DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Which drone is right for you?

When I was testing the new DJI Air 3S, a kind man approached me and asked which drone he should buy, so I asked him what his budget was and the features he was looking for. He was open to anything so I went down a rabbit hole of explaining the many differences. This year, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Air 3S and the DJI Neo, an entry-level drone for social media content creation, so he asked me how the two differed.

This made me think there are probably lots of first-time drone buyers who are confused by what each drone offers. And who better to take you through the differences than me. I've spent hours and hours flying both the Air 3S and the Neo. Both drones serve their own purpose. One is for beginners and aerial enthusiasts on a budget, while the other is for serious content creators and videographers looking for freedom in post-production, but both are two of the best drones we've reviewed at Tom's Guide.

In this Neo vs. Air 3S face-off, I'll break down the key differences between the two models so that you can make the best buying decision for yourself. There's a $900 difference between them, so it's important to consider what separates them and makes them unique in their own ways.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Specs compared

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Price & availability

DJI Air 3S.(Image credit: Future)

DJI Neo.(Image credit: Future)

The DJI Neo launched in September 2024 while the DJI Air 3S came out a month later in October 2024, and both drones sit on opposite ends of the price spectrum. The Neo has a retail price of $199 at Amazon U.S. / £169 at Amazon U.K. for just the drone. You can also get the Fly More combo for $289 at DJI U.S. / £299 at Amazon U.K., which includes three flight batteries, a charging hub and the new RC-N3 controller.

On the other hand, the Air 3S is available for $1,099 at DJI U.S. / £959 at Amazon U.K. for just the drone and the RC-N3 controller. You can also get one of two Fly More combos: with either the RC-N3 ($1,399 at DJI U.S. / £1,239 at Amazon U.K.) or the RC-2 controller ($1,599 at DJI U.S. / £1,439 at Amazon U.K.). Both combos come with an ND filter set, two additional batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and replacement parts.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Design & controls

DJI Air 3S.(Image credit: Future)

DJI Neo.(Image credit: Future)

Both the DJI Air 3S and DJI Neo sport vastly different designs. The Air 3S is much bigger, measuring 12.81 x 10.47 x 4.17 inches when it’s unfolded (without propellers), while the Neo measures just 6.18 x 5.11 x 1.9 inches. The Air 3S is heavier too, at 1.59 pounds, as compared to the Neo's negligible 0.29lbs body. This means that you don't need to be registered with the FAA in the U.S. or the CAA in the U.K. to fly the Neo, but you will need a drone pilot license to fly the Air 3S.

DJI RC-2 controller.(Image credit: Future)

DJI RC-N3 controller.(Image credit: Future)

Flying both drones is very easy, though, thanks to the RC-N3 and RC-2 controllers. I tested the former with the Neo and the latter with the Air 3S, but you'll be pleased to hear that both drones are compatible with both controllers — the choice will depend on your preferences. For instance, the RC-N3 controller has a retractable phone holder on the top, while the RC-2 has a 5.5-inch 1080P 700-nit bright touchscreen. The RC-N3's phone holder will fit any modern smartphone and I had no issues using it for my Google Pixel 7 Pro.

What the controllers have in common is the responsiveness of the detachable joysticks. They're comfortable to use for extended hours, and they can be stored either behind or under the controller for easy transport. The RC-2 controller has a broader transmission range, though, as its four antennas can transmit clear, low-latency footage within a 12.42-mile range.

When in flight mode, both the Neo and the Air 3S have minimal noise levels. The Neo is rated at 79dB while the Air 3S is rated at 80dB.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Features

Do you want a simple-to-use drone for social media content creation? Or do you want a drone that gives you more freedom in post-production? Questions like these will determine whether the DJI Neo or the DJI Air 3S is right for you. Both drones have some impressive specs but given that the Air 3S costs a lot more, it obviously blows the Neo out of the water. But again, think of what's important to you.

The Neo uses a single-axis gimbal design, which means even slight control movements can significantly affect the stability of the footage. On the other hand, the Air 3S' three-axis gimbal means you can pan, roll and tilt as needed. This also means that footage is more stable, even in windy conditions up to 12 m/s. The Neo can withstand winds up to 8m/s.

Both drones feature fantastic subject tracking. The Air 3S' ActiveTrack 360º technology allows you to drag a box around a subject on the RC-2’s touchscreen and perform movements around it while keeping it centered in the shot, as can be seen in the video above.

While you can't do this with the Neo, it features subject tracking AF to feed into five QuickShot modes which put you (or any other subject) at the center. You can see a few examples in the video above. You can use the DJI Fly app on any Android or iOS device to control the drone and toggle these modes.

