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Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Gizmodo
I Flew Insta360's First Drone With a 360-Degree Camera, and It's DJI's Worst Nightmare
Screw merely flying a drone; what if you were the drone? You're a nimble robot buzzing over those rooted pedestrians far below. Above you is blue sky, below the dry ground, and all around you open expanse and a curving horizon. You can see it all, as if you were a head in a jar looking through an impossible dome. Insta360, a company that's spearheaded 360-degree cameras as an alternative to today's GoPros, got into drones the only way it knew how—by sticking twin, fish-eye lenses on an unmanned aerial vehicle. Yes, this lets you record all your surroundings at once, rather than just a single 16:9 box. The actual experience of flying the drone is more like you're in a transparent globe, gliding over all. Antigravity, a new subbrand of Insta360, let me take its prototype A1 drone for a spin at a high-speed go-kart track a few hours outside of Los Angeles. The best way to describe the company's strange product is to break it up into three distinct parts. If I were to sum it up, it's a 360-degree camera strapped to a drone, combined with an altered reality headset, and controlled via an old-school arcade light gun. The camera is closest in specs to Insta360's own X5. The Antigravity A1 offers an aerial experience unlike any I've tried. There's nothing that comes close to the feeling of real-time video hitting my eyeballs whichever direction I look. There's no pricing information yet, though Antigravity claims customers will have it in hand in January next year. First off, there's the A1 drone itself. It's about the size of a DJI Air 3S with four propellers and automatic fold-out landing gear. It also weighs about the same as DJI's drone at 249g, or 0.54 pounds, plus the arms fold in to make it slightly easier to carry around. If it weren't for the two cameras on the top and on the bottom of the A1 drone, it would look like many similar products of its kind. What's special about this design is that Antigravity managed to make the A1 'invisible' to both lenses. It means you won't see any hint of the quadcopter itself, unless you catch a hint of your own shadow. The controls are even more unique. The A1 uses a headset akin to DJI's Goggles 3, but Antigravity placed a circular screen on the outside of the left lens that allows any onlookers to glimpse what you're looking at. The first time I showed my colleagues the headset, they exclaimed I looked like the bug-faced Japanese superhero Kamen Rider. Inside the headset, you can freely look around 360 degrees and still see information pertaining to your speed, altitude, battery, and whether you're currently recording. If you're filming, the device is capturing the full experience around you, so you don't have to be looking in any one direction as you buzz around. There's a small picture-in-picture display that pops up in your view if you're not looking in the direction you're flying. It's helpful if you ever get distracted while in 'Sport' mode and you forget that setting turns off automatic obstacle detection. The missing piece is the controls, and it's even more out of the box than the rest of the A1. Instead of a two-handed RC control with sticks, you're given a handle with a few buttons on its face and a trigger to control speed. Inside the headset you'll see a reticule that's centered where you point the controls. Flying the A1 is strange, though; you'll end up sticking the controller over your shoulder—as if you were blind firing—in order to fly backwards but keep looking forwards. The combination of a pair of VR goggles on a drone isn't completely unique. FPV, aka first-person view drones like the DJI Avata 2 combined with the DJI RC Motion 3, let you see your environment as you're recording. These are nimble machines that you can spin, dive, or loop for those intense shots you can only get from an aerial vehicle. They're also more difficult to use than your typical, straight-flying drone. A drone with a 360 camera could offer some of the same versatility without needing to put your expensive aerial device into perilous circumstances. Flying around with such a bird's-eye view also isn't quite as picture-perfect. My time in LA was my second experience flying the A1. I previously ran it through Brooklyn, NY, on a misty afternoon where the streaming quality wasn't quite good enough to make up for the droplets muddying my view. On the second time out, having multiple drones flying at once in such close proximity resulted in lag and a pixelated video quality. The third attempt was closest to seamless, though I shot all my footage at 5.2K resolution, rather than the max 8K. The image quality at this resolution isn't detailed enough for a YouTube video beyond 1080p. Though let's be