DJI Avata 360 test: DJI’s first 360° drone in a practical review

The DJI Avata 360 is not just another drone in the already full DJI portfolio. It is the market leader’s first serious attempt to combine 360° videography and FPV flying in one device – and at a price that makes the competition look old. We have already summarized all the background information on the announcement in our DJI Avata 360 announcement. This detailed DJI Avata 360 test – DJI’s first real 360-degree drone with 8K/60fps and full FPV mode – shows whether the concept works in practice.

What is the DJI Avata 360? The DJI Avata 360 is DJI’s first 360° drone: With two 1/1.1-inch cameras, it films the entire environment simultaneously in 8K/60fps and can be controlled either with a standard controller or FPV goggles. The special feature: The image section is not determined while flying, but only in post-production – an approach that gets more creative freedom out of a single flight.

DJI Avata 360: Technical data & scope of delivery

Feature	Value
Take-off weight	approx. 455 g (incl. battery)
Camera system	2 × 1/1.1-inch square CMOS, 64 MP effective each
Effective sensor area (360° mode)	1-inch equivalent (4:3) – only in 360° mode
Pixel size	2.4 μm
Field of view per lens	200°
Focal length	2.5 mm (7.8 mm 35 mm equivalent)
Aperture	f/1.9 (fixed focus from 1.5 m)
Max. Video (360° mode)	8K (7,680×3,840) at 60/50/48/30/25/24fps
Max. Video (360° mode, 6K)	6K (6,000×3,000) at 60/50/48/30/25/24fps
Max. Video (single lens)	4K/60fps, 2.7K/120fps
Max. Photo resolution	120 MP / 16K (15,520×7,760) or 30 MP / 8K
Video bit rate	max. 180 Mbit/s
Color profile	D-Log M, Normal
ISO (360° video, 8K/60fps)	100-12.800
Transmission system	DJI O4+
Max. Transmission range	20 km (FCC) / 10 km (CE/SRRC/MIC)
Live view quality	1080p/60fps (360° mode), 1080p/100fps (single lens)
Max. Flight time	approx. 23 min. (laboratory conditions)
Max. Hover time	approx. 22 min.
Max. Flight distance	13.5 km
Max. Climb speed	2 m/s (Cine) / 6 m/s (Normal) / 10 m/s (Sport)
Max. Descent speed	1.5 m/s (Cine) / 6 m/s (Normal) / 10 m/s (Sport)
Max. Horizontal speed	6 m/s (Cine) / 12-16 m/s (Normal, adjustable) / 18 m/s (Sport)
Max. Wind resistance	10.7 m/s (wind force 5)
Max. Take-off altitude	4,500 m above sea level
Hovering accuracy (horizontal)	±0.3 m (visual) / ±1.5 m (GPS)
Internal memory	42 GB (~30 min. 8K-360° video)
Memory expansion	microSD up to 2 TB (recommended Lexar Silver Plus A2 V30)
WLAN transmission	Wi-Fi 6, up to 100 MB/s
Obstacle detection	Omnidirectional (Vision) only in 360° mode; forward (LiDAR) also in single lens mode; infrared/3D-ToF below
Rechargeable battery	2,700 mAh / 38.67 Wh / approx. 149 g / Li-ion
Charging time (direct, 65 W)	0-100 %: approx. 73 min. / 10-90 %: approx. 51 min.
Charging time (charging station, 100 W, 1 battery)	0-100 %: approx. 47 min. / 10-90 %: approx. 31 min.
Charging time (charging station, 100 W, 3 batteries)	0-100 %: approx. 100 min.
EU class	C1
Compatible controllers	RC 2, RC-N2, RC-N3 (standard); Goggles N3/3 + RC Motion 3 or FPV remote control 3 (FPV)
Price (RRP at the time of testing)	459 € (solo) / 719 € (RC 2 Kit) / 939 € (Fly More Combo)

Scope of delivery RC-2 kit: drone, RC-2 controller, 1 Intelligent Flight Battery, gimbal protection, 2 pairs of replacement propellers, screwdriver, foldable landing pad, lens cleaning cloth, USB-C data cable, quick start guide. The Fly More Combo completes the package with two more batteries (three in total), a two-way charging station and a shoulder bag – anyone who is serious about production will find it hard to ignore.

