A New Contender Arrives at the Perfect Moment
With DJI drones disappearing from American shelves ahead of an expected import ban, a viable replacement suddenly carries outsized importance. That is why the arrival of the Antigravity A1 at Best Buy this week marks a significant moment for the drone market. After months of uncertainty, the device is officially on sale in the U.S., in stores and available for immediate shipping — a rollout that appears to have gone live early ahead of its scheduled December 4 reveal.
For consumers who rely on DJI’s Mini, Mavic, or Air models, the question has not been whether a competitor can outperform them, but whether a competitor can even be purchased. The Antigravity A1 hits the shelves at exactly the time U.S. drone enthusiasts needed a credible alternative.
A Drone Designed to Change How You Fly
While the A1 did not need to revolutionize drone flight to attract attention, it introduces a concept that goes well beyond being a simple stand-in. Instead of relying on conventional joystick piloting or traditional camera framing, this drone emphasizes intuitive navigation through a 360-degree camera system and motion-sensing goggles. Turn your head to change your view, move your arm to aim a guiding line, and pull the trigger to send the drone in that direction — all while recording every angle at once.
This approach removes much of the mental load that typically comes with aerial filming. Because users capture footage in all directions, final editing becomes a process of choosing angles after the fact rather than trying to frame shots mid-flight. At $1,599 for the base package, the A1 costs more than many traditional drones with higher-grade camera sensors, but its purpose is different: reducing friction and making immersive flight accessible to non-experts.
Price, Performance, and What to Expect
Best Buy listings show two expanded bundles: $1,899 for the three-battery package with a multi-charger and case, and $1,999 for the kit with three high-capacity batteries. In early demos, the drone handled and folded like a DJI Mini — compact and lightweight — even though its price rests near where DJI’s prosumer Mavic and Air drones used to sit before supply constraints hit the U.S. market.
That comparison highlights the trade-off: footage quality may not reach DJI’s top-tier standards, but user experience is the centerpiece. Ease of use, immersive viewing, and full-sphere recording position the A1 as a new category rather than a direct spec-for-spec competitor.
A Market Shift Accelerates
The timing is noteworthy. DJI’s own 360-degree drone, the Avata 360, recently received FCC clearance, but its future U.S. availability remains uncertain because of the widening restrictions on Chinese-made tech. DJI’s Avata models have historically been heavier, high-speed FPV systems aimed at cinematic flight, while the Antigravity A1 offers a gentler, beginner-friendly experience that may not require registration under current FAA rules.
The result: for now, the A1 occupies a unique space — a ready-to-buy, immersive drone option during a period of regulatory upheaval. As the U.S. drone landscape reshapes in real time, its arrival could mark a meaningful shift in what the next generation of consumer drones looks like.