DJI Air 3S.(Image credit: Future)

DJI Neo.(Image credit: Future)

Both drones feature DJI's accurate return-to-home technology, so they can return to their takeoff point without manual operation, and even in areas without satellite signal. This feature is automatically triggered when the drone is low on battery too.

The only noteworthy thing missing from the Neo is obstacle avoidance, which means you'll have to be very careful when flying it. The Air 3S features next-gen obstacle avoidance which can be set to either brake or bypass, and both work extremely well.

Finally, the Neo has a 22GB internal memory while the Air 3S has a 42GB internal memory. Both drones have a microSD slot if you want to increase this.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Image quality

Taken with a DJI Air 3S.(Image credit: Nikita Achanta / Future)

Taken with a DJI Neo.(Image credit: Nikita Achanta / Future)

The biggest difference between the DJI Neo and the DJI Air 3S lies in the image quality. The Air 3S has a dual camera system — a 12MP/50MP wide-angle camera and a 48MP medium telephoto camera — while the Neo has a single 12MP camera. The Air 3S also has a bigger 1-inch sensor as opposed to the Neo's 1/2-inch one.

If you want a drone that shoots stunning photos in moderately lit environments, I'd recommend the Air 3S. The photo above was shot with the wide-angle camera, and the image looks clean and noise-free.

Unlike the Neo, the Air 3S can take panoramas too by stitching 21 frames together, and you can see how beautiful the result is above. The Air 3S also lets you zoom in (up to 9x) — a feature the Neo lacks.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Video quality

Similar to image specs, the DJI Neo and DJI Air 3S boast different video specs too. Given its steep price, the Air 3S obviously has more to offer. You can shoot 10-bit 4K video at 60fps (120fps in slow-motion) and you can also shoot slow-motion video in FullHD at 240fps. You can also choose to either edit shutter speed, ISO and exposure manually or you can let the Air 3S automatically handle these. 4K video shot at 60fps looks buttery smooth.

Capable of capturing up to 14-stops of dynamic range, the Air 3S can shoot in 10-bit D-Log M or HLG profiles to preserve a wide dynamic range. 10-bit video also means it’s capable of capturing 1.07 billion individual hues. You can see how I color graded footage in Adobe Premiere Pro above. D-Log M is a very useful shooting mode for serious content creators. I've loved the creative freedom it offers.

But that doesn't mean the Neo is far behind. Considering the drone costs just $199, it stills shoots lovely 4K/30fps footage with bright colors. The Neo is great for those starting out in drone photography because everything is done automatically — from exposure to ISO, so you don’t get a lot of manual control. Even without manual control, the Neo is very capable of automatically adjusting the shooting specs according to the elements.

The Neo also features Sport, Cine and Normal modes, just like the Air 3S. This means that you can capture fast and slow footage, given you some versatility. The Neo's strength, at the end of the day, lies in its QuickShot modes. If you want a drone to quickly shoot some cool footage to share with your followers online, you'll be very satisfied with its performance. When I tested the drone, I noted that it's the perfect way to make memories for the social media generation.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: Battery life

DJI Air 3S battery pack.(Image credit: Future)

DJI Neo battery pack.(Image credit: Future)

Another important thing to note is that both the DJI Neo and the DJI Air 3S have vastly different flight times. On a single charge, the Neo has a flight time of approximately 18 minutes. If you have the charging hub, you get two additional batteries and a combined flight time of 54 minutes.

The Air 3S is more impressive with its 45-minute flight time. With two additional batteries, you can get a total flight time of 135 minutes, so you’ll never have to worry about running back home to charge your drone.

DJI Neo vs. DJI Air 3S: App

Like other DJI drones, both the Neo and the Air 3S are accompanied by the DJI Fly app, available on Android and iOS. It’s your one-stop-shop for checking nearby fly spots and whether there are any restrictions, updating the drone and controller firmware, and quickly transferring footage to your phone. The last feature is very handy because the Neo's 22GB memory and Air 3S' 42GB internal storage can fill up quickly, especially if you’re constantly shooting in 4K.

Which should you buy?

At the end of the day, both the DJI Neo and the DJI Air 3S are spectacular drones — albeit with different USPs — and they're sure to satisfy aerial enthusiasts, hobbyists and content creators. If you're on a tight budget and want a no-frills drone that can take smooth footage, detailed stills, and short videos to share with social media followers, you'll love the Neo.

But if you want a drone that gives you more creative freedom by letting you shoot in 10-bit D-Log M, and it lets you capture buttery smooth footage, 48MP/50MP stills, vertical video, and comes with next-gen obstacle avoidance, you should have no second thoughts about the Air 3S.