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From motorised suitcases to dog massagers: the wackiest gadgets at this year’s IFA
by Stefanie Lechthaler
This might be the lightest drum kit in the world
29/9/2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
Aeroband has packed an entire drum kit into just two drumsticks – so you can start playing on the go without having to justify yourself to the neighbours.
A drum kit needs a lot of space, noise-tolerant neighbours and is far from mobile. Aeroband wants to change this with the PocketDrum 2 Max, the invisible drum kit for on the go.
The portable drum kit
When I open the two storage bags, I find two pedals and an adapter. Weighing just 400 grammes in total, this kit’s much more manageable than the real instrument. The manufacturer also points out that the sticks can be connected to headphones via the adapter and are silent to outsiders.
But how does this piece of air percussion actually work?
Motion sensors in the drumsticks
Motion sensors recognise where the drumsticks are in the room. When the drumsticks hit the virtual kit in front of them, the sticks send a signal to the receiver via Bluetooth, which then generates an audio signal. The greater the impact on the invisible drumhead, the greater the volume. The vibration feedback of the drumsticks also adjusts depending on the beat.
According to the manufacturer, Aeroband can make up to 128 different sounds. Just like a normal drum kit, the pocket drums have a ride cymbal, floor tom, tom drum, bass drum, snare drum and hi-hat. With a latency of just six milliseconds, the device is supposed to generate fairly realistic feedback.
The drum kit of tomorrow?
The areas of the invisible drum kit are marked on the map provided. It’s designed to help beginners find their way around and get a feel for the drumsticks. Still, I doubt it’ll replace a real drum kit for beginners to learn on. Aeroband itself says the sticks are a supplement for practising on the go.
Whether the pocket drums are also suitable for professionals is also unclear to me. In the hands-on at the IFA tech fair in Berlin, the sticks felt good and delivered a good sound too. But it might have too much latency for experienced drummers. Some of the comments in response to the promo videos indicate that not everyone’s satisfied with the product.
What do you think of the PocketDrum 2 Max? Let us know in the comments.
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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