Insta360 launches the Antigravity A360, its first 1-degree aerial camera under the Yingling brand, combining immersive control with greater creative freedom.
Update: Insta360 has confirmed that the Antigravity A1 will be priced at RMB 7999 in the Chinese market as the standard panoramic flight kit (initially promoted at RMB 6999). Panoramic exploration kits and long-endurance panoramic flight exploration kits will also be available, starting December 4th. In other markets, the US market will start at $1599. As for the Taiwan market, which is also preparing to launch the product, the specific local price has not yet been announced. Insta360, which has long been involved in 360-degree panoramic cameras, after previously announcing the launch of its first drone under the Antigravity brand, officially unveiled it today (August 14th). Named A1, it weighs only 249 grams and features Insta360's panoramic shooting capabilities, offering a completely different flight shooting experience from traditional drones. Dual-lens 8K panoramic video captures the drone itself, making it virtually "invisible." Similar to Insta360's previous 360-degree panoramic cameras, the A1 features two fisheye lenses mounted on the top and bottom of the drone, enabling it to record panoramic images in up to 8K resolution. This allows for pre-shooting and post-editing, and, like previous drones, it uses algorithms to "hide" the selfie stick, making the drone completely "invisible." This means users can obtain panoramic images from high altitudes, allowing for completely different effects in post-production, such as tracking vehicles, looking down from above, or capturing sky landscapes. Unlike DJI's use of a three-axis stabilizer in its drone designs, the A1 essentially lacks a three-axis stabilizer, capturing panoramic footage solely through the two fisheye lenses. Therefore, it only features vibration reduction. The drone itself also incorporates a visual obstacle avoidance system and displays an augmented reality interface within the flight goggles during flight, allowing users to intuitively avoid obstacles. Immersive Controls, Separation of View and Flight Direction: The A1 comes standard with OLED Vision flight goggles and a dedicated handheld controller. Unlike typical first-person perspective drones, the A1 streams 360-degree real-time panoramic video to the goggles, allowing users to view their surroundings simply by turning their heads naturally, without needing to manually change the drone's direction. This separates flight control from viewpoint adjustments, reducing the learning curve for beginners. Furthermore, a screen on the outside of the goggles allows onlookers to see the pilot's perspective in real-time, enhancing interactive viewing. The controller combines a traditional joystick design with Wii Remote-like pointing controls. Users can use the "point-and-fly" freemotion mode, aligning the crosshair with the screen and pressing the trigger button to fly the drone in that direction. This control method offers greater freedom of movement in the air and is closer to the intuitive logic of game controls. Combining aerial photography with enhanced post-production and creative potential, Insta360 has also created dedicated desktop and mobile editing tools for the A1, continuing the operating logic of its panoramic camera products, supporting keyframe settings, object tracking, and multi-view output. Even the same footage can be presented with completely different storylines through different compositions, further leveraging the advantages of 360-degree panoramic shooting. Regarding safety and expandability, the A1 has a load detection function; if illegally transported items are detected, it will not start, thereby reducing potential legal and safety risks. However, Insta360 also revealed that it will launch expansion accessories and add-ons in the future to extend the application scenarios of drones. Currently, it is not yet ready for market release; instead, it is undergoing further testing through a co-creation project. Currently, some specifications of the A1 are still in the final adjustment stage, and Insta360 has launched a "co-creation project," inviting testers to actually test the pre-production model and adjust the design based on feedback. The best suggestion recipient can share a $20,000 prize. Although the specific launch price has not yet been announced, the A1 has already demonstrated its creative advantages by combining an immersive aerial perspective, intuitive operation, and post-production freedom. It also further reduces the difficulty of operating drones, which may be quite attractive to many creators.
