DJI RC-N1 Controller: Compatibility, Specs, and Price

The DJI RC-N1 is a foldable, screenless remote controller. It requires a connected smartphone to display the drone’s camera feed. It’s compatible with the Mini 2, Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, Mavic Air 2, Air 2S, Mavic 3, and Mavic 3 Classic. It supports O2/O3/O3+ video transmission and sells for around $160 separately.

What is the DJI RC-N1, exactly?

The RC-N1 is DJI’s standard controller for a wide range of its consumer drones. It’s a foldable design with retractable control sticks built to pack down small. It uses Hall sensor sticks for precise, backlash-free control input. Its defining tradeoff is that it has no built-in screen. You connect your own smartphone to it, and the DJI Fly app displays the drone’s camera feed and settings on your phone.

Which drones is it actually compatible with?

The RC-N1 works with the Mini 2, Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, Mavic Air 2, Air 2S, Mavic 3, and Mavic 3 Classic. That’s a wide compatibility range across DJI’s mid-range and some prosumer models. It’s part of why it’s DJI’s most common controller. Many buyers can carry one RC-N1 across multiple drones instead of a dedicated controller per aircraft.

What are its actual specs?

• Controls: nine physical controls including dual Hall sensor sticks
• Battery: 5200 mAh capacity, charges at 500 mA @ 5V
• Transmission: supports O2, O3, and O3+ video transmission depending on the connected drone
• Connectivity: dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, switching automatically to maintain a stable link in interference
• Display: none built in, requires a connected smartphone

How does it compare to DJI’s screen-equipped controllers?

The tradeoff for the RC-N1’s lower price and broad compatibility is convenience. DJI’s RC and RC Pro controllers include a built-in screen. That means no phone to mount, no phone battery drain during a flight, and no risk of a call or notification interrupting your view mid-flight. The RC-N1 costs less and works across more drone models. But it depends entirely on your phone functioning as the display for every flight.

What does it cost?

Sold separately, the RC-N1 runs around $160. It’s also commonly included as the standard controller in DJI’s base packages for compatible drones. Many buyers already own one without purchasing it individually. It’s typically only bought separately as a replacement or backup unit.

Sources: Pilot Institute DJI controller compatibility guide, RC-N1 vs. RC vs. RC Pro comparison.