The buyer drone world has three new hand-launch drones to choose from — all of which have been introduced up to now two weeks.
On the finish of August 2024, ZeroZero Robotics introduced the HOVERAir X1 PRO and HOVERAir X1 PROMAX. Each are upgraded variations of the older mannequin, the HoverAir X1. (For now, they’re not truly transport — simply accessible for pre-order).
And a pair weeks later — in early September — DJI introduced the Neo drone. Just like the HOVERAir drones, Neo can also be not but transport within the U.S. no less than. Although it’s already transport in different nations, it’s solely round now for pre-order. Neo is ready to ship Oct. 6.
The drones have some similarities. Each are hand-launch fashion, with an emphasis on selfie flying. Moreover, each are made by Chinese language drone corporations. And perhapps most critically? Each are ultra-lightweight, coming in nicely beneath the crucial sub-250-gram drone weight. That exempts them from many varieties of regulation.
However past that, they’re truly pretty completely different. DJI Neo is the most affordable of the bunch. And certain, DJI tends to undercut the competitors, however a giant issue within the lower cost tag is that Neo has (for probably the most half) inferior specs relative to the HOVERAir X1 choices.
I’ve extensively lined the finest, reasonably priced DJI drones throughout my web site already, so I’ll spare you the comparisons between DJI Neo versus different DJI drones.
However given their hand-launch similarities, Neo and the HOVERAir X1 drones have left buyers questioning which of those units of drones are finest. With that, right here’s a comparability between DJI versus the HOVERAir X1 lineup, which incorporates the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX, HOVERAir X1 PRO and HOVERAir X1 drones:
DJI Neo versus HOVERAir X1 drones: how to decide on
All 4 hand-launch drones, in contrast
Right here’s a have a look at these 4 drones at a look:
| | DJI Neo | HOVERAir X1 | HOVERAir X1 PRO | HOVERAir X1 PROMAX |
| Use Case | Selfies, individuals who wish to fly indoors, informal customers | Selfies, individuals who wish to fly indoors, informal customers | Sports activities like biking or snow sports activities | Skilled video the place picture high quality is vital, and filming in advanced environments |
| MSRP | From $199 | From $349 | From $499 | From $699 |
| Video Decision | 4K/30 fps | 2.7K@30fps 1080P@60fps | 4K@60fps 1080P@120fps (Slo-mo) | 8K@30fps 4K@120fps | 10-bit HLG |
| Energetic collision detection | – | – | Energetic rear-side collision detection (Proximity sensor) |
Imaginative and prescient-based rear-side collision detection |
| Weight | 165 grams | 125 grams | 191.5 grams | 192.5 grams |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 130×157×48.5 mm | 127×86×31 mm | 149×105×34 mm | 149×105×34 mm |
| Max comply with velocity | 21.6 km/h (regular mode) | 25 km/h | 42 km/h | 42 km/h |
| Transmission distance | 50 meters (efficient working vary) | 30 meters (cellphone app) | 500 meters (cellphone app) or 1 km (beacon controller) | 500 meters (cellphone app) or 1 km (beacon controller) |
| Max flight time | 18 minutes | 11.5 minutes | 16 minutes | 16 minutes |
| Wind resistance | Stage 4 (8 m/s) | Stage 4 (7.9 m/s) | Stage 5 (10.7 m/s) | Stage 5 (10.7 m/s) |
Key variations between DJI Neo versus HoverAir X1 drones
I’ve dug deep into these drones on their very own on separate pages. Try my final information to the DJI Neo and my information to the brand new HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX drones.
Because the DJI Neo isn’t out but, that information is absolutely based mostly on specs. I did get to fly the HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX drones, although it was at a press occasion the place I flew in a semi-controlled surroundings. Drone Woman employees author did absolutely, private evaluation the unique HoverAir X1 drone, which is in depth and significant.
With that in thoughts, listed below are some main standout variations — and my decide for the winner based mostly on every spec:
Outside flying
Winner: HOVERAir X1 PRO and HOVERAir X1 PROMAX
Each of those two drones have Stage 5 windspeed resistance, versus Stage 4 on the opposite two. That’s the distinction between flying in a breeze (Stage 5), and ideally avoiding even gentle breezes (Stage 4).
After all neither of them is one thing you’d wish to fly in any kind of important climate. You’ll want a extra highly effective drone for that. For instance, the DJI Air 3 is even stronger at Stage 6 (and loads of enterprise-oriented drones may even fly in outright storms.
Moreover, the HOVERAir X1 PRO and HOVERAir X1 PROMAX are designed to fly so far as 500 meters (or a few third of a mile). You gained’t be flying these drones tremendous far out. Once more, loads of different digital camera drones can go a lot farther.
However evaluate that to the Neo or HOVERAir X1, which solely fly 50 and 30 meters, respectively. 50 meters is about as tall as The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. You would possibly use it to fly over some shorter buildings, however don’t ship this on too far out. In any other case, it’ll mechanically return to residence.
Video high quality
Winner: HOVERAir X1 PROMAX
That is the one one of many bunch that movies in 8K. After all, it’s the most costly. Fortunately, the DJI Neo and HOVERAir X1 PRO are nonetheless able to 4K. That’s greater than enough for many use instances. The one drone of this bunch to skip, assuming you care about video high quality, is the HOVERAir X1. Alas, it solely movies at 2.7K.
