I'm a first-time flier, and this 8K drone made my first flight effortless

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I’ll be honest: I was a little nervous when asked to review the Antigravity A1. Before this, I had never flown a drone. But after spending time with the A1, I’ve come to realize that I might’ve been the perfect person for this job: reviewing it from a fresh perspective and learning as I went — precisely the drone’s strength. 

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If you’re unfamiliar with the name, Antigravity is a new sub-brand from action-camera company Insta360, created to expand into the drone space. The A1 is Insta360’s first attempt, and frankly, they did a standup job. 

It’s incredibly simple to operate, making it a solid choice to operate for first-timers, and the 8K, 360-degree cameras capture stunning footage. That said, it won’t be the right fit for everyone. 

The drone

The A1 is a compact aircraft, weighing just 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 weight is especially notable because it means recreational pilots won’t have to register the drone with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). In the United States, all drones that weigh 250 grams or more need to be registered, so it clears the threshold by a single gram.

Across its body, the A1 carries eight individual cameras, each equipped with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and an ISO range of 100 to 6,400. Harnessing the magic of Insta360 software, these cameras all work together to record 360-degree hemispherical footage. You don’t see the sphere at once; instead, the drone routes its video feed directly to the goggles and narrows it down to a 65-degree field of view. You physically turn your head to see the rest of the scene.

It’s kind of hard to explain if you haven’t experienced it, so I’ve included a YouTube video below I created using recordings of the drone in action. These clips were created using Antigravity Studio, the brand’s proprietary editing app.

The YouTube video above is in 4K; however, it is possible to record footage in 8K at 30 FPS. The results are stunning. Footage looks crisp, with far-off rooftops and landscapes looking impressively clean. You can step down to 5.2K or 4K to achieve higher frame rates. For example, 4K recordings can reach a frame rate of up to 100 FPS. It’s also the only video resolution that supports slow-motion capture on the A1.

You can adjust camera settings by pressing the button above the controller’s trigger to open the digital menu. Navigating this menu can be tricky, however. The motion-based Grip Controller has a hard time registering precise movements — it’s better suit for broad gestures. 

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The drone’s batteries weigh over 67 grams. Due to energy demands, flight times are relatively short. Antigravity claims the A1 can fly for 24 minutes on a single charge under ideal conditions. External factors, such as wind, altitude, and resolution settings, can reduce flight time further. Once the battery hits 15%, the drone will automatically initiate a return-to-home procedure.

The goggles

Antigravity’s Vision Goggles are a lot of fun to wear. They have a distinct “Kamen Rider” aesthetic that makes you feel like a superhero the moment you put them on, sporting two antennas and bug eyes. The accessory is lightweight, clocking in at 340 grams. Antigravity achieved this low weight by not having the battery built into the headset. Instead, it sits externally as an individual pack and connects via a USB-C to DC cable.

To prevent the battery from swinging, the company includes a lanyard that allows it to rest comfortably around your neck. It’s not perfect (the dangling battery can feel a little awkward), but it’s still better than having the weight on your head.

Inside the headset are two 1.03-inch micro-OLED pancake lenses, each running at a 2560 x 2560 resolution with a 72 FPS refresh rate. Image quality is excellent, thanks in part to Antigravity’s OmniLink 360 feature, delivering ultra-low-latency video so long as you remain within 10 kilometers of the drone. Because the goggles display a streamed signal, what you see isn’t identical to the recording, so keep that in mind.

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My biggest complain with the goggles is that they aren’t friendly to people who wear glasses. The lenses come with built-in diopter adjustments that range from -5.0D to +2.0D. For me, this range is fine. Dialing the view to -5.0D allowed me to see screens clearly, although it may not be enough for some. Antigravity states that corrective lens inserts are planned, but as of this writing, they’re not yet available for purchase.

The controller

The A1’s Grip Controller is, in my opinion, the most divisive part of the kit. It is a one-handed, semi-motion remote you hold like a Wii remote. You pull the trigger to move forward, and tilt your arm to steer. It doesn’t fly very fast, as noted in the video above. It moves faster under Sport Mode, but it’s not a big speed boost, nor is it the smoothest flying aircraft. It’s actually quite stiff. That said, it is very easy to fly. My brother and I, neither of whom had ever flown a drone before this, caught on immediately.

The goggles show a reticle that influences the drone’s direction. Hold the trigger, and the A1 follows the reticle without affecting the camera feed. You can look around and fly straight. Proximity sensors help you avoid obstacles, and the Return to Home (RTH) button causes the device to automatically fly back to its recorded home point. Landing is simple, too. Pull down on the slider, and the drone will descend in a controlled fashion.

Below is an image detailing what each of the buttons do. Two buttons aren’t visible: the power and menu buttons, located on the right.

Most of the buttons are straightforward. You have a Record button for video, a Shutter for still images, and a Flight Mode switch to hop between Sport, Normal, and Cinematic speeds. Then you have more unique options, such as the RTH button to call back the drone and the 360 Dial. The latter serves as an alternative to motion controls, letting users control the drone without having to move their arms.

All controls sit within easy reach of your thumb and fingers. I’d also enjoyed the accessory’s shape. It’s comfortable to hold, even for smaller hands.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’ve spent a lot of time praising how approachable the A1 is, but the price is not exactly cheap. The Antigravity A1 Standard Bundle is currently on sale for $1,599. It includes the drone, a protective case, the Vision Goggles, Grip Controller, an extra set of propellers, and a flight battery. There are other bundles available that include additional accessories, such as extra batteries. I had the Infinity Bundle, which costs $1,999.

Yes, it’s expensive, but I’d still recommend the A1 to anyone interested in drones. Its ease of use makes it great for newcomers and creators will be impressed by the video quality.