HoverAir Tests $1,299 Aqua Water Drone, Exposing 4K Strengths and Return-to-Home Glitches
Updated
Updated · CNET · May 28
HoverAir Tests $1,299 Aqua Water Drone, Exposing 4K Strengths and Return-to-Home Glitches
1 articles · Updated · CNET · May 28
Summary
Seattle kayaking tests found HoverAir’s Aqua could float, relaunch from water and autonomously track a paddler in Kayak and other follow modes, keeping the user mostly in frame without manual piloting.
At 249 grams with IP67 protection, foam buoyancy guards and a wearable Lighthouse beacon, the drone is built for water use and can shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps, plus downward-facing surface shots.
Return-to-home sometimes failed to land the drone, leaving it hovering and draining battery, while prerelease firmware also showed disconnects, swaying in some modes and jerky recentering during tracking.
Collision protection remains limited—the Aqua has a downward sensor but no broader obstacle avoidance—and one foam prop guard broke in backyard testing, though Hover includes repair parts.
The reviewer said image quality was generally solid in sun, but water droplets sometimes smeared the lens; the $1,299 drone is not yet available in the US because of regulatory complexities.