There’s no doubt that China makes some of the best drones around — and HOVERAir is quickly proving itself the next disruptor of this fast-evolving industry.
In 2023, the company successfully crowdfunded the HOVERAir X1 on Indiegogo. The self-flying drone received widespread praise for making drone photography more accessible to the public via an easy user interface. An ability to easily program the drone to follow the photographer boosted its appeal.
The company is clearly not interested in slowing down, as it just released perhaps its most cutting-edge design yet: a waterproof drone made for adventures on the water. With the HOVERAir Aqua, the company aims to make a drone that’s usable on the water by surfers, paddlers, and other outdoor adventurers who don’t want to worry about destroying a costly piece of equipment.
With the ability to capture 4K video at 100 fps, the company advises photographers to “prepare for better water angles than you’ve ever seen before.”
With a weight just under 250 g, there’s no FAA registration required for recreational users in the U.S., so you can grab it and go.
HOVERAir Aqua: Details
Given that this new drone was released just this week, GearJunkie hasn’t had a chance to test the new tech. But the design is immediately appealing.
It sports a bright orange design reminiscent of a traffic cone (or perhaps an ocean buoy) that should be easy to spot amid rolling waves. It also seems to be part of how the drone stays afloat on waves. HOVERAir claims to have added over a dozen features to improve the drone’s hardiness against water.
In a Zoom meeting with the press this week, company leaders were asked about the HOVERAir Aqua’s ability to handle the abuse from crashing waves. One of the designers avoided advising users to take the Aqua into such conditions.
However, he added that the drone had been thoroughly tested against abuse, and still continued to perform after repeated pummeling by waves and dunks into the water.
It has a top speed of about 34 mph and wind resistance up to 33 knots. As for image quality, the Aqua has a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor and a custom lens designed for use in water, according to the brand.
Like the HOVERAir before it, the Aqua offers users advanced capabilities for autonomous flight. It’s programmed to keep users in the camera frame without manual controls, and can frame shots while following the user’s movements.
Judging by videos released this week, operating the drone involves a waterproof armband with buttons for operating the Aqua.
HOVERAir Aqua: Pricing & Availability
The company behind the HOVERAir Aqua clearly knows it has a potential winner in the making. That’s likely why it has released the above details about the new product — but without setting a launch date or price just yet.
The brand’s flagship model so far, the X1, sells for $300 on Amazon. Given the Aqua’s larger list of features, it’s likely it will cost more than its predecessor. We’ll definitely keep an eye on this one, but you can also sign up for updates on the brand’s website.
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