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Dreame Matrix10 Ultra: two-minute review

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is probably the most advanced hybrid robot floor cleaner that I've ever reviewed. At the heart of the design is a unique mop-swapping system that works like a vending machine. Instead of having a single pair of spinning mop pads like its competitors, this model's docking station stores three sets of mop pads, each tailored for different surfaces or rooms.

These mops are swapped automatically, depending on the room or surface it has been tasked to clean. Oh, and there are three cleaning fluid options, which can auto-switch, too. The aim is to ensure each floor receives an appropriate type of cleaning, and to help prevent cross-contamination. Not everyone will feel the need for that, but if you're meticulous about hygiene, or have more extreme mopping needs, this could well be the best robot vacuum for you.

Mopping performance is reinforced by dual rotating mop heads that apply consistent pressure to deliver deeper cleaning. And, like all good mopping systems, water flow is adjusted based on floor type and the mops are always lifted when the robot transitions onto carpets. The base station also handles self-cleaning of the mops (with hot-water washing and drying) and auto-emptying of detritus into a larger-than-average 3.2-liter bin bag.

Given that this robovac boasts an industry-leading 30,000 Pascals of suction power, I had high hopes for its vacuuming ability. In practice, it handled its everyday tasks exceptionally well, including collecting an awful lot of hair shed by my two Labradors, and delivering thorough hard floor vacuuming. However, it struggled to pick up large debris from a carpeted floor – it made a decent fist of it, but it wasn't quite as thorough as I'd expect given those stunning suction specs.

Navigation and mobility are extremely impressive since the bot has a retractable navigation puck to sneaking beneath low furniture, AI-assisted obstacle avoidance, and a chassis that can launch it over thresholds and floor obstacles up to a total of 3in / 8cm total height, or 1.6in / 4.2cm if it's a single step.

The enormous dock will rule it out for smaller homes, where in any case, such a complex setup may not be necessary. It's a perfect model for residents of large houses with mixed floor types, hairy pets or a desire to maintain high hygiene standards. I think it's also worth considering for use in most commercial premises like single-level offices, village halls, or small sports halls.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review.

(Image credit: Future)Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: price & availability

• List price: $1,999.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,499
• Launch date: September 2025
• Available: Widely, including US, UK, Australia

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra sits firmly in the premium end of the robot-cleaning arena and its standard price – $1,999.99 in the US, £1,399 in the UK, and AU$3,499 in Australia – reflects that position. However, I've already spotted big discounts that suggest you might not need to pay that kind of price – I've seen it on sale for $1,800 in the US, just £999 from the UK, and AU$2,499 in Australia. It's available to buy direct from Dreame, as well as via various third-party retailers.

Those discounts – in the UK and Australia, at least – bring the Matrix10 Ultra within reach of buyers who want high-end automation without tipping into the ultra-luxury tier. Granted, even at this reduced price it's still a substantial investment, but given the convenience and the ace level of autonomy it offers, I think it still delivers impressive value for money. I'd perhaps hold out for a better discount if you live Stateside, though.

(Image credit: Future)

The Matrix10 Ultra's high level of sophistication does come with trade-offs. For instance, the mop-swapping dock is enormous by comparison to others on the market, and the machinery is complex. Hence, if you live in a small space, have uniform flooring or don't need frequent mopping, its advantages dramatically shrink and the upfront cost feels harder to justify. But for large homes with mixed surfaces (and even some commercial properties), this type of hybrid bot starts to make a lot of financial sense.

If the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra seems like too big a financial commitment, perhaps give one of the Chinese company's earlier models some consideration. The L40 Ultra might not have swappable mops but it's still a cracking bot that now retails at a significantly lower price than the Matrix10 Ultra. Alternatively consider the equally excellent Roborock Qrevo Series, for a similarly affordable price.

• Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame Matrix10 Ultra specs

Max suction:

30,000Pa

Robot size (L x W):

in / 35 x 35.1cm

Robot height:

3.5 in / 8.9cm

Dock dimensions (H x W x D):

23.2 x 16.4 x 17.9 in / 58.9 x 41.6 x 45.5 cm

Dust bin volume (base):

3.2L

Water tank volume (base):

5.5L (clean); 4L (dirty)

Mop type:

Auto-interchangeable dual spinning mop pages

Base type:

Charge, empty dust, wash mop pads with hot water, dry mop pads with hot air, automatically swap from three mop pad sets, auto-dispense one of three cleaning fluids

Max threshold clearance:

1.6 in / 4.2cm (one step) or 3in / 8cm (two steps)

