For a long time now, there's been one single name that comes up every time drones are mentioned. One giant that has dominated the skies, and has subsequently been crowned as the king of quadcopters. Have you guessed who it is yet? DJI, of course, the brand that makes some of the best drones around. DJI makes other cameras too, such as action cams and now 360° ones, and it has always faced fierce competition from Insta360 on land only... until now.
Insta360 and several third-party partners have come up with a new brand called Antigravity, and the A1 is the world's first-ever 360° drone. It has taken the cutting-edge technology in its action cameras and stuffed it into a device with wings, and the A1 is a triumph, a true feat of engineering.
As someone who loves drones and reviews them for a living, I've been intrigued by the A1 since it was first revealed in August, and I wanted to learn more about its development — so I spoke with Buu, Antigravity's Product Lead and the genius who heads up the R&D team responsible for all things Antigravity.
For commercial confidentiality reasons, Antigravity weren't allowed to release Buu's full name.
"What if drones became extensions of our senses?"
The drone industry has evolved and it is constantly changing. From regular quadcopters to first-person view (FPV) drones that make flying more immersive, there's something for everyone today. But recently, it has felt like all drones do the same thing, which is where Antigravity comes in with the A1. At the time of writing, it's a one-of-a-kind drone as it faces no other competition.
"Our inspiration for 360 drones stems from liberating visual storytelling’s core potential," said Buu regarding the inspiration behind the A1. "When we witnessed the revolutionary power of 360° cameras — shooting first, framing later, capturing all perspectives in one take — we were captivated by this physics-defying creativity. This ignited our driving vision: elevating 'omni-dimensional visual freedom' to the skies."
Buu pondered over the same question I had: "Why do drones — from entry-level to pro models — remain bound to decade-old dual-joystick controls? Pilots' view stays confined to palm-sized controller screens. This experience clashes fundamentally with humanity’s innate yearning for flight."
But of course, FPV drones, such as the DJI Avata 2 and the DJI Goggles N3, already exist, so what does the A1 do different? Well, it lets you capture every single angle possible. "Like re-engineering wings from scratch, we rebuilt human-drone interaction: Free Motion mode mirrors a bird’s instinct — making control as natural as breathing," said Buu. "When these constraints shattered, a new category emerged: the panoramic drone. What seems serendipitous is, truly, technology's inevitable evolution."
"Creating breakthrough products always involves challenges"
In an already crowded market where DJI, Potensic and HoverAir continue to create and innovate, it's difficult for a new brand to stake its claim, but it looks like Antigravity is up to the challenge. "We actually started developing drones several years ago, but we never pursued innovation for its own sake," Buu explained, "It was when a group of engineers and passionate flight enthusiasts came together that we noticed the industry had become stuck in a rut — specifications were constantly increasing, yet the user experience remained stagnant.
"We became convinced this field urgently needed a radical revolution. We constantly asked ourselves: What if drones went beyond mere photography tools to become extensions of our senses? What if they could truly immerse us in the surroundings, not just through remote controls and screens? On a late Christmas Eve night in 2023, as our first prototype soared into the sky amid the cheers of the crowd, we knew a revolution in flight had begun."
But like with any piece of tech, we can't talk about drones without considering the evolving market conditions. Insta360's — and thereby Antigravity's — main competitor is DJI, and the Chinese giant is facing increased scrutiny in the U.S. with a full ban on DJI's drones merely a few weeks away. Given this, I asked Buu about the challenges Antigravity faced when developing not only the drone, but the brand too.
"Creating breakthrough products always involves challenges, and evolving drone regulations, like you mentioned, are certainly significant," he noted. "While drones are genuinely compelling devices, we've seen cases of misuse that prompted stricter global rules. This poses challenges for us, yet we're driven by humanity's enduring dream of flight.
"Our solution is fundamental: We formed specialized compliance teams to interpret regulations worldwide, then built those safeguards into our core design. Innovations like Payload Detection ensure safety — if the A1 detects dangerous modifications, it automatically grounds itself, intelligently preventing misuse. Ultimately, we keep the focus where it belongs: the pure delight of exploration and creation."
"The A1 stands as Antigravity’s gift to all humanity"
So, the Antigravity A1 has been in the works for a while, and though I wasn't allowed to say at the time, I flew a prototype at a secret, intimate event. Since then, I have reviewed the drone and in my review, I gave it a 4-star rating. It's simple, really: the A1 is a brand new drone and in a way, it redefines the drone industry. What's more, I'm sure DJI is itching to get its own 360° drone out as soon as possible (why else would it rush to get its DJI Osmo 360 out?).
When I asked Buu about how he hopes Antigravity is going to change the industry, he said, "For beginners, the A1 delivers truly accessible flying: zero-barrier operation opens authentic flight experiences across most global locations. Imagine soaring like a bird over mountains and rivers — utterly effortless and fatigue-free — potentially transforming how we explore our world.
"For creators, the A1’s capabilities elevate creative possibilities to new heights. You’ve likely seen creators sharing their breakthroughs on social media — these testimonials speak louder than specs. Post-A1, the visual language born from aerial perspectives will grow exponentially richer. When that renaissance unfolds, we’ll state with conviction: The A1 stands as Antigravity’s gift to all humanity."
"The A1 is just the beginning"
Antigravity, to me, doesn't sound like a 'one and done' brand. The A1 is its first drone, and there is no way it will stop there, especially considering the rapid rate with which Insta360 is constantly developing its 360° tech and releasing new products. Buu concurs. "Naturally, the A1 is just the beginning. Antigravity will continuously advance both image quality and smart capabilities across future products. Concurrently, our dedicated regulatory specialists will persistently integrate compliance frameworks — ensuring every design prevents misuse — as we navigate evolving global regulations with steadfast dedication."
But what happens when, eventually, DJI comes out with its own 360° drone? "While traditional players retrofit lenses for 360° capture, Antigravity fundamentally reimagines panoramic flight at the biological level," said Buu when I asked him about the launch of other 360° drones. "Free Motion mode transcends a mere control upgrade — it’s a neural-to-propeller translation across dimensions. Point toward a gap in the clouds, pull the controller's trigger, and A1 surges there instantly. This hands-free intuition liberates users — from 90-year-olds to 8-year-olds — all soar with zero learning curves."
And for Buu and Antigravity, it isn't all about the specs, and the brand is more focused on delivering an excellent, accessible flying experience above all else: "Our innovations bypass the spec-race entirely, completing a profound metamorphosis: from pilot to flight itself."
The Antigravity A1 is now available to buy in a few configurations: the Standard bundle costs $1,599 / £1,219, the Explorer bundle costs $1,899 / £1,399, and the Infinity bundle costs $1,999 / £1,499.
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