HOVERAir X1 Drone Review: A Pocket Camera Man...but worth it??

The HOVERAir X1 pocket-sized drone is a well-designed, easy to use, self-flying drone that is a great way to add spice to your vlogs or family videos! Here's my experience with it...including some limitations and issues.
The Zero Zero Robotics company provided me the drone for free to review their product.
More information and ordering info here: bit.ly/3EobDun
And if you have questions, there is a HOVERAir X1 FaceBook group here: / 236959472217944
HOVERAir X1 drone: amzn.to/3POawcF
A DonDronesOn production.
SUGGESTIONS:
Join the Drone Pilot Association of Canada (DPAC):
www.DronePilot...
Join the DPAC Facebook group: / 592682344571622
Purchase the Drone Pilot Canada app:
Apple iOS platform: itunes.apple.c...
Android platform: play.google.co...
Purchase my Canadian drone exam Study Guides: www.pocketwatc...
Buy me a coffee! www.buymeacoff...
ITEMS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
HOVERAir X1 drone: amzn.to/3POawcF
HOVERAir X1 drone: thehover.com/
Insta360 X3 360-degree camera: amzn.to/3JGd7mP
DJI Mic wireless microphone: amzn.to/3JTV5O9
DJI Osmo Pocket camera: amzn.to/3QyHcW9
DRONES AND ACCESSORIES I RECOMMEND:
DJI Mini 3 Pro drone: amzn.to/3PidRhP
DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit: amzn.to/3p9u9Pg
DJI Mini 3 Pro Freewell ND filters: amzn.to/3QDxJgz
DJI Mini 3 Pro Controller Lanyard: amzn.to/3bPxJen
DJI Mini 3 Pro propeller holder strap: amzn.to/3p6Ws13
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128Gb MicroSD card: amzn.to/3AfuQgC
Kovol 65W 4-port USB-C PD Charger: amzn.to/3Pa8X6s
Mountain Warehouse backpack (perfect for Mini 3): amzn.to/3UbhOZm
DJI Mini 2 drone Fly More Combo: amzn.to/3JLhqMd
DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone Fly More Combo: amzn.to/3zUxbfA
Tripltek 8 Pro 8” Tablet: www.tripltek.c...
Tripltek tablet holder for Mavic 2 controller: amzn.to/3QE2qCm
CAMERAS AND FILMING ACCESSORIES I RECOMMEND:
Insta360 X3 360-degree camera: amzn.to/3JGd7mP
DJI Action 3 camera: amzn.to/3rbDOt0
DJI Osmo Pocket camera: amzn.to/3QyHcW9
DJI Osmo Pocket 2 camera: amzn.to/3JNlmw7
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal: amzn.to/3VTbLIy
DJI Mic wireless microphone: amzn.to/3JTV5O9
Blue Yeti microphone: amzn.to/3PfCKdW
Maono PM461 desktop microphone: amzn.to/3BjfF6n
Maono AU-A04H boom microphone: amzn.to/3ew14vH
PowerDeWise lav microphone: amzn.to/3zQZ1sS
Zoom H1n Handy Recorder: amzn.to/3p8MDzy
Logitech C920x Webcam: amzn.to/3BXBdGj
Elgato pull-up greenscreen: amzn.to/3AfO9Xa
Amazon Basics tripod: amzn.to/3Af4vPq
VIDEO EDITING AND CREATION ELEMENTS I RECOMMEND:
Video editor: Cyberlink PowerDirector
Music: Epidemic Sound. Referral link with one month free: www.epidemicso...
#DonDronesOn #HOVERAirX1 #dronepilotassociationofcanada

[@carlosamat]

cool camera drone... thank you for the "411"

[@derekcox6531]

🤯 oh come on! …..now I have to explain to my wife why I need ANOTHER drone!?!? 🤦🏼‍♂️ thanks Don! 😂

[@DonJoyce]

LOL....sorry for causing a marital rift! Solves the problem of a gift for the man who has everything?

[@robharris5464]

I know the problem, my wife asked me WHY I need. This is a fantastic product.

[@TheMaximamustang]

Thanks for the review. Seems like a cool little tool. Keep up the awesomeness.