Navigation:

Retractable LiDAR Pathfinder

Obstacle avoidance:

Double laser+AI+RGB+LED

Carpet detection:

Ultrasonic

Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: design

• Features include step-vaulting feet and a retracting LiDAR puck
• Enormous dock vends different mop types and cleaning solutions
• Hi-tech and advanced navigation and object avoidance systems

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is a cutting-edge robovacs, starting with its navigation system, which is one of the most technically impressive I've come across. There's a retractable DToF LiDAR unit (complete with attractive blue ring light), 3D sensing and an AI-enhanced RGB camera that combine to deliver fast, accurate 360-degree mapping while still allowing the robot to lower its profile and slip under furniture with a clearance of just 3.5in / 9cm.

Like the Roborock Saros 10, this ability to retract its LiDAR turret gives the Matrix10 Ultra both the precision of high-end LiDAR mapping and the physical flexibility to reach recessed areas many robots miss.

(Image credit: Future)

Its vision system, meanwhile, adds a second layer of intelligence: a structured-light 3D sensor paired with the aforementioned RGB camera. Together, these navigation tools identify and classify a wide range of objects, allowing the robot to plan collision-free routes that seem logical, at least when compared with some other models I've reviewed.

I've been astonished by how confidently and intelligently this model has mapped and navigated my home – and even a huge village hall – without any hiccups whatsoever. It just works.

Robot design

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's industry-leading 30,000 Pascals of suction power is a major bonus, especially when it comes to removing most trapped dust particles in carpet and rugs. Couple this suction power with Dreame's dual rollers (one with added bristles) and and an extendable side sweeping brush for great pick-up coverage along skirting boards and furniture edges, and you have one very efficient floor sweeping system. Like most Roborocks, you're offered five levels of suction with this model – Quiet, Standard, Turbo, Max and Max+.

(Image credit: Future)

However, what really sets this model apart from almost all others bar the Mova Mobius 60 (a sub-brand of Dreame) is its advanced mopping hardware. Instead of using a single pair of spinning mop pads to clean the entire floorspace, the Matrix10 Ultra supports a range of three different mop types that can be allocated to different rooms, and these mops are swapped automatically in the charging dock (more on this in the section directly below).

Like all good modern hybrid robot vacuums, the Matrix10 Ultra automatically lifts its mops when moving over carpets, or leaves them in the dock if not required. And when it's mopping, it also raises both the twin brush rollers and the side brush so they remain muck-free.

Many high-end bots are capable of scaling thresholds and low steps but this one performs better than most. It's able to quite literally climb up a pair of steps, a sliding door track up to 3in / 8cm in height, or single steps up to 1.6in / 4.2cm, by raising its chassis and launching itself forward. (You can see the system in action on a different Dreame bot in TechRadar's Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review.)

(Image credit: Future)

Because this model is equipped with a decent RGB camera up front, you can also use the Dreame app to manually steer the robot around like an RC car. I've always thought of this function as a bit of a gimmick, but I was proven wrong the other day in our village hall: the Matrix10 Ultra got stuck in a tight spot to the side of a toilet bowl and its sensitive sensors prevented it from jiggling itself out of trouble. I simply launched the app from my location, selected the camera icon and managed to steer it out manually. I then tasked it to continue cleaning and all was well again.

(Image credit: Dreame / Future)

However, there is one genuine gimmick added to the camera function that I see no use for, aside from a bit of amusement. If you select the speaker-and-dog icon you can choose from a selection of noises – a cat meowing, purring, a dog bark, some footsteps and the ticking of a clock.

Dock design

Let's first address the elephant in the room – the size of the dock. While attractive enough to look at, it is huge by comparison to the majority of other models. In fact most people might ask why you elected to put an under-counter fridge in your living room. It certainly looks a bit like one.

At 23.2in / 58.9cm in height, a whopping 16.4in / 41.6cm in width and a depth of 17.9in / 45.5cm with robot ramp attached, this dock dwarfs most others on the market and that will most certainly be an issue for anyone with a smaller home. But then again, Dreame likely never envisaged this model being used in anything other than large homes – its unique multi-mop system bears this out.

(Image credit: Future)

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's dock is one of the most technically sophisticated charging stations ever paired with a hybrid robot. Aside from automatically emptying the contents of the robot's tiny bin into its larger-than-average 3.2-litre dust bag, the dock can also store multiple mop types and automatically switch them using a jukebox-style system.

