Latest news with #HoverAirX1Pro
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
The HoverAir X1 Pro is the best selfie drone — and it's currently $426 off for Prime Day
As part of this year's Prime Day sales, we're really seeing drone deals take off, and we've already spotted some major discounts from the likes of DJI and Potensic. HoverAir isn't far behind either, as the brand has slashed the price of all its drones. Yep, the X1, X1 Pro and X1 ProMax are all on sale — but I want to draw your attention to a specific deal... The HoverAir X1 Pro Skiing Combo is currently 30% off at Amazon, bringing it down to $994 from its retail price of $1,420. I've thoroughly tested this drone for my HoverAir X1 Pro review so trust me when I say this is a deal you shouldn't miss. It includes the 4K drone, smart batteries, thermal batteries, and a Joystick and Beacon which, when combined, become a very cool controller. The HoverAir X1 Pro Skiing Combo includes the 4K drone, smart batteries, a thermal smart battery, the Joystick and Beacon to control the drone, a carry case and other goodies. In the U.K., the HoverAir X1 Pro Skiing Combo is discounted by 25%, bringing it down to just £973 as opposed to its retail price of £1,298. I reviewed both the HoverAir X1 Pro and X1 ProMax together, and in my HoverAir X1 Pro review, I said both drones were highly capable and easy to fly. The X1 Pro can record smooth 4K/60fps or FHD/120fps slow motion footage. You don't even need a controller or smartphone to fly it. Simply press the button on its body to cycle through the various short-form recording modes available, and the drone will autonomously record the footage and save it into its 32GB internal hard drive. The X1 Pro features 10 intelligent flight modes: Hover, Zoom Out, Follow, Orbit, Bird's Eye, Dolly Track, Indoor Follow, Dolly Zoom, Ski Mode and Cycling Mode. You can see a couple examples in the video above. The Skiing Combo includes the Joystick and Beacon which you can combine to make a functioning controller. They're highly responsive and make flying extremely easy. Like I mentioned up top, the bundle includes thermal batteries. If you're planning on going skiing later this year, or want to fly your drone in sub-zero temperatures, you'll appreciate the thermal battery which can operate in -4°F / -20°C! I'd wholeheartedly recommend the X1 Pro to anyone who wants a funky little drone to have fun, and one that can operate in harsh weather conditions. It's currently 30% off in the U.S. and 25% off in the U.K. So what are you waiting for?! For more big savings, check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog, and have a look at all the freebies you can score this week.
Tom's Guide
16-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm a licensed drone pilot — and I never go flying without these 3 accessories
When you're out and about flying one of the best drones, the last thing you want is, say, for your quadcopter's spare batteries to run out of charge or you not having an appropriate, even ground to land your drone. Plus, I don't know about you, but I like taking a long walk (away from civilization and, well, charging points) and coming upon a beautiful scene where I can fly my drone — which is why it's best to be prepared. There are a few accessories that can help elevate your experience or even make flying easier. Whether you see aerial photography as a hobby or a money-making gig, I would recommend investing in three things: a microSD card with massive storage, a landing/take-off pad, and a portable power bank. I fly my drone almost every weekend, and I'm a licensed drone pilot so you can trust me — and you might even thank me later. Here's how these three accessories can come in clutch when you're out and about with your drone. Have you ever been in a situation where you're trying to land your drone as it's low on battery but the rocks are too lagged or there's too much grass? And you're struggling and struggling with no end in sight? Well, I have, and there's nothing more frustrating than when I can't find the right landing spot for my quadcopter — and this is