When building or upgrading a 5-inch FPV drone, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is choosing the right motor. Among the popular choices for freestyle, cinematic, and racing builds, the MEPS NEON 2306 FPV motor has gained attention for its balance of power, efficiency, and affordability. But how does it actually perform in real-world flight scenarios?
In this post, we’ll share hands-on testing results of the NEON 2306 motor, discuss its performance across different build types, and explain why it may be the perfect motor for your next DIY FPV project.
- What Makes the NEON 2306 Motor Stand Out?
The NEON 2306 is a brushless motor from MEPS designed specifically for high-performance 5-inch FPV drones. The “2306” indicates the stator size — 23mm wide and 6mm tall — which strikes a balance between torque and responsiveness. Available in multiple KV options such as 1950KV, 2450KV, and 2750KV, the NEON 2306 can be tuned for freestyle, racing, or cinematic flying styles.
With a sleek design, aluminum bell housing, and smooth bearings, the motor not only looks premium but also handles tough conditions without overheating or losing efficiency.
- Build Setup and Components
To fairly test the NEON 2306 motor in real flight, we built a typical 5-inch freestyle quad using the following components:
- Frame: AOS 5 V2 5” carbon frame
- Motors: MEPS NEON 2306 2450KV
- ESC: MEPS SZ 60A 4-in-1 BLHeli_32
- Flight Controller: MEPS F722 HD FC
- Props: HQProp 5×4.3×3 V2S
- Battery: 1300mAh 6S LiPo
- FPV System: DJI O3 Air Unit
This build emphasizes responsiveness and power-to-weight ratio, ideal for freestyle and high-throttle maneuvers.
- Takeoff Performance and Throttle Response
Immediately on takeoff, the NEON 2306 motors felt responsive and powerful. The quad lifted off with very little throttle input, indicating high thrust efficiency. At hover throttle (~20%), the motors stayed cool, with no vibration or abnormal noise.
When executing punch-outs (100% throttle for vertical climbs), the quad accelerated smoothly and powerfully. The thrust-to-weight ratio felt similar to premium motors like the T-Motor F40 or iFlight Xing2.
- Key Observations:
- Punch-outs were crisp and clean, with no throttle sag
- Hover current draw was around 6.5A, indicating good efficiency
- Vibrations were minimal, reducing filtering load on the flight controller
- Mid-Air Maneuverability
One of the strengths of a good 2306 motor is handling abrupt changes in direction, throttle, and attitude without oscillation or desync. In freestyle flight testing with rolls, flips, split-S, and Matty flips, the NEON 2306 remained extremely locked-in.
The 2450KV variant gave an excellent balance of top-end thrust and low-end control. Even at 20–30% throttle, it delivered enough torque for tight proximity flying, while 70%+ throttle provided explosive power for gap exits or high-speed dives.
Real-World Feel:
- Cornering felt smooth with clean transitions
- Yaw authority was solid, likely due to good stator height
- Throttle linearity was predictable — ideal for freestyle flow
- Heat Management and Durability
Motor temperature is a key concern for high-performance 6S builds. After flying two 4-minute freestyle packs back-to-back, we checked the motor temps:
- Post-flight motor temperature: ~42°C (measured by IR gun)
- ESC temp: ~46°C
- No visible discoloration, vibration, or smell
The NEON 2306’s cooling fins and open-bottom design clearly help dissipate heat, and the high-quality bearings ensure minimal internal resistance even after multiple cycles. We also crash-tested the build (hard landing on grass from 3 meters) — the motor bell stayed true with no shaft bending.
Durability Rating: 9/10 – ideal for aggressive freestyle
- Noise Level and Smoothness
Compared to other motors in the same class, the NEON 2306 had a notably quieter sound profile. During slow cruising or cinematic flight, there was less of the typical high-pitched whine, which indicates precise balancing and motor symmetry.
This quietness also translates to smooth gyro data, which helps in minimizing digital noise filtering and preserving flight feel.
- Battery Efficiency and Flight Time
Battery performance is always a trade-off between power and efficiency. In our 6S setup, with moderate freestyle flying:
- Average flight time: 3.5–4.2 minutes
- Peak amp draw (during punch-out): ~108A total
- Idle current draw (hover): ~6–7A
- Battery voltage sag was minimal until ~20% battery level
This places the NEON 2306 alongside other popular 2306-class motors, but with slightly better mid-throttle efficiency, ideal for flow-style freestyle and cruising.
- Comparison to Similar Motors
| Motor | Weight | Max Thrust | KV Options | Price Range | Real-World Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEPS NEON 2306 | 31g | ~1.95kg | 1950KV, 2450KV, 2750KV | $18–22 | Smooth & Powerful |
| T-Motor F40 Pro IV | 33g | ~2.0kg | 2400KV | $27–30 | High-End Freestyle |
| EMAX ECO II 2306 | 30g | ~1.8kg | 1700KV–2400KV | $15–17 | Budget-friendly, reliable |
The MEPS NEON 2306 strikes a perfect middle ground: close to flagship-level performance but at a much more affordable price point. It’s a strong contender whether you’re building your first freestyle quad or upgrading your current setup.
- Where to Buy?
9.1 Discover MEPSKING: Your Premier One-Stop Shop for FPV Drone
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At MEPSKING, we’ve partnered with top-tier brands like DJI, T-MOTOR, iFlight, BETAFPV, RunCam, CaddxFPV, RADIOMASTER, SpeedyBee and more to provide a wide selection of FPV essentials. From motors, ESCs, frames, and cameras to FPV goggles, controllers, and beyond, we’ve got you covered.
Plus, our exciting ongoing events make shopping even more rewarding:
- Spin the Lucky Wheel – Win exclusive prizes and discounts.
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9.2 Why Choose MEPSKING: Official Quality Assurance, More Affordable Prices
A Complete Product Range: We offer both variety and quality.
- All FPV Essentials in One Place: Find everything you need, from motors, ESCs, and flight controllers to goggles, antennas, and video transmitters.
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Dual Quality Assurance
- Brand Warranty: Enjoy coverage directly from the manufacturers.
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Faster Delivery
- We prioritize getting your products to you quickly so you can spend less time waiting and more time flying.
9.3 Don’t Miss Out on Free Trial at MEPSKING!
From the 16th to the 21st of every month, MEPSKING offers an exclusive Free Trial Program featuring different products each time. From motors and ESCs to flight controllers and more, you’ll have the chance to test premium FPV gear for free. Don’t wait—explore this month’s lineup and take your FPV experience to the next level!
