;)
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know GetFitOver40 isn’t only about sets, reps and macros. For me, fitness is also about lifestyle and mental health, doing the things that light you up and keep you excited about life.
For me, one of those things is flying drones. I use them for my GetFitOver40 videos, for my Replica Airguns channel, and honestly just for fun. There’s something about being outside, moving around, and capturing cool shots that really fills the mental-fitness bucket.
Recently I picked up a new drone that I’m pretty excited about: the DJI Neo 2. I ordered the Fly More Combo as soon as it dropped on Amazon here in Canada. In this article, I’ll go over what it replaces in my current setup, what’s in the box, and why this little AI drone is probably going to become my main “do-it-all” camera drone.
Why I Upgraded to the DJI Neo 2
Until now, my “AI drone lineup” has been a bit of a juggling act:
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DJI Neo (original) – Great little AI drone, decent video, solid tracking and FPV-style fun.
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HoverAir X1 Pro Max – Absolutely amazing video quality, bigger sensor, super clean 4K image… but it doesn’t do everything the Neo does.
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Other FPV drones for the more immersive, swoopy flying.
The problem was:
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The Neo did more things, but the video quality wasn’t as good.
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The HoverAir X1 Pro Max had better image quality, but didn’t offer all the same AI and FPV-style versatility.
So I ended up needing multiple drones depending on what I was doing.
Based on all the early reviews and footage I saw, the DJI Neo 2 looked like it could finally replace both my original Neo and the HoverAir X1 Pro Max for most of what I do: fitness content, lifestyle shots, drone B-roll and even tracking shots for my Replica Airguns videos.
;)
Unboxing the Fly More Combo
I went with the Fly More Combo, which in Canadian dollars came out to about $550. Here’s what you get in that kit:
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DJI Neo 2 drone
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RC-N3 controller
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Three batteries total
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Charging hub
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Antenna / transmitter module pre-installed on the back of the drone
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Extra propellers (A + B)
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USB cables (including a Lightning cable for iPhone users)
The regular base Neo 2 is cheaper, but it doesn’t include:
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The RC-N3 controller
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The antenna module for long-range use
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Extra batteries and charging hub
For me, the combo made sense. It turns the Neo 2 into a true hybrid: I can fly it via phone only for quick runs or use the RC-N3 and get serious range and more traditional “drone” control.
Neo 2 vs Neo 1 vs HoverAir X1 Pro Max
Physically, the Neo 2 and Neo 1 are similar in footprint, but the Neo 2 is flatter and more low-profile. The big change is in the gimbal and brains:
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Both Neo 1 and Neo 2 use roughly the same size sensor (around a 1/2" type sensor),
but:-
Neo 1 only has a single-axis gimbal (up and down).
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Neo 2 has a two-axis gimbal (up/down + side-to-side).
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With the Neo 1, when it was flying sideways in the wind, the drone had to digitally crop in to keep the horizon level. That means you lose resolution and field of view. The Neo 2’s mechanical two-axis gimbal keeps the sensor level while the drone tilts, so you get:
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Less cropping
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More of the sensor actually used
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Cleaner, more stable footage
On top of that, the Neo 2 has newer, faster processing and can shoot:
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4K at 60 fps all day long
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Up to 100 fps in 4K for even smoother motion
The old Neo topped out at 4K 30 fps, which is pretty limiting if you do FPV-style flying or lots of action where you want smoother footage.
As for the HoverAir X1 Pro Max: it still has the best pure image quality of the three. Bigger sensor, 8K capture downsampled to 4K, and excellent low-light performance. But it doesn’t give me the same all-around versatility that the Neo 2 does, especially for FPV-style flying and advanced AI features.
For my needs, fitness videos, outdoor lifestyle content, tracking shots while I’m riding boards, bikes or EUCs, the Neo 2 is the better all-rounder even if the HoverAir still wins slightly in low-light and pixel-peeping.
;)
Obstacle Avoidance, Sensors & Durability
The DJI Neo 2 is loaded with sensors:
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Fisheye cameras on the top and bottomm that give it nearly 360° awareness.
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A front-facing LiDAR sensor, which doesn’t rely on light, it measures distance, almost like a 3D scanner.
That means:
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It can track and avoid obstacles even in low light.