[@DonJoyce]

LOL. Thanks, Andrew!

[@grahamjones7070]

Can you imagine if it could go over water,that would be great. I think you can control it manually too with the app on your phone. Maybe these issues and the sound issue you noted will be sorted on the next generation of this super little drone. Great video by the way.👍

[@DonJoyce]

There have been a number of firmware updates since I did this video, and things are much more stable. I've used the Hover for two of my video openings with complete success. I doubt it will ever be safe over water since its only means of location stability is downward vision sensors.

[@andyjenkinson5070]

In orbit mode why would it need to reference the ground? Could it not just maintain its "current flight path"? I have seen videos where an orbit appears to go over water and even ones where orbit takes it over the slope of a mountain. I would love someone to give a definitive answer to this.

[@DonJoyce]

@@andyjenkinson5070 Without referencing 'something', how would it maintain its "current flight path"? Certainly its image of the centre of the orbit isn't reliable or accurate. There may not even be anything at the centre. I would say any shots you see are lucky.

[@andyjenkinson5070]

​@@DonJoyce thanks. I assumed that once its circular course was set with you in the middle it would simply continue that course. Why would it need to change anything? I admit I am ignorant about drones but it seems unnecessarily complex to take the ground into consideration to fly a simple circle. If you fly an ordinary drone off a cliff and do not touch your controller does it plummet?

[@BobHerres]

Indeed, this new drone is very impressive. I'm guessing it would major asset for capturing captivating supplementary footage to enhance drone videos, and various other projects. While your videos already exceed professional standards, and I have no doubt that your work is poised for even greater achievements!"

[@JimBoshart]

5:24 "I've pulled it out and unfolded it".... I can't count how many times I said that on a Friday night in highschool... BUT, great video. It looks like an interesting mechanical device... I think the price is a little steep for something without obstacle avoidance. 🎉❤

[@DonJoyce]

Ha ha! I was actually worried about how I phrased that...so, thanks for confirming my worst fears!

[@deeweeuavp]

Wowww 👍☘️🇮🇪☘️

[@clydemurray4050]

Excellent reviewed Don and I can see how it would be extremely useful in certain situation. I’m afraid I don’t do enough aerial video to make something like that work for me but still really enjoyed what you had to say. I was very impressed when it came through the door following you into the house.

[@Aerosnapper]

Excellent review of a really remarkable drone. You covered all the bases and left no questions unanswered. Thank you

[@DonJoyce]

At the risk of being patted down, I may have it in my pocket at tomorrow's Kingston Drone Discovery Day!

[@billmcdonald4335]

Let me know when it can Matty Flip, or do an inverted yaw spin. . .

[@noproblama9971]

800 bucks in australia wooweeeee!

[@JBrierley02]

I have to go with some of the other guys on this one. $400 is way too much. Maybe up to $150 CDN max.

[@DonJoyce]

No problem. Nobody's forcing you! Please do note however, this is not a toy drone....it's remarkably sophisticated.

[@jimsdroneing]

great demo Don remember getting email from them but figured kinda novelty item footage looks good and pretty cool features but not for me though

[@DonJoyce]

I hesitated too, Jim, but it looked so well thought-through, I figured I would give it a shot. I was impressed!

[@GumbyPW]

I have been having the issue of not consistently being able to record sound. When it works, It's great, but it only works about 40% of the time. My phone is android Galaxy S22, can you give me any tips on how to make it more consistent?

[@DonJoyce]

Sounds familiar. For me, the key thing is to ensure the phone and drone are connected before EVERY flight. For example, if you crash into something, it will disconnect! Also, if you use the DJI Mic plugged into your phone, download a recorded video and play it, you won't hear any sound. Take the Mic receiver out of the phone and bingo, the sound is there (nothing to do with the Hover)! My big problem now is that the sound is SOOOO out of synch with the video. It can be so bad that you can't fix it in post...which is usually easy.

[@GumbyPW]

Thanks for responding. I may have found an answer now, re-booting my phone. As far as synching, they have suggestions under "Me, Academia, Functions, sound recording" But I'm sure you knew that. I'm in A wheelchair & it sometimes looses me in follow mode. I think because it only sees a chair back & head with no legs or torso, LOL. Thanks again@@DonJoyce

[@rickarmstrong9793]

Sounds like this should be exempt from FAA regulation. Max altitude is 15 meters. If a plane is flying below 50 feet, that pilot has bigger things to worry about that a little drone.