where a drone landing pad serves as a life-saver. The SYMIK LP500 20-inch Drone Landing Pad, available for £21 in the U.K., is my go-to. If you're in the U.S., I'd recommend the HZD 20-inch Drone Landing Pad ($19) which is practically the same thing. Both landing pads are weighted so they don't move unless it's extremely windy. They're waterproof and can be cleaned easily too. The HZD 20-inch Drone Landing Pad is deal for drones smaller than the DJI Mavic 4 Pro — so, basically, all consumer drones. It's waterproof and easy to clean, and is brightly colored so you can see it from most heights. It's weighted too, so it should stay in place unless it's extremely windy. 20 inches in size, these landing pads are ideal for basically any consumer drone: from the behemoth DJI Mavic 4 Pro to the tiny DJI Neo. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I use my SYMIK landing pad the most when I want to land my drone on a grassy patch. I don't want my copter's propellers to act as a lawnmower and I also don't want the grass to damage them, so this is where the landing pad comes in handy. The use cases are endless too, making it perfect for sandy or pebbly beaches and other similarly unstable terrain. Not many drones come with massive amounts of internal storage. For example, the DJI Neo features just 22GB of internal memory while the HoverAir X1 Pro comes with 32GB. Of course, if you're dropping thousands of dollars on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, you can get 512GB of internal storage. Regardless of how many videos and images your drone can save onboard, I still believe you need to carry the SanDisk 256GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I as backup, which costs $34 / £25. Either keep it plugged into your drone's microSD slot or have it tucked away in your backpack. SanDisk's 256GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I microSD card boasts not just massive storage space, but also fast read (190mbps) and write speeds (130mbps). Offload speeds also top at 190mbps so you can quickly transfer content between devices, making it the ideal microSD card for 4K and 5K UHD capture. SanDisk's Extreme microSD card boasts write speeds of up to 130mbps and read speeds of up to 190mbps. Offloading is quick too, as the card can transfer at speeds up to 190mbps. Most drones today can shoot 4K video and even Log (RAW), and they can capture images in RAW too. This SanDisk card supports 4K and 5K UHD capture, and it's the one card I never go anywhere without. Lastly, I think it's crucial to have a portable power bank in your backpack or drone shoulder bag when you're leaving the house. Look, I've been there. I'm flying, having fun, when all of a sudden I hear my controller warn me that my drone's battery is low. Of course, I land it to swap batteries, and that's when it hits me: that was my last fully charged battery. Catastrophe! Well, not if you have one of the best portable chargers at hand. Drone batteries require a lot of oomph to charge them speedily. I recommend grabbing the Anker Prime 27,650mAh 3-Port 250W... and I know what you're thinking. This portable charger costs $179 / £179 and I'm aware that's a lot — but I think it's worth every penny. The Anker Prime 27,650mAh 3-Port 250W is extremely portable and lightweight, and it can quickly charge large devices, such as MacBooks and drones, with its 250W power delivery. It also features three ports to charge multiple devices simultaneously. The charging time will depend on your drone. Anker's Prime 27,650mAh 3-Port 250W portable charger should be able to quickly power small drones, like the DJI Mini 4 Pro and the DJI Flip, in just under an hour, but bigger drones will take longer. Anker's offering is also extremely portable and lightweight, so you can even slip it into your pocket for easy transport! There you have it: three accessories I don't leave the house without when I go flying. You should make a habit of packing a portable charger, a landing pad and a fast microSD card in your backpack. Are there any other drone accessories you always carry? Let me know in the comments!
