Antigravity A1 Launches: World’s First 8K 360 Drone Starts at $1,599

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Antigravity A1 drone since it emerged from stealth in July, and today the Insta360-incubated brand officially launches its debut product: the Antigravity A1, the world’s first all-in-one 8K 360 drone. Starting at $1,599, the A1 goes on sale December 4, 2025 at 9 AM EST, nearly two months earlier than the originally planned January 2026 release.

The acceleration isn’t random. With DJI’s competing Avata 360 clearing FCC certification on November 19 and racing toward a potential pre-Christmas launch, Antigravity is staking its claim as the category creator before the drone giant can respond.

According to the official press release, the A1 represents a completely new approach to drone flight.

“A1 takes the freedom of 360 capture and gives it wings,” said Michael Shabun, Spokesman for Antigravity. “It’s rare to see a team translate an idea into a completely new product category.”

Antigravity A1 Pricing and Bundles

Antigravity is offering three bundle configurations, all of which include the drone, Vision goggles, and Grip controller:

Bundle	Price (USD)	What’s Included
Standard Bundle	$1,599	A1 drone, Vision goggles, Grip controller, 1 Flight Battery, goggles battery, neck strap, goggles case
Explorer Bundle	$1,899	Everything in Standard + additional accessories and batteries
Infinity Bundle	$1,999	Everything in Explorer + 3 Flight Batteries, Charging Hub, full carry case

The A1 is available now via the Antigravity Store, Best Buy, and authorized retail partners worldwide.

8K 360-Degree Capture: Shoot Once, Reframe Forever

At the heart of the A1 lies a dual-lens 1/1.28-inch sensor system positioned on the top and bottom of the drone’s fuselage. This configuration captures everything around the drone in full 360 degrees, with no blind spots and no drone visible in the final footage.

Video capabilities include:

• 8K at 30fps (7680×3840)
• 5.2K at 60fps (5248×2624)
• 4K at 100fps for slow motion (3840×1920)
• 55MP photos (10496×5248)

Advanced stitching algorithms powered by Insta360’s five generations of 360 camera development render the drone completely invisible in both live view and recorded footage. The result is a “floating camera” effect that places viewers directly inside the scene.

The creative workflow follows Insta360’s proven “fly first, frame later” philosophy. Every angle is captured in 8K, so pilots can reframe footage in post-production, add dynamic camera movements, apply effects like Tiny Planet or horizon flips, and export in any aspect ratio without quality loss.

FreeMotion Flight: Point, Squeeze, Fly

The A1 ships as a complete system with Vision goggles and Grip controller included in every bundle, a notable departure from competitors who oftentimes sell these accessories separately.

The Vision Goggles feature dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED displays with 2560×2560 resolution per eye, pancake optics, and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification. Head tracking allows pilots to look freely in any direction while the drone maintains its flight path, a separation of viewing and flying that traditional FPV drones cannot match.

The Grip controller replaces traditional dual-stick controls with motion-based navigation. Point the Grip in the direction you want to fly, squeeze the trigger, and the drone responds. Antigravity calls this FreeMotion technology, and it makes the A1 “significantly easier to master than traditional dual-stick drones,” according to the company.

This “point-to-fly” simplicity removes the steep learning curve that prevents many people from experiencing drone flight. For experienced pilots who prefer classic control dynamics, FPV Mode remains fully accessible.

Full Specifications

Specification	Antigravity A1
Weight	249g / 8.78 oz (Flight Battery) | 291g / 10.26 oz (High-Capacity Battery)
EU Drone Class	C0 (Flight Battery) | C1 (High-Capacity Battery)
Max Flight Time	24 minutes (Flight Battery) | 39 minutes (High-Capacity Battery)
Max Flight Distance	8 miles / 13 km (Flight Battery) | 14.3 miles / 23 km (High-Capacity Battery)
Max Speed	35.8 mph / 16 m/s (S Mode)
Max Wind Resistance	24 mph / 10.7 m/s (Level 5)
Video Resolution	8K@30fps | 5.2K@60fps | 4K@100fps
Photo Resolution	55MP (10496×5248) | 14MP (5248×2624)
Image Sensor	1/1.28-inch (dual lens)
Max Video Bitrate	170 Mbps
Transmission Range	6.2 miles / 10 km (FCC) | 3.7 miles / 6 km (CE)
Transmission Latency	~150ms
Obstacle Sensing	Forward + Downward binocular vision, 3D infrared
Internal Storage	20GB (drone) | 30GB (goggles)
External Storage	microSD up to 1TB
GNSS	GPS + Galileo + Beidou
Operating Temperature	14°F to 104°F / -10°C to 40°C
Goggles Display	Dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED, 2560×2560 per eye, 72Hz
Goggles FOV	90° diagonal | 65° horizontal/vertical
Goggles Battery Life	Up to 2.5 hours
Grip Controller Battery	Up to 4 hours operating time

Sub-250 Gram Design: Fly Almost Anywhere

Weighing exactly 249 grams (8.78 oz) with the standard Flight Battery, the A1 sits just below the 250-gram threshold that triggers FAA registration requirements for recreational pilots in the United States. It also qualifies for EU C0 class certification, exempting it from operator licensing in most European markets.

Dimensions when folded measure just 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.20 inches (141.3 x 96.2 x 81.4 mm), making it genuinely pocketable for travel. A retractable landing gear system protects the bottom lens during takeoff and landing while maintaining an unobstructed view for invisible-drone shots.

For pilots who need extended flight time, the optional High-Capacity Flight Battery increases flight time from 24 to 39 minutes and range from 8 to 14.3 miles (23 km), though the drone’s weight increases to 291 grams (10.26 oz), pushing it into EU C1 class.

