The DJI Neo could have an intriguing first for a DJI drone, according to a new leak

Voice controls could actually make sense

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

RecentDJI Neoleaks have already revealed lot about the incoming drone’s likely design and specs, but a new one suggests that the featherweight flier could get a surprising first for aDJIdrone – voice controls.

A post on theDJI subredditby stipsVEVO appears to show a (now deleted) holding page for the DJI Neo on the company’s retail store. The description contains a few things we’ve already seen in rumors, including AI subject tracking and4Kvideo powers, but also a reference to “voice control”.

There are no more details on how that might work unfortunately, but that’d be a fascinating feature if true. The DJI Neo is expected to contend for a spot in our guide to thebest beginner drones, so it’s possible that DJI has added voice controls in the companion app for basic functions like take-off and shooting aerial QuickShots.

In theory, that could be a more approachable way for beginners to control aspects of the drone while it’s in flight. It’s unlikely that DJI would allow voice controls to manage the actual flight of the drone (for obvious reasons), but enabling it for certain features like ‘take a panorama’ could be safer if it allows fliers to concentrate of flying the drone with their hands.

Interestingly, the page also refers to an “18-minute battery life”, which is slightly longer than the 15-16 minute estimates we’ve seen in previous leaks. With theNeo tipped to launch on August 20, we should only have to wait a week for all of the official details.

Neo could fly off the shelves

Todays second #DJINEO promo text leaked, this time via #amazon: “The NEO captures stunning 4K ultra-stabilized video, delivering professional-quality footage. Safety is paramount, with full-coverage propeller guards protecting both the drone and its surroundings during flight.” pic.twitter.com/ynruIJspy6August 11, 2024

While the original DJI retail store page has been removed, its description of the Neo is still showing for us inGoogle’s search results – and that gives us a pretty clear idea of what to expect from the drone.

The description says that “the DJI Neo offers palm takeoff, AI tracking, six QuickShots, multiple control options, 12MP photos, 4K videos, easy content creation, stable flight, 18-minute battery life, voice control, and convenient charging. All in this lightweight 135g drone”.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

In other words, DJI is aiming the Neo at TikTok and Instagram creators who want something that can take quick, easy aerial videos, including in indoor settings. The flipside of the Neo’s incredibly light weight is that it might struggle in anything more than a light breeze outdoors, so we’re interested to see how it fares on that front.

Separate promo text shared on X (formerly Twitter) by@JasperEllenssays that “safety is paramount, with full-coverage propellor guards protecting both the drone and its surroundings during flight”. It also adds that “with multiple control options, users can customize their flying experience”.

Those control options will likely include using a smartphone, your voice and a motion controller (if you go for the Fly More Combo bundle). Will they also include a headset like the DJI Goggles 3? We’ll have to wait a week or so to find out for sure, but it’slooking increasingly likely.

You might also like…

Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London’s Square Mile.

DJI unveils its cheapest-ever FPV goggles – and that makes the Neo way more affordable for immersive flying sessions

HoverAir X1 PRO review: the ultimate selfie drone

MacBook Air OLED reportedly delayed until at least 2028 – here’s why