Yes, this 8k drone flies by itself! It’s called the Hoverair X1 Promax. I got to try it out and I will be posting my hands-on first impressions on Monday 8/26/24 at 9am California time. Meanwhile, check out the 8K sample video (7680 x 4320). To watch in 8k, go to YouTube, click on the settings on the bottom right and choose the 4320p resolution:
WHAT IS HOVERAIR?
Hoverair is very different from other drones. Unlike almost all other drones, it’s designed to be used primarily without a controller. Instead, you just hold it out with your hand, press a button and it lifts off to shoot a video of you. It’s almost like a flying robot cameraman.
If you’ve never used it before, it sounds almost too good to be true. But it really works. I know because I’ve been using its predecessor for a year now — the Hoverair X1, which I continue to use all the time.
The most basic way to use it is as a smart tripod. Instead of setting up a tripod, I can just press a button and it will hover while tracking me as I walk around it. If I want an establishing shot, I can have it fly away from me and get a shot of the environment then it slowly flies to me. If I want to vlog, I can have it follow me from behind or front or the side. Did I mention that it can record my voice through my phone and magically remove the prop noise? You can see why it’s one of the cameras I use most often.
The X1 is a great camera but it’s got several limitations. First, it’s small and underpowered. With 2 inch props, 2S Li-Ion battery, and a plastic cage around it, it has a relatively low power-to-weight ratio. Second, the X1’s camera only shoots up to 2.7k and seems to use a small sensor. The fact that it has electronic stabilization means the image is cropped even further, which further reduces the video quality. Third, it can’t fly over water, snow, or cliffs because it relies on computer vision to position itself. It also doesn’t have obstacle avoidance.
INTRODUCING THE PROMAX AND PRO
The Hoverair X1 Promax and Pro address these issues and more. Both can fly and track subjects up to 26mph and can even fly in short bursts up to 37mph. Both have a new technology called OmniTerrain which enables them to fly over water, snow, or cliffs. Both have obstacle avoidance.
Both have much better image quality. The Pro has 1/2 inch sensors that shoot up to 4k 60fps. The Promax has 1/1.3 inch sensors that shoot up to 8k 30fps, or 10-bit HLG at up to 4k 60fps.
In my video on Monday, I’ll reveal many other cool features. In the meantime, if you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them in my video. (I’m still under NDA).
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