Our assessment of the world’s first 360-degree drone, the Antigravity A1 drone

The Antigravity A1 is the primary true 360-degree drone with twin cameras that may seize as much as 8K video with out capturing itself; the A1 stays invisible within the photographs and movies you seize. It’s additionally a sub-250 g mannequin, so it’s compact and light-weight, and even consists of superior options corresponding to collision avoidance. That is extraordinarily helpful due to the best way the A1 is managed.

This can be a digital camera drone, not an FPV drone, however the digital camera view, all 360 levels of it, is seen in a pair of high-quality FPV goggles the place you’ll be able to look in all instructions. There’s additionally head monitoring for altering course, whereas the vast majority of management is offered by the movement controller. Mainly, it’s identical to the DJI Avata 2 by way of management, but it surely isn’t an FPV drone in design or efficiency.

The A1 is arguably among the best digital camera drones and one of the best drones as a result of it’s the one 360-degree drone at present out there, but it surely produces imagery on par with 360-degree motion cameras and gives some spectacular options. It really works on a precept of seize first and reframe later, which implies you seize photographs and movies in 360 levels, then select the 2D digital camera view later, or export 360-degree photographs and movies.

Antigravity A1 8K 360 (White) at Amazon for $1,599

You can too make the drone seem to roll, flip and dive, like an FPV drone, however with out the superior piloting abilities required for this kind of flight, due to simple software program reframing. Then there are Sky Genie automated flight patterns which might be like Quickshots on different drones, and these permit you to set the drone to fly round a specific topic in attention-grabbing methods not potential with the movement controller.

Antigravity A1: Design

Folding sub-250 g designVision goggles for a 360-degree digital camera viewMotion controller

The A1 includes a folding design that reduces its measurement for storage and transportation, like most digital camera drones nowadays. It comes with a case that retains the 2 cameras protected, though it’s potential to vary the lenses your self in the event that they get scratched. The drone is white, relatively than the standard grey of most drones, which has no impact on efficiency.

The drone has prime and bottom-mounted cameras. These are mounted on the dampened entrance part of the drone. Picture stabilization is software-based relatively than offered by a mechanical gimbal. This entrance part of the drone additionally homes two forward-facing binocular imaginative and prescient sensors that appear like cameras.

To maintain the underside digital camera off the bottom throughout take-off and touchdown, there’s retractable touchdown gear the place two legs prolong when the drone is switched on and when it’s touchdown, whereas they retract when it has taken off. It’s a kind of small options that’s extremely easy however nonetheless manages to impress as a result of it’s a never-before-seen characteristic.

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As beforehand talked about, the A1 is a digital camera drone relatively than an FPV drone, so it’s a brand new course for a digital camera drone to make use of FPV goggles and a movement controller. The Imaginative and prescient Goggles present the digital camera view on twin 1.03-inch Micro-OLED screens, every with a 2560 x 2560 pixel decision, making a sq. in-goggle picture. The battery for the goggles might be hooked up to an included lanyard which you could conveniently put on round your neck, so it’s not dangling on its cable.

Different Google options embody diopters with a variety of -5.0 D to +2.0 D, which is nice in case you put on glasses. Then there’s 30GB of inner storage and a microSD card slot for capturing goggle footage if you want. There’s additionally a display on the entrance left of the googles, so folks can see the forward-facing digital camera view when you fly, and that is used to show data throughout firmware updates.

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The A1 gives two battery choices, however there’s a caveat in that the bigger capability choice takes the drone over the magic 250 g threshold. The 2360 mAh battery supplies as much as 24 minutes of flight time, whereas the higher-capacity 4345 mAh battery supplies as much as 39 minutes of flight time. The usual batteries have been used throughout testing, and these usually offered round 16 minutes of flight time earlier than Return to Dwelling was robotically initiated.

Antigravity A1: Performance

Nice flight performanceAutomated flight modesSubject monitoring

The A1 flies extremely nicely with Cinematic, Regular and Sport flight modes. Sport, like most drones with collision avoidance, is the one mode the place the characteristic is deactivated. Regardless of the identify Sport, the flight doesn’t really feel significantly quick, which can be as a result of I’m extra used to utilizing FPV goggles when flying sooner FPV drones.

Flight is enjoyable and immersive, but it surely’s definitely not as thrilling as flying FPV drones. This does, after all, make flight with the A1 far more accessible. You possibly can, nevertheless, reap the benefits of the fly first, body later method, the place you reframe photographs and movies in Antigravity Studio and may enhance pace and make the drone seem to dive, flip and roll much like FPV drones, but it surely’s not fairly the identical both.

Management is offered by the Imaginative and prescient Goggles by head monitoring alongside the movement controller, the place you level to the place you need to fly. There’s additionally a dial on the movement controller that can be utilized for turning as a substitute of utilizing head monitoring within the goggles. The 2 work nicely collectively for flying in FreeMotion Mode, whereas in FPV Mode, issues are slightly totally different.

In FPV mode, you merely pull the set off to fly ahead and tilt the controller left and proper to show. FPV mode permits for clean and sweeping drone actions and is a superb flight mode once you get used to it. It’s definitely a flight mode that you could perceive as a result of if not, the drone can really feel prefer it’s flying away. Moreover, it’s not likely an FPV mode; that’s only a identify.

With movement controllers, you might be restricted within the methods you’ll be able to management drones in comparison with a standard stick-based controller. So, for flying round a pre-selected topic, Sky Genie supplies six automated flight patterns that allow you to seize video with ease utilizing generally complicated actions. Sky Genie modes embody Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away and Ascend.