honest, even 8K image quality still won't look as clear and crisp coming from an action camera as what you'll see in an Apple Vision Pro without extra time and attention. It takes time to get used to the twin sticks of most drone controllers, and it takes more effort to get good enough to pilot aerial vehicles. The Antigravity A1 is more intuitive. You point in the direction you want to go, and the drone starts flying. That doesn't mean it's easy. The controller has a number of buttons that can start and stop recording, reset your view, and even control your orientation. The issue is you can't see those controls when flying with the headset. After a few turns around the track, I had a general impression of where each button was, but I would still misclick on occasion. If you want to change the drone to Sports mode to unlock faster speeds, you'll just have to feel around the controller's handle until you can find it. Even in Sports mode, the flight wasn't as fast as you may expect from high-end FPV drones. Antigravity declined to offer specific specs about flight speed and max altitude, and all the team said was that they would be instituting flight zone limitations based on local regulations (DJI has taken flak for unblocking its geofencing tech in the past). Excusing the odd controller, the in-air experience was closest to flying a DJI Air 3S. You're not exactly nimble, but you're more than capable of flying in straight lines and hovering near the action. I could duck into relatively tight spaces, though even flying through a narrow tent felt harrowing with the pointer controls. This early version of the A1 is also much slower to turn than other drones. At various speeds, the drone would halt in the air as I turned my hand in a new direction. The issue was most noticeable when trying to bank when flying at top speed. Antigravity is still finagling the A1's controls, and it has more than enough time to smooth out the feel and flight. Traditionalists who would rather fly with twin thumbsticks are likely white-knuckling their traditional controllers looking at the A1's flight stick. After receiving some feedback, Antigravity intimated it was working on a more traditional controller for launch after the A1 hits the scene. However, the company later clarified that plans for various control options at a later date are tenuous. So no matter what, users should expect they'll need to go the full 'immersive' route when the A1 hits the scene in January of next year. Additionally, Antigravity said it will get more feedback through a 'co-creation project.' Drone fans can apply to check out the A1 and offer feedback. You can apply to the program through the company's website. The Antigravity A1 can help you pull off shots that would be close to impossible on any other drone, even an FPV. A novice like myself could use keyframes to have the camera look upside down as you're flying forward. You can easily tilt the footage to whatever orientation. The Insta360 Studio software makes it easy to add those 360 camera transitions to create a 'tiny planet' effect made possible by the fish-eye lenses. Without that sense of rocking you find on other drone footage, the 360 camera shots may look odd until you create that sense of movement through eliminating the warping effect from the fish-eye lenses and adding keyframes to follow your subject or set up interesting shots. I wouldn't ever claim I'm anywhere close to a professional at editing footage, but spooling through 360 aerial shots is damn fun, especially knowing that it took very little effort to achieve it. The issue you'll inevitably run up against is how to deal with the warped effect stemming from the unique camera sensor shape. Most modern 360 cameras can shoot in 8K resolution, but the raw footage still won't be as crisp as you imagine it should be without some post-processing and professional editing. The studio software is still a work in progress, but in the end you should be able to take the A1's footage into your favorite editing suite after you set up the keyframes in the Insta360 Studio. The A1 drone is unique, and novelty often comes at a cost. Antigravity isn't going to sell its parts piecemeal. The drone, controller, and headset will all come in the box together, and we can't imagine it will be cheap. Insta360 wanted its drone brand's first product to appeal to novices, amateurs, and enthusiasts alike. Beginners may not want to spend so much on their first drone, while experts may be disappointed by the control options. But let's be frank, there's nothing else like the Antigravity A1, at least until DJI inevitably sticks its new Osmo 360 camera onto a drone as well, whether or not you'll be able to buy one in the U.S. with ongoing sanctions. Full disclosure: Travel and lodging were paid by Insta360. Gizmodo did not guarantee any coverage as a condition of accepting the trip.
