The HoverAir X1 Pro will be able to capture 4K footage at up to 60FPS, or 120FPS slow motion footage at 1080P, through a half-inch CMOS sensor paired with a 17 millimeter wide angle lens. The X1 Pro Max further boosts video resolution to 8K at 30FPS, but can also capture footage at 4K/120FPS or 4K/60FPS in 10-bit HDR through a 1/1.3-inch sensor and a slightly wider 16 millimeter lens.
Zero Zero Robotics hasn’t revealed the full details for either model, but has shared photos of each, showing a sleeker, less boxy design. There’s a redesigned interface, too, with a larger button and what appears to be a screen (instead of individual LEDs) for selecting flight paths. Unlike most consumer drones that require amateur piloting skills, the original HoverAir X1 is autonomous, tracking a subject and capturing footage through predetermined flight paths.
Other upgrades include a faster follow speed of 26MPH, up from 15MPH on the HoverAir X1 (which will appeal to cyclists); 16-minute flight times; and the addition of rear and side collision sensors. The previous model lacked any obstacle detection and avoidance, simply relying on cages to protect its rotors and prevent crashes should it run into something.
Another limitation of the HoverAir X1 was that it relied on a VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry) system instead of GPS to know where it was at all times. That prevented it from being used over water or snow where the vision system struggled to see defined moving textures. Both the X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max feature an upgraded VIO that can be used over any terrain. They can even fly off a cliff and safely return to where they were launched.
There’s no mention of whether or not the X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max are waterproof, however. An unplanned water landing was an easy way to destroy the original X1, and it seems like this would be an important upgrade before kayakers or paddle boarders felt comfortable launching the new drones over water.
Other details Zero Zero Robotics hasn’t shared yet is the weight of the two new drones, although both will likely be close to the 125-gram HoverAir X1, so they’ll still be exempt from the FAA’s licensing requirements.
We also don’t know when they’ll be available, what new accessories will be launched with them, or their pricing. The HoverAir X1 is currently on sale for $349 (down from $429) which remains a big part of the compact drone’s appeal. But with rumors suggesting the tiny and aggressively priced 4K-ready DJI Neo could be arriving soon, the HoverAir X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max will ideally not debut with significant price increases.
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