Then there’s Sky Path, which is like waypoints, the place you’ll be able to pre-program flight paths so you’ll be able to revisit places a number of instances and replicate flights, or enable different folks to put on the goggles and revel in a 360-degree view with out flying the A1. There’s additionally a topic monitoring mode that works extremely nicely and requires you to pick the topic to be tracked. Topic monitoring takes benefit of Insta360’s spectacular Deep Observe know-how.

There’s additionally Digital Cockpit in FPV mode, which supplies an augmented actuality overlay within the goggles and on the time of writing, you’ll be able to fly with a dragon. It’s a little bit of a gimmick, however some folks will little doubt take pleasure in it, and extra skins will likely be added sooner or later. Lastly, once you use the Antigravity touchdown mat, it supplies a exact Return to Dwelling level and works surprisingly nicely, making touchdown extremely simple.

Antigravity A1: Efficiency

Twin cameras produce nice picture qualityInvisible drone technologyUp to 8K video seize

The picture high quality produced by the A1 is great, however this should be thought-about in context. It’s wonderful for a 360-degree digital camera. Antigravity was incubated by Insta360, so it has a superb pedigree behind it with regards to 360-degree picture and video seize. It’s not, nevertheless, nearly as good because the picture high quality of a normal digital camera drone.

For instance, the A1 captures 360-degree video in 8K, whereas most digital camera drones seize a single view in 4K to 6K, relying on the mannequin. That is far higher-resolution, finally, than the A1. However let’s not be destructive right here as a result of the A1 does seize nice picture high quality for the kind of cameras it makes use of.

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Throughout testing, the digital camera was set to Auto when capturing each photographs and movies, and the A1 captured photographs and movies with balanced exposures. You can too shoot in guide, so it’s as much as you whether or not you are taking the simple choice or go for the extra constant but concerned guide choice.

The twin cameras each embody a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. These create a 360-degree view the place the drone is invisible, which is nice. Pictures might be captured in INSP and DNG codecs at a decision of 14MP (5248 x 2624) and 55MP (10486 x 5248). Taking pictures modes embody Regular, HDR, Burst, AEB and Interval. You possibly can reframe photographs in a number of totally different codecs and even create animated photographs. These are enjoyable and attention-grabbing and are exported as quick movies.

Please be aware the footage beneath was shot in 8K, however our video participant solely performs in HD.

Video might be captured in 8K at as much as 30 FPS, 5.2K as much as 60FPS, 4K & 1080p as much as 30FPS and 4K and 1080p gradual movement at 100FPS. The utmost bitrate is 170 mbps, and video might be encoded in H.264 or H.265. Picture and video modifying can happen within the Antigravity smartphone app or the Antigravity Studio Desktop app. Each supply templates for fast and simple edits, however there are extra out there on the telephone app.

Antigravity Studio is principally a reskinned model of Insta360 Studio, which is simple to make use of and will likely be acquainted to many individuals. The software program means that you can select digital camera angles, add digital camera actions and even pace up drone flight to imitate FPV drones. The modifying a part of the image-making course of is extremely necessary and is the place you’ll be able to add flips, rolls and dives to your movies.

Antigravity A1: Value

The Antigravity A1 was launched on December 4, 2025. It’s additionally dearer than different sub-250 g drones, together with the DJI Mini 5 Professional, merely due to the FPV goggles which might be a part of the three kits which might be out there. It’s an modern and, certainly, thrilling drone, however its price and reliance on goggles might be a dealbreaker for some drone pilots.

There are three kits out there: the Customary Bundle, the Explorer Bundle and the Infinity Bundle. The Customary Bundle consists of the drone, movement controller, FPV goggles, one battery and equipment. The Explorer Bundle consists of all this plus three batteries in whole, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag and spare propellers.

The Infinity Bundle is identical because the Explorer Bundle, but it surely consists of higher-capacity batteries for longer flight instances. The Customary Bundle prices $1599 / £1299, the Explorer Bundle prices $1899 / £1399 and the Infinity Bundle prices $1999 / £1499.

Must you purchase the Antigravity A1?

If you need a 360-degree drone able to capturing 55MP 360-degree photographs and 8K 360-degree video, then you must completely purchase the Antigravity A1. It’s additionally the one 360-degree drone at present out there, so it enjoys a monopoly, for now a minimum of.

The reliance on FPV goggles does elevate the value of the drone and signifies that you want a spotter to regulate the drone when you fly. This may be a trouble you’re not keen to endure. It’s a disgrace that Antigravity didn’t additionally supply a normal stick controller choice that can be utilized with a smartphone as a finances choice.

The drone is exceptionally well-made and gives some unbelievable options that make it stand out. The Sky Genie automated flight patterns are additionally nice for specializing in topics, whereas topic monitoring works extremely nicely. Flight speeds aren’t the quickest, however the seize first, reframe later method means you’ll be able to pace issues up within the Antigravity Studio software program.

If this drone is not for you

For those who’d favor to seize true FPV video, the DJI Avata 2 is extremely simple to fly with the DJI RC Movement 3 Controller. Flight is intuitive, even for learners, and flight is a lot extra thrilling than with the Antigravity A1, which is sort of gradual compared.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an extremely cost-effective sub-250 g drone that gained’t break the financial institution. Regardless of its aggressive worth, picture high quality is great, and it has all of the options most learners and intermediate pilots will want, making it an important alternative in case you’re on a finances.

For those who’d favor what’s arguably essentially the most modern drone made so far, albeit not a 360-degree drone, the DJI Mavic 4 Professional might be what you’re on the lookout for. This drone options three cameras, together with the principle digital camera with a Micro 4 Thirds sensor, whereas the gimbal might be rotated.