Design & workmanship: Larger than expected, more robust than expected

Anyone who is used to the compact DJI Neo 2 or Mini series will be in for a bit of a surprise when unpacking. At 455 g and with its expansive cinewhoop frame – complete propeller protection rings around all four rotors – the Avata 360 is much more present in the hand than a typical DJI entry-level model. Externally, it is reminiscent of an enlarged Neo 2, but the propeller guards enclose the rotors less completely than on its smaller sibling.

This is not a weakness, but a logical design decision. The guards make the drone more suitable for everyday use in confined indoor spaces, flying through buildings or filming in close proximity to people. The construction appears well thought out and of high quality – no creaking joints, no cheap plastic feel.

The cleverest detail is the rotating camera module: On the ground, a lens faces forward – useful for setting up the shot. As soon as the drone takes off, the module automatically rotates 90 degrees. One lens points upwards, the other downwards. Together they capture the complete 360° image without the sensitive optics lying on the ground during take-off.

The front lenses can be replaced by the user. The replacement kit costs approx. 21 € without tools or approx. 25 € with tools – no need to send it in for repair. One real point of criticism: there are no mounts or threads for external accessories. Microphones, ND filters or LED rigs cannot be easily retrofitted.

Control & flight characteristics: Two drones in one housing

The heart of the Avata 360 concept is its control flexibility. The drone officially supports five controller options: RC 2, RC-N2, RC-N3 as standard remote controls as well as Goggles N3 or Goggles 3 in combination with RC Motion 3 or FPV Remote Control 3 for immersive mode.

With standard controller: solo use without compromise

With the RC 2 (integrated screen), the Avata 360 behaves like an ordinary DJI camera drone. Throttle right, direction left, camera movement via gimbal wheel. No spotter required, no goggles, no new control logic. Anyone who has already flown a DJI Mini or Air will be airborne in just a few minutes. Three speed modes are available:

• Cine (C): Max. 6 m/s horizontal, 2 m/s climb, 1.5 m/s descent – ideal for smooth, cinematic movements
• Normal (N): Up to 12 m/s as standard, can be increased to 16 m/s in the settings
• Sport (S): Up to 18 m/s – agile and direct, but without obstacle detection

In cine and normal mode, the drone stabilizes automatically if no control input is made. The maximum pitch angle is 48°, which ensures a typical FPV flight feeling during active use.

With FPV goggles and RC Motion 3: full immersion

With goggles on your head, the live image is right in front of your eyes. The drone reacts to subtle wrist movements of the RC Motion 3, head tracking rotates the virtual viewing angle with every head movement. After a short period of familiarization, the controls are surprisingly intuitive – DJI has further refined the motion controller logic since its predecessor, the DJI Avata 2. In a direct comparison of DJI Avata 360 vs. Avata 2, it is particularly noticeable how much more precise the head tracking and ActiveTrack transitions are in the new generation.

Important for Germany: In FPV mode with goggles, the pilot loses direct visual contact with the drone. According to EU drone regulations (§ 21h LuftVO), a spotter is then mandatory. The Avata 360 does not support full acro flying without stabilization – instead, DJI offers Easy ACRO for initial drifts and loops with goggles + motion controller.

360° camera: fly once, refrain indefinitely

The 360° camera system is the real unique selling point of the Avata 360. The principle: you fly a route without worrying too much about the exact image section. In post-processing, you only determine what the camera has “seen”. DJI has been gaining experience in the 360° segment for a while now with the DJI Osmo 360 (our test) – this expertise can also be seen in the Avata 360’s camera system.

How the system works

Each of the two 1/1.1-inch lenses has a field of view of 200° (focal length 2.5 mm, f/1.9, fixed focus from 1.5 m). Both images are processed into a complete spherical panorama in DJI’s own .osv format. All sorts of things can then be extracted from this in DJI Studio or DJI Fly: classic widescreen videos, hyperlapse effects, virtual camera pans, even completely new angles from the same flight. This is particularly valuable for non-repeatable takes – concerts, sporting events, unique landscapes.

