- Autonomous drone with 15 flight modes, 8K video at 30 fps, and 4K up to 120 fps
- 192 g takeoff weight, foldable and jacket-pocket-sized
- Follow speed up to 42 km/h, briefly 60 km/h
Drone footage and motorcycle riding go together perfectly on paper, but in practice it often looks different. Anyone who has ever tried to bring a conventional camera drone on a motorcycle tour knows the problem. Transport, setup, remote control, remove propeller guards, screw in joysticks, clamp smartphone into holder, and then the question of where to put the controller while riding. Spontaneous shots? Out of the question. The HoverAir X1 ProMax from Chinese manufacturer HoverAir aims to solve exactly this problem and promises a drone that operates without a remote control, flies autonomously, is robustly built, and fits in every jacket pocket. Whether this actually works in practice was tested over several weeks on the motorcycle.
Concept and Operation: Unfold, Power On, Fly
The basic principle of the X1 ProMax differs fundamentally from what you know from conventional drones. There is no separate remote control, no joysticks, and no mandatory smartphone app for flight operations. The drone is unfolded, powered on, and controlled via three buttons directly on the device. One of the 15 available flight modes is selected, the drone is launched from the hand, and then flies autonomously. In testing, it rarely took more than 30 seconds from pulling it out of the jacket pocket to getting the first shot.
This speed is exactly what makes the decisive difference in everyday motorcycle use. Where a conventional drone means every stop takes minutes and every shot has to be planned, the X1 ProMax actually enables spontaneous footage. Found an amazing location, stop briefly, pull out the drone, start recording, continue riding. This concept works surprisingly smoothly in practice and fundamentally changes how footage is captured on motorcycle tours.
Image Quality and Camera: 8K from Your Jacket Pocket
The X1 ProMax is equipped with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor complemented by a specially developed 7-lens lens with a 107-degree field of view. According to the manufacturer, the sensor offers 14 stops of dynamic range. At the highest resolution, the drone records 8K video at 30 fps. For most applications, 4K at 60 fps is perfectly sufficient. For slow-motion shots, you can shoot in 4K at up to 120 fps or in 1080p also at 120 fps. Photos are captured at up to 48 megapixels.
Additionally, the ProMax supports 10-bit HLG HDR and H-Log mode for post-processing. Stabilization is achieved via a freely swinging 2-axis gimbal, supplemented by a digital stabilizer (SmoothCapture 2.0). In testing, this combination delivered reasonably smooth footage even under turbulent flight conditions. However, it must be said fairly that in stronger winds and with the drone’s light weight, occasional image shake can be noticeable.
Overall, image quality is at a level that is more than sufficient for social media content and YouTube videos. Anyone planning professional film productions will continue to rely on larger drones, but for the X1 ProMax target audience—content creators, motorcycle riders, and athletes who need quick and uncomplicated shots—the camera delivers convincing results.
15 Flight Modes: From Orbit Shots to Ski Mode
The X1 ProMax offers over 15 different flight modes that can be selected directly on the device, via the optional Beacon, or through the app. Here’s an overview of the most important modes:
Follow mode lets the drone follow the user from behind and is particularly suitable for driving footage on the motorcycle. Orbit mode circles a target at adjustable distance and height. In testing, this mode was set to, for example, 6 m distance and three orbits, which the drone executed reliably and autonomously. Bird’s Eye mode delivers top-down overhead shots. Dolly Zoom creates the famous Hitchcock effect, where foreground and background appear to shift. Zoom Out slowly moves backward and is ideal for impressive landscape shots. Dolly Track lets the drone fly ahead of the user and films frontally, which is particularly interesting for vlog-style footage while riding. Angle Track films laterally or at a 45-degree angle. Spiral mode combines circular movement with upward movement. 360 Spin rotates the drone a full rotation in place.
Beyond these, there are specialized modes like Ski Mode and Cycling Mode tailored to each sport, as well as an Indoor Follow mode for indoor spaces. CoPilot mode allows manual intervention during an autonomous flight mode to correct direction via the Beacon or joystick.
For motorcycle riders, Follow mode and Orbit mode are most relevant. Both worked reliably in testing as long as the drone could visually track the target.
Flight Performance and Speed: Limits on the Road
According to official HoverAir specifications, the X1 ProMax achieves a follow speed of up to 42 km/h and brief accelerations of up to 60 km/h. For shots on dirt roads, gravel tracks, or on slowly traveled mountain passes, this is sufficient. On public roads with higher speeds, the drone quickly reaches its limits, but that’s not its intended use either. Using an autonomous drone on public roads in moving traffic is neither advisable nor legal, since the pilot has no direct influence over where the drone flies.