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
I Flew Antigravity's 8K 360-Degree Drone and It Felt Like Using a Wii Remote
Antigravity says its A1 drone is the world's first drone built to capture 360-degree video. It's the company's new flagship project, incubated at Insta360, and I got to test-fly it at a preview event. The company says its intuitive controls make it easy to fly even if you've never flown a first-person view drone, which I haven't. Antigravity's A1 drone was a secret project incubated by Insta360. Jesse Orrall/CNET FPV drones are known for being acrobatic, and the most highly skilled pilots can capture thrilling, dynamic videos featuring elaborate camera moves, including spins, dives and loops. Antigravity says that the A1 drone can produce similar FPV-style shots while flying in a straight line, thanks to its 360-degree field of view, where camera movements like spins and rotations can be added in post-production using Antigravity's editing software. Insta360 users may already be familiar with this workflow. You film the full panoramic view and crop it to the desired framing and camera movements after the fact. I had an opportunity to test out the Antigravity A1 drone at a go-kart track. Jesse Orrall/CNET The A1 drone includes a headset that lets you see what the drone sees as you're flying. Moving your head side to side moves the field of view around the 360-degree image, and a battery worn around the user's neck powers the headset. The controller reminded me of a Wii Remote, with a trigger to fly forward. I could change the drone's direction by moving my body, and a red emergency stop button was also easily accessible. It was an intuitive experience, but I felt a slight motion sickness toward the end of my test flight. Overall, I succeeded in not crashing and capturing video, my two primary goals when flying the drone for the first time. The Antigravity A1 drone has no set price yet, but it's set to hit the market in Jan. of 2026. To see this newly unveiled drone in action, check out the video in this article.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Insta360's Antigravity unveils 8K full-degree drone, challenging DJI
Antigravity, a drone brand incubated by China's leading full-degree camera manufacturer Insta360, on Thursday unveiled its first product – the Antigravity A1 featuring a built-in 8K 360-degree camera and pilot goggles. Advertisement The machine is equipped with a dual-lens camera system mounted on both the top and bottom of its fuselage – a design that mirrors the capabilities of Insta360's popular X series action cameras, providing complete environmental capture without any blind spots, according to Antigravity. Included with the drone is a pair of goggles and a hand controller, enabling pilots to fly the craft using a drone's-eye view. Similar to Insta360's cameras, the A1 is said to be able to record all angles, allowing footage to be replayed in 360 degrees. Weighing 249 grams, the A1 'meets regulatory requirements in most countries and regions' and is set to hit global markets in January, according to the company. The Antigravity A1 comes with a pair of pilot goggles. Photo: Handout The announcement follows Antigravity's launch last month. The drone maker said it was incubated by Shenzhen-based Insta360 in collaboration with third parties and developed by 'a global team of engineers, designers and creators'.
Forbes
08-08-2025
- Forbes
Insta360 X5 Gets A Bold New Limited Edition Look And A Trip To Space
The Insta360 X5 was already one of the most capable 360-degree action cameras on the market. Now, it's got a limited edition Satin White look to match. The new variant brings a fresh finish to the flagship 8K camera with subtle glitter accents, vibrant orange details, and matching accessories. And to prove that style doesn't come at the cost of ruggedness, Insta360 launched it 23.6 miles into the stratosphere. It was made possible by Sent Into Space. Insta360 says its new X5 captured 'stunning footage, proving its mettle in the harshest environment imaginable.' Along the way, it's claimed to have faced temperatures as low as -68°F and exposure to sunlight 30% stronger than Earth-level conditions. The Satin White Insta360 X5 Limited Edition is more than just a color refresh. The white body features subtle glitter, striking orange accents, and an aesthetic that extends to the bundled accessories: a matching lens cap, protective pouch, and even the 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick. Internally, the latest X5 remains unchanged. So, you get dual 1/1.28-inch sensors, 8K 30fps video, PureVideo AI noise reduction for low-light conditions, and AdaptiveTone for dynamic exposure and color control. It's designed for cinematic-grade results, whether you're filming a city skyline at night or a sun-drenched summit. Insta360 has also introduced optional ND filters for the X5, available in ND16, ND32, and ND64 strengths. These are tailored for handling extreme brightness, enhancing motion blur, and delivering more color-accurate footage. The camera auto-detects each ND filter to optimize settings for varying lighting conditions. The Satin White edition is just as rugged as its original sibling. That means you get IP68-rated dust and water resistance. Plus, it is waterproof up to 49ft (and up to 197ft with the Dive Case), and scratch-resistant, replaceable lenses. It features the same Wind Guard as the regular X5 to ensure clear audio even in tough environments. Insta360 claims up to 208 minutes of continuous 5.7K shooting with fast charging to 80% in just 20 minutes. The Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition also includes a free 1TB cloud storage subscription (worth $107.90) for auto-backups, cloud editing, and one-click sharing. Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition: Price and Availability The new Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition is now available globally. It went on sale earlier this week on August 5 for $549.99. Once purchased, you can claim a free 1-year Insta360+ subscription with 1TB of cloud storage, valued at $107.90.
