And thankfully, it’s not just a DJI option: This $1,599 drone and headset combo is like nothing I’ve ever tried before.
As I mentioned in August and as you can see in my embedded video, this 8K drone isn’t about “driving a drone” or “shooting aerial footage.” It’s designed to keep you from thinking about flying or filming at all.
The 360-degree camera and motion-sensing glasses let you turn your head to look in any direction. Inside, you’ll see a line that you can move with your hand to indicate where you want to go. Pull the trigger and the drone will fly away while your head remains free to view the view from above. And because you’re recording video in every direction simultaneously, you can rotate and zoom your recorded video when you’re done.
At $1,599 – $1,899 if you want three batteries, a multi-charger, and a carrying case, or $1,999 for three “high capacity” batteries according to the Best Buy listing – this drone is more expensive than a drone with a camera that will produce high quality traditional rectangular footage.
In my early demos, the AntiGravity A1 weighs, flies, and turns like a DJI Mini, not like a higher-end Mavic or Air, even though its price is closer to the price of those higher-end drones when they were widely available in the US.
But none of those potential DJI drones came with a 360-degree camera system and bundled goggles, prioritizing easy flying and filming. (The antigravity glasses are even more impressive.) But that could be the case with DJI’s own 360-degree drone, the Avata 360, which just got FCC clearance last week. Maybe it will reach the US in the future before the door is closed to DJI gadgets.
However, the Avata 360 Antigravity may be a different beast from the A1. While the A1 is a beginner-friendly mini-style drone that flies slowly, and is light enough that it shouldn’t require registration, DJI’s Avata line is heavy CineHoop-style FPV drones designed to swoop in and fly at high speeds.
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