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It’s extremely good at seeing trees, branches, poles, and people, and adjusting its path to avoid collisions.
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It’s arguably one of the best object-avoidance drones on the market right now bar none.
On top of that, the Neo 2 is built like a little tank:
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Full guards around the props
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Compact body
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A bunch of videos out there showing it crashing and coming out just fine
So even if it does clip a branch once in a while, it’s usually no big deal.
Battery Life & Range
Real-world numbers matter more than marketing, so here’s what I’m seeing and what others report:
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Each battery is rated for around 19 minutes, but realistically you’re looking at:
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12–16 minutes depending on how aggressively you fly and the conditions.
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With three batteries in the Fly More Combo, that’s about 35–40 minutes of actual usable flight time in the real world.
Range:
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Phone-only (Wi-Fi): DJI claims up to 500 m, but realistically expect 200–300 m of solid, reliable range.
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With the RC-N3 + antenna module: you can get serious distance (DJI talks about up to 20 km in ideal conditions). In real life, it’s plenty of range for typical filming and tracking scenarios.
AI Tracking, Gesture Control & “Jedi Mode”
This is where the Neo 2 shines for a solo creator like me.
You’ve got multiple ways to control and track yourself:
1. App-Based AI Tracking
Using the phone app, you can:
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Select follow modes (front, side, rear, etc.)
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Adjust distance (near, medium, far) and height
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Switch angles while it’s actively tracking you
It will follow you forward, backwards, sideways, and does an impressive job staying locked on while avoiding obstacles.
2. Gesture Control (“Jedi” Mode)
This is one of the coolest features:
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Raise your hand with palm showing = it recognizes you
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Move your hand with palm showing up/down = drone moves up/down
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Move your hand with palm showing left/right = drone shifts left/right
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Spread your hands apart with palms showing or bring them together = adjust distance
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Close your fist to lock in the position
You can literally reposition the drone mid-shot without stopping recording or digging into menus. It looks like you’re doing some Jedi mind-control, but it’s incredibly practical when you’re filming yourself.
3. Intelligent Flight Modes
Neo 2 comes loaded with pre-programmed moves:
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Follow – standard tracking while you move.
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Spotlight – the drone stays in place like a tripod, but the camera follows you.
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Droney – pulls back and up for that classic reveal shot.
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Rocket – straight up overhead while keeping you in frame.
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Helix – spirals around you while moving up and away.
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Boomerang – arcs around and returns like a boomerang.
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Circle – simple orbit at a set radius.
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Dolly Zoom – that cinematic “background zooms while subject stays the same size” effect.
All of these can be triggered quickly, and they record both the “going out” and “coming back” portions where applicable.
Using the RC-N3 Controller
The RC-N3 controller turns the Neo 2 into a more traditional drone:
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You can fly manually with sticks for classic aerial shots.
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You can still use ActiveTrack while also nudging the drone around with the sticks to change angle or distance.
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You can get much higher altitude and further distance than in pure AI follow mode.
For things like big scenic B-roll or more cinematic passes over a park, river, or field, the RC-N3 combo is awesome. For my tracking shots on boards or bikes, I’ll mix both modes depending on what I’m doing.
Real-World Use & Final Thoughts
For my GetFitOver40 content, this drone is going to be used a lot for:
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Outdoor workout B-roll
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Riding shots (EUC, one-wheel style boards, bikes)
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Walking & talking videos where I need the camera to track me
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Lifestyle and travel content
For my Replica Airguns channel, it’ll mostly be a behind-the-scenes workhorse:
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Tracking shots when I’m outdoors doing walk-around shooting tests
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Dynamic angles when I don’t have a camera operator
You might not see the Neo 2 on camera much, but you’ll definitely see what it captures.
Is it perfect? No drone is. The HoverAir X1 Pro Max still wins for sheer image quality and low light. But:
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The Neo 2’s two-axis gimbal,
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4K 60–100 fps,
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AI tracking,
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gesture control,
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obstacle avoidance,
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and the ability to replace multiple drones in my bag
…make it the best single “do-everything” AI drone I’ve used so far.
For anyone over 40 (or under) who’s into content creation, solo training videos, or just wants to get outside and play with some impressive tech that doubles as a creative outlet, the DJI Neo 2 is a seriously fun piece of gear.
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