Maximum wind resistance is Level 5, which according to HoverAir corresponds to wind speeds of up to 10.7 m/s, roughly 38 km/h. In testing, the drone flew well in moderate wind but visibly struggled in stronger gusts. The flight weight of just 192 g naturally makes the X1 ProMax more wind-sensitive than heavier drones.
Battery and Endurance: Short Flights, Quick Swaps
The 1,920 mAh battery delivers a maximum flight time of 16 minutes according to HoverAir under optimal conditions. In practical use on the motorcycle, actual flight time was closer to 10 to 15 minutes, depending on flight mode, wind, and temperature. However, the battery can be swapped in seconds. For use on motorcycle tours, a set with multiple batteries is therefore strongly recommended. In testing, the Cycling Bundle with three batteries was used, which is usually sufficient for a day of riding. According to the manufacturer, fully charging one battery takes 45 minutes, two batteries charge in 60 minutes.
Durability: An Action Cam with Propellers
A key point that sets the X1 ProMax apart from conventional drones is its robustness. The propeller guard is made from a material HoverAir calls HEM (Highly-Elastic Material), which is claimed to be lighter than carbon. The package includes a piece of material for testing. Bending, pressing, and twisting leave no visible damage.
In testing, robustness was put to the test deliberately. Multiple crashes from various heights and situations left the drone without functional limitations. The device was intentionally crashed and steered into obstacles through sideways maneuvers. In no case did the drone sustain serious damage. This robustness fundamentally changes how you handle the device: where you treat a conventional drone like an egg, the X1 ProMax flies without constant fear of total loss.
Should something break, HoverAir offers Repair Kits with which individual components like propellers or propeller guards can be replaced.
Sensors and Obstacle Detection: Not Perfect, but Present
The X1 ProMax has multiple sensors for obstacle detection. Front-facing, the camera image is used for obstacle recognition. Rear-facing, camera-based active collision detection works together with proximity sensors. On the underside are sensors for altitude determination and ground detection.
In practice, obstacle detection works speed-dependent. With slow flights, the drone reacts quite reliably to obstacles. At higher speeds, sensor reaction time decreases, and thin branches or wires may be detected too late. A physical limitation that cannot be avoided.
Importantly: The X1 ProMax has no sensors on the sides. During sideways flight maneuvers, for example when the drone flies alongside the motorcycle in Angle Track mode, there is therefore increased collision risk. You should be mindful of this during use and keep the surroundings in view.
The Beacon: Essential for Motorcycle Riders
The separately available Beacon is a compact control unit with a 1.78-inch OLED display that shows a live image from the drone. For motorcycle riders, the Beacon solves a central problem: without it, you cannot check whether the drone is still following during the ride. Mounted with a handlebar mount, the Beacon displays the camera image in real time and provides visual and acoustic warnings, such as when the battery is running low.
Furthermore, the drone can be recalled to the Beacon’s current position at the press of a button. This is particularly relevant on the motorcycle, since the standard return function flies the drone back to its starting point, which is of course long behind you during a ride. With the Beacon, the drone instead returns to where the Beacon currently is.
The Beacon also improves the connection to the drone. Without the Beacon, the X1 ProMax communicates via WiFi with the smartphone with a range of about 500 m. The Beacon extends the range to up to 1 km and ensures via the so-called HoverLink connection that the drone continues to track the target even if direct line of sight is briefly interrupted.
A built-in microphone in the Beacon enables audio recording during flight. Since drones by construction can only record propeller noise, conventional models typically skip audio recording altogether. The Beacon solves this problem and is thus the only way to get usable audio with the footage. AI-based noise suppression filters out the drone sound. In testing, noise suppression worked in principle, but at the most aggressive setting it also filtered out desired sounds like the motorcycle engine noise. The lower setting is supposed to remove only drone sound and keep everything else.
Via the Beacon, all flight modes and camera settings can also be adjusted without opening the app. Additional control buttons allow basic manual corrections left, right, up, and down. For more demanding manual flights, HoverAir offers a joystick extension that plugs onto the Beacon and includes two full joysticks with fold-out grips and smartphone holder.
Manual Control: Possible, but Not Its Strength
The X1 ProMax can also be fully controlled manually via smartphone or via the Beacon with joystick extension. In this mode, the drone can fly up to 120 m high, which corresponds to the legally permitted maximum in Germany. Control via the smartphone’s touchscreen works better in testing than expected, but doesn’t achieve the finesse of a physical remote with joysticks. It lacks the haptic feedback necessary for precise drone flights.