In a nutshell, the bot leaves the dock and waits a minute or so while a module behind the front door raises up to grab the required magnetically-affixed mops from their holding base before placing them face down on the dock's cleaning plate mechanism. The robot then returns to the dock where the mops are attached. It's a very clever system, no doubt, but the jury's out on the amount of moving parts involved and the reliability of the system in the long term.

(Image credit: Future)

You get three sets of pads included and each one is slightly different and designed for a specific purpose: the yellow pads have scrubbers fitted for deeper cleaning in greasy areas like a kitchen; the grey pads are thicker and more absorbent for bathrooms or flooring where you want less streaking; and blue are for general-purpose mopping of living areas. However, you can use the Dreame app to set which types of mops you want used for each room.

(Image credit: Future)

The million dollar question is whether you really need three sets of mops for different rooms. Dreame says it's mostly for hygiene purposes and the prevention of cross-contamination and I can see this being a valid reason for anyone with toddlers on the floor who doesn't want a toilet mop to then clean the living room floor, even if it's self-cleaned between tasks. But is avoidance of the possibility of cross-contamination really that important? If it is, then this model is unequivocally the one for you.

Given that this model is best suited to larger abodes, the dock houses two extra-large water tanks – a huge 5.5-liter tank for clean water and a 4-liter tank for the filthy stuff. Once a mopping task is completed, the bot returns to dock where the mops are thoroughly washed in hot water at 212F / 100C. This water is then purged into the dirty water reservoir ready for emptying at your leisure or whenever the app tells you to do so.

(Image credit: Future)

This hot-water cleaning cycle does a far better job of breaking down grease, grime and detergent residues than the lukewarm rinses found in many competing systems. Once cleaned, the mop pads are dried with hot air to prevent bacterial growth and eliminate damp smells.

Meanwhile, the multi-solution compartment – a first in my book – lets the dock dose different cleaning fluids automatically, adjusting formulas to match floors or cleaning modes. You get three types of solution in the package – one liter of Dreame Floor Cleaning Solution, 200ml of Pet Odor Solution and 200ml of Wood Floor Care Solution.

I'm always slightly wary of gadgets with lots of moving parts, because the more complex the engineering, the more potential points of failure there are further down the line. However, I didn't experience any issues with the dock – or the robot itself for that matter – during my review period.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: performance

• Expert navigation, accurate object avoidance and powerful mapping
• Excellent vacuuming on hard floor, and very decent on carpet
• Complex mop system works well and mopping is a cut above average

So how does the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra hold up in practice? Let's take a look at the performance. I've broken this section up into different parts to make it easier to digest.

Navigation performance

I've been extremely impressed by this bot's navigation performance and its initial mapping sequence was insanely good. In fact, it's the first robot vac to ever accurately map my open plan home with all spaces highlighted correctly and with no dividing or merging of rooms required. It even automatically named four of the five rooms it had mapped. This means it was accurately spotting the dining table in the dining room, the sofa in the living room and the kitchen by its layout. Furthermore, it did all this in a smidge under five minutes.

I then installed the whole system in our huge village hall – 121 square meters – and it mapped the hall, kitchen and toilets in 10 minutes, and even correctly named the two toilets and dividing hallway. Moreover, unlike other models I've tested in the hall, the Dreame's main map has remained stable with no shifts in the map's perspective. LiDAR is known to struggle when mapping huge areas like a commercial hall, especially if it has many windows with bright sunlight pouring in. But this model has so far bucked that trend.

Click to enlarge (Image credit: Dreame / Future)

During my tests the Matrix10 Ultra has planned efficient, seemingly logical cleaning paths rather than wandering around randomly. It's also adjusted dynamically when furniture was moved or when unexpected obstacles appeared, updating its routes mid-clean to maintain full coverage without wasting time or missing too many corners.

Unfortunately I wasn't in a position to test its ability to scale high thresholds and small steps because I don't have any access to them. However, I have seen demonstrations of this bot negotiating a threshold and roll-steel furniture legs and it has simply sailed over them.

Obstacle avoidance

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's obstacle avoidance is one of its most impressive performance features, combining advanced sensors and AI to navigate real-world environments with finesse. As mentioned in the Design section, the robot uses a combination of retractable DToF LiDAR for precise distance mapping and structured-light 3D sensing paired with an AI-enhanced RGB camera. This fusion of sensors allows it to detect a wide range of objects, from small items like cables, socks, shoes, bags and pet toys to furniture legs and other household obstacles.

(Image credit: Future)

In practice, this means the Matrix10 Ultra rarely bumps into or gets stuck on objects, though I'll admit that a loose pair of scissors caught it out on one occasion. In my first home test, it manoeuvred between a loose glove and tape measure without any touching, but rode slipshod over the scissors; and yet it avoided the scissors in a subsequent test. I put this first failure down to the robot having approached the scissors from an acute angle beyond the line of sight of its RGB camera.

