The first drone I want to use constantly is the HoverAir X1.

 A self-capturing drone advocating for the removal of GPS, obstacle detection, and controls.

Over the years, I've dabbled with a few DJI drones, but I've always considered them to be too difficult to get the hang of and utilize on the fly. That's not the case with Zero Zero Robotics' $349 HoverAir X1. Right out of the box, this so-called "selfie drone" is a useful tool for both business and enjoyment because it is so simple to use.

For instance, the HoverAir X1 produced all of the follow, orbit, and zoom in/out views used in this e-bikepacking movie and this ID Buzz e-camper review, in addition to this 360-degree GIF and overhead shot. No controller was needed to take a picture; all it took was a tap of a button on the drone's top.

The greatest drone is the one you carry with you, and the incredibly portable HoverAir X1 is small enough to fit in your pocket and be used anywhere. The speed at which it launches allows me to spontaneously take a more captivating drone photo rather than relying just on my iPhone. It comes back to land in your hand on its own accord.

There are drawbacks to the HoverAir X1, and I did break one evaluation unit when I fell on it. However, I must admit that I adore this little man in spite of, not because of, all of its flaws.

Due to its flying weight being approximately half that of DJI's Mini drones, which weigh less than 250 grams, the HoverAir X1 is also free from most nations' registration and licensing procedures. It folds up into a 5 x 3.4 x 1.2-inch (127 x 86 x 31 mm) compact that is so lightweight and compact that I could carry it in my thigh pocket for extended trail running or bike trips.

The X1 drone's two buttons serve as its main user interface. One activates the device, and the other alternates between five presets that lock the user's camera onto the drone while it flies a predefined route, capturing images or recording video as it goes:

Hover follows your movements while floating in a set area.

 
Fly either in front of you or behind you at varying altitudes and separations.

 
Orbit: orbit revolves around a fixed center point in a broad overhead circle.

 
For top-down photos taken directly above a fixed area, zoom out such that the bird flies away, up, and back in the bird's eye.

Additionally, there is a sixth mode that allows you to set a slightly altered flying pattern. While the other flight modes start and terminate at the launch site and run for roughly 30 seconds, the hover and follow modes can capture videos or take pictures for several minutes at a time.

You may adjust the HoverAir app's automatic flight options, such as altitude, distance, picture quality, and the ability to switch between taking pictures and videos. I rarely had to modify these again after doing some early experimenting to get what I liked.

I can take the X1 out of my pocket, unfold it, turn it on, choose a predetermined flight route, and launch it from an outstretched palm in less than 20 seconds—a measure I like to refer to as "time to drone." There is no DJI drone that can compare.

That is not to claim that the HoverAir's features or capabilities can match those of DJI's consumer drones. Due to the X1's small size, trade-offs were necessary. The maximum video resolution is 2.7K at 30 frames per second.

In light winds of around 10 knots (5.1 m/s), shots also begin to appear a little unsteady, and the X1 is rendered incapable of taking off once gusts reach a moderate 15 knots (7.7 m/s). In addition, it moves slowly. When I'm road riding at a leisurely pace of 12 mph (20 km/h), the X1 will begin to lose object lock. However, it can track me just fine when I'm running on trails. When there's a sudden change in altitude on a sharp ascent or descent, it will lose me even if it can keep up.


The X1's computer vision tracking, on the other hand, is excellent and the primary reason you would purchase this drone. But when it does, for whatever reason, lose sight of me, it will just halt, hover, and finally land—even if it's over a busy street or body of water. Returned-to-home functionality is lacking to guarantee a secure landing and rehabilitation. Nonetheless, it may be set up to make a sound to aid in finding it.

There is no obstacle avoidance on the X1. Rather, to prevent collisions, the drone's four rotors are enclosed in a flexible plastic cage. If you quickly assess the nearby region, the lack of avoidance technology isn't really an issue in most flight modes. It becomes problematic when I walk around a sharp corner inside my house or on a narrow trail flanked with trees when the drone is in follow-me mode.If it encounters something, it usually just stops and hovers there, so I have to go back and re-engage the tracking lock on my person or retrieve it. But when it accelerates and strikes something, like a bike chasing me, it will crash. The X1 under investigation has already withstood several crashes that would have otherwise brought it crashing to the floor. Other than a few scuff marks, it's fine.

While experimenting with some new clipless bike pedals, I did manage to completely damage another X1 (don't judge!). Though not unbreakable, the X1 is quite sturdy for a drone its weight.

Furthermore, the HoverAir X1 is devoid of any sophisticated GPS location. Rather, it uses a VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry) system to determine its location in three dimensions, both inside and outside, allowing its pre-programmed flying modes to bring the drone back to where it started. In my testing, it performed admirably, frequently living up to the HoverAir's boast of "centimeter-level precision," even when it made 20-foot (six-meter) circles around me.

When the user is standing motionless, the drone may also react to a range of hand movements. For instance, you can wave your arm to send the X1 left or right, or you can command it to land with your arms crossed above. To disable those protected rotors, you may also just take the drone out of the air and flip it over.

There is a manual Wi-Fi connected flight mode available with the HoverAir X1 that turns your phone into the controller. It's entertaining, but occasionally I had trouble controlling the fly with any degree of precision because it was unresponsive. I see it as an extra feature that you might find useful in an emergency.

The X1 has a 32GB internal storage capacity and no microSD expansion option. I've shot 60 photos and 113 movies at maximum resolution during the last few months of testing, and I'm now only using 8.8GB to store them. Using the HoverAir app, the video swiftly uploads to a phone via a direct Wi-Fi connection, or it may be sent by USB-C to a laptop. The X1's battery will likewise be charged in roughly 55 minutes over the USB-C connection.

The X1 is a dull and unimpressive device on paper. However, the HoverAir is so good at fulfilling the needs of a large number of people that its inadequacies are rarely felt at all.

Though the HoverAir X1 makes a compelling case to be the drone you select to record yourself doing things, both indoors and outdoors, especially for social media, DJI is still the master of wide-angle shots.

I just wish it had more power so I could rely on it to record action over the water when I'm kitesurfing on windy days, stay up to speed with me when I'm road cycling, and hold its object lock while I'm mountain biking down a steep slope. Additionally desirable would be a 4K/60fps shooting mode, provided that none of these requests result in a price rise.

Ninety percent of my needs for a drone are met by the X1.

Even so, the X1 accomplishes 90% of my goals for a drone without the need for GPS, obstacle avoidance sensors, or a physical controller—adding features that would just increase costs, complexity, carry-along bulk, and launch latency. It appears that DJI's Neo, which is said to be a response to the HoverAir buzz, will make up the remaining 10%.


The HoverAir X1 is listed at $429, however you can almost always find it on sale for $350 or less. However, if you can, I would suggest going with the around $400 bundle that comes with a dual-battery rapid charger and two spare batteries, each of which needs a 35-minute recharge after 10 to 12 minutes of use. They are as portable and light as the X1 itself, making it simple to take them along to record your next adventure.