Try some video I shot utilizing the PROMAX on my Instagram (shared beneath):
High quality of drone {hardware} and total ease of use
I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t gotten my palms on the DJI Neo itself (but). It doesn’t ship within the U.S. till October, alas! However I’ll say this: I had just a few points with the HoverAir X1 drones even in the course of the press preview. We additionally encountered points throughout our private HoverAir X1 drone evaluation.
For instance, the HoverAir X1 controller was each cheaply made and never intuitive to make use of. I truly broke a bit of it off once I tried to rework it from the triple to the double piece dimension. I additionally encountered points with the follow-me tech, the place the drone couldn’t latch onto me. As soon as, it latched onto another person behind me, after which proceeded to zoom proper previous my head (practically clipping my face) because it tried to comply with that particular person.
Now I’ve not flown the DJI Neo itself, however based mostly on my previous historical past of reviewing dozens of DJI drones myself, the DJI person expertise is usually fairly seamless. I’ve not often had points with construct high quality, and I’ve not often damaged DJI drones — even after crashing them into timber (sure, it occurs to me too). The entire expertise from begin to end is intuitive, all the way in which from takeoff to enhancing within the DJI app. I anticipate DJI will take its years of learnings from earlier, powerhouse drones (together with their enterprise plane just like the Matrice sequence) all the way in which to different, distinctive client drones just like the Cinewhoop-style Avata 2 FPV drone. It’ll them pour data from constructing these drones into ensuring that Neo is bought — all regardless of its $200 price ticket.
Neo versus HOVERAir: who’s every sort of drone finest for?
With that breakdown of crucial specs, let’s dive into every sort of drone. We’ll additionally uncover what sort of particular person would most profit from it.
DJI Neo: you desire a dependable but tremendous low-cost drone for taking selfies
At simply $199, it’s robust to go mistaken with DJI Neo. It really works outdoors, and might fly just a few tales excessive. However usually talking, it is a instrument for vloggers or content material creators. Collect distinctive angles because the both follows you, or flies in pre-programmed flight modes (like making a circle round you).
The 4K video high quality continues to be wonderful, making it good to shoot content material to your YouTube channel. And, it does supply improve choices. That features the prospect to pair it with a distant controller (that might be the FPV Distant Controller 3), must you want to regulate your flight extra critically.
With greater than 10 years of expertise in making a variety of reasonably priced, client drones (and completely dominating the market in doing so), DJI Neo is a drone from a dependable, high-quality drone firm.
HOVERAir X1: you need an reasonably priced various to DJI
There’s mainly one motive to pick out the HOVERAir X1 at this level: it’s not a DJI drone. There are all kinds of explanation why shoppers desire a DJI various. Some of us want drones made in America (which this one just isn’t, because it’s additionally made in China). However DJI options additionally attraction to folks in search of to reduce what’s largely thought-about a DJI monopoly. Some pilots simply need one thing new to face out from the group.
The HOVERAir X1 checks each of these final two containers. Nevertheless, its specs are inferior to DJI Neo on nearly each stage — plus it’s dearer. In the event you do wish to verify these final two containers, you would possibly as nicely pay extra for both the HOVERAir X1 PRO or HOVERAir X1 PROMAX. That method you’ll no less than have superior specs to the DJI Neo.
HOVERAir X1 PRO: you need the PROMAX, however are on a decent price range
The HOVERAir X1 PRO packs on far more options that the DJI Neo doesn’t supply. Positive, it’s greater than twice the worth, however it might be value it.
It’s extra highly effective in out of doors flight, and it might fly farther distances, unlocking the power to shoot extra panorama pictures or wider pictures of cities than you may with Neo. Energetic rear-side collision detection additionally makes it a bit safer to fly than Neo.
HOVERAir X1 PROMAX: you need probably the most highly effective (but moveable and compact) drone you will get
In the event you have been prepared to pay double the worth to get the HOVERAir X1 PRO versus DJI Neo, you would possibly as nicely spring the additional $200 for the PROMAX model. Belief me, it’s value it.
8K video on the PROMAX versus simply 4K on the PRO is killer. Extra importantly, given my emphasis on security, is the smarter collision detection. Whereas the PRO has simply energetic rear-side collision detection, the PROMAX has vision-based rear-side collision detection, which successfully means smarter tech contained in the PROMAX model. Think about $200 extra for rather more than that by way of your peace of thoughts.
Simply be cognizant of whole value. Positive, its beginning worth is $700. Bu what when you actually need all of the bells and whistles? Let’s say you need your personal controller for higher, handbook flight, otherwise you simply wish to spring for some ND filters to get higher-quality pictures. In that case, count on to pay one thing extra within the $1,000 ballpark.
Then once more, as soon as your price range is that prime, you would possibly very nicely think about one of many different nice digital camera drones available on the market. After all, the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX affords the ultra-small dimension and hand-launch (which is actively discouraged with most different digital camera drones). However earlier than making any drone buy, nail down your priorities.
If tremendous compact dimension is crucial — and also you’re not fascinated by handbook flight however would fairly have the drone do the work in taking your selfies — then the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX is your finest guess.
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