Review: DJI Lito 1 & Lito X1 drones
DJI’s new Lito series marks a fairly significant reshuffle of its consumer drone lineup. Replacing the long-running Mini non-Pro tier, the Lito 1 and Lito X1 are positioned as lightweight, sub-250g drones aimed squarely at beginners and emerging aerial photographers who want “real” camera capability without stepping into Mini Pro pricing.
On paper, both models look like incremental steps in DJI’s familiar ladder system. In practice, they feel like a deliberate attempt to redefine what “entry-level” aerial photography now means.
I spent time with both drones across recent field tests and early impressions, and while they share a common platform, the differences between them are more meaningful than the names suggest.
What stood out immediately in use was just how compact the system is. As someone who tends to travel and work relatively light, the Lito series almost disappears into a kit. It’s the kind of drone you don’t hesitate to bring, simply because it takes up so little space that it stops feeling like a dedicated “camera rig” and becomes part of a broader walking kit.
For travel photography in particular, that ease of inclusion is arguably one of its strongest qualities.
Design and handling
Both drones follow DJI’s now well-established folding, palm-sized form factor, weighing under 250 grams for regulatory simplicity in many regions. In hand, neither feels fragile, though they are clearly built to a price point.
The Lito 1 keeps things minimal. It’s a straightforward, almost conservative design with a focus on ease of use. There’s no internal storage and fewer computational imaging features, but the trade-off is simplicity, arguably its strongest trait.
It retails for $539 AUD, or in a Fly More Combo for $779.
The Lito X1 looks and feels like a more serious tool. The addition of front-facing LiDAR and more advanced obstacle sensing gives it a more “complete” impression, especially when flying in tighter or lower-light environments. It’s still very much a beginner drone, but one that edges closer to DJI’s more capable Mini series in feel and ambition.
It retails for $619 AUD, or in a Fly More Combo for $1,069.
Camera performance
This is where the separation between the two models becomes most apparent.
The Lito 1 uses a 1/2-inch 48MP sensor, producing solid daylight imagery with DJI’s characteristic colour science. In good conditions, files are clean and punchy, and for social or travel work, they’re acceptable.
The limitations appear quickly in more demanding scenarios such as high-contrast scenes, shadow recovery, and low light all reveal the sensor’s constraints but it’s still a very capable drone.
The Lito X1, with its larger 1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor is noticeably more capable. Dynamic range is improved, noise performance is better controlled and the inclusion of 10-bit D-Log M gives it significantly more latitude for grading video. That said, early impressions suggest image consistency isn’t perfect, with some files showing unexpected colour shifts that will likely be addressed in firmware refinement.
Where both drones pleasantly surprised me was in the RAW workflow. The RAW files are genuinely impressive for this class of drone, allowing for meaningful flexibility when pushing and pulling exposure in post without the file falling apart. Straight-out-of-camera exposures are also clean and balanced, making them easy to bring into Adobe Lightroom with minimal correction. For a compact system like this, that level of latitude is not something to overlook.
Equally important from a working perspective is file handling. File sizes are well-optimised and never feel burdensome, which translates into a smooth and efficient import process. In practice, this meant fast ingestion into Lightroom and a noticeably fluid workflow when dealing with larger batches of images in the field. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a real difference when working on location.
Neither camera delivers the kind of detail or flexibility seen in DJI’s higher-tier models, but the X1 does narrow the gap enough that it starts to feel like a “serious enough” imaging tool rather than a compromise.
Video and flight experience
Both drones offer up to 4K/60fps video, with higher frame-rate slow motion available. Stabilisation is typical DJI, reliable, smooth, and largely transparent in operation.
In the field, what impressed most was how stable both drones remained given their size. Even in stronger coastal winds, the Lito series held position with surprising composure.
There was very little lateral drift, and importantly, no noticeable signal dropouts during flight. For such a lightweight platform, that level of stability feels genuinely impressive and gives a sense of confidence when composing shots in less-than-ideal conditions.
That said, flight responsiveness can feel slightly subdued in normal mode. At times, movement felt slower than expected, almost as if the drone was hesitating to reach framing positions.
Switching into Sports mode noticeably changes this dynamic, allowing the drone to travel more assertively and making it far easier to reach compositions without waiting for it to “catch up” to your intent. It becomes a much more usable tool in that mode, particularly when working quickly in changing light.
Battery life sits in the mid-30-minute range in standard configuration, which is competitive for the category. Interestingly, even in stronger wind conditions where you might expect a noticeable drop in endurance, battery performance remained largely consistent. There wasn’t the rapid drain that often comes with pushing small drones harder in the air.
Features and intelligence
DJI has standardised much of its intelligent flight system across both models. Features like ActiveTrack, QuickShots, MasterShots and Hyperlapse are present, and they work reliably for automated content creation.
Where the X1 pulls ahead is in safety and environmental awareness. The addition of LiDAR-assisted obstacle detection meaningfully improves confidence when flying in cluttered or low-light spaces, something that will matter more to newer pilots than spec sheets suggest. The Lito 1, while still offering omnidirectional sensing, feels more dependent on operator awareness.
Image quality in context
The most important takeaway from early testing is that neither drone should be viewed in isolation from DJI’s broader lineup.
The Lito 1 is best understood as a capable, entry-level imaging drone for good light and casual output. It prioritises accessibility over depth.
The Lito X1, on the other hand, is more interesting, it begins to occupy the space where enthusiast expectations start to form. It doesn’t fully meet them, but it gets close enough that it will likely be the default choice for many first-time aerial photographers.
Still, both models sit clearly below DJI’s more advanced compact drones in terms of absolute image quality and flexibility.
The wrap-up
The Lito series feels more like a careful recalibration of DJI’s entry-level ecosystem.
The Lito 1 is the straightforward gateway drone that is simple, reliable, and limited in all the expected ways. The Lito X1, on the other hand, is the more compelling option offering a noticeably more complete imaging and flight experience without stepping into enthusiast pricing territory.
What ties both models together is their portability and ease of integration into a working kit. They’re small enough that they don’t demand commitment, yet capable enough that they reward the decision to bring them along. In many ways, that balance may be their most important feature.
Neither drone replaces DJI’s higher-end models, but both signal that the entry point for serious aerial photography continues to rise.
Results
Build Quality ★★★★
Lightweight without feeling fragile, the Lito series feels well put together for its class, though it’s still clearly a compact consumer-grade build rather than a premium tool.
Ease of Use ★★★★
Everything about the system feels immediate and intuitive, from setup through to flight, making it genuinely effortless to pick up and start shooting with minimal friction.
Flight Stability ★★★★
For something this small, stability is strong, holding position confidently even in stronger winds with no signal dropouts, only minor limitations in responsiveness at times.
Camera/Image Quality ★★★★
Strong overall performance for the category with clean exposures, impressive RAW latitude and reliable results in good light, though it still sits below DJI’s higher-tier imaging systems.
Value for Money ★★★★
A well-balanced package that delivers portability, usability and solid image performance, especially for travel photographers, even if it doesn’t fully replace more advanced drone systems.
