DJI Osmo 360 - Unboxing - First Impressions & Hands-On Walk Test

Get Fit Over 40 Tech & Gear Reviews

I’ve been reorganizing my mobile video recording gear lately to see where I can eliminate clutter without sacrificing quality or flexibility. Between the modular DJI Osmo Nano for ultra-compact shooting and my older Insta360 X4 for full 360-degree framing, carrying multiple dedicated cameras on every trip, trail ride, or EUC outing has started to feel redundant.

Enter the DJI Osmo 360 (Gen 1). While the updated Gen 2 has started surfacing in select overseas markets, the original Osmo 360 delivers the core imaging foundation, native 8K 360 video, large 1/1.1-inch square sensors, and tight integration with the DJI audio and mounting ecosystem, at a price point that makes a lot of sense today.

Here is a breakdown of what comes in the box, how the hardware stacks up, and my initial field testing impressions.

Hardware & Spec Comparison

Feature / Metric	DJI Osmo 360 (Gen 1)	DJI Osmo Nano	Insta360 X4
Primary Video	8K at up to 50fps (360°) / 4K Single-Lens	4K 60fps (Flat)	8K 30fps (360°)
Form Factor	Dual-lens 360 slab	Modular detachable screen + head	Dual-lens 360 slab
Mounting Compatibility	DJI Magnetic Quick-Release	DJI Magnetic Quick-Release	Standard 1/4"-20 screw
Direct Mic Pairing	DJI Mic Ecosystem (Direct RX-free)	DJI Mic Direct	Requires Mic Adapter / Bluetooth
Best Used For	Reframing, action, POV & vlogging	Ultra-light POV / hat-mounting	Standard 360 reframing

What’s in the Box?

• DJI Osmo 360 Camera Unit

• 2x Osmo Extreme Batteries

• 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick with magnetic quick-release mounting adapter

• Protective Silicone Lens Cap (essential for bulbous dual-lenses)

• Soft Protective Storage Pouch

• Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth

• USB-C to USB-C Charging & Data Cable

First Impressions & Build Quality

• Shared Mounting Ecosystem: One of the best surprises right out of the box is that the Osmo 360 uses the exact same magnetic quick-release latching mechanism as the Osmo Nano and Action series. Any existing hat clips, chest mounts, or GoPro-style conversion adapters work instantly.

• Direct Audio Pairing: Because it connects natively to the DJI Mic transmitters without an external receiver hanging off the side, it keeps the physical profile completely clean on the stick.

• Screen & Handling: The display area is comparable in footprint to the Nano's module, offering clear menu navigation and live framing previews. The included silicone boot fits snugly over both convex lenses to protect them from scratches when laying the camera flat.

Field Test: Walk & Framing Breakdown

Taking the Osmo 360 out for a walking test through mixed lighting, from harsh late-afternoon sun to dense shaded woods and into the studio, revealed several practical takeaways:

• Arm & Stick Positioning: Holding the invisible selfie stick at arm's length (about 3 feet out, level with the nose or chin) delivers the most natural perspective without warping your proportions. Extending the 1.2m pole fully creates a sweeping drone-like view that is great for dynamic landscape captures, though it can feel excessive for standard walking vlogs.

• Single-Lens Action Mode: Switching from 360 to single-lens flat recording lets you use the camera exactly like a traditional action camera, eliminating post-production reframing time and saving storage space.

• Lighting Transitions: The larger square sensor design managed dynamic range well when moving between high-contrast direct sunlight and shaded trails, holding details in the shadows without severe clipping in the sky.

The Bottom Line

If you are already invested in DJI’s ecosystem (drones, DJI Mics, magnetic mounts) and want a single device that covers both wide-angle action cam duty and complete 360 reframing, the DJI Osmo 360 is a streamlined, capable all-in-one solution.

DJI Neo 2 and Looki AI Recorder OneWheel MagWheel Ride

On a recent ride with my VESC-based MagWheel (OneWheel wannabe), I captured the experience using both my DJI Neo 2 and my Looki L1 AI Video Recorder. I’ve already shared my high regard for the improved Neo 2, which I used in its autonomous follow mode to track me from dynamic angles. Alongside it, I tested the Looki L1 AI Video Recorder for some first-person shots. Even though the Looki L1 isn’t all that high resolution (1600x1200), I was impressed overall no frame skipping, good overall color balance and sharpness. I also used the audio from the Looki L1 and it handled the sound well despite the wind from the ride. The final video blended the Neo’s tracking with the Looki’s first person clipped on perspective, showing how well these tools pair for immersive content.

