If there's anything we've learned from 2025, it's that consumer drones are evolving rapidly and that there are still unchartered territories for manufacturers to explore. 2025 saw the introduction of the most powerful and safest mini quadcopter yet, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, as well as the most advanced camera drone yet, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, with its 100MP Hasselblad camera and the ability to shoot 6K/30fps video.
This year also introduced a new drone category, and one that's never been done before. The Antigravity A1 became the world's first-ever 360° drone, utilizing the same cutting-edge tech found in the Insta360 X5 camera. But it wasn't just the skies drones continued to dominate: the HoverAir Aqua became the world's first waterproof drone, making it perfect for water sports.
On December 23, 2025, the FCC banned the import and sale of any new foreign-made drones and components, noting that any entity "posing an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons" would be added to a "Covered List" going forward. Consumers anywhere else, outside of the U.S., will still be able to buy new drones from foreign manufacturers.
I review the best cameras and best drones here at Tom's Guide. I've adored photography for as long as I can remember, and when I'm not working, I love taking my Fujifilm X-T50 or my DJI Air 3S on a walk and capturing the sights. My favorite subjects to photograph are animals, birds, and my partner. You can follow my work on Instagram.
Prediction #1: More 360° drones
Antigravity is a new brand "incubated" by Insta360. Insta360 is one of the best 360 camera brands, with an unchecked dominance over the 360 camera market for the last few years. Until now. In July, DJI launched its first-ever 360° camera, the DJI Osmo 360, perhaps in anticipation of the Antigravity A1 (which was heavily rumored back then). GoPro also decided to play catch up, launching the excellent 8K GoPro MAX2 360 camera, although there's no inkling that GoPro wants to venture into the drones market with that tech right now.
DJI is yet to come out with its own 360° quadcopter, and many rumors circulating online indicate the imminent launch of the DJI Avata 360. The Avata lineup consists of the brand's immersive, first-person view (FPV) drones, so it won't surprise me if the Avata 360 is the next to launch. I can imagine other brands, like Potensic and HoverAir, will probably want to jump on the 360° bandwagon too, but they don't currently have action cameras that already features that tech, so it's unlikely.
I'm looking forward to seeing DJI's 360° drone. It'll probably feature 8K/30fps video (even better if it's 60fps and it upstages the Antigravity A1), and be accompanied by FPV goggles (something even better than the DJI Goggles N3) and a motion controller. And a better app! The DJI Fly app is good but the brand's 360° drone will require a proper editing app, such as DJI Mimo.
Prediction #2: Even more immersive flying
The Antigravity A1 is a fantastic 360° drone, but could we see improvements made to it in 2026? Surely Antigravity will want to release another drone as soon as possible to stay ahead of the competition (DJI, mostly), and in my exclusive interview with Antigravity's Product Lead, Buu said, "The A1 is just the beginning."
So, what could be next for immersive flying? I can't imagine a successor to the A1 will come out so quickly, but maybe there will be new accessories for us to play with. What I would love to see — from DJI, Antigravity or anyone, really — is haptic feedback in motion controllers.
Haptic feedback is found in Sony's PS5 DualSense controllers, as an example, and it's one of my favorite things about my gamepad. FPV flying is already well-refined but I believe it could be made even better. Pop some haptic feedback and vibrations into controllers and let users feel the proximity of walls or the force of the wind in their hands.
Prediction #3: Waterproof drones make a splash
While I haven't personally tested it yet, I've been intrigued by the HoverAir Aqua, a 100% waterproof self-flying drone that can land on and takeoff from the surface of the water. According to the campaign page, the Aqua can withstand winds up to 34mph, making it the ideal quadcopter for water sports.
At the time of writing, the Aqua is one of a kind, and faces no competition from any of the brand's rivals. Most consumer drones aren't waterproof and I wouldn't advise flying any in heavy downpour, and snowy or stormy conditions. I think we could we see more waterproof drones from the likes of DJI and Potensic.
Any waterproof drone will need to sport a hydrophobic, anti-corrosive design, something the Aqua already does. But it shouldn't be too hard as this technology already exists out in the world.
Prediction #4: Budget king goes pro
This year, we finally saw a proper contender that went toe-to-toe with DJI's mini drones, and that's the Potensic Atom 2. Worthy of being considered the best DJI Mini 4K alternative, the Atom 2 is a beast, thanks to its ability to capture 48MP images, record stable 4K/30fps footage with its three-axis mechanical gimbal and 1/2-inch CMOS sensor.
But Potensic's lineup feels like it's still in the infancy stage, as the brand makes only budget, sub-250g quadcopters. I predict the brand will want to enter the big leagues and come up with a drone that challenges the likes of the DJI Air 3S. Right now, there aren't very many alternatives to DJI's prosumer lineup — and there will need to be, as the FCC banned the import and sale of any new foreign-made drones and components as of December 23 2025.
I predict either Potensic or another non-DJI brand will launch a big drone (or at least announce it in 2026) that will be a force to reckon with.
Looking ahead...
Everything in this article is, of course, speculation and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but hey, it's fun to ponder over what the future holds, isn't it? Rest assured that as and when any drone announcements happen in 2026, I'll be covering them all. Until then, I wish you all happy holidays and a restful break, and I'll see you soon.
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