DJI Lito 1 and Lito X1 drone review: High-quality aerial video at its most affordable

After seeing nan runaway occurrence of its Neo lineup, DJI is taking different stab astatine nan fund drone marketplace pinch nan caller Lito series. The Lito 1 and Lito X1 are some nether $400 and measurement little than 249 grams — they’re perfect for beginners. Both are designed to switch DJI’s Mini series, but they connection things that those models lacked for illustration LiDAR and 360-degree obstacle avoidance.

In position of video quality, they’re akin to DJI’s Neo 2 and Flip drones. Unlike those models, which are safe to usage indoors and astir people, nan open-prop Lito drones are designed to alert extracurricular astatine precocious speeds and precocious altitudes. This makes them well-suited for filming activities for illustration surfing aliases ungraded motorcycle riding. After testing some models, I judge they connection unbeatable worth and capacity astatine these prices, by a agelong shot. Of course, nan drawback for American buyers is that neither is expected to motorboat successful nan US.

Design and features

The Lito models are now nan introduction level open-prop models successful DJI’s lineup (the Mini bid will nary longer beryllium updated). Both person identical folding designs, pinch optional, removable propeller shrouds that connection immoderate further obstacle protection. Given nan ray weight, novice pilots tin alert them without a permit.

Both person omni sensors connected nan apical and bottommost that protect them from obstacles connected each sides. The Lito X1 adds a forward-facing LiDAR sensor for other search precision. That benignant of further accuracy is bully to person and it’s different connected drones successful this value range. Built-in retention is besides uncommon connected inexpensive drones, but nan Lito X1 has that going for it arsenic well. There’s 42GB connected tap, on pinch microSD paper support for further capacity. The Lito 1 only offers a microSD slot and nary soul storage.

They travel pinch an Intelligent Flight Battery that offers up to 36 minutes of flying time. That tin beryllium extended to astir 52 minutes pinch nan Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, though that exemplary isn’t disposable successful nan EU aliases UK. As pinch each different DJI drone I’ve tested, real-world formation times are astir 30 percent little than nan institution promises. I sewage astir 25 minutes of usage connected a complaint — still not bad for a sub-$400 drone.

The Lito statement has each nan FocusTrack features you’d expect successful a DJI drone, for illustration 360 grade ActiveTrack taxable search pinch afloat manual power and obstacle detection. It besides supports DJI’s Quickshots including Dronie, Rocket and others, each of which make it easy to seizure aerial clips for societal media. However, you won’t find definite Neo 2 features connected nan Lito series, for illustration gestures, smartphone power and thenar takeoffs.

The Lito drones activity pinch aggregate controllers, including nan RC-N3 that requires a smartphone aliases nan RC 2 pinch a built-in screen. Both Lito models transmit 1080p 60 fps video to a scope of up to 10 miles via DJI’s Occusync 4 system. That’s a scary region for a beginner drone. Luckily, some models besides connection DJI’s return to location (RTH) pinch artillery informing and different information features that should forestall mislaid drones aliases accidents.

Performance

Both Lito drones are comparatively accelerated astatine astir 26 mph successful normal mode pinch obstacle detection, aliases 40 mph successful athletics mode. That benignant of velocity allows creators to way bikers, skiers aliases vehicles. Each tin besides alert successful comparatively beardown winds up to astir 21 mph. They deficiency nan maneuverability and acrobatics disposable connected nan Neo 2 though, and don't connection an FPV mode pinch DJI’s Goggles.

With unfastened propellers that tin drawback connected a twig and origin a crash, nan Lito drones dangle heavy connected obstacle discovery for protection. That’s peculiarly important since nan ActiveTrack travel characteristic is simply a cardinal trading constituent for novice creators. With each that successful mind, I wanted to put them done their paces search maine connected a bicycle and moreover while driving a car, forcing nan drones to navigate astir trees and bamboo pinch good branches.

To start, I utilized ActiveTrack and nan Trace “steering wheel” mode to travel maine from nan front, sides and back. Both Lito models tin debar obstacles utilizing either nan “braking” mode that stops nan drone aliases “bypass” that simply maneuvers astir them. I mostly utilized bypass mode to spot if nan drone could proceed to way maine if thing sewage successful nan way.

When flying forward, nan Lito X1 avoided each obstacles utilizing its LiDAR, while swooping smoothly astir trees and branches. Only erstwhile did it neglect to observe a mini twig, which caused a flimsy bobble, but fortunately, nary crash. Thanks to that built-in LiDAR, nan Lito X1 exemplary is simply a spot much adept than nan Lito 1 astatine dodging good obstacles erstwhile flying forward. Overall, nan X1’s avoidance successful each directions was shockingly bully for a drone nether $400.

