This drone now shoots spirals, tracks smarter, obeys mid-flight commands

HoverAir is proving it listens to its pilots. The company has dropped its biggest firmware update yet for the X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max drones, rolling out fresh creative flight modes, smarter tracking, and expanded controls designed to make autonomous aerial shooting feel more like working with your own personal camera crew.

The long-awaited Spiral mode: Main character energy

Orbit and 360° Spin have long been HoverAir staples, wrapping around the subject for immersive reveals. But Spiral adds a more dynamic, story-driven shot:

• The drone ascends while circling you twice
• Then descends with two more rotations
• Capturing a continuous sequence that starts close, climbs to showcase the surroundings, and returns for a final, dramatic framing

It’s tailor-made for hikers reaching a summit, beach runners at golden hour, or riders wanting a hero’s entrance and exit in the same clip.

Better yet, pilots can pick from five spiral radii — 1.5 m, 2.5 m, 4 m, 6 m, or 10 m — each affecting both the width and height of the spiral. Want an intimate spin? Stay at 1.5 m. Want sweeping drama? Go all the way to 10 m.

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Side Track gets Auto Correction: Rock-solid framing

Side Track is already popular for parallel tracking shots, but fast, sharp moves could sometimes nudge the subject off center. The new Auto Correction feature fixes that, actively adjusting to maintain perfect side-on framing — even when you drift, turn sharply, or accelerate suddenly.

Think of it like a dolly grip on a movie set who refuses to let the camera lose you, no matter what stunts you pull.

CoPilot everywhere: Full creative control mid-flight

Perhaps the most significant change in this update is the expansion of CoPilot. Previously, it was available only in Follow, Dolly Track, and Side Track modes. Now, CoPilot works in every automated flight path — including Orbit, Zoom-Out, and Bird’s Eye.

This means you can steer your HoverAir using the Beacon, the RC, or the app while the AI continues to handle flight stability and target focus. The goal: give users the creative freedom to nudge the shot without abandoning the safety and polish of automated flight.

Here’s how it works:

• In Follow modes (Cycling, Dolly Track, etc.): Press a direction button on the app or Beacon, and the drone will follow your new path—while still keeping you as the focal point. Release the button, and it smoothly returns to the original follow path.
• In Non-Follow modes (Zoom-Out, Orbit, etc.): Use the app or Beacon to control the direction, and the drone switches to Hover mode. From there, you can freely adjust the angle based on the target point for more custom shots.

For creators, this is huge. It’s like having the option to improvise during a choreographed performance — you keep the structure, but you can inject personal flair.

HoverLink toggle: Tracking on your terms

HoverLink combines Beacon signals with visual tracking to keep the drone locked onto a subject, even during big, fast movements. But until now, the tracking source was fixed.

With the new HoverLink toggle, you can split the duties: one person holds the Beacon to frame and steer, while the drone visually tracks someone else. Imagine filming your child’s soccer game: you hold the Beacon to pan and adjust, while the drone follows your kid across the field.

Stats Dashboard: Numbers meet narrative

Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts can now view real-time speed, distance, and more in the app or on the Beacon. Whether you’re logging miles on a run, timing a downhill ride, or just satisfying your inner data nerd, the Stats Dashboard turns flights into both visual and numerical records.

Other handy upgrades

• Faster preview stream after Beacon startup
• Renamed HoverCine to H-Log (new name, same cinematic color flexibility)
• German language support added
• Bug fixes and performance tuning across the board

The update requires Hover X1 app v2.33.0+, firmware v8.0.17 for X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max aircraft, and Beacon v2.4.10. Rollout is gradual, so check back if it hasn’t hit your device yet. See complete release notes here.

Beyond firmware: HoverAir Aqua tease

While the firmware drop dominates the news, HoverAir is also teasing the Aqua — a waterproof, floating, self-flying drone capable of launching from and landing on water.

Early details suggest a sub-249 g body, a 4K camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, advanced waterproofing (including hydrophobic coatings), and wind resistance up to Level 7. This could open up filming possibilities for surfers, kayakers, anglers, and boaters — users who’ve long been shut out of drone cinematography due to water risks.

HoverAir’s steady march toward feature-rich, autonomous drones comes as market leader DJI faces an uncertain future in the US amid regulatory pressure and potential restrictions. While DJI remains dominant globally, the US market’s shifting landscape creates an opening for rivals to grab attention, and loyalty.

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