ZDNET Highlights
- The AntiGravity A1 Standard Bundle is on sale for $1,599 on AntiGravity’s website.
- Content creators will love the drone’s intuitive handling, creative tools, and ability to capture 360-degree video in 8K resolution.
- However, it is expensive.
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I’ll be honest: I was a little nervous when I was asked to review it Antigravity A1I had never flown a drone before, But after spending time with the A1, I realized I might have been the perfect person for the job: reviewing it from a new perspective and learning as I went – exactly the power of drones,
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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 sector. The A1 is Insta360’s first effort, and clearly, they did a standup job.
It’s incredibly simple to operate, making it a solid choice for first-time users, and the 8K, 360-degree cameras capture stunning footage. That said, it won’t be suitable for everyone.
The A1 is a compact aircraft, weighing just 249 grams. Folded, it measures 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.2 inches; With its propellers extended and open, it measures 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 weighing 250 grams or more are required to be registered, so this reduces the limit by one gram.
Across its body, the A1 features eight separate cameras, each equipped with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and an ISO range of 100 to 6,400. Using the magic of Insta360 software, all of these cameras work together to record 360-degree hemispherical footage.
You don’t see the sphere all at once; Instead, the drone takes its video feed directly to the glasses and narrows it down to a 65-degree field of view. You physically turn your head to see the rest of the scene.
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It’s a little challenging to explain if you haven’t experienced it, so I’ve included a YouTube video below that I made using a drone recording. These clips were created using the brand’s proprietary editing app, AntiGravity Studio.
The YouTube video above is in 4K; However, it is possible to record footage in 8K at 30 FPS. The results are amazing. The footage looks crisp, with distant rooftops and landscapes appearing impressively clear. You can go down to 5.2K or 4K to get higher frame rates.
For example, 4K recording can reach frame rates of up to 100 fps. This is 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. However, this menu can be difficult to navigate. The motion-based grip controller has difficulty registering precise movements – it’s better suited to broader gestures.
The drone’s batteries weigh more than 67 grams. Due to energy demands, flight time is relatively short. AntiGravity claims the A1 can fly for up to 24 minutes on a single charge in ideal conditions. External factors, such as wind, altitude, and resolution settings, can further reduce flight time. Once the battery reaches 15%, the drone will automatically begin the process of returning home.
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AntiGravity’s vision goggles are a lot of fun to wear. They have a distinctive “Kamen Rider” aesthetic that makes you feel like a superhero as soon as you wear them, with two antennae and bug eyes. This accessory is light, its weight is 340 grams. AntiGravity achieved this low weight by not having a battery in the headset. Instead, it sits externally as an individual pack and connects via a USB-C to DC cable.
To keep the battery from swinging out, the company includes a lanyard that allows it to stay comfortably around your neck. It’s not perfect (the dangling battery can look a little awkward), but it’s still better than having a load over 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, partly thanks to AntiGravity’s OmniLink 360 feature, which delivers ultra-low-latency video as long as you stay within 10 kilometers of the drone. Because the glasses display a stream signal, what you see is not the same as the recording, so keep that in mind.
My biggest complaint about the glasses is that they don’t fit people who wear glasses. The lenses come with built-in diopter adjustments ranging from -5.0D to +2.0D. This range is fine for me.
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Dialing the view down to -5.0D allowed me to see the screen clearly, although this may not be enough for some. AntiGravity says corrective lens inserts are planned, but as of this writing, they are not yet available for purchase.
The A1’s grip controller is, in my opinion, the most divisive part of the kit. It’s a one-handed, semi-motion remote that you hold like the Wii remote. You press the trigger to move forward and tilt your arm to steer. As mentioned in the video above, it doesn’t fly very fast.
It goes faster under Sport mode, but it’s not a significant speed increase, nor is it the smoothest plane to fly. It’s actually quite harsh. He said, flying is very easy. My brother and I, neither of whom had ever flown a drone before, immediately got the hang of it.
The glasses feature a reticle that affects the direction of the drone. Hold down 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 automatically returns the device to its recorded home point. Landing is also simple. Drag the slider down, and the drone will descend in a controlled manner.
Below is an image explaining what each button does. Two buttons are not visible: the power and menu buttons, located on the right side.
Most of the buttons are straightforward. You have a record button for video, a shutter for still images, and a flight mode switch to jump between sport, normal and cinematic speeds. Then you have more unique options, like the RTH button to call the drone back and the 360 dial. The latter serves as an alternative to motion controls, letting users control the drone without moving their arms.
All controls are within easy reach of your thumb and fingers. I also enjoyed the size of the accessories. It is comfortable to hold even for small hands.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
I’ve spent a lot of time admiring how accessible it is A1 But the price is not cheap at all. AntiGravity A1 Standard Bundle Currently on sale for $1,599. It includes the drone, a protective case, vision goggles, grip controller, an extra set of propellers, and a flight battery. There are also other bundles available that include additional accessories, such as extra batteries. I had the Infinity Bundle, which cost $1,999.
Yes, it’s expensive, but I would still recommend the A1 to anyone interested in drones. Its ease of use makes it great for beginners, and creators will be impressed by the video quality.