Born to Fly, Not to Fight: Anti-Weaponization Technology

A core part of the A1’s design philosophy is what Antigravity calls its payload detection system, a first for consumer drones in this class. The system actively detects excess weight or unsafe modifications and forces an immediate landing if anomalies are detected.

This is a direct response to the documented use of consumer drones, particularly DJI models, to drop grenades and explosives in Ukraine and other conflict zones. While DJI has officially condemned military use of its products, the company has not implemented hardware-level restrictions to prevent it.

Antigravity’s approach is unambiguous. The company’s tagline, “Born to fly, not to fight,” positions the A1 as a tool exclusively for creative exploration.

As the press release states: “This technology ensures the A1 remains a force for fun, creativity, and exploration, never the opposite.”

We covered this anti-weaponization philosophy in detail back in August, noting it as a significant differentiator from established drone manufacturers.

Intelligent Flight Features

The A1 includes a suite of intelligent flight capabilities designed to make professional results accessible to everyone:

Sky Genie: Executes complex 360 maneuvers like Orbit, Spiral, and Comet with a single tap, delivering instant cinematic results that typically take pilots years to master.

Deep Track: Powered by Insta360’s renowned tracking technology, Deep Track locks onto subjects with unwavering precision, handling framing automatically while keeping targets centered.

Sky Path: Allows pilots to design, save, and automate complex flight routes. Once configured, the A1 flies autonomously while pilots focus on creative direction or simply enjoy the immersive experience.

Virtual Cockpit: An immersive overlay system that transforms standard flights into fantastical journeys. The launch feature allows pilots to “take flight with a dragon in real-time,” with more skins promised in coming weeks.

Safety features include GPS-powered return-to-home, forward and downward obstacle sensing with binocular vision and 3D infrared, and the aforementioned payload detection system.

Award-Winning Before Shipping

The A1 has accumulated significant industry recognition before a single unit shipped to customers:

• TIME Best Inventions 2025 (Consumer Electronics category)
• CES Innovation Awards 2026 (Best of Innovation)
• Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025
• Good Design Award 2025
• 20 media outlet awards at IFA 2025

As we noted when TIME’s recognition was announced in October, this mainstream validation matters. It’s not drone enthusiasts hyping another DJI competitor. It’s TIME Magazine telling millions of readers this product represents meaningful innovation.

Software Ecosystem

The A1 integrates with the Antigravity app (mobile) and Antigravity Studio (desktop), both built on Insta360’s proven editing platform. Features include:

• Quick transfers from drone to device
• Automatic reframing with AI-powered highlight detection
• Color correction and auto editing tools
• Export in any aspect ratio (16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Reels/TikTok)
• One-tap social-ready clips

Creators familiar with the Insta360 X Series workflow will find the transition seamless. The editing philosophy remains consistent: capture everything, then craft your story in post.

DroneXL’s Take

The Antigravity A1 is not simply a new drone. It’s a calculated strike at the heart of DJI’s dominance, and the timing couldn’t be more strategic.

When we first covered Antigravity’s emergence in July, we noted the significant challenges facing any company attempting to compete with DJI’s market dominance. Sony, GoPro, Parrot, and Skydio have all struggled or abandoned consumer drone efforts entirely. Yet here we are, five months later, watching DJI scramble to respond.

The DJI Avata 360 cleared FCC certification on November 19, revealing the drone giant’s direct response to the A1. Leaked specs suggest DJI’s 360 drone features a rotating camera mechanism that switches between 360-degree capture and traditional forward-facing FPV flight, with dual 1/1.1-inch sensors supporting 8K at 50fps. The rumored $999 price point for the Fly More Combo would significantly undercut Antigravity’s $1,599 entry price.

But there’s a catch. As we detailed in our coverage of the December 23 FCC deadline, DJI faces potential automatic addition to the FCC’s Covered List if no federal agency completes a mandatory security review. No agency has started that review despite DJI requesting it nine months ago. The Avata 360 could be one of the last new DJI products American pilots can legally purchase and fly in the United States, if in fact it gets here in time.

The irony is thick. Both Antigravity (through Chinese parent Insta360) and DJI face the same regulatory headwinds, yet here we have two Chinese companies racing to deliver the most innovative consumer drone technology in years while American lawmakers debate banning them both.

The payload detection system represents the clearest philosophical divide between these competitors. We’ve documented DJI drones carrying grenades and explosives in Ukraine. DJI officially condemns this use but hasn’t implemented hardware restrictions. Antigravity built anti-weaponization into the foundation. Whether that matters to recreational pilots is debatable, but it’s a powerful marketing position in an era where “Chinese drone” and “security threat” have become politically linked.

At $1,599 for a complete system including goggles and motion controller, Antigravity is asking a premium over a standard DJI FPV setup. The DJI Avata 2 Fly More Combo with Goggles 3 runs around $999 on sale. But the A1 offers something genuinely different: a drone built from the ground up around 360-degree immersion rather than a traditional platform with 360 bolted on.

The real question isn’t whether the A1 is worth the price. It’s whether Antigravity can survive long enough to iterate. First-generation products rarely define a category. The company that learns fastest and ships improvements quickest usually wins. DJI has decades of that muscle memory. Antigravity is starting from zero.

But starting from zero with TIME’s Best Inventions validation, an innovative product that creates genuine differentiation, and a launch that forces DJI into reactive mode? That’s not a bad opening move.

What do you think about the Antigravity A1? Will you choose Antigravity’s $1,599 360 system or wait for DJI’s rumored $999 Avata 360? Share your thoughts in the comments below.