DJI unveils its first 360-degree drone amid patent dispute with crosstown rival Insta360
The new DJI drone features four propellers, giving it a similar look to the Avata 2, a first-person view drone launched in 2024
China’s DJI announced its first 360-degree drone on Thursday, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a nascent market segment that is now at the centre of an escalating patent war.
The new product, the DJI Avata 360, marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography. The drone features a front-mounted omnidirectional camera capable of capturing high dynamic range (HDR) images at 8K resolution and 60 frames per second, according to official information.
The drone, with prices starting 4,388 yuan (US$626), featured four propellers, giving it a similar look to DJI’s Avata 2, a first-person view drone launched in 2024, according to official photos.
In response, Insta360 founder and CEO Liu Jingkang said that, after an internal review of the patents in question, “the available evidence indicates that these are all ideas and innovations generated within Insta360”.