Picture quality: strengths and clear limits

In good daylight, the Avata 360 delivers convincing 360° images. The 2.4-μm pixels, f/1.9 aperture and D-Log M provide significant leeway in post-production. 8K/60fps with up to 180 Mbit/s is a very respectable starting point for 360° camera systems.

The limits come to light when heavily cropping into the panorama image. As the overall image is composed of two fisheye lenses, the sharpness decreases at the edges of the image. However, this is not a weakness of the Avata 360, but a physical characteristic of all 360° camera systems. The Avata 360 performs well in low light – the large sensors are significantly better than cheaper action cam systems, such as those compared in our action cam comparison. Real noise only occurs in very dark conditions, dusk remains usable.

Stitching quality: what you need to know

Stitching the two 200° images together is a challenge with any 360° system. In landscape or city shots taken from a normal flying height, the stitching line is barely visible. It becomes critical with abrupt changes of direction or very narrow environments: The drone tilts briefly and the seam line moves visibly through the image. DJI has released software updates since the launch that have improved this. If you are already producing in 360° without a drone, the Insta360 X4 Air is a hand-held alternative with similar stitching characteristics. The practical solution in flight: smooth curves instead of hard stops.

Single lens mode: the underestimated second option

In single lens mode, only one camera films – without stitching, in up to 4K/60fps and 2.7K at up to 120fps. Important: In single lens mode, only forward-facing obstacle detection (LiDAR) is available – omnidirectional detection via the fisheye cameras is not available.

The Avata 360 saves photos with 30 MP or 120 MP. The 30 MP version performs better in poor light and requires less memory; the 120 MP images are worthwhile in daylight for subsequent reframing.

Intelligent functions & tracking

The smart functions are clearly divided by control mode – this is important to understand before you buy.

Only with standard controller (RC 2 / RC-N):

• ActiveTrack 360°: drone actively tracks a subject, even at bicycle or light vehicle speeds
• QuickShots: Automatic flight maneuvers (drone, orbit, helix, etc.) at the touch of a button

Only with Goggles + RC Motion 3:

• Head Tracking: Viewing angle follows the head movement in real time
• Easy ACRO: Simplified acrobatic maneuvers – not a complete acro, but a fun introduction

Available in both modes:

• Spotlight Free: Automatically keeps a selected subject in the picture, regardless of the direction of flight – ideal if you want to concentrate fully on flying
• Spotlight Standard: Camera tracks the subject, pilot controls the drone position manually
• Virtual 360° gimbal: Subsequent correction of tilt and roll from -180° to +180° without loss of quality

The separation of functions according to control mode is the only real point of criticism: anyone who wants to use ActiveTrack 360° in FPV mode will be disappointed.

Battery, charging & range

Flight time: Realistic expectations

DJI specifies approx. 23 minutes – measured in the wind tunnel at 21.6 km/h forward flight at sea level. In real use with active filming, direction changes and wind, 18-20 minutes is a more realistic basis for planning.

Loading: Two methods

Directly in the drone (max. 65 W): 0-100 % in approx. 73 min., 10-90 % in approx. 51 min. Via the charging station (max. 100 W): One battery in approx. 47 min., all three simultaneously in approx. 100 min. From 65 W, the station charges all three in parallel, including sequentially with priority to the most fully charged battery. The power accumulation function transfers energy from weaker to stronger batteries.

O4+: Range in practice

The CE range varies greatly depending on the environment: approx. 1.5-4 km in the city, approx. 4-10 km in suburbs, up to 10 km in rural areas with little interference. More than sufficient for all legal visual flight missions – the O4+ system scores primarily through connection stability, not extreme distances.

Wi-Fi 6 transmits 1 GB of footage directly to the smartphone in 10 seconds. A real time-saver for quick field previews and social media clips without a laptop.

Software: DJI Fly & DJI Studio

DJI Fly handles control, live view, simple cuts and Wi-Fi transfer. Mature for years, fast and stable on iOS and Android.

