning and easier access to advanced settings.

Is the DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo worth buying?

Yes. The three batteries and charging hub make a major difference during a full ride. The drone-only version is suitable for occasional clips, but the Fly More Combo is the more practical package for regular filming.

Does the DJI Neo 2 record vertical video?

Yes. It records vertical footage at up to 2.7K/60fps, making it useful for Instagram Reels and other portrait-format platforms.

Does the DJI Neo 2 need a memory card?

No. It has 49GB of internal storage and does not support external microSD cards.

Is the DJI Neo 2 waterproof?

No. It should not be flown in rain and needs to be stored in a protected section of your riding pack during wet conditions.

Do I need to register the DJI Neo 2 in the UK?

Yes. Under current UK rules, you need a Flyer ID because it weighs more than 100g and an Operator ID because it has a camera.