The Lito X1’s LiDAR is besides very adjuvant erstwhile flying successful low-light conditions, and moreover astatine night. If you spell connected a agelong formation and miscalculate nan sunset, you’ll still beryllium capable to get nan drone backmost safely successful RTH mode without overmuch fearfulness of crashing, arsenic agelong arsenic you alert forward. It besides helps support nan Lito X1 much unchangeable successful dim ray than nan Lito 1.

The Lito 1 isn’t arsenic adept astatine pursuing and obstacle discovery astatine nighttime owed to nan deficiency of LiDAR, but again, it avoided threat amazingly good considering nan price. Buyers tin still beryllium assured that it will enactment retired of problem erstwhile search subjects successful astir conditions — conscionable beryllium observant erstwhile flying successful forested areas pinch good branches.

If you’re readying connected flying acold from your location to seizure distant aerial views, DJI’s Occusync 4 strategy is highly reliable. I only saw video dropouts erstwhile flying nan drone down buildings and retired of my statement of sight, thing that I wouldn’t counsel anyway. As agelong arsenic there’s thing betwixt you and nan drone, you’ll support a clear video position and afloat control.

As pinch different drones successful nan Mini and Mini Pro series, nan Lito models are susurration quiet successful flight, pinch sound levels good nether 70 db. The transportation is besides debased and not shrieking for illustration nan Neo models, truthful it shouldn’t disturb group aliases animals.

Video and photograph quality

Video value is wherever nan Lito 1 and Lito X1 disagree nan most. The second is equipped pinch a 40-megapixel 1/1.3-inch sensor pinch f/1.7 aperture (same arsenic nan Mini 4 Pro) and offers up 4K 60 fps video pinch 4K 100 fps slow-mo on pinch D-LogM and HDR recording. The Lito 1, meanwhile, has a 48MP 1/2-inch sensor (12MP for video) for illustration nan 1 connected nan Neo 2, pinch an f/1.8 aperture, 4K 60 fps video (4K 100 fps slow-mo) and nary D-LogM aliases HDR capabilities.

That’s a beautiful large spread successful specs considering nan comparatively meager value quality of astir $80. As such, nan Lito X1 offers importantly amended video quality, peculiarly successful debased ray and high-contrast conditions.

The smaller sensor intends nan Lito 1 has mediocre low-light capability, pinch pronounced atom astatine nan maximum ISO 12,800 rating. The driblet successful value is moreover noticeable astatine ISO 3,200. Unlike nan $400 Flip, nan deficiency of 10-bit D-LogM capacity besides intends that over- aliases underexposed video is difficult to correct.

With those issues, video and photos from nan Lito 1 aren't bully capable for master work. However, it’s fantabulous for societal media users, hobbyists and contented creators, delivering smartphone-quality aerial shots and much item than immoderate different drone astatine this value (except nan Neo 2, of course).

The Lito X1, connected nan different hand, does connection video that’s bully capable for immoderate master use. While not arsenic noise-free arsenic nan 1-inch sensor-equipped Mini 5 Pro aliases Micro Four Thirds Mavic 4 Pro, video value for nighttime cityscapes and different dim scenes is decently clean. In daylight, video is amazingly crisp and colour accurate. The 10-bit D-LogM mounting besides lets you seizure capable move scope for tricky scenarios for illustration a wood way dappled pinch sunlight and shadows

Stabilization connected some models is excellent, truthful you’re judge to seizure smooth, cinematic video, moreover pinch comparatively slow shutter speeds down to 1/30th of a second. Photos are much elaborate connected nan Lito X1 owed to nan higher resolution, moreover though some models tin seizure RAW DNG files to maximize move range. That makes nan drones perfect for taking aerial pictures of your property, for instance, aliases checking a hornet’s nest aliases spread connected your roof.

Wrap-up

The Lito bid shows that DJI is intent connected dominating each drone value scope and category, including nan bottommost end. Despite their debased prices, nan caller drones don’t skimp connected features, offering afloat obstacle protection, ActiveTrack taxable tracking, comparatively precocious speeds and crisp 4K video value — conscionable for illustration models that costs a batch more.

At these prices, nan Lito drones don’t person immoderate existent rivals different than themselves and different DJI drones, peculiarly nan Neo 2 and Flip. Choose nan Lito 1 only if you can’t plaything nan other money for nan Lito X1, arsenic video value connected nan second is importantly higher. Both drones are champion for outdoor adventures, including high-altitude aerial shooting, while Neo 2 and Flip excel wrong aliases astir people.

The Lito 1 and Lito X1 are now disposable successful nan UK and EU for £299/€309 and £369/€379 respectively pinch 1 artillery and nan RC-N3 controller that requires a smartphone. You tin besides get them successful Fly More combos, pinch nan Lito 1 priced astatine £429/€439 pinch an RC-N3 controller, 3 batteries, a charger and a enarthrosis bag. The Lito X1 Fly More Combo pinch an RC 2 surface controller, 3 batteries, a charger and a enarthrosis container is £599/€619. The drones aren’t connected waste yet successful nan US, but whitethorn get later on.