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Comparison

FIFISH vs Chasing: which brand suits you?

Chasing and FIFISH share the market for hobby underwater drones. We compare the model ranges and tell you which brand suits which kind of pilot.

9 min readAs of October 2026By Kenny, Editor
Kenny, editor at UnterwasserpilotKennyEditor · Unterwasserpilot
FIFISH V-EVOChasing Gladius Mini S
FIFISH V-EVO (left) vs Chasing Gladius Mini S (right) · Images: QYSEA / Chasing

Basis of this comparison: official manufacturer figures and retail prices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as of October 2026.

Introduction

Anyone interested in an underwater drone almost always ends up with two names: Chasing and FIFISH from the manufacturer QYSEA. Both come from China, and both offer models from entry level to professional kit. The biggest difference lies in the design: on its cheaper models Chasing relies on conventional controls, like a submarine, while FIFISH builds every V model so that it can move freely in all directions.

The model ranges at a glance

ClassChasingFIFISH
EntryDory – 15 m, Full HD, hard to find in Germany, Austria and Switzerlandno comparable model
HobbyGladius Mini S – 100 m, 4K, from approx. €1,260V-EVO – 100 m, 4K/60, from €1,599 excl. VAT
AdvancedM2 S – 100 m, 8 thrusters, 360°, swappable batteryV6 Expert – 100 m, 6,000 lumens, from €2,899 excl. VAT
ProfessionalM2 Pro / M2 Pro Max – up to 200 mE-GO and other industrial models
FIFISH V6 ExpertChasing M2 SChasing Dory
More models from both brands: FIFISH V6 Expert, Chasing M2 S, Chasing Dory · Images: QYSEA / Chasing

Technical specifications: the head-to-head

For most hobby pilots the choice comes down to the Gladius Mini S and the V-EVO. Here they are side by side:

Chasing Gladius Mini SFIFISH V-EVO
Depth rating100 m100 m
Cable100 / 200 m100 m, optionally 200 / 300 m
Video4K/30, Full HD/1204K/60
Lighting2,400 lumens5,000 lumens
Movementconventional, camera tilts ±45°360°, 6 degrees of freedom
Runtimeup to 4 hup to 4 h hovering, approx. 1 h at full speed
Currentno official figureup to 2 knots
Weight2.7 kg3.9 kg
GripperGripper claw in the “Flash” packageGripper arm optional (+€300)
Price, Germany / Austriaapprox. €1,260–1,510from €1,599 excl. VAT (QYSEA shop), retailers approx. €1,780
Price, Switzerlandcurrently hard to getCHF 1,760 incl. VAT (tauchshop.ch)

In the class above, the Chasing M2 S and the FIFISH V6 Expert face each other. The M2 S has eight thrusters, 2 × 2,000 lumens and a swappable battery; the V6 Expert has 6,000 lumens, a 156 Wh battery and slow motion at 240 frames per second. In Germany the M2 S is available from Chasing's official distributor Echolotzentrum from €2,799 including VAT, and in the Chasing shop in the USA it starts at US$2,499 before tax. We did not find a Swiss retail price.

Pros and cons of the brands

Chasing
  • Cheaper way into 4K and 100 m
  • Mini S available as a “Flash” package with gripper claw
  • Wide choice of accessories in the M2 series
  • But: hard to get in Switzerland, shop prices only in US dollars
FIFISH
  • Free movement in all directions even in the hobby model
  • Much more light
  • German online shop and retailers in Switzerland
  • But: more expensive, gripper arm costs extra
Drone with lights in open water, sharks in the background
In the open sea, light, stability and image quality count · Image: QYSEA

Use cases: who should buy what?

  • Swimming lake and fishing, small budget: Chasing Gladius Mini S. It is enough for everything and saves you a few hundred euros.
  • Beautiful underwater videos: FIFISH V-EVO. More light and 60 frames per second make the difference.
  • Boat, jetty and inspections: FIFISH V-EVO. Free movement lets you look straight at any spot.
  • Advanced pilots with accessory plans: Chasing M2 S or FIFISH V6 Expert, depending on whether the swappable battery or the light matters more to you.

In video

The two contenders in the official videos from CHASING and QYSEA:

Official video from CHASING (YouTube)
Official video from QYSEA (YouTube)
Coral reef with a shoal of fish
Image quality in clear water · Image: QYSEA

Verdict

Our buying recommendation

For most hobby pilots we recommend the FIFISH V-EVO. In the mid-range it offers the most light, the smoothest video and the greatest freedom of movement, and it is also easy to get in Switzerland.

If the budget is tight, go for the Chasing Gladius Mini S. It is cheaper and perfectly adequate for swimming lakes, boats and holidays.

Frequently asked questions

Gladius Mini S or V-EVO: which is better?

For most hobby pilots the choice comes down to these two. The V-EVO has more light (5,000 versus 2,400 lumens), 4K at 60 frames and free movement in all directions. At roughly €1,260 to €1,510 the Gladius Mini S is cheaper than the V-EVO, which costs €1,599 excluding VAT in the manufacturer's shop or about €1,780 from retailers.

Which brand moves more freely?

All FIFISH V models move in every direction. On its cheaper models Chasing relies on conventional controls; only the M2 series with eight thrusters moves freely.

Which models go head to head in the advanced class?

The Chasing M2 S with eight thrusters and a swappable battery, and the FIFISH V6 Expert with 6,000 lumens, a 156 Wh battery and slow motion at 240 frames per second.

Are both brands available in Switzerland?

The FIFISH V-EVO is available from retailers in Switzerland for CHF 1,760 including VAT (tauchshop.ch). The Chasing Gladius Mini S is currently hard to get from large retailers.

How much current can the models handle?

For the V-EVO, QYSEA quotes up to 2 knots. For the Gladius Mini S, Chasing gives no official figure.

You can find reactions and comments on this article in the Unterwasserpilot forum (in German, English posts welcome).

Lost something important underwater that a hobby drone can no longer recover? UDRA offers professional recovery missions in Austria.

Kenny, editor at Unterwasserpilot
EditorKennyKenny writes about ROVs, tests and missions for Unterwasserpilot.

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