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
DJI Flip review: A unique and useful creator drone with a few flaws
After creating a stir with the $200 Neo, DJI is back at it with another innovative drone, the Flip. It has a first-of-a-kind folding design and shrouded propellers to keep people safe. It also integrates 3D infrared obstacle detection to track subjects and has a long list of impressive features. With a camera borrowed from the Mini 4 Pro, the Flip can take high-quality 4K 60p video indoors or out with little risk. It comes with vlogger-friendly features like Direction Track and Quickshots for social media. And it can be flown with either DJI's controllers, a smartphone, voice control or the push of a button. DJI 82 100 Expert Score DJI Flip DJI's Flip drone has an innovative fold-down design with shrouded, people-safe propellers and a high-quality camera. Pros Sharp and smooth 4K video People-safe design Excellent battery life No license needed Cons Obstacle detection is very limited Bulkier than the competition Not great in wind $439 at Amazon There's no need for a permit to fly it, and best of all, it's priced at $439 with an RC-N3 controller included — making it one of the more affordable drones available. To see how well it serves creators, I flew it inside a castle, a 500-year-old house and out in nature. It's not perfect (hello, stiff winds and obstacles), and it has some stiff competition with the HoverAir X1 Pro, but it's one of the most useful creator drones yet. Design The Flip has a clever, user-friendly design. All four propellers fold down and stack below the body like some kind of Star Wars spacecraft. DJI chose this construction so that it could incorporate permanent (rather than detachable) shrouds that protect the props to limit damage or injury in case of a collision. The design also employs large propellers that aid performance and reduce noise. By comparison, DJI's Neo has tiny, fast-spinning propellers that make a high-pitched shrieking noise. Advertisement DJI kept the takeoff weight including battery and microSD card under 250 grams by using carbon fiber and other lightweight materials. This means the Flip can be flown without special permits. It's still rather bulky though, especially compared to the sleek HoverAir X1 Pro. The Flip has far better battery life than its rival, however. DJI promises up to 34 minutes max flight time (about 27 minutes in real-world conditions), compared to just 16 minutes for the X1 Pro. The batteries can be charged up quickly as well, taking about 35 minutes each with the optional four-battery charger. You'll need a memory card, though, as the Flip only has 2GB of internal storage. The Flip is DJI's first lightweight drone with a 3D infrared sensor for forward obstacle avoidance and it also has a downward vision sensor for landing spot detection and stability. However, unlike the Mini 4 Pro and other DJI drones, it has no side or rear obstacle sensors. One small issue is that the Flip's propellers don't have much clearance, so they can snag even in short grass on takeoffs. Like the Neo, though, it's designed more for takeoffs and landings from your hand. To that end, it has a button on the opposite side of the power switch to select a flight mode and takeoff automatically, just like the Neo. It can also be flown with the app, voice control or manually with a controller — either the DJI RC-N3 controller (which requires a smartphone) or the RC 2 controller with a built-in 5.5-inch display. Features and performance DJI Flip drone review: A folding, user-friendly marvel for content creators The Flip can hum along at up to 26 mph in sport mode, which isn't bad for a light drone, but a good bit slower than the Mini 4 Pro (37 mph). However, the reduced weight and large surface area means it's not the best in high winds. When it flew over the roof of a castle, for example, it got hit by a gust that pushed it nearly backwards. Advertisement However, the Flip can do things that you'd never attempt with a Mini 4 Pro. The full propeller protection, stability and relatively low noise make it well-suited for flying inside large rooms full of fragile objects and people. That, along with the excellent picture quality, means it's a great choice for event professionals and content creators working in public spaces. It's also perfect for beginners, because like the Neo, you can launch the Flip off your hand at the push of a button. It will then fly a pre-programmed mode and land back where it started. One of those modes, Direction Track, allows the drone to fly backwards and follow you for vlogging. There's also a follow mode for activities like running and hiking, along with social media-friendly flight modes like Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix and Boomerang. Note that video in these automatic modes is limited to 4K 30 fps. At the same time, the Flip is easy to fly manually either with a smartphone or the supported controllers. Though not as maneuverable as the Mini 4 Pro, it's easier for novices to fly and makes a stable camera platform. You do need to be careful in areas with untextured floors (painted concrete, for instance), as it