Antigravity A1 8K 360° Drone Officially Announced

Antigravity A1 8K 360° Drone Officially Announced

A few weeks after hinting at its debut, Antigravity — a new drone brand developed by Insta360 and partner companies — has officially launched its first product: the Antigravity A1. Marketed as the world’s first all-in-one drone with built-in 8K 360° video capture, the A1 eliminates the need for external camera rigs. Antigravity says the drone combines ultra-high-resolution immersive footage with an intuitive, gesture-based flight control system.

At the heart of the A1 is a dual-lens design, featuring one lens on top of the body and another underneath. This top-and-bottom setup enables complete environmental coverage without blind spots. Advanced real-time stitching removes the drone from the shot, delivering seamless, uninterrupted 360° visuals when viewed through Vision goggles or during playback.

This stitching process creates the signature “invisible drone” effect, allowing viewers and pilots to experience a fully immersive aerial perspective without seeing propellers or the drone’s frame.

It will be interesting to see how smooth this stitching remains when flying close to objects, given the noticeable distance between the two lenses.

Immersive Flight Controls

The A1 features Antigravity’s “FreeMotion” technology, which decouples the pilot’s view from the drone’s flight path — a shift from conventional FPV setups. With the included Vision goggles, pilots can look freely in any direction via head tracking, while maneuvering the drone using the Grip controller.

The Grip controller closely resembles DJI’s Motion Controller, which I first tested in my 2021 review of the DJI FPV drone, and it’s expected to function in much the same way.

Rather than relying on traditional dual-stick inputs, the Grip responds to natural hand movements, enabling more intuitive control. This design lowers the learning curve for beginners while unlocking new creative opportunities for experienced flyers. By separating the view from the flight path, a pilot can, for example, look to the side while continuing to move forward — a capability that paves the way for fresh aerial storytelling techniques.

Post-Production Flexibility

Shooting in 8K gives creators significant freedom to reframe shots during editing. Since every angle is captured, editors can choose multiple viewpoints from a single flight, export in various aspect ratios, and add creative effects without compromising image quality. This toolkit mirrors Insta360’s X Series features — including Tiny Planet, horizon flips, and cinematic FPV-style maneuvers — but now applied to aerial footage.

For content creators, this means one flight can produce a variety of deliverables tailored to different platforms, from widescreen YouTube videos to vertical formats for social media.

I must say, the launch video is quite impressive, perfectly demonstrating what’s possible when you don’t have to nail the perfect shot mid-flight. It’ll be interesting to see how it performs in real-world use — our curiosity is definitely piqued.

Lightweight Build and Safety Functions

Weighing just 249g at take-off, the A1 falls within the sub-250g regulatory category in most regions, which often allows operation without a license. Its compact design makes it easy to pack, carry, and deploy, catering to both traveling filmmakers and casual hobbyists.

The A1 also integrates multiple safety features. A return-to-home mode automatically guides the drone back to its starting point, while a payload detection system helps prevent misuse or unauthorized modifications — likely intended to discourage deployment in conflict zones and avoid challenges similar to those currently faced by DJI in the U.S.

Antigravity A1 8K 360° Drone Officially Announced

Antigravity A1 – Key Specs

• Capture Resolution: 8K 360° video
• Lens Setup: Dual-lens, top-and-bottom mounting for complete coverage with zero blind spots
• Image Processing: Advanced real-time stitching for an “invisible drone” effect in both live view and recorded footage
• Flight Control: Grip controller with intuitive, gesture-based point-to-fly operation
• Viewing System: Vision goggles with responsive head tracking for a 360° immersive view
• Weight: 249g (sub-250g category, license-free in most regions)
• Editing Tools: Post-flight reframing, Tiny Planet mode, horizon flips, multiple angle exports without loss of quality
• Safety Features: Return-to-home function, payload detection system
• Launch Date: Global release planned for January 2026 (pricing and bundle details to be announced)

Early Access Program & Launch Plan

Antigravity is preparing to roll out the A1 worldwide in January 2026, with pricing, package configurations, and regional availability to be confirmed closer to launch.

Ahead of release, the company has opened applications for its first co-creation program. Selected applicants will receive a pre-production A1 unit for testing and feedback, aimed at refining the final product. Creators are encouraged to submit ideas that could be integrated into the retail model. A total reward pool of US$20,000 will be distributed among contributors whose proposals are adopted.

Applications are now open on the official Antigravity website.