HoverAir X1 - Review
A small camera drone that fits inside your pocket that has some impressive features....
The HoverAir X1 is produced by the company called Zero Zero. As stated on their website, Zero Zero was co-founded in 2014 by Stanford Ph.D.’s, MQ Wang and Tony Zhang.
The HoverAir X1 comes in two colour variations, black or white.
I purchased the black version. I had a genuine surprise when first using the HoverAir X1. The drone can operate without the need for a controller, this allows for a quick setup and you are ready to fly. The A.I technology is a real treat and does a fantastic job at tracking the subject, when you have finished shooting your footage the HoverAir X1 can be folded and fit into a large pocket. The X1 weighs in at just 125g (4.41oz).
The HoverAir X1 is aimed at consumers who don’t need the longer setup, complicated controllers and features found on larger drones.
Simply unfold the drone and turn on, select a mode and press a button, the HoverAir X1 will take off from the palm of your hand and fly by itself. I can say by experience that I have a lot of fun while flying the X1. When flying the HoverAir X1 for the first time I tried the out the pre-programmed flight modes, these included the following:
· Hover: The X1 will take video or photos for those hand-free selfie or group shots
· Follow: The X1 will follow a person from the front or behind
· Zoom Out: The X1 will zoom out showing more of the surroundings for dramatic effect
· Orbit: The X1 will orbit around the user
· Birds Eye: The X1 will fly upwards and capture overhead video footage
The HoverAir X1 can be used with the smart control app. While using the app you can easily customize a wide range of settings, from flight height and distance to vertical shooting, as well as resolution. The app also allows for manual control of the drone. The app ensures that you can also wirelessly download the videos or photos the user has shot — I can confirm that this both simple and fast, the X1 does have on-board 32GB memory. The app also let you download any firmware updates that have been released.
I haven’t yet managed to crash the HoverAir X1, I always have the X1 in sight and have flown in areas with plenty of space and avoided tree areas. DJI have a number obstacle avoidance sensors on their drones, unlike the HoverAir X1 which only has bottom obstacle avoidance.
Some of the Key Features – stated from HoverAir X1 website:
- · Weight 124g
- · 8 Flight Modes
- · 20 Intelligent Flight Paths
- · 32GB Storage
- · Max Wind Resilience 7.9m/s
- · Max Flight Height 15m
- · IOS/Android
- · 2704*1520@30fps, 1920*1080@60fps, 1920*1080@30fps (HDR)
- · Max Ascent Speed 1.5m/s
- · Max Descent Speed 1.5m/s
- · Max Horizontal Speed 7m/s
- · Operating Temperature 0°- 40 °C
- · WIFI 2.4GHz, 5.8GHZ
- · 35 mins-100%(With Charging Hub) 55 mins-100%(With X1 on-board charging)
- · Battery Capacity 1050mah
One of the coolest features of the X1 is the use of sound recording, this is unique to the HoverAir X1 and no other drone, (as of writing). I have used this feature and found it very effective. The sound recorded my voice and left out the drones annoying loud propeller sounds. To be fair when replaying the videos with my voice recordings was very good and would be acceptable to use. To use this feature you will need to use the app.
The image stabilization works effectively, this comprises of mechanical 9 (y-axis) and electronic. The stabilization worked surprisingly when reviewing the video footage. The X1 copes extremely well in mild windy conditions even with its light weight.
The 2.7K video resolution quality is in keeping with the DJI Mini-series of drones. To be fair I have recorded less impressive video footage from more expensive drones. The X1 records video of limited length, this I find to be more manageable when editing the footage.
The Pros
- · Very small and light
- · Propellers are encased in a frame
- · The X1 can be operated without the need of a smart phone
- · 2.7K video resolution
- · Use the X1 with the very good app
- · Download video and photos to your smart phone
- · Lots of modes
- · Regular firmware updates
The Cons
- · Battery life limited
- · No MicroSD slot – Only on-board memory storage
- · No collision avoidance sensors
Would I recommend the HoverAir X1? The answer would have to be, ‘Yes’. The main is reason is that I sometimes only would want to shoot quick video segments without the need of using a cumbersome drone with a screen and controller. The HoverAir X1 can be used in seconds to capture those important shots. I would recommend purchasing the combo which comes with extra battery and charger.
My drone journey began with the DJI Phantom series of drone, a compact and versatile quadcopter that sparked my passion for aerial photography. With its intuitive controls and high-quality camera, I spent countless hours exploring the skies above my hometown. As I gained proficiency, I upgraded to the Phantom 4, which offered advanced features such as obstacle avoidance and longer flight times. I now own and use the HoverAir X1 and DJI Pro 3 drones.
HOVERAir X1 Self-Flying Camera Drone Package - Black
Capture stunning aerial shots with the HOVERAir X1 Self-Flying Camera Drone Package in Black
Product information
$479.00
Product Review Score
4.5 out of 5 stars
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