HOVERAir X1 in the test: The perfect drone for vacation?

 Design and workmanship 

The HOVERAir X1 is one of those gadgets that you just love to have with you. Small, light and unobtrusive. At just 125 grams, it weighs less than most smartphones and when folded up, it fits easily in the palm of your hand. It takes up hardly any space in a packed hiking backpack or even in a jacket pocket and is immediately at hand when the perfect photo moment comes.

The design is minimalist but practical. The protective cage around the rotors gives a reassuring feeling, especially when filming through narrow passages with low-hanging branches or between rocks. It can easily handle small impacts and remains stable in the air. The workmanship seems robust, even if it may seem fragile at first glance.

Changing the battery does have its pitfalls. The plug-in mechanism is cleverly designed, but in practice it sometimes takes a bit of tact until everything is in the right place. This can be annoying, especially if you're in a hurry. Nevertheless, the compact size of the batteries fits in with the overall concept. They are light, portable and easy to store, just like the drone itself.

 Operation and App 

Open it up, switch it on, select the flight mode you want and the HOVERAir X1 is ready to go. It takes less than a minute to get it in the air. Perfect if you want to quickly take a few special photos while you're out and about.

It is controlled either via the buttons directly on the drone or via the app. The app offers more setting options and makes it easy to individually adjust the flight height or distance of the 6 flight modes. The app also provides a live view of the camera image, which is extremely useful when aligning the shots.

Here is an overview of the different flight modes:

•  Hover : Stays in place and follows movements. Suitable for selfies or group photos.
•  Follow: Follows the user from a certain distance and height. Useful for hiking or activities such as cycling, as long as it doesn't go too fast.
•  Orbit: Flies in a circle around the subject and creates dynamic 360-degree shots.
•  Zoom Out : Zooms up and back for a cinematic wide-angle view.
•  Bird's Eye : Hover directly above the subject and capture from a bird's eye view.
•  Custom Mode: Allows you to create your own flight routes, which offers a little preparation but also creative freedom.

The drone itself does not record any sound, but Zero Zero Robotics has thought of that too. Instead, the sound can be recorded via the smartphone microphone and later automatically synchronized with the videos. A useful addition for travel vlogs or short clips, even if the audio quality is not as good as external microphones.

I didn't like the app's joystick mode as much. It takes some getting used to, as the controls are arranged vertically instead of horizontally. This makes precise maneuvers a little more difficult, especially if you're used to a gamepad layout.

flight characteristics

On Madeira, I was able to fly the HOVERAir X1 along coastal paths or over wide valleys without any problems. Its controls are pleasantly direct and commands are implemented without any noticeable delay. In open, interference-free environments, the connection remains stable and the range is around 30 meters, which is more than enough for leisure photography. However, weaknesses become apparent when obstacles such as rocks or dense vegetation come into play. Brief signal losses are possible in such moments, but the drone then holds its position and waits for new commands.

In terms of flight stability, the HOVERAir X1 delivers solid results. In quieter places, such as along the levadas, it stays calm in the air and ensures shake-free shots. As soon as the gusts get stronger, such as at the windy Ponta de São Lourenço, the lightweight construction reaches its limits. In stronger gusts, it begins to sway and the image stability suffers. Its limit is around wind force four, i.e. moderate wind. Anything above that makes precise flying and filming difficult.

What is missing is a GPS function. Without it, there is no automatic "return to home" mode. If the connection is lost or the battery gets weaker, the drone will stop and eventually land on its own. This is suboptimal, especially in exposed areas such as over water or near cliffs, and increases the risk of losing sight of it. However, for relaxed conditions or places with clear visibility, this is not a dealbreaker.

 recordings and image quality 

The HOVERAir X1 shows its strengths especially in daylight. It delivers impressive images for social media and holiday memories. During my hikes on Madeira, it mastered selfies on the levadas just as well as wide panoramic shots on the Ponta de São Lourenço. The 2,7K resolution combined with mechanical image stabilization ensures that the videos appear clear and pleasantly smooth. However, you shouldn't expect high-end image quality like with a more expensive drone or a current smartphone. The HoverAir X1 scores points with perspectives that other devices simply cannot offer.

The preset flight modes are ideal for creative shots without the need for a lot of experience. The "Bird's Eye" mode, where it hovers directly above you, delivers impressive images from a bird's eye view. I particularly liked the "Follow" mode. The drone follows you reliably and films from different heights and angles. Dynamic scenes such as hikes or walks can be captured very well with it.

After dark, however, the camera's limitations become apparent. In poor lighting conditions, the image quality becomes noticeably weaker. Details are lost and the images appear grainy. So if you're planning on taking night shots, you'd be better off using a different camera or drone. Fast movements, such as jogging or cycling, also push the image stabilization to its limits. Here, the HOVERAir X1 remains more of a companion for relaxed leisure activities.

 Here is a video sample of the recording quality: 

A real plus is the integrated 32 GB memory. That's more than enough for a day of recordings. Transferring to my laptop via USB-C was quick and easy. What's missing, however, is the option to expand the memory. A microSD slot would have been desirable, especially on longer trips, to avoid having to regularly delete files.

 Battery and charging options 

With the two included replacement batteries, the drone has a flight time of around 11 minutes each. That doesn't sound like much, but it's often enough for spontaneous clips and short recordings. On Madeira, I still had to plan exactly when and where I would fly. Especially on longer trips, time sometimes felt tight when you wanted to capture lots of cool moments. For more intensive use or longer trips, a third or fourth battery would definitely be useful.

The short flight times are no surprise for such a small drone, but they do set clear limits on how many shots you can take in a row. The charging cradle is a real plus point. It can charge both batteries at the same time and works via a USB-C port, which is incredibly practical when traveling. During car journeys on Madeira, I simply charged the batteries via the cigarette lighter. The charging time is around 35 minutes per battery.