DJI Neo versus HOVERAir X1: which hand-launch drone is greatest?

The buyer drone world has three new hand-launch drones to select from — all of which had 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 delivery — simply obtainable 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 delivery within the U.S. no less than. Although it’s already delivery 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 properly under 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 cost effective of the bunch. And certain, DJI tends to undercut the competitors, however a giant issue within the cheaper price tag is that Neo has (for essentially the most half) inferior specs relative to the HOVERAir X1 choices.

I’ve extensively lined the greatest, 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 consumers questioning which of those units of drones are greatest. 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:

All 4 hand-launch drones, in contrast

Right here’s a have a look at these 4 drones at a look:

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.

For the reason that DJI Neo isn’t out but, that information is totally 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 atmosphere. Drone Lady employees author did totally, private overview the unique HoverAir X1 drone, which is intensive and demanding.

With that in thoughts, listed below are some main standout variations — and my decide for the winner based mostly on every spec:

Out of doors 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 mild breezes (Stage 4).

After all neither of them is one thing you’d need to fly in any form 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 couple of 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 examine 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 house.

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 under):

High quality of drone {hardware} and total ease of use

Winner: DJI Neo

I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t gotten my fingers 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 throughout the press preview. We additionally encountered points throughout our private HoverAir X1 drone overview.

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 measurement. 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 (almost clipping my face) because it tried to comply with that individual.

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 hardly ever had points with construct high quality, and I’ve hardly ever damaged DJI drones — even after crashing them into bushes (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 information from constructing these drones into ensuring that Neo is offered — all regardless of its $200 price ticket.

Neo versus HOVERAir: who’s every sort of drone greatest for?

With that breakdown of crucial specs, let’s dive into every sort of drone. We’ll additionally uncover what sort of individual would most profit from it.

DJI Neo: you need a dependable but tremendous low-cost drone for taking selfies

At simply $199, it’s robust to go flawed with DJI Neo. It really works outdoors, and might fly just a few tales excessive. However typically talking, this can be a device 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 provide improve choices. That features the prospect to pair it with a distant controller (that may be the FPV Distant Controller 3), do you have to choose to regulate your flight extra severely.

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.

• Purchase DJI Neo now from Adorama for $199.
• Purchase DJI Neo now from Amazon for $199.
• Purchase DJI Neo now from B&H Picture for $199.
• Purchase DJI Neo now from Drone Nerds for $199.

HOVERAir X1: you need an reasonably priced different to DJI

There’s principally one motive to pick the HOVERAir X1 at this level: it’s not a DJI drone. There are all kinds of the reason why customers need a DJI different. Some of us choose drones made in America (which this one is just not, because it’s additionally made in China). However DJI alternate options additionally attraction to folks in search of to reduce what’s largely thought of 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 packing containers. Nonetheless, its specs are inferior to DJI Neo on nearly each degree — plus it’s dearer. For those who do need to verify these final two packing containers, you would possibly as properly pay extra for both the HOVERAir X1 PRO or HOVERAir X1 PROMAX. That approach you’ll no less than have superior specs to the DJI Neo.

• Purchase the HOVERAir X1 now straight from ZeroZero Robotics.
• Purchase the HOVERAir X1 now straight from Amazon.

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 provide. Certain, it’s greater than twice the worth, however it could be value it.

It’s extra highly effective in outside flight, and it might fly farther distances, unlocking the flexibility to shoot extra panorama photographs or wider pictures of cities than you might with Neo. Lively rear-side collision detection additionally makes it a bit safer to fly than Neo.

HOVERAir X1 PROMAX: you need essentially the most highly effective (but transportable and compact) drone you will get

For those who had been prepared to pay double the worth to get the HOVERAir X1 PRO versus DJI Neo, you would possibly as properly 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 lively 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 far more than that by way of your peace of thoughts.

Simply be cognizant of whole value. Certain, its beginning worth is $700. Bu what if you happen to actually need all of the bells and whistles? Let’s say you need your personal controller for higher, guide flight, otherwise you simply need to spring for some ND filters to get higher-quality photos. In that case, anticipate to pay one thing extra within the $1,000 ballpark.

Then once more, as soon as your price range is that top, you would possibly very properly take into account one of many different nice digital camera drones in the marketplace. After all, the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX presents the ultra-small measurement 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 measurement is crucial — and also you’re not interested by guide flight however would somewhat have the drone do the work in taking your selfies — then the HOVERAir X1 PROMAX is your greatest guess.

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