HoverAir X1 Review: The Perfect Drone for Beginners?

• HoverAir X1 camera drone
• USB-C charging cable
• Carrying pouch
• Quick-start guide
• Additional battery

Drones with serious camera technology usually come in large bags or even hard cases. Not so with the HoverAir X1. It only needs a small fabric pouch, which is already included in the package. When ready to fly, the drone measures just 13 x 15 x 3 cm. A low weight of only 125 g emphasizes the sleek design even further. When folded for transport, the drone is just 13 x 8.6 x 3.1 cm — essentially half the size. 

These compact dimensions offer a significant advantage. Thanks to its low weight, the X1 falls into drone class C0. For you as the user, this means you do not need a drone license. Furthermore, unlike with larger or heavier models, there is no legally required minimum distance from other people. This greatly simplifies things for beginners. 

With a top speed of 25 km/h, the HoverAir X1 is well equipped for follow-me flights. It can keep up not just during leisurely walks but also when jogging or cycling. Controlling the drone is incredibly straightforward, with the focus placed on the two buttons on the drone itself.

One button powers on the drone and brings it into hover mode. The other selects the recording mode. Before getting started, however, you should first connect the mini drone to the app on your smartphone. Fortunately, this setup process is quick and simple. In theory, it’s even possible to use the drone without a smartphone.

That said, the limited internal storage could become an issue if you go without a phone. A Wi-Fi connection is required to transfer videos from the drone to the app. During my testing, data transfer worked flawlessly. I experienced no disconnections or other issues. On the contrary, video transfers were remarkably fast in practice.

The app is not just a storage hub for your recorded videos. It also allows you to adjust various settings, such as the drone’s flight altitude. While experts may wish for more in-depth customization, the available options were more than sufficient for me as a beginner.

Skillfully maneuvering a drone can be a real challenge. It often takes many hours of practice before one can confidently call themselves a drone pilot. However, many potential drone buyers are unwilling to invest that time. If you count yourself among this group, the HoverAir X1 is a perfect choice.

That’s because the focus here is on autonomous flying. This means that the mini drone can operate without your direct input, thanks to its intelligent flight modes. The standard mode is called “Hover.” When selected, the drone hovers in place and keeps you, the user, in focus. The “Follow” mode is another exciting feature, where the drone follows its user.

This is particularly useful if you want to be filmed while jogging or cycling. The HoverAir X1 reliably adjusts its speed to match yours. Then there’s the “Bird’s Eye” mode. As the name suggests, the drone ascends and pulls away from you. You can define how high it should fly in the app—up to 15 meters is possible.

In “Orbit” mode, the X1 becomes your personal moon, orbiting around you at the push of a button. In “Zoom Out” mode, the drone moves away from you and then returns. The “Snapshot” mode is for when you want the drone to automatically take a photo once you strike a pose—while hovering in place. Lastly, there’s the “Dolly Track” mode, in which the camera continuously films forward.

Besides the intelligent flight modes, you can also use a manual mode. Here, you simply use your smartphone as a remote control for the drone. As a beginner, this felt a bit unfamiliar to me at first, but over time, you get used to it.

The transmission range is limited to a maximum of 30 meters. When the flight ends, a cool gesture recognition feature comes into play: if you hold out your hand, the flying camera will promptly land on your palm.

The results from the 2.7K camera are quite impressive—at least under good lighting conditions. In darker environments, some image noise can occasionally occur. Beyond the quality of photos and videos, it was especially the image stabilizer that positively surprised me. It ensures really steady recordings.

The HoverAir X1 uses electronic image stabilization and a gimbal on which the main camera sits. Larger drones often use a three-axis gimbal system. Due to limited space, the gimbal on the X1 operates only in one direction. However, this is fully sufficient for everyday applications.

Personally, I don’t see the X1’s strengths in breathtaking landscape or city flights. Rather than mountain and valley flights, this model—with its camera and flight capabilities—is better suited as a practical photo companion at large events or on vacation.

Thanks to the person detection and tracking features, group photos can be taken exceptionally well. Suitable algorithms then optimize the faces via the drone’s software, qualifying it quite well for producing high-quality social media content.

The HoverAir X1 is probably the perfect entry into the world of camera drones. It impresses in testing with its uncomplicated operation and quick setup. This is made possible by the helpful smart recording modes, which make cool drone flights easy even for beginners.