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I tested DJI's palm-sized drone, and it captured things I had never seen before (and it's now only $159)

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ZDNET's key takeaways The DJI Neo is available from DJI and Amazon for $199 for the basic kit, and $289 for the Combo kit.

This 135-gram drone is incredibly portable and highly capable, making it perfect for bloggers, YouTubers, and social media types.

The Neo's wind resistance is lower than other DJI drones, and real-world battery life is significantly lower than advertised. View now at Amazon View now at B&H View now at DJI more buying choices

What's the deal?

The DJI Neo now starts at $159 for Amazon Prime Day, the lowest price that I've seen for this drone so far.

Drone operators generally fall into two categories: those who use drones as tools for tasks like inspections, real estate photography, or creative projects, and those who fly for the thrill of flying.

Also: The best drones you can buy: Expert tested

I fall into that first category -- someone who takes a drone out of the case to do a job, and sometimes that job is reviewing a drone. That said, the perspective of a recreational flyer is particularly important when evaluating DJI's latest drone, the Neo.

First impressions

The Neo is a compact, almost palm-sized drone, making it one of the most portable drones available. Palm-sized might be a bit of an exaggeration unless you have giant paws, but at first glance, the Neo looks more like a toy than a serious drone.

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