Antigravity A1 review: 8K 360° drone, FPV goggles and gesture controls

Antigravity’s A1 is a bold debut: a compact 249‑gram drone that records 8K 360° video, sold as a three‑piece kit with FPV goggles and a motion‑based controller. The package focuses on immersive capture and smartphone‑first editing, letting you reframe footage in post so you rarely miss the moment.

The A1 mounts two cameras (top and bottom) with 1/1.28″ sensors and f/2.2 apertures. It can record 8K/30fps or 4K up to 100fps, and Antigravity’s software can remove the drone body from footage for seamless 360° shots. Expect the best results in bright light; low‑light noise and occasional stitch seams can appear.

Key specs & features

• Weight: 249 g (easier regulatory path in some regions)
• Video: 8K 360° (30fps), 5.2K and 4K up to 100fps
• Sensors: dual 1/1.28″ sensors, ISO 100–6400
• Battery: removable cell, ~20–24 minutes typical flight time; optional extras and charging dock available
• Control: gesture‑style motion controller (point‑and‑go reticle), plus buttons/wheels for manual inputs
• Goggles: dual 1.03″ micro‑OLED panels at 2560×2560, 72Hz refresh

What stands out

The A1’s control model feels like a video game: you point the motion controller where you want the drone to go and pull the trigger. Combined with independent viewing in the goggles, you can strafe and look anywhere while flying — a liberating experience that makes piloting intuitive for gamers and newcomers alike.

The 360° capture is the A1’s major creative advantage. Since you record everything around the drone, you can reframe, crop to horizontal or vertical, create tiny‑planet effects, or track subjects in post. Antigravity’s AI editing tools also help turn long flight clips into shareable edits quickly.

Limitations & issues

• Image quality tradeoffs: Spreading resolution across 360° means detail per angle is lower than single‑camera 8K drones; low‑light performance trails more video‑centric competitors.
• Software & stability: Early firmware and app issues were reported — flaky file transfers, occasional missing clips and convoluted pairing steps. Many of these may be fixed by updates, but they impacted the reviewer experience.
• Speed & performance: Top speed (~36 mph) lags behind some FPV rivals, though handling in Sport mode felt responsive.
• Price: $1,599 for the standard bundle (Infinity Bundle $1,999) — pricier than some FPV options but unique in feature set.

Practical considerations

If you prioritize creative flexibility and reframing over the absolute best sensor performance, the A1 is compelling: the ability to capture a full sphere of footage and pick camera angles later is liberating for solo creators. But content creators who demand the cleanest low‑light video or maximum raw detail may prefer more camera‑centric drones.

Pairing and power‑up order are fiddly, and downloading large 8K files to phones can be slow. The removable battery design and quick‑swap charging dock are welcome for extended shoots, and the goggles’ external display allows friends to watch along.

Verdict

The Antigravity A1 is one of the most intriguing consumer drones in recent years — it reimagines both capture and control, making flight feel playful and creative. Early software glitches and some image‑quality compromises prevent it from being a one‑size‑fits‑all choice, but for creators who want the freedom to reframe 360° footage and a novel flying experience, it’s worth a close look.

Price: Standard bundle $1,599; Infinity Bundle $1,999 (extra batteries and charging dock).

For full technical detail and the original testing notes, see the review on Engadget: engadget.com.

Discussion: Would you choose a 360° drone like the Antigravity A1 for creative flexibility — or do you prefer a traditional single‑camera drone with better raw image quality?