DJI Avata 2 Mule Deer Back Yard

Just posted an 8-minute FPV flight with the DJI Avata 2, soaring around my backyard in the beautiful weather. The highlight of the flight was definitely spotting some local mule deer wandering through the property while I was in the air!

The DJI Avata 2 is an incredibly fun and nimble drone to fly. Capturing wildlife from this unique FPV perspective really adds a whole new level of excitement to the footage. Sit back, enjoy the relaxing flight through the trees and around the yard.

DJI Neo 2 Mule Deer Encounter in Backyard

Recently, I took my DJI Neo 2 drone out for a casual flight around our acreage. With open fields and farmland surrounding us, it’s always a peaceful backdrop. While gliding over the familiar landscape, something special unfolded.

I spotted three mule deer, one mother with her two adolescent offspring. They weren’t tiny fawns but not fully grown adults, let’s call them teenagers. What struck me was their curiosity. As I maneuvered the drone slowly and calmly, they stood their ground—alert but not alarmed. They let me approach relatively closely, observing the drone with a mix of caution and wonder. It was a rare moment of harmony between technology and wildlife.

After a short while, I gave them their peace, flying the drone off and leaving them to their day. It’s always a privilege to interact with nature so closely, even with something seemingly so out of place like the DJI Neo 2.

DJI Neo 2 Review - The Ultimate All-In-One AI Drone for Solo Creators

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:

• DJI Neo (original) – Great little AI drone, decent video, solid tracking and FPV-style fun.

• HoverAir X1 Pro Max – Absolutely amazing video quality, bigger sensor, super clean 4K image… but it doesn’t do everything the Neo does.

• Other FPV drones for the more immersive, swoopy flying.

The problem was:

• The Neo did more things, but the video quality wasn’t as good.

• 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:

• DJI Neo 2 drone

• RC-N3 controller

• Three batteries total

• Charging hub

• Antenna / transmitter module pre-installed on the back of the drone

• Extra propellers (A + B)

• USB cables (including a Lightning cable for iPhone users)

The regular base Neo 2 is cheaper, but it doesn’t include:

• The RC-N3 controller

• The antenna module for long-range use

• 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:

• 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).

  • Neo 2 has a two-axis gimbal (up/down + side-to-side).

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:

• Less cropping

• More of the sensor actually used

• Cleaner, more stable footage

On top of that, the Neo 2 has newer, faster processing and can shoot:

• 4K at 60 fps all day long

• 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:

• Fisheye cameras on the top and bottomm that give it nearly 360° awareness.

• A front-facing LiDAR sensor, which doesn’t rely on light, it measures distance, almost like a 3D scanner.

That means:

• It can track and avoid obstacles even in low light.

• It’s extremely good at seeing trees, branches, poles, and people, and adjusting its path to avoid collisions.

• 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:

• Full guards around the props

• Compact body

• 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:

• Each battery is rated for around 19 minutes, but realistically you’re looking at:

  • 12–16 minutes depending on how aggressively you fly and the conditions.

• With three batteries in the Fly More Combo, that’s about 35–40 minutes of actual usable flight time in the real world.

Range:

• Phone-only (Wi-Fi): DJI claims up to 500 m, but realistically expect 200–300 m of solid, reliable range.

• 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:

• Select follow modes (front, side, rear, etc.)

• Adjust distance (near, medium, far) and height

• 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:

• Raise your hand with palm showing = it recognizes you

• Move your hand with palm showing up/down = drone moves up/down

• Move your hand with palm showing left/right = drone shifts left/right

• Spread your hands apart with palms showing or bring them together = adjust distance

• 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:

• Follow – standard tracking while you move.

• Spotlight – the drone stays in place like a tripod, but the camera follows you.

• Droney – pulls back and up for that classic reveal shot.

• Rocket – straight up overhead while keeping you in frame.

• Helix – spirals around you while moving up and away.

• Boomerang – arcs around and returns like a boomerang.

• Circle – simple orbit at a set radius.

• 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:

• You can fly manually with sticks for classic aerial shots.

• You can still use ActiveTrack while also nudging the drone around with the sticks to change angle or distance.

• 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:

• Outdoor workout B-roll

• Riding shots (EUC, one-wheel style boards, bikes)

• Walking & talking videos where I need the camera to track me

• Lifestyle and travel content

For my Replica Airguns channel, it’ll mostly be a behind-the-scenes workhorse:

• Tracking shots when I’m outdoors doing walk-around shooting tests

• 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:

• The Neo 2’s two-axis gimbal,

• 4K 60–100 fps,

• AI tracking,

• gesture control,

• obstacle avoidance,

• 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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