The Verge
31-07-2025
- The Verge
DJI's first 360-degree camera can continuously capture 8K footage for over 100 minutes
DJI has announced the company's first 360-degree action camera designed to compete with the Insta360 X5 and the aging GoPro Max (which the company is planning to replace soon). The new DJI Osmo 360 slightly edges out the X5's recording capabilities by capturing 8K videos at 50fps instead of 30fps, and features a design that's both smaller and nearly 20 grams lighter than the Insta360's. We just don't know how much the Osmo 360 will cost because DJI hasn't revealed when it will be coming to the US. The Osmo 360 doesn't feature swappable lenses, but unlike the X5, which uses only part of its rectangular 1/1.28-inch sensors, DJI's 360-degree camera uses all of its new 1-inch square-shaped HDR sensors. The company says that this 'reduces unnecessary bulk' and helps keep the camera compact and light at 183 grams. The Osmo 360 also captures 10-bit video, which offers more creative freedom when color correcting footage afterward, while the X5 is limited to 8-bit. The camera's 1,950mAh battery is slightly smaller than the 2,400mAh one in the X5, but DJI says the Osmo 360 can continuously record at 8K/30fps for up to 100 minutes on a full charge without overheating. Frame rates can be boosted to 60fps when dropping the resolution to 6K, or go as high as 100fps at 4K, but its slow-motion capabilities are slightly edged out by the X5, which can record 4K video at 120fps. When shooting with just a single lens, you can push 4K recording to 120fps on the Osmo 360, and you can switch back and forth between the camera's two lenses without stopping recording. The Osmo 360 can capture 360-degree still images at 120 megapixels, which is nearly twice the 72-megapixel resolution of pictures captured by the Insta360 X5. But if you want to capture HDR images so you can do more post-processing, you'll need to drop the resolution to 30MP. Other useful features include both voice and gesture controls for starting or stopping recording remotely; DJI's HorizonSteady and RockSteady stabilization, which can smooth out shaky footage without removing dynamic motion; and the ability to track and keep people, vehicles, and pets as the focus of a video when exporting clips from the DJI Mimo mobile app. The Osmo 360 also features 105GB of built-in storage and can simultaneously connect to two of DJI's popular wireless microphones and record two separate audio tracks without the need for a receiver. Optional accessories include a Battery Extension Rod that extends 8K/30fps recording by an additional 180 minutes, transparent lens protectors, and several selfie sticks that attach to the Osmo 360's threaded tripod mount, including one that extends to over 8 feet long. Although it won't launch in the US, the Osmo 360 will be available in all the other regions where DJI already sells its products. In Europe it will sell for €479.99, while an Adventure Combo, which adds accessories like a selfie stick and a multifunction battery case, will be €629.99. Canadian pricing, which is listed in US dollars, is $430 or $580 for the Adventure Combo, but DJI says that doesn't reflect what the Osmo 360 will cost when available in the US. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew Liszewski Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Cameras Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
