ZDNET's key takeaways The Hoverair X1 Pro Max stands out with an eye-catching, unconventional design that sets it apart from typical drones.
One of its standout capabilities is 8K video recording, offering stunning resolution for high-quality footage.
However, its battery life leaves much to be desired, limiting how long you can fly before needing a recharge. $699 at Amazon
I'll admit: before testing the Hoverair X1 Pro Max, I definitely had trepidation about the device. Drones and quad-copters have lost their luster in my day-to-day life because of all of the FAA limits and red tape creators deal with to safely and legally fly their drones.
All thanks to the poor decisions made by consumers with drones that were not responsible in how they captured footage. This led to what I saw as subsequent drones being presented as toys in an effort to steer clear of FAA rules and regulations.
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Build quality diminished, flight speed and capabilities were reduced in some cases. So when I saw the X1 Pro Max, my expectations were low. Spoiler alert, I was wrong. Very wrong.
The Hoverair X1 Pro Max drone is an enthusiast drone with professional capabilities built into a user-friendly package. This tiny, lightweight drone packs a small camera capable of recording video footage in up to 8K resolution. Although I highly recommend shooting in 4K resolution -- more on that shortly.
The X1 Pro Max also touts speeds of up to 36mph thanks to its lightweight, at 192 grams. This lightweight means there's no requirement to register the aircraft with the FAA. In many instances, consumer drones that don't require FAA registration are just toys. Sure, they'll have a camera on them, but there's no stabilization or HD footage.
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