I then set up another obstacle test in the village hall using a clutch of pens, a book, a plastic Dyson vacuum nozzle and the same tape measure. Remarkably, it negotiated all obstacles without any touching and you can see this in the attached demonstration video.

Would I rely on the Matrix10 Ultra to avoid a dog poop? No I wouldn't, though on evidence of my tests, I'd say that there's a much better chance of this bot avoiding it rather than smearing it all over the carpet.

Vacuum performance

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra delivers very decent vacuum performance. It dual-brush system lifted dust, debris and pet hair with ease on my hard floors, while its automatic edge brushes did a grand job of scuttling debris from corners into the path of its suction portal.

It has spent two weeks vacuuming my home with no glaring signs of it having missed anything and it's been absolutely faultless in the village hall, too, with a perfectly cleaned swathe of wooden flooring and very little evidence of any forgotten debris along the skirting boards. The Matrix10’s cleaning ability on hard floor is as good as the best I’ve seen from any robot vacuum brand.

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

However, I was a little underwhelmed by its performance on a medium-pile rug, even when I had the suction set to Max+. For this test I selected zone cleaning in the app and sprinkled a good dollop of oats, rice and small chunks of crushed dried pasta. The robot duly headed to the rug and proceeded to ramp up the suction power when its sensor detected extra debris. It then performed a series of tight circles in these areas before continuing in an up-and-down parallel fashion to finish the job.

It definitely left more debris behind than I expected, given the ultra-powerful 30,000 Pa suction spec. Despite the supposedly higher suction, it didn't perform as well on carpet as my Roborock 10R or Roborock 10 in this particular high-debris test.

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

I am mindful that this was an extreme task and one that would normally be performed to much better effect by a human with a decent cordless stick vac. The Matrix10 Ultra's day-to-day carpet cleaning has been perfectly acceptable – the robot’s bin has always been full enough to suggest it had collected a lot of pet hair – just not quite as outstanding as I'd hoped for. At just 54.9dB from about six feet away, it's also one of the quietest bots I've ever tested.

Mopping performance

The Matrix10 Ultra's mopping is genuinely among the most advanced of any hybrid combos. Its rotating Dual Omni‑Scrub mop technology applies consistent downward pressure, scrubbing hard floors deeply rather than simply swiping across them. Moreover, the base station supports a full cycle of mop‑pad care – heated water washing, drying and automatic water refill of the robot's smaller water tank. This level of automation keeps the mop pads hygienic, fresh and ready for repeated cleaning, without any manual scrubbing or pad wringing.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, one of this model's most clever touches is its ability to switch mop pad types automatically, depending on what the space demands. Water flow is also regulated automatically depending on floor type and expected dirt levels, which helps avoid over‑wetting.

In my daily tests, the mopping system delivered smooth, even results with no streaking. It also handled a spill of some milk with no issues to report. However, no hybrid robot is flawless when it comes to removing deeply ingrained grime, thick stains or sticky messes.

(Image credit: Future)

While this model will tackle them to some degree, programming it to head to a specific spot by creating a zone in the Dreame app is a world of pain and takes more time to set it up and the robot to perform the task accurately enough than it does to simply grab a mop, kitchen towel of a decent cordless hard floor cleaner like the excellent Roborock F25 Ultra.

Dock performance

As previously mentioned, rather than just charging the robot, the Matrix10 Ultra's dock stores three sets of mop pads and automatically selects the correct one for each room. It also washes them in 212F / 100C water before drying them with hot air. The jukebox-style pad selection system is undeniably clever, but I can't comment on the long-term reliability of this complex mop-swapping innovation. I should add that I personally haven't experienced any issues, but who knows how well it will behave in a year or two.

(Image credit: Future)

What I will wholeheartedly praise is the dock's excellent bin emptying system. I've often experienced issues with some robot vac docks that have clogged up when faced with too much pet hair in the robot's smaller bin. To date this model has performed immeasurably well and I think I know why.

A bit like the Eufy Omni S1 Pro, this model's dock goes through a pre-suction process whereby it performs a full power suck for about a second to loosen any clumped hair in the robot's bin before pausing another second. It then goes into full suction for about 8 seconds. After umpteen emptying sessions, I have no blocked suction tubes to report and that's a major bonus in my book.

