I hope that DJI’s new, affordable FPV goggles will be the missing piece of the puzzle – a way to affordably purchase the “I feel like I’m flying!” the experience I had with the DJI Avata for maybe $400 or $500, rather than the current $800 to $1,000 you might have to pay.
You see, back in September the company announced its $199 budget Neo drone that works with goggles, and today it’s announcing the $229 DJI Goggles N3. Add a $99 RC Motion 3 controller and you can fly like an airplane with first-person video that puts you in a virtual cockpit.
But I can’t fully confirm whether it’s worth your money yet – because DJI says my device likely shipped with a defect and I’ll need a little more time to test it. More on this below.
At $229, the N3 Goggles are definitely cheaper than previous pairs, saving $120 over the $349 Integra Goggles, its previous budget set, and are less than half the price of the premium $499 DJI Goggles 3. And yet, I got the same one-touch defogging (using the internal fan) and video feed of the DJI O4 as the Goggle 3. I flew the Neo just as far with the cheapest and most expensive DJI Goggles before the signal was turned off and the drone found its way home. You can still track your head, so you can look up and down as you fly forward.
Left: $500 Goggles 3. Right: $229 N3 Goggles. Photo: Sean Hollister / The Verge
Same comparison, now with the units reversed. Photo: Sean Hollister / The Verge
On paper, the N3 seems even better than premium models in several respects: a wider 54-degree field of view (compared to 44 degrees), an eyeball large enough to fit prescription glasses without having to turn a knob that allows the lenses to adjust to your eyesight, says the company.
But instead of the crisp, colorful, brilliant micro-OLED screens found on all other modern DJI FPV goggles, the N3 has a single, relatively faded LCD screen inside. To direct the panel towards the face, there is a large, diagonal optical system inside (similar to a periscope) that reflects light at right angles.
Single screen inside DJI Goggles N3, captured by the lens. Photo: Sean Hollister / The Verge
In the case of my tester, the center of the screen appears to be aimed at the center of the nose. Without the ability to adjust the lens, my image is constantly blurry. Not being able to see anything must be a fluke, right? DJI spokeswoman Daisy Kong told me over the phone that I may have a faulty device.
If this is just a coincidence, I will disagree with most of the other corners DJI has cut. I could live with a slightly faded image. I don’t miss losing the barely useful through-vision vision or the silicone lining on Goggle 3 – the material is good enough for me. I don’t particularly mind that the N3 Goggles have a visible cable sticking out from the side, instead of being woven into the headband like previous models.
While it’s heavier, it’s only 2.3 ounces (65 g) heavier than the Goggle 3 according to my kitchen scale, and it’s still fairly balanced by the integrated battery on the back of the headset. Honestly, even the N3 Goggles have a longer wireless range and more fancy features than I usually need. However, the core of the experience must be a sharp and clear view from the drone’s eye. I’ll let you know if this happens in the next few weeks.
I should also note that the DJI Neo isn’t as good as the Avata or Avata 2 at being an FPV drone, simply due to its weight-to-power ratio – it’s not as agile as those more dedicated models, and the wind can move it more easily.
Whether they like it or not, DJI doesn’t have many other affordable FPV options on the table. The company recently discontinued its $829 Avata Explorer Combo (although you can find some refurbished offerings), and Kong says there are “no current plans” to allow the $350 Integra goggles to be used with the DJI Neo, even though DJI now allows you to use with Avata 2 and DJI Mini 4 Pro with Integra. So if you don’t like the N3 Goggles, the $500 Goggles 3 is the only other set that currently works with the Neo.
In the US, where DJI is facing some import difficulties, it will only sell the N3 Goggles alone, just as it only sells the DJI Neo. In the UK and Europe, it’s a starter package: the new ‘DJI Neo Motion Fly More Combo’ with drone, goggles, controller, three batteries and charging dock is available now for £449 or €529, with the standalone model costing $229. /£229/€269 The N3 goggles are expected to be available at the end of November.
Credit : www.theverge.com