[@DonJoyce]

Still a good idea to do the sensibly designed FAA TRUST exam. Thanks for watching!

[@rickarmstrong9793]

@@DonJoyce Definitely agree about the test.

[@RetropunkAI]

Sold! Thanks for review.

[@DonJoyce]

Enjoy!!

[@Donuts_random_stuff]

I love this little thing, it looks so handy to have. I do think it’s a little to the expensive side and if I’d have to choose I’ll take something like an insta 360 cam, it also gives drone like footage and you can take it more places: that drone ain’t gonna work for long underwater 😅 I do know it has things that an insta 360 can’t but if your creative I think an insta 360 is a better option (except for if your rich and can buy both 😂) 11:00 also technically no one is operating it so no one needs a license so if you’d think about it it’s a loophole in the law I tho

[@DonJoyce]

I do love the flexibility of an Insta360 (I used one on my sky dive!), but it can be time consuming processing the footage into something usable. This nice thing about the HOVERAir X1 is its incredible simplicity.

[@Donuts_random_stuff]

@@DonJoyce that’s a good point, I never edited 360 footage but it does sound more complicated indeed

[@inmyfreetyme]

What a cute little drone. GREAT review by the way. I may just have to get me one for my KZbin videos. Thanks 4 sharing. Cheers!😎😎

[@DonJoyce]

It's very handy and easy to use!

[@barbarajoyce6865]

Looks like you and Max had fun with this one

[@DonJoyce]

We did! He was intent on getting it confused...it was pretty tough!

[@seyanbryan520]

That's cool but the sqeeling sound would drive most users crazy 🙉🤪.

[@davestredulinsky]

An great looking small self-flying pocket camera drone with many flight modes and impressive filtering of the audio recordings.

[@DonJoyce]

It is definitely quite cool. The audio trick is still a bit problematic, but with patience it works! (My intro to the Drone Pilot Canada 3.1 video was done in this mode, BTW)

[@Tractor-boy1]

Think I will give it 6 months for the upgraded version the x2 Very nice review all the same

[@DonJoyce]

Thanks. I'm finding it remarkably good on hikes and vlogs.

[@Dagodewerd]

Thanks, Don.

[@NorthcoastDrone]

That's a cool little drone Don. thanks for the review now i want to buy one. But not as much as i want to buy one of those drone pilot Canada shirts that your sporting in that video.

[@DonJoyce]

LOL! It's just a VistaPrint purchase. I can send you the graphics.

[@NorthcoastDrone]

@@DonJoyce haha you should set up a shop in your your KZbin channel. I’m probably not the only pilot in Canada that would want one

[@northwoodmediaworks]

Too pricey, and around here, the wind would eat it up. Its a cool concept, but not for those who eschew being on camera..... and no 4k at that price point... ha!

[@DonJoyce]

Well, it is definitely positioned as a selfie (or at least PEOPLE) video-taking drone. It only works when it is actually filming a person (ok, there's a manual flying mode...but not the main event), generally at very low altitude. I've used it for the intro to my next video (Sept 16...if things work out): let me know what you think.

[@granrey]

how are the pictures retrieved from drone? thx for the video

[@DonJoyce]

If you aren't worried about the sound synchronization feature, you can just plug the drone into a computer and transfer the files directly. For the sound synch feature, you download the video to your phone first, using the Hover app...this does the magic synching and noise removal. You then can transfer the resultant file from you phone just like any other video file.

[@granrey]

@@DonJoyce can I plug directly to phone using a USBC to USBC cable and transfer the photos?

[@DonJoyce]

@@granrey I have not tried that. They transfer wirelessly to your phone so easily, I'm not sure why you would want a wire...

[@granrey]

@@DonJoyce Oh, I misunderstood your post. I thought it had to be transfered through the PC. If it transfer directly to phone, then is better for sure.

[@MyFriendlyPup]

I was all in until you said 10min flight, no controller, and $400 USD. No way Don. I thought this was $139 USD max!