DJI Studio is essential for the actual 360° strength. This is where the .osv raw data is turned into final videos. The most important functions: free manual reframing, automatic preset movements, virtual 360° gimbal (tilt and roll each -180° to +180°) and export to all common formats. The learning curve is real. If you’ve never worked with 360° post-production before, you should allow for one to two hours of tutorial time – anyone familiar with Insta360 Studio will quickly find their way around.

Legal matters: What applies in Germany

The DJI Avata 360 is classified as a C1 drone (455 g). Anyone flying a drone in this class for the first time should read our drone buying guide beforehand – it explains registration, insurance and proof of competence step by step. In concrete terms, this means

• Obligatory registration with the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) as a remote pilot – one-off, free of charge
• Proof of competence A1/A3 required (free online test on the LBA portal)
• Flights over crowds of people only restricted or with special permission
• FPV mode with goggles: spotter obligation according to § 21h LuftVO
• Liability insurance for drones over 250 g required by law

DJI Avata 360 vs. Antigravity A1: A direct comparison

With the Antigravity A1, there is only one direct competitor in the 360° drone segment at the time of testing. The comparison is clear:

Feature	DJI Avata 360	Antigravity A1
Sensor format	1/1.1-inch (× 2)	1/1.28-inch (× 2)
Max. video	8K/60fps	8K/30fps
Weight / EU class	455 g / C1	under 250 g / C0
Control options	RC 2 / RC-N2 / RC-N3 + Goggles/Motion	Goggles + motion controller only
Max. Flight time	approx. 23 min.	approx. 22 min.
Stitching	Post-production (.osv)	Real-time in-camera
Entry price	from 459 €	approx. 1.500 €

The biggest advantage of the Avata 360: price and flexibility. The only real disadvantage in comparison: 455 g means EU class C1 instead of C0 – the Antigravity A1 is allowed to fly in more urban zones without a permit.

DJI Avata 360 price: Is it worth buying?

The entry-level price of €459 (DJI Avata 360 drone only) sets new standards in the category. If you want to buy the DJI Avata 360, you should consider in advance how seriously it is produced: The RC-2 kit for €719 is the most sensible choice without existing DJI accessories. The Fly More Combo for €939 – three batteries, charging station, shoulder bag – pays for itself from the second serious production session. The direct competitor costs around three times the entry-level price and offers less control flexibility. All prices are RRP at the time of testing in April 2026.

Frequently asked questions about the DJI Avata 360

Can the DJI Avata 360 be flown without FPV goggles? Yes. The Avata 360 can be flown completely with a standard controller (RC 2, RC-N2, RC-N3) – just like a normal camera drone. Goggles are optional and are only required for the immersive FPV mode.

How long does the DJI Avata 360 battery last in practice? DJI states approx. 23 minutes (laboratory conditions at 21.6 km/h forward flight). In real use with active filming, direction changes and wind, you should calculate with 18-20 minutes.

Do I need drone insurance for the DJI Avata 360? Yes. The Avata 360 weighs 455 g and falls into EU class C1. In Germany, liability insurance is required by law for all drones weighing over 250 g – regardless of their intended use.

Does the DJI Avata 360 support acro flying? No. Full manual acro without stabilization is not possible. Instead, DJI offers an “Easy ACRO” mode for simplified acrobatics (drifts, loops) – exclusively with goggles and RC Motion 3.

How much does the DJI Avata 360 cost in Germany? The drone solo costs from 459 € RRP. The RC-2 kit costs €719, the Fly More Combo (3 batteries, charging station, shoulder bag) €939. All prices as of April 2026, subject to change.

Conclusion

The DJI Avata 360 is a well thought-out first device in a new category. 8K/60fps, f/1.9 optics, O4+, five controller options and a price far below the competition – that’s a strong overall package. The limitations are well-known and manageable for the target group: no acro mode, omnidirectional obstacle detection only in 360° mode, stitching sensitivity during agile maneuvers.

If you are prepared to make friends with DJI Studio and 360° post-production, you get a creative freedom that classic camera drones simply do not offer. However, if you are looking for pin-sharp individual images without the need for post-processing or primarily want to fly over crowds of people in the city center, it is better to look for another drone without a 360° workflow.