Why I recommend this 360-degree camera drone to both beginners and professionals

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Antigravity A1 modular bundle is connected merchantability for $1,359 astatine Best Buy, a $240 discount.
• Content creators volition emotion the drone's creaseless handling, originative tools, and quality to seizure 360-degree video successful 8K resolution.
• No substance however you shingle it, this is an costly drone.

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I'll beryllium honest: I was a small tense erstwhile asked to reappraisal the Antigravity A1. Before this, I had ne'er flown a drone. But aft spending clip with the A1, I've travel to recognize that I might've been the cleanable idiosyncratic for this job: reviewing it from a caller position and learning arsenic I went -- precisely the drone's strength. 

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If you're unfamiliar with the name, Antigravity is a comparatively caller drone institution that launched its precise archetypal drone, the A1, backmost successful December 2025. For a archetypal timer, the institution did a large job. It's incredibly elemental to operate, making it a coagulated prime to run for first-timers, and the 8K, 360-degree cameras seizure stunning footage. That said, it won't beryllium the close acceptable for everyone. 

The A1 is simply a compact aircraft, weighing conscionable 249 grams. Folded, it measures 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.2 inches; unfolded with its propellers extended, it reaches 12.15 x 15.05 x 3.51 inches. That value is particularly notable due to the fact that it means recreational pilots won't person to registry the drone with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). In the United States, each drones that measurement 250 grams oregon much request to beryllium registered, truthful it clears the threshold by a azygous gram.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Across its body, the A1 carries 8 idiosyncratic cameras, each equipped with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and an ISO scope of 100 to 6,400. Harnessing the magic of Insta360 software, these cameras each enactment unneurotic to grounds 360-degree hemispherical footage. 

You don't spot the sphere astatine once; instead, the drone routes its video provender straight to the goggles, narrowing it to a 65-degree tract of view. You physically crook your caput to spot the remainder of the scene.

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It's a spot challenging to explicate if you haven't experienced it, truthful I've included a YouTube video beneath that I created from drone recordings successful action. These clips were created utilizing Antigravity Studio, the brand's proprietary editing app.

The YouTube video supra is successful 4K; however, it is imaginable to grounds footage successful 8K astatine 30 FPS. The results are stunning. The footage looks crisp, with far-off rooftops and landscapes appearing impressively clean. You tin measurement down to 5.2K oregon 4K to execute higher framework rates. 

For example, 4K recordings tin scope a framework complaint of up to 100 FPS. It's besides the lone video solution that supports slow-motion seizure connected the A1.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

You tin set camera settings by pressing the fastener supra the controller's trigger to unfastened the integer menu. Navigating this paper tin beryllium tricky, however. The motion-based Grip Controller has a hard clip registering precise movements -- it's amended suit for wide gestures. 

The drone's batteries measurement implicit 67 grams. Due to vigor demands, formation times are comparatively short. Antigravity claims the A1 tin alert for 24 minutes connected a azygous complaint nether perfect conditions. External factors, specified arsenic wind, altitude, and solution settings, tin further trim formation time. Once the artillery hits 15%, the drone volition automatically initiate a return-to-home procedure.

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Antigravity's Vision Goggles are a batch of amusive to wear. They person a chiseled "Kamen Rider" aesthetic that makes you consciousness similar a superhero the infinitesimal you enactment them on, sporting 2 antennas and bug eyes. The accessory weighs conscionable 340 grams. Antigravity achieved this debased value by omitting the artillery from the headset. Instead, it sits externally arsenic an idiosyncratic battalion and connects via a USB-C-to-DC cable.

To forestall the artillery from swinging, the institution includes a lanyard that allows it to remainder comfortably astir your neck. It's not cleanable (the dangling artillery tin consciousness a small awkward), but it's inactive amended than having the value connected your head.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Inside the headset are 2 1.03-inch micro-OLED pancake lenses, each with a 2560 x 2560 solution and a 72 FPS refresh rate. Image prime is excellent, acknowledgment successful portion to Antigravity's OmniLink 360 feature, which delivers ultra-low-latency video arsenic agelong arsenic you stay wrong 10 kilometers of the drone. Because the goggles show a streamed signal, what you spot isn't identical to the recording, truthful support that successful mind.

My biggest kick with the goggles is that they aren't affable to radical who deterioration glasses. The lenses travel with built-in diopter adjustments that scope from -5.0D to +2.0D. For me, this scope is fine. 

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Dialing the presumption to -5.0D allowed maine to spot screens clearly, though it whitethorn not beryllium capable for some. Antigravity states that corrective lens inserts are planned, but arsenic of this writing, they're not yet disposable for purchase.

The A1's Grip Controller, successful my opinion, is the astir divisive portion of the kit. It is simply a one-handed, semi-motion distant you clasp similar a Wii remote. You propulsion the trigger to determination guardant and tilt your limb to steer. It doesn't alert precise fast, arsenic noted successful the video above. 

It moves faster successful Sport Mode, but it's not a important velocity boost, and it's not the smoothest-flying aircraft. It's really rather stiff. That said, it is precise casual to fly. My member and I, neither of whom had ever flown a drone earlier this, caught connected immediately.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

The goggles amusement a reticle that influences the drone's direction. Hold the trigger, and the A1 follows the reticle without affecting the camera feed. You tin look astir and alert straight. Proximity sensors assistance you debar obstacles, and the Return to Home (RTH) fastener causes the instrumentality to automatically alert backmost to its recorded location point. Landing is simple, too. Pull down connected the slider, and the drone volition descend successful a controlled fashion.

Below is an representation detailing what each fastener does. Two buttons aren't visible: the powerfulness and paper buttons, located connected the right.

Antigravity/ZDNET

Most of the buttons are straightforward. You person a Record fastener for video, a Shutter for inactive images, and a Flight Mode power to hop betwixt Sport, Normal, and Cinematic speeds. Then you person much unsocial options, specified arsenic the RTH fastener to telephone backmost the drone and the 360 Dial. The second serves arsenic an alternate to question controls, letting users power the drone without having to determination their arms.

All controls beryllium wrong casual scope of your thumb and fingers. I'd besides enjoyed the accessory's shape. It's comfy to hold, adjacent for smaller hands.

ZDNET's buying advice

At the clip of this writing, Best Buy has aggregate Antigravity A1 configurations connected sale.

• The Antigravity A1 Standard Bundle is connected merchantability for $1,359 ($240 off) arsenic mentioned earlier. It includes the drone, a protective case, the Vision Goggles, a artillery for the goggles, the Grip Controller, 2 other sets of propellers, and a formation battery.
• The Antigravity A1 Explorer Bundle is connected merchantability for $1,609 ($290 off). It has galore of the aforesaid accessories, but it includes 3 formation batteries, a charging presumption for those batteries, and 4 pairs of propellers.
• The Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle is connected merchantability for $1,699 ($300 off). It is astir identical to the Explorer Bundle, but it comes with a USB Quick Reader for the drone's SD card

Yes, it's expensive, but I'd inactive urge the A1 to anyone funny successful drones. Its easiness of usage makes it large for newcomers, and creators volition beryllium impressed by the video quality.