When it comes to drones, DJI has been the undisputed leader for years, setting the standard with consumer models that balance performance, features, and ease of use. But now, a new player has entered the scene with something completely different. Insta360, best known for its 360° cameras, has launched a startup brand called Anti-Gravity. Their first release, the Anti-Gravity A1, is making big waves — and for good reason. It’s the world’s first 360° drone capable of capturing 8K video from every angle.
So, how does this innovative approach compare with DJI’s Air 3, one of the best dual-camera drones available right now? Today, we’re putting them side by side to help you decide which drone might be the better choice for you.
Table of Contents
Design and Build
Let’s start with the design. The Anti-Gravity A1 weighs just 249 g, keeping it under the important 250 g threshold. This means that in many regions, you can fly it without going through the registration process required for heavier drones.
Antigravity A1
The A1 folds down into a compact, travel-friendly form factor that feels familiar, with screw-in propellers, a sliding rear battery, a top-mounted power button, and obstacle-avoidance sensors underneath.
The real standout design difference is its camera system. Instead of a traditional forward-facing camera, the A1 uses two 360° lenses mounted on the top and bottom of its gimbal. To protect the bottom lens, the drone even has retractable landing legs that pop out during takeoff and landing.
This design is intentional — it allows the drone itself to disappear from your footage, creating the signature.
DJI AIR 3
The DJI Air 3, on the other hand, is significantly larger and heavier. It’s not a beginner-friendly sub-250 g drone — instead, it’s a step up aimed at serious hobbyists and semi-pro creators. The build quality feels premium, as you’d expect from DJI, featuring their signature folding arm design and a much larger battery setup that delivers an impressive 46 minutes of flight time.
So here, it’s portability and travel-friendliness with the Anti-Gravity A1 versus endurance and power with the DJI Air 3.
Flight Experience
Flying these two drones feels completely different. With the Anti-Gravity A1, you don’t use traditional joysticks. Instead, it comes with a grip motion controller, which works a bit like a pointing wand. Tilt it to move, pull the trigger to fly forward, and twist it to rotate.
Paired with the vision goggles, this setup lets you look around in any direction independent of your flight path. Anti-Gravity calls this Free Motion Mode. In practice, it means you can fly straight while looking left, right, or even directly down — a totally new experience if you’re used to conventional drones.
The goggles also include a small forward-facing view to help you keep your bearings, plus a one-touch button that instantly snaps your perspective back to the front. It’s beginner-friendly, absolutely thrilling, though perhaps less so if you’re after pure speed. The A1 isn’t an FPV racer, and its flight speed tops out at about 16 m/s in Sport Mode.
DJI AIR 3
The DJI Air 3 offers a more traditional flying experience, but it’s packed with performance. It’s faster, climbing and descending at up to 10 m/s with a top speed of 47 mph. It also holds steady in winds up to 12 m/s, supported by DJI’s reliable omnidirectional obstacle sensing system.
You’ll be flying it with the new RC 2 controller, a conventional joystick-based setup that experienced pilots will feel right at home with.
So, if you’re after immersion and a unique flying experience, the A1 takes the win for novelty. But if you want power, speed, and precision, the Air 3 is the stronger choice.
Camera Systems
Here’s where the real differences stand out. The Anti-Gravity A1 isn’t about pointing a lens at a subject — it’s about capturing everything. Its dual-lens system records full 360° 8K video, so during flight, you don’t have to worry about framing the perfect shot because everything is already being captured.
In post-production, you can reframe your footage, rotate perspectives, and even animate camera moves between angles. Creative effects like horizon flips, dolly zooms, or tiny planet shots can all be achieved in editing — without needing to pilot the drone with those moves in mind.
DJI AIR 3
The DJI Air 3 takes a completely different approach with its dual-camera setup: a 24mm wide-angle and a 70mm medium telephoto lens, both at 48 megapixels. Each lens can shoot 4K video at up to 100 frames per second, and their specs are nearly identical, giving you plenty of creative flexibility in real time.
With the wide lens, you can capture cinematic establishing shots, while the telephoto delivers compressed, parallax-rich footage. DJI’s intelligent shooting modes — including ActiveTrack, Spotlight, and Point of Interest — make it easy to automate subject tracking and complex movements while filming.
So, while the A1 is revolutionary if you enjoy reframing later and experimenting with immersive 360° effects, the Air 3 is more traditional but incredibly powerful if you prefer to compose your shots live while flying.
Editing and Post-Production
The Anti-Gravity A1 is built around the philosophy of shoot first, frame later. If you often worry about missing the perfect shot, this drone takes away that stress. Every angle is recorded, allowing you to pick and choose perspectives later in Insta360’s Studio app. That’s also where you can unlock FPV-like rolls and transitions, making your footage look far more advanced than your piloting skills.
The downside is that much of the magic happens in post-production. If you’re not interested in spending time reframing and editing, you won’t get the full value of what the A1 offers.
DJI AIR 3
The DJI Air 3, on the other hand, lets you define your style right at the point of capture. You can shoot in the Normal color profile for instant, ready-to-share footage, use HLG for balanced highlights and shadows, or go with D-Log M for maximum flexibility in color grading. Features like Hyperlapse with waypoints, MasterShots, and QuickShots deliver cinematic results straight out of the drone with minimal editing required.
In short, the A1 offers flexibility in post-production, while the Air 3 gives you flexibility at capture.
Safety and Features
Both drones include safety features, but with some key differences. The Anti-Gravity A1 offers forward and downward obstacle sensors, Return-to-Home, and a unique payload detection system that prevents takeoff if you try to attach extra objects. It’s stable and beginner-friendly, but its safety coverage is less comprehensive than what the DJI Air 3 provides.
DJI AIR 3
The DJI Air 3 features full omnidirectional obstacle sensing, advanced GPS positioning, and long-range transmission with the RC 2 controller. It also comes with a clever battery hub that includes a power accumulation feature, allowing you to transfer remaining charge from multiple low batteries into one for extended use.
Overall, the Air 3 feels more robust and dependable for complex flying environments, while the Anti-Gravity A1 is designed to be safer and simpler for new pilots.
So, Insta360’s Anti-Gravity A1 vs. DJI’s Air 3—which should you buy?
Final Verdict or Conclusion
If you value innovation, portability, and creative editing flexibility, the A1 stands out as something truly unique. As the first true 360° drone, it unlocks entirely new ways to capture the world.
On the other hand, if you prioritize reliability, cinematic footage straight out of the drone, advanced safety features, and longer flight times, the DJI Air 3 remains the more complete package.
The truth is, these two drones aren’t direct competitors—they serve very different purposes. The Anti-Gravity A1 offers a glimpse into the future of drone creativity, while the DJI Air 3 is one of the best all-around drones available today. Which one is right for you ultimately depends on how you like to fly and how you like to create.
Read More:
