DJI has officially rolled out a new beginner-focused drone lineup called the Lito series, headlined by the DJI Lito X1 and the more affordable Lito 1, as the company makes another push to bring aerial photography to first-time flyers instead of just experienced hobbyists and pros. The pitch is pretty straightforward: lighter drones, easier controls, more automation, and fewer reasons for new users to feel intimidated the first time they take off.

Both new models weigh under 249 grams, which is a big deal because that sub-250g class is one of the most attractive parts of the consumer drone market right now. In the US, the FAA says drones that weigh less than 250 grams do not need to be registered when they are flown strictly for recreational use, which helps explain why manufacturers keep chasing this weight category.

DJI says the Lito family is built specifically for newcomers, and that shows up in the safety-first feature set more than anywhere else. The company has equipped both drones with omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and intelligent tracking features, while the Lito X1 goes a step further with a forward-facing LiDAR system meant to improve obstacle detection accuracy, especially in more complicated environments.

That matters because beginner drones usually force buyers to accept a pretty obvious tradeoff: low price in exchange for weaker safety systems or stripped-down flight intelligence. DJI is trying to break that pattern here by keeping advanced assistance features in an entry-level product, including automated shooting tools, intelligent follow modes, and route memory for safer return flights in well-lit conditions even when satellite signal is weak.

On the camera side, the Lito X1 is clearly the more ambitious of the two. DJI says it uses a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, supports 8K photo capture, and can shoot 4K/60fps HDR video, 4K/100fps slow motion, 10-bit D-Log M, and even 2.7K vertical video for creators who are thinking about social platforms first. The cheaper Lito 1 is less advanced, but DJI still gives it 4K/60fps video and 8K photo capability, which is unusually generous on paper for a starter drone.

Battery life also looks strong for this class. DJI says both drones can fly for up to 36 minutes with the standard battery, and the company also offers a higher-capacity battery option that can extend flight time to as much as 52 minutes, which is the kind of number that will stand out to casual buyers comparing spec sheets. Both models also use DJI’s O4 transmission system for 1080p/60fps live video feed, and DJI says an optional 4G enhanced transmission module is available for trickier environments with more interference.

There is, however, one catch: despite the global launch, the new Lito drones are not currently available in the United States. The Verge reports that European pricing starts at €339 for the Lito 1 and €419 for the Lito X1, while DJI’s China announcement lists the Lito 1 at 1,999 yuan and the Lito X1 at 2,488 yuan before stepping up to more expensive bundled kits.

What makes the launch interesting is that DJI is not just selling a cheaper flying camera – it is trying to smooth out nearly every pain point that usually scares beginners away. The company is bundling in safety tech, automated filming modes, simulator training through its app, quick launch behavior, faster file transfers over Wi-Fi 6, and even built-in storage on the Lito X1, all of which point to a product designed as much for convenience as for flight performance.

For the wider drone market, the Lito series looks like a sign that DJI still sees major room for growth at the entry level, especially among travelers, casual creators, and people who want good-looking footage without learning pilot-level manual control. If the real-world performance matches the spec sheet, the Lito X1 and Lito 1 could end up being less about teaching people how to fly a drone and more about removing enough friction that they simply start using one.