DJI’s Neo 2 selfie drone launches globally, but not in the US

The Neo 2 adds obstacle avoidance but inactive features prop guards arsenic a backup. | Image: DJI

After launching exclusively successful China past month, DJI is announcing wider planetary availability for its Neo 2 selfie drone, including Japan, Canada, the UK, and different countries wherever the institution sells its drones. But arsenic with the Mavic 4 Pro and 8K Osmo 360 camera, the Neo 2 won’t beryllium disposable successful the US. “DJI remains committed to the US marketplace and serving our US-based customers. Like galore planetary companies, we’ve had to set our marketplace strategies arsenic the section conditions and manufacture situation person evolved,” DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong told The Verge successful an emailed statement.

The Neo 2’s upgrades see a lidar-based obstacle avoidance strategy to observe and debar clang hazards, an improved pursuing velocity of astir 27mph, amended upwind resistance, and a caller motion power strategy allowing the drone’s region and presumption to beryllium adjusted without a remote. For pilots who similar a controller, the Neo 2 has an optional antenna that tin beryllium installed, but it’s not needed for autonomous flying. Without the DJI Neo 2 Digital Transceiver attached, the drone weighs 151 grams and tin alert for up to 19 minutes.

Chinese pricing for the Neo 2 started astatine 1,499 Chinese yuan, oregon astir $211. DJI does not yet person US pricing for the drone since it’s not readying connected selling it present done the company’s authoritative website. Canadian pricing is listed successful US dollars astatine $229 without tax, but the institution says “this shouldn’t beryllium considered a proxy for an authoritative US price.” In Europe it volition commencement astatine €239, oregon £209 successful the UK with taxes included, portion Japanese pricing starts astatine ¥38,390, oregon astir $248.

Some US stores whitethorn merchantability the Neo 2, arsenic was the lawsuit with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, but DJI’s spokesperson wouldn’t corroborate if the institution would grant its warranty if the drone were purchased from an authorized US retailer. For warranty claims, the institution alternatively recommends “customers interaction DJI Support to find if their lawsuit qualifies for repair.”