Maybe you like the idea of ​​using a drone to take aerial selfies, but you don’t want to buy a big, expensive, complex quadcopter. That’s where ZeroZero Robotics’ Hover Camera drone comes in, and the latest version, the X1, claims to be easier than ever.

Like its predecessors like the original Hover Camera and Hover 2, the X1 has a hinged body that allows it to fold into a 125g (4.4oz) package measuring 127x86x31mm (5 x 3.38×1.22 inches) when not inside. to use. In addition, thanks to the protective cage around the propellers, it can be removed from the user’s hand without any risk of injury.

X1 You can do Remotely control or set pre-programmed flight modes via the iOS/Android app. But the difference from previous models is that it can be used. without smartphone or remote control. Instead, users can choose from five flight modes by pressing a button on the drone.

Navigating through these modes (hangs in place); Follow (flies after a moving user, keeps him in the frame); Zoom out (starts near the user, then rotates to a wider frame); Orbit (flies in a circle around the user, keeping him always centered); and Bird’s Eye (looks at the user from top to bottom).

After selecting the mode, the plane takes off from the user’s hand and rises into the air in just three seconds.

The X1 has a maximum video resolution of 2.7K/30fps and uses both a mechanical gimbal and electronic image stabilization to keep frames smooth and straight. It can also take 12-megapixel photos. Both videos and photos are stored in 32GB internal memory. The camera image is transmitted to the app in real time via Wi-Fi up to a maximum distance of 30 meters (98 feet).

It is reported that one charge of the 1050 mAh lithium battery of the drone is sufficient for approximately 11 minutes of flight. The Hover Camera X-1 is currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign that, if successful, will set you back $329. Suggested retail price is $469.