Hover Air X1: The Ultimate Self-Flying Camera
The Hover Air X1 is a pocket-sized self-flying camera drone that has been a game changer for us. As someone who loves capturing photos and videos and can’t stand carrying extra bulky stuff on outdoor adventures, I was intrigued by the idea of a tiny drone that could follow me around and take stunning aerial shots. It has exceeded my expectations and become one of my go-to gadgets for capturing memories. Especially when adventuring alone, I no longer have to carry a tripod! I grab this little drone and put it in my pocket. I’ve been using it for about 5 months now and it’s my go-to adventure buddy. This is my honest review of this product.
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Table of Contents
Hover Air X1 Overview
This compact, lightweight drone is perfect for capturing aerial footage of my hiking and camping adventures. I’ve been using it for several months and love it! Here is what I discovered.
Design and Build
The standout feature of the Hover Air X1 for me is its lightweight design. Weighing only 125g, it is incredibly portable and easy to carry in a backpack or purse. I can even carry it in my hoodie pocket. The drone is also foldable, making it even more convenient to take with you on the go. Despite its small size, it is packed with technology, including Visual Inertial Odometry and ToF laser altitude determination, allowing it to fly indoors and outdoors. No GPS signal is required.
Flight Modes
It has five different pre-programmed flight modes, including Follow Me, Orbit, BirdsEye, and Reveal, which make it easy to capture cinematic shots without any prior drone flying experience. The hover mode is perfect for indoor use as it keeps the drone stable and prevents it from crashing into walls. The orbit mode is great for outdoor use as it allows the drone to circle around a subject, capturing footage from all angles. The follow mode captures footage of moving subjects like cyclists, runners, or hikers. There are also reveal and overhead modes, which are great for capturing stunning landscapes.
It also has a manual mode, allowing it to operate more like a conventional drone from the app on your cell phone.
Update: A software update was recently added, and now ‘vertical’ mode is also available to film for Instagram reels, TikTok, YouTube shorts, etc! That’s another amazing thing about this company and the drone. They listen to users and make requested software updates, adding new features.
I have captured breathtaking footage of my travels, adventures, and everyday moments with this awesome little pocket drone. The Hover Air X1 is a game-changer, especially if you travel alone and want to capture your memories uniquely. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take their content creation to the next level.
Here are a few fun little videos I recently created for Instagram from walks with my dog to give you an idea of how cool it is! (This is before the vertical mode software update!)
I recently made a couple video reels for Instagram, incorporating shots from the drone and my cell phone to capture our adventure. These are after the new ‘vertical’ feature was added to the software:
The Hover Air X1 has a 13-megapixel camera that can capture stunning photos and videos. It is mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that keeps the footage stable and smooth. The drone also has a face recognition feature that allows it to follow and capture footage of a specific person.
Design and Features
As someone who loves to explore and document my travels, I was immediately drawn to the X1’s sleek design and impressive features.
Portability
My favorite feature is its portability. Weighing in at 125 grams, this drone can easily fit in your pocket, purse, or backpack without weighing you down. I can’t stand carrying things in my hands when I’m adventuring, so it’s awesome to put this little drone in my pocket and be on my way. The compact and foldable design makes it convenient to carry and store so you can take it anywhere.
Whether hiking through the mountains or exploring a new city, the X1 is the perfect travel companion. It’s small enough to take with you on any adventure yet powerful enough to capture stunning aerial footage.
Overall, I’m incredibly impressed with the design and features of this little drone. The team at Hover has put a lot of thought and effort into creating a drone that is both portable and powerful. Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot or a beginner, the X1 is a great, easy, fun choice for anyone looking to capture their adventures from a new perspective.
Camera and Flight Capabilities
As I tested the Hover Air X1, I was impressed with its camera and flight capabilities. The drone’s built-in camera can capture stunning aerial footage and photos from unique perspectives. Let’s take a closer look at some of its camera and flight capabilities.
Zoom Out
One feature that I particularly enjoyed was the drone’s “Zoom Out” mode. This feature allows the camera to zoom out and capture a wider view of the surroundings. It’s perfect for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, and other wide-angle shots.
Bird’s Eye
Another feature that I found useful was the “Bird’s Eye” mode. This mode lets the camera capture footage and photos from a bird’s eye view, giving you a unique perspective of the world below. It’s perfect for capturing aerial shots of buildings, landscapes, and other subjects.
Flight Time
It has a flight time of up to 20 minutes on a single charge. This is a decent amount of time for capturing footage and photos, and I found it sufficient for most of my needs. The drone is also easy to control, thanks to its intuitive controls and responsive flight capabilities. No controller is needed; you select your flight mode from the buttons on the drone itself and release it from the palm of your hand.
There is also an app that allows you to access custom flight modes such as Snapshot and Dolly Track once you’ve completed at least one flight for each pre-programmed mode. Additional features are coming as the makers continue to enhance the software.
I opted to put an Apple Air Tag on mine as a safety backup, which is the white button in the image below. This does not come with the device; I opted to be safe rather than sorry, just in case!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the flight time of the Hover Camera X1?
The Hover Camera X1 has a flight time of up to 20 minutes on a single charge. I opted to purchase a second battery for longer adventures.
What is the weight of the Hover Camera X1?
The Hover Camera X1 weighs only 125 grams, making it one of the lightest drones on the market.
How does the Hover Camera X1 compare to the Hover Camera Passport?
The Hover Camera X1 is an upgraded version of the Hover Camera Passport, with improved features such as longer flight time, better camera resolution, and more advanced obstacle avoidance technology.
What are the key features of the Hover Camera X1?
Its key features include 13-megapixel photos, face tracking, and gesture control. It also has obstacle avoidance technology and can fly both indoors and outdoors.
Where can I buy the Hover Camera X1?
You can purchase the Hover Camera X1 on their website, and they have also recently become available on Amazon. There is also a great owners’ group on Facebook where you can see videos, ask questions, request future enhancements, etc. The group is called Hover Camera X1 Owners Club. I’m a member of this group and love seeing the creative ways people are using this little gem of a drone!
