Few companies reuse their own products as often as DJI, and while this relentless pace of innovation delivers impressive upgrades time and time again, it can still get a little confusing for their customers. With the DJI Goggles N3, many people will wonder how they differ from all the other first-person view (FPV) goggles sold by DJI, and if this could be the one.

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On paper, the DJI N3 Goggles (provided here by DJI for this review) have a lot in common with the DJI Goggles 3, but there are a few key differences that make the Goggles N3 a potentially interesting option – notably their impressive field of view (FOV) upgrade. This should make immersion easier, and if these glasses are as good as the spec sheet promises at DJI’s asking price, they could indeed be compelling. However, are these just new customers, or should those who already own headsets consider upgrading?

With a 54-degree field of view, the DJI Goggles N3 offer a significant advantage over previous DJI headsets in this regard, others, like the DJI Goggles 3, only provide a 44-degree field of view. This presents a very real benefit for immersion and makes the N3 Goggles a lot of fun to fly.

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The 1080p 60fps stream delivers great resolution at a smooth framerate, which is definitely a boon when flying in complex environments. I was able to easily navigate complex forests and interior spaces and avoid difficult-to-spot hazards. The Goggles N3’s LCD panels aren’t as vibrant and realistic as the DJI Goggles 3’s dual Micro-OLED screens, but they still look great and are fully functional. This is a good compromise to obtain the additional field of vision offered by the Goggles N3.

The N3 Goggles use DJI’s O4 digital video transmission system, along with a 2T4R antenna design, said to reduce interference and provide a range of up to 13km with an average latency of 31ms. I’m happy to report that I never experienced any signal interference and was able to fly around trees in the forest and behind walls indoors without losing signal. Panoramic video playback is also available: simply import the files to a microSD card and insert it into the Goggles N3.

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DJI headsets have come a long way since I first took to the skies with the original DJI FPV drone years ago, especially in terms of comfort and adjustability. The DJI Goggles N3 are particularly comfortable, with fabric padding around the eyes that doesn’t get uncomfortable or sweaty like rubber padding. The rear pad of the built-in battery has a rubbery texture, but on the back of your head it’s not much of an issue.

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Everything is secured by a strap that lowers via a button on the back of the built-in battery, allowing for a quick and easy adjustment that doesn’t require a lot of fiddly adjustments. It’s just as easy to loosen, and if you need extra support on the top of your head, there are loops to attach an extra strap. On my head, it was held perfectly well with just the side straps.

A key feature of the DJI Goggles N3 is the fact that they support glasses wearers, although this is somewhat dependent on the size of your glasses. I have an extremely large head and wear matching glasses, so my pair of oversized aviators didn’t fit into the N3 glasses at all. However, my smallest spare pair just managed to squeeze in.

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Andy Zahn/SlashGear

The controls on the headset are simple and straightforward and will be familiar to anyone who has used different DJI goggles in the past. Battery life is respectable, up to 2.7 hours on a charge, and I appreciate that DJI used its integrated battery design here. The headset sits well on my head and is comfortable for long periods of uninterrupted flight.

My biggest complaint with the DJI Goggles N3 is that they are only compatible with the DJI Neo and DJI Avata 2. This severely limits the potential audience for this headset, and if it were more widely compatible, I I’m sure he would. please a lot of drone pilots. Even the brand new DJI Air 3S isn’t compatible, which is confusing considering it’s even newer than the DJI Neo. In comparison, the DJI Goggles 3 can be paired with the DJIAir 3 And DJI Mini 4Pro in addition to the DJI Neo and DJI Avata 2.

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A few other key differences between the Goggles N3 and the Goggles 3 are that the N3 can only do live stream sharing over USB-C, while the Goggles 3 are also capable of sharing live streams wirelessly over Wi-Fi. Additionally, the Goggles 3 support real picture-in-picture viewing so you are aware of your surroundings and have adjustable diopters, while the N3 relies on wearing your own glasses. of prescription.

As I did not have the DJI Avata 2 on hand, all of my tests with the DJI Goggles N3 were carried out with the DJI Neo. While the DJI Avata 2 is a superior drone in almost every way, the DJI Neo really makes for an ideal pairing with the Goggles N3. The two pair well together, thanks to their relatively affordable prices, and once I had it in the air, I quickly forgot that I was flying a budget drone.

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I praised the Neo in my recent review of this drone due to its ease of use, even without a controller of any kind. Paired with the Goggles N3, it becomes a surprisingly great little FPV drone. The Neo’s small size has real advantages when flying in particularly tight spaces. The larger the drone, the more likely it is to fly over obstacles and crash catastrophically.

Once I got used to flying the Neo in FPV, I found that I could confidently squeeze through tight cracks that I would never have dared attempt with another drone. Flying through an ancient forest with a dense and complex structure, I was able to avoid most obstacles easily, and the one time I got a little too friendly with a branch, the Neo managed to escape from a collision that would have brought down any other drone. down to the forest floor. This is likely due to both the Neo’s light weight and the fact that it has fully shielded propellers, meaning twigs were unable to get in and trap the blades.

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With an MSRP of just $229, the Goggles N3 are some of the cheapest FPV goggles currently sold by DJI and are a great deal as long as you have a compatible drone. They’re bang for your buck and are the only DJI Goggles that make financial sense to buy alongside the $199 DJI Neo.

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Combined with this and the $199 DJI FPV 3 Remote Controller, you can create a remarkably capable FPV drone kit for a total cost of just $627. You can save an extra $99 off that price if you get the DJI RC Motion 3 instead to pair with the headset and drone. The best thing about this setup would be that not only is it plug and play, but each component is easily replaceable at a relatively low cost. When flying acrobatically and close to the ground, accidents are a certainty rather than just a possibility, so it makes sense to take the Neo with the N3 goggles if you’re just starting out.

Alternatively, the DJI Avata 2 is available for around $490 at Amazonand is a big step forward from the Neo. With the Goggles N3 and the Controller 3, that makes a total price of just over $900, so you’re saving about $70 with the Goggles N3 compared to the standard. Avata2 pack.

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For the price, the DJI Goggles N3 are an extremely compelling headset for anyone looking to add FPV capability to their DJI Neo. In combination with the DJI RC Motion 3, you can create a truly competent FPV setup for no more than $500. This places the most accessible FPV system ever designed at a remarkably affordable price. While there are still very good reasons to prefer the more expensive Goggles 3, the Goggles 3N will impress many people, and their wider 55-degree field of vision offers a real advantage.

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As a glasses wearer, I appreciated not having to change the diopter settings, even if I had to wear my smallest pair of glasses. Really, the only problem here is that the Goggles 3N are not compatible with more drones. The 3N glasses are excellent overall and thanks to their affordable price, they are very easy to recommend.

The DJI 3N glasses are available on the DJI online store now for around $229.