can throw off the Flip's sensors and make it unstable. When that happens, your best bet is to switch it into sport mode to disable the vision-based flight stability sensors (and then fly carefully because obstacle detection will also be disabled). DJI's Flip drone is a folding, user-friendly marvel for content creators Oddly, the Flip doesn't work with DJI's Goggles N3 and Motion 3 controller, unlike the much cheaper Neo. That's because DJI sees it predominantly as a camera drone rather than an acrobatic device. Advertisement If you're hoping to use the Flip to track yourself or others, there's a big issue: It lacks obstacle detection in any direction except forward or down. If you're flying the drone backwards, for instance, you have to make sure there's nothing behind it can crash into. And automatic obstacle avoidance doesn't work at all when you use the Flip's smart features like Direction Track or ActiveTrack, though the drone will stop 10 feet before hitting anything it detects. The lack of that feature is odd, since obstacle avoidance is an important part of subject tracking, and DJI didn't say if it had plans to rectify that issue via a future update. None of this is an issue with the HoverAir X1 Pro, which can track forwards, backwards and even sideways with full obstacle detection enabled. The Flip has excellent range for such a tiny drone at up to eight miles, thanks to DJI's O4 transmission system. At the same time, it can send a high quality 1080p 60 fps video signal that can be recorded to the controller as a backup. However, if you're flying using your smartphone with a Wi-Fi connection, range is limited to just 165 feet. Camera DJI's Flip drone is a folding, user-friendly marvel for content creators Advertisement The cameras are the biggest difference between the Flip and the Neo. The Flip comes with a much larger 1/1.3-inch 48-megapixel sensor and a 24mm-equivalent wide angle F/1.7 lens. It's the same as the one on the Mini 4 Pro and provides sharp, noise-free video in good light. You can shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps (100 fps in slow-mo mode), rather than just 30 fps like the Neo. In addition, the Flip supports 10-bit D-LogM video that allows for improved dynamic range in bright lighting, like on ski slopes. You can also capture 12MP or 48MP RAW (DNG) photos. Video quality is noticeably sharper than on the Neo and the Flip is a far better drone for night shoots or dimly lit indoor settings thanks to the lower noise levels. Though the DJI Air 3S and Mavic 4 offer higher quality due to the larger sensors, there isn't a large difference in good light. Since the Flip has just a single camera, video is noticeably more noisy when using the 2x zoom. Note that when shooting in the automated modes (Direction Track, Dronie, etc.) there is no manual control of the camera to adjust exposure, shutter speed and ISO. The HoverAir X1 Pro has the same-sized 1/1.3-inch sensor and offers very similar video quality (with a log mode as well), though I find DJI's colors to be a touch more accurate. The HoverAir has slightly inferior 4K 60p video unless you spend an extra $200 for the Pro Max version to get 8K 30fps and 4K 120fps. Advertisement With a three-axis gimbal, the Flip shoots silky smooth video even if it's being buffeted by winds. You can choose Follow mode to keep the camera level even when the drone banks, or FPV mode that allows the camera to tilt for a more exciting first-person perspective. Generally, video remains smooth even with sudden maneuvers, while footage from the HoverAir X1 Pro exhibits occasional jolts and janky movements. The Flip's camera doesn't rotate 90 degrees like the one on the Mini 4 Pro, so maximum resolution for vertical video is 2.7K — a step backwards from the 4K 60 fps 9:16 vertical video on the Mini 4 Pro. Wrap-up DJI's Flip drone is a folding, user-friendly marvel for content creators The Flip represents a bold change in direction (and design) for DJI. Unlike open prop drones, it gives creators the ability to shoot indoors and around people with relatively high video quality. And it does this for just $439 — much less than the $759 Mini 4 Pro. However, the Flip isn't perfect, with its main flaws being the reduced maneuverability, problems in wind and lack of obstacle avoidance when using smart modes like ActiveTrack. As I mentioned, DJI also has some serious competition in this category, namely the $500 HoverAir X1 Pro. Both offer features like palm takeoff, intelligent flight modes and subject tracking and have similar quality, but the HoverAir X1 Pro offers rear-side active collision detection, a wider lens and more internal storage. It's also about half the size of the Flip. For its part, the Flip has double the flight time and a much longer transmission range. The choice then depends on what you want. If portability, subject tracking and obstacle avoidance are key, the HoverAir X1 Pro is a better option. Others who prioritize battery life, smoother video and a more established company should choose the Flip. In any case, DJI usually dominates all drone categories, so it's nice to see multiple products facing off in this creator-centric space.
