Club Benefits
When I say, "drones really don't get much better than this," I'm obviously talking about the brand new DJI Avata 360. DJI has been teasing its latest and first-ever 360° drone for a couple of weeks now, and that's not even the first we've heard of it. Since the tail-end of 2025, online rumors and leaks have been speculating the Avata 360's launch, specs and price, and finally, finally, the drone has landed — and it's made a splash.
I'll be the first to admit that drones have been... a little boring of late. The same specs recycled and stuffed into the same sub-250g / sub-8.78oz bodies, the drone industry feels like it has plateaued in the last few years. As someone who tests the best drones, I've been wanting someone to shake things up. Make a bang. Make me go, "Wow, they can do that?!" That finally happened when the Antigravity A1 came out in November 2025, and while it impressed me, the premium price left a sour taste in my mouth. Enter DJI.
The Avata 360 is, in true DJI fashion, a fine drone. It's not only the best 360° drone, it's one of the best drones in general, period. DJI has managed to pack twin lenses that capture 8K/60fps footage and 120MP stills, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and next-gen features like Intelligent Tracking into a body that doesn't break the bank. And it certainly gives the Antigravity A1 a run for its money.
Article continues belowChock-full of goodies
While you can read all about the drone's specs in my full DJI Avata 360 review, I'd like to give you a quick overview of what we're being treated to here. The Avata 360 is fitted with twin lenses that record 4K record a 180° FoV (field of view) each in 4K, and the frames are then stitched together by the camera. What this means is that you get +8K resolution before stitching and when the clips are stitched together, you get 360° footage at true 8K resolution.
In addition to this, you can capture 120MP stills too, as the twin lenses snap 64MP images each and then stitch them together. The best part is that you can't see any stitching lines, neither in videos nor in stills. Also, if you want to quickly share clips on social media and don't have time for post-production (you'll need to reframe the footage a fair bit in post to make it usable), you can do that and create 'tiny planet' effects by manipulating the two top dials on the RC-2 controller.
Speaking of, there are two ways of flying the Avata 360: you can do so with either the RC-2 controller (or any other recent DJI controller, really) or the DJI Goggles N3 and the RC Motion 3 controller. Compared to the Antigravity A1 which can be flown only with a headset and motion controller, the dual ways of flying make the Avata 360 far more versatile. Having tested both, you can take my word for it when I say both work extremely well.
No qualms about the build
As is always the case with DJI's drones, the DJI Avata 360 is built extremely well and designed just as nicely. Looking like the lovechild of the DJI Avata 2 and the DJI Neo 2, the Avata 360 is wrapped in dark grey colors which lend it a premium edge. The drone features propeller guards which not only make the drone safe for flying indoors or near people, but also protect the propellers if the drone runs into a wall, tree or other obstacle.
One important thing to note about the Avata 360 is that it weighs 1lb or 455g, which means that you’ll need to register it with the F.A.A. in the U.S. and the C.A.A. in the U.K., or any other governing authority depending on where you live. More restrictions may apply too, so I highly recommend doing your research before taking to the skies. In my opinion, don't let the weight put you off — it's well-worth it. Because it's a little heavy, the Avata 360 doesn't get knocked by sudden gusts of wind either, ensuring you always get smooth and stable footage.
Alongside the brand's trademark RockSteady technology, the drone also features a single-axis mechanical gimbal which provides further stabilization. None of the footage I captured appeared shaky or unsteady, and even if it does, you can digitally stabilize it via DJI Studio when you're back at your desk.
So... it's perfect?
Yeah, it kinda is. Look, my job is to analyze tech and put products through their paces, and I've struggled to find any real flaws with the DJI Avata 360. Okay, it weighs more than 8.78oz, but does that matter in the grand scheme of things, when you're getting such a solid drone? U.S. consumers have to wait a while too as the drone is currently available for pre-order only, but again, that's not a flaw. It will come.
Other than that, no, there isn't anything wrong with the Avata 360, and you can rest assured that you're getting bang for your buck. It's some of the most fun I've had flying and testing a drone recently, and the creative possibilities are truly limitless. It's worth every cent.
Wondering which 360° drone is right for you? Check out my DJI Avata 360 versus Antigravity A1 face-off!
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