Maximum control range is around 500 m with the smartphone and around 1 km with the Beacon. This is sufficient for line-of-sight flying but is well below the 10 to 20 km that conventional camera drones achieve. For the X1 ProMax’s primary purpose as an autonomous action cam, however, this is not a relevant disadvantage.
Storage: Plenty of Space on Board
The X1 ProMax has 64 GB of internal storage. Additionally, a microSD card with up to 1 TB can be inserted. Even with extensive 8K filming, storage rarely becomes a bottleneck. The more affordable X1 Pro comes with 32 GB of internal storage.
Legal Classification: No Drone License Required
With a takeoff weight of 192 g, the X1 ProMax falls below the 250 g limit applicable in the EU and therefore does not require a drone license (EU Competency Certificate A1/A3). A liability insurance for drones should in any case be obtained, as it is legally required in Germany. Obtaining the small drone license is harmless regardless and conveys important knowledge about flight rules and airspace regulations.
X1 Pro vs. X1 ProMax: The Differences
In addition to the ProMax, HoverAir also offers the X1 Pro. The main difference lies in the camera. The X1 Pro shoots at a maximum of 4K at 60 fps and offers no 8K mode. Its field of view of 104 degrees is slightly narrower than the ProMax’s 107 degrees. For internal storage, the Pro comes with 32 GB to the ProMax’s 64 GB. Rear obstacle detection on the Pro works only with proximity sensors, while the ProMax additionally uses camera-based detection. In all other respects, such as weight, flight time, flight modes, speed, and form factor, the two models are largely identical. For most motorcycle riders who film in 4K, the X1 Pro should already be sufficient.
Technical Specifications of the HoverAir X1 ProMax
General Specs: Takeoff weight 192 g | Foldable design | 15 flight modes | Operating temperature -10 to 40°C
Camera: 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor | 14 stops dynamic range | 107-degree field of view | 48 MP photos | 8K at 30 fps | 4K at 60/120 fps | 1080p at 120 fps | 2-axis gimbal | 10-bit HLG HDR | H-Log mode | SmoothCapture 2.0 stabilization
Flight Performance: Max speed 42 km/h continuous | 60 km/h brief | Wind resistance Level 5 (10.7 m/s) | Max altitude 120 m
Battery: 1,920 mAh | Flight time up to 16 minutes | Charging time 45 min (single) / 60 min (dual)
Connectivity: WiFi range 500 m | With Beacon: HoverLink up to 1 km | OLED Beacon display 1.78 inch
Storage: 64 GB internal | microSD up to 1 TB
Sensors: Forward camera-based obstacle detection | Rear camera-based + proximity sensors | Downward altitude and ground detection
Conclusion: Not Perfect, but Unique
The HoverAir X1 ProMax is not a drone in the classical sense. It is a self-flying action cam, and that’s exactly how you should view it. Anyone who needs planned, cinematic drone flights over landscapes will be better served with a conventional camera drone. But if you want to capture spontaneous and creative footage without being pulled out of the flow of motorcycle riding, you’ll find in the X1 ProMax a tool that currently no other product offers in this form.
The strengths lie in the speed of operational readiness, robust construction, autonomous flight capability, and the noteworthy image quality for its size. The weaknesses mainly concern limited battery life, lack of side sensors, and the lightweight frame’s noticeable vulnerability in stronger wind.
For future generations, a more durable battery, improved collision detection in all directions, and higher follow speed would be desirable. In its current form, however, the X1 ProMax is already a convincing device that enables more spontaneous shots on motorcycle tours than any other drone on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you need a drone license for the HoverAir X1 ProMax?
No. With a takeoff weight of 192 g, the X1 ProMax falls below the 250 g limit applicable in the EU. Therefore, a drone license is not required, but drone liability insurance is legally required in Germany.
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How fast can the HoverAir X1 ProMax follow a motorcycle?
The maximum follow speed according to the manufacturer is 42 km/h, with brief accelerations up to 60 km/h. This is sufficient for dirt roads or slow mountain passes, but not for highway speeds.
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What is the difference between the HoverAir X1 Pro and the X1 ProMax?
The main difference is the camera. The ProMax films in up to 8K at 30 fps and has 64 GB internal storage. The Pro shoots at a maximum of 4K at 60 fps and has 32 GB storage. Flight time, speed, and form factor are virtually identical.
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How long does the HoverAir X1 ProMax fly on a single battery charge?
Officially, HoverAir specifies up to 16 minutes. In practice, flight time ranges from 10 to 15 minutes depending on wind and temperature. For motorcycle tours, the Cycling Bundle with three batteries is recommended.
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