Today, August 5, 2025, HoverAir presents its latest model: the HoverAir Aqua. This waterproof mini drone floats, can take off directly from the water and is equipped with an integrated display – a real innovation for water sports and outdoor enthusiasts.
Highlights
- New HoverAir Aqua officially unveiled
- Floats, takes off and lands on water
- Integrated display as viewfinder, compact remote control without manual control
- Complements HoverAir X1 as a waterproof version for outdoor and water applications
Technical features
The Aqua has an orange-colored, waterproof housing that floats on the surface of the water and serves as a take-off/landing surface. The highlight is a small display on the top that functions as a viewfinder and offers a direct view of the camera view – even when the drone is floating on the water. The camera is apparently movably mounted and can be swiveled up or down, allowing flexible viewing angles. HoverAir provides a simple remote control with buttons, for example to start “follow-me” mode or video recording – manual control via joystick or smartphone app is not provided. This gives the Aqua an intuitive operating concept: start/stop and tracking at the touch of a button – ideal for use on the water.
Possible uses and applications
The HoverAir Aqua is aimed specifically at users who want to capture water sports or outdoor activities, such as kayaking, surfing, stand-up paddling or beach shots. The floatable housing enables images to be taken from perspectives that are not possible with normal drones (e.g. take-off from the sea or a lake). The display makes it easier to select images directly on location – without a smartphone.
The simple remote control makes it particularly attractive for users who do not want to get involved in manual flight handling. For those interested in technology, this means a new category: waterproof, audiovisually autonomous and easy to operate. The Aqua complements the classic HoverAir X1, which at 125 g and in a compact format is designed for tracking and portable selfie vlogging.
Comparison with the HoverAir X1
Compared to the previous HoverAir X1 (Review | € 299.00 *) and HoverAir X1 PROMAX (Review | € 759.00 *), the new Aqua has decisive differences. For example, the Aqua has a buoyant, robust housing that remains ready for use even on the surface of the water. The camera is likely to be a similar model to the X1, which records full HD or 2.7K videos. Whether you can get 8K videos here like with the PROMAX is questionable.
Another major difference lies in the controls: the X1 and X1 PROMAX are operated via a smartphone app and allow limited manual control on the drone itself. The Aqua, on the other hand, completely dispenses with app or joystick control. Instead, there is a particularly simple remote control with dedicated buttons, for example for starting recordings or activating “follow-me” mode. This makes it particularly suitable for users who value intuitive operation. The integrated display on the top of the Aqua is a real highlight.
The X1 does not have such a display, but we were already able to admire a mini screen on the top of the PROMAX. However, the Aqua probably goes one step further and shows the current camera image. Users always have to use their smartphone to check the image. The Aqua, on the other hand, allows a direct view of the camera angle, even when floating on the water. All these differences make the Aqua not only waterproof, but also more versatile for certain applications where technology needs to be intuitive and robust at the same time.
Conclusion
The HoverAir Aqua adds a unique model to the mini-drone market: it floats, offers an integrated display and intuitive remote control – ideal for water applications without a smartphone. It complements the well-known HoverAir X1 and X1 PROMAX, which are characterized by their compact construction, follow mode and portable design.
