DJI Avata 360: A drone with no blind spots

DJI has launched the new Avata 360 drone as a direct answer to Insta360's Antigravity A1, the first panoramic drone to reach the mass market.

Rather than simply copying its rival, DJI brought its own camera expertise to the table, borrowing sensor technology from the Osmo 360 action camera. The result is a drone that films in 8K 360-degree video and standard 4K simultaneously. No other drone on the market currently offers both.

The Avata 360 carries two ultrawide f/1.9 lenses mounted on 1.1-inch sensors, one pointing upward and one pointing down. Together, they record a full 360-degree view at up to 8K 60fps.

Pilots can fly freely and reframe their shots later inside DJI's Studio app. Paired with the Goggles N3 and head-tracking support, simply turning one's head steers the camera view. It is an intuitive system that changes how aerial footage is captured entirely.

According to Engadget, Avata 360 is a strong performer. The drone reaches 40 mph in sport mode and carries propeller guards for safe use around people, animals, and tight indoor spaces.

Subject tracking, obstacle avoidance, and acrobatic FPV modes are all present. Battery life lands around 18 minutes in real-world conditions, which is on the shorter side.

Video quality, however, comes with caveats. The 8K figure applies only to the full spherical output. Processed flat footage sits closer to 4K, and stitching seams occasionally appear. Low-light performance suffers due to electronic stabilisation. Users chasing crisp, cinematic footage might look towards the Mini 5 Pro or Air 3S instead.

For solo filmmakers, vloggers, and FPV enthusiasts who prioritise flexibility over pixel-perfect results, the Avata 360 is a genuinely compelling machine. Starting at 459 euros, it undercuts the Antigravity A1 while delivering a more complete package overall.