I do know my approach round a pair of joysticks — however I’d want to soar. I don’t wish to take into consideration filming whereas I’m flying. I’d slightly discover.
Now, digital camera maker Insta360 is launching its first drone, underneath a brand new drone firm, to serve that actual demand. It’s known as Antigravity, and in January 2026, it’ll ship a flying 360-degree digital camera which — in contrast to at the moment’s drones — will all the time come bundled with goggles that put you inside its digital cockpit.
It appears and flies a bit like a DJI Mini, with comparable folding arms and sub-250-gram weight, however the expertise of utilizing the brand new Antigravity A1 is completely completely different. Just like the Hover X1, which ditched controllers totally, it appears like Antigravity may need simply unlocked a complete new class of drone.
As a result of it has a 360-degree digital camera, you possibly can fly up into the sky, or via a park, and easily flip your head to look in any path. You don’t need to fly straight at stuff you wish to see or goal a digital camera. And since it’s recording 8K footage in each path concurrently, you possibly can direct a whole video, with digital zooms and pans and spins, lengthy after your flight is completed.
On the sunny day I flew a prototype in a Northern California park, I bear in mind seeing a number of birds fly by. However reviewing my footage weeks later, I found I’d filmed a whole flock — over 40 in all, once I pan and zoom my digital digital camera and take the time to depend. Take a look at my embedded video to see what I’m speaking about.
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Don’t get me incorrect, it’s nonetheless a drone, and it’s nonetheless a 360-degree digital camera, with inherent limitations of each. Whereas it’s quieter than some, I nonetheless wouldn’t need its noisy blades spinning via the center of my marriage ceremony get together, even when I’d admire having an omnidirectional recording afterwards.
And regardless that it data at 8K and is aiming for comparable picture high quality because the acclaimed Insta360 X5, 360-degree cameras unfold out these pixels throughout an extremely broad canvas: it’s not but sufficient to zoom in on many issues and not using a dramatic lack of picture high quality, or to really immerse somebody carrying a VR headset, notably because it’s restricted to 30 frames per second at that 8K decision, or 5.7K at 60fps. (I examined my early footage in a Quest 3, and you’ll test it out on YouTube 360.)
So for greatest outcomes, you gained’t wish to fly excessive above issues: you’ll wish to be shut. However not so shut that you simply see the stitching strains between the Antigravity A1’s prime and backside cameras. The practically invisible sew neatly retains the drone’s body from showing in your area of view, nevertheless it’s noticeable when it artificially shortens folks and objects which might be completely degree with the drone.
Nonetheless, watching my early footage was an exhilarating expertise, notably as a result of I by no means had to consider filming whereas I flew. And admittedly, I didn’t want to consider flying that a lot, both.
In 2022, I used to be wowed by the brand new bar the DJI Avata set for newbie drones, letting me merely tilt a motion-sensing joystick and pull a set off to really feel like a pilot flying via the air, with non-compulsory goggles for a first-person view. However Antigravity’s goggles give me practically double the sphere of view (roughly 90 levels diagonally) and whereas its Grip controller appears comparable, this one’s as straightforward as level and shoot. You possibly can goal the drone to fly in a wholly completely different path than you’re dealing with, simply by pointing your controller hand that approach, and get a picture-in-picture view of the path it’s flying that can assist you keep away from crashes. There’s additionally a standard twin-stick controller in growth in case you want, in addition to propeller guards.
However you must know the A1 might be not for thrillseekers. In comparison with an Avata, the prototype I attempted is sluggish and regular, flying extra like a standard digital camera drone, and its front-facing impediment sensors have been very aggressive in my demo, refusing to let me simply fly underneath a wide-open play construction in my native park. I additionally hope the ultimate model has a bit much less visible artifacting and a bit stronger wi-fi sign than the prototype: the vary and visible transmission within the headset weren’t dangerous, however they have been undoubtedly lower than DJI’s very excessive bar.
I’m additionally undecided about a number of the A1’s snazziest options. It’s enjoyable to look at its touchdown gear mechanically fold and unfold, and I’m positive my children will get a kick out of seeing the place daddy’s flying on the goggles’ exterior display screen, however I’d most likely want to pay much less for fewer parts and fewer factors of failure.
By the way in which, I can’t inform you how briskly the Antigravity A1 technically is, or how a lot vary or battery life it claims simply but. The corporate isn’t releasing full specs or pricing at the moment, and it declined my request for a full interview about how this Chinese language firm plans to promote it within the US at a time when DJI is experiencing a de facto ban and Trump has made it clear that US drones ought to “dominate.”
However spokesperson Ben Liu was keen to talk to that for a bit. He tells me that US retailers like Finest Purchase and Amazon have been “very welcoming” even when ultimate contracts have but to be signed, and that the corporate believes the drone will make it to america regardless that “it’s undoubtedly a very large danger.” He admits it may need completely different costs in numerous areas as a result of tariffs, however that the entire package deal with goggles and controller ought to price lower than a DJI Mavic, maybe as little as $1,300.
Additionally, Insta360 claims it’s standing up Antigravity as a complete new firm with its personal devoted group and its personal servers within the US, and it’s engaged on options with the hopes of proactively displaying governments that it’s not a menace. Earlier than I end my demo, Liu insists I attempt the “payload detection” function that he claims is designed to forestall the Antigravity AI from being weaponized as a flying bomb. The drone, loaded down with many tiny steel weights, instantly forces itself to land after I make it take off.
”We simply wish to present our perspective that this drone is just for enjoyable,” says Liu.
I don’t know if that demo proves a lot, as I believe the US authorities can be extra involved in regards to the Antigravity as a robust surveillance software since its 360-degree digital camera can cowl extra space at a time.
However for others, this essentially appears like a unique and probably simpler solution to fly and movie. Even when the Antigravity A1 doesn’t wind up being a winner, I’m now satisfied DJI and rivals will observe.