(Image credit: Future)

Another point in this dock's favor is the low volume it emits while going through the emptying process. I measured it at 64.2dB from about 10 feet away and this is pretty quiet for a dock of this nature. But perhaps more importantly, the low sound frequency of the emptying process is so much easier on the ears than many other docks, specifically some of those by iRobot which emit an ear-splitting high-frequency scream whenever emptying the contents of their robots' bins.

Battery performance

I was initially concerned about this model's battery capacity when first putting it through its paces. I'd fiddle with it for no longer than 10 minutes with pauses in between and the battery would show something in the region of 91%. Hence I didn't hold out much hope of the battery lasting for an entire vacuum clean of a 121-square meter village hall without having to recharge midway through the cleaning session.

But I was wrong, because I've checked the Dreame app's Care History section and, on average, the Matrix10 Ultra has completed every task – the hall, kitchen and toilets – in one go in around 117 minutes with +/- 28% of battery life remaining. And that's a very reassuring stat for anyone thinking of purchasing this autonomous hybrid vac for their country mansion.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: app

• Extremely comprehensive
• Slowish to respond
• Not that easy to navigate

The Dreame app offers a highly capable and feature-rich experience, giving users minutely detailed control over their robot vacuum and mop. From the first LiDAR scan, it builds an accurate map of your home, allowing you to name rooms, create zones, set no-go zones, create multi-floor maps and adjust cleaning parameters like suction strength or mop water flow rates on a per-room basis. Scheduling, remote control and notifications help keep cleaning convenient, while smart-home integration with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant adds hands-free flexibility.

Click to enlarge (Image credit: Dreame / Future)

However, it took me a while to get a handle on this app and an especially long time to work out how to set up routines. Even then, I needed to make sure I'd saved and tapped on any tick icons or it didn't save anything. I'd have preferred to see a system like that adopted by Roborock which saves its routines (a series of pre-programmed short cuts like ‘vacuum the hall', ‘mop the kitchen' and ‘clean the dog rug') on the homepage for instant accessibility. I've also noticed that the Dreame app is a bit slower to react to commands and send them to the robot – but we're talking seconds here.

Despite these small niggles, I've been mightily impressed by the huge wealth of customisation you can achieve in this app. However, I would advise spending a good deal of time learning about all the settings because, by ignoring them, you almost certainly won't get the most out of this sterling autonomous home helper.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Ultra-premium at list price, but it looks like discounts won't be hard to come by – and it does boast an awful lot of tech.

3.5 / 5

Design

Ambitious and complex, with a mop-pad dispensing dock, feet for vaulting over steps and a retractable LiDAR puck.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Generally extremely impressive, with excellent mopping and hard floor vacuuming, and accurate navigation and object detection. Its carpet performance not as outstanding as I'd expect for those suction specs.

4 / 5

App

Perhaps a little too comprehensive for its own good – technophobes may have trouble getting a handle on it.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You have advanced mopping needs

The Matrix10 Ultra really shines when it comes to its mop setup, with multiple mop types and cleaning fluids (and the ability to swap between them automatically).

You're worried about cross-contamination

The Matrix10 Ultra provides different mops for different rooms, to keep things contained.

You have a big home with lots of obstacles

This model delivers some of the most accurate and efficient mapping and navigation I've experienced – perfect for large, challenging spaces.

Don't buy it if...

You don't have much room for the dock

The Matrix10 Ultra's dock is about the size of a small fridge, so not ideal if you're short on space.

You don't need auto mop pad swapping

Is the specter of cross-floor contamination really an issue? If you're not fussed about reusing your bathroom mop pads in the kitchen (with a clean in-between), there are plenty of cheaper and simpler alternatives to choose from.

You don't have that much hard floor

The USP here is really the mopping – if you're not going to be making the most of the different mop pad types and cleaning fluids, I'd pick a different bot.

How I tested the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra

I've had this model running on two separate floor spaces – at home and our large village hall, where it currently resides. Aside from evaluating both the robot and unique mop-swapping dock, I let it loose at home for two weeks and left it to its own devices using a series of daily cleaning schedules. I then performed a hard-floor pick-up and mopping test in the kitchen before hauling it up to the hall (it's heavy) where I performed a carpet cleaning and obstacle avoidance test before leaving it to run five scheduled vacuum and mopping sessions per week. It's been doing this for the past two weeks with no hiccups to report.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed December 2025

The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra might be the perfect bot for big, complex homes or even commercial properties.

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Antigravity A1: one-minute review

The idea of a 360-degree drone may sound like an impossibility, but the Antigravity A1 is exactly that. What’s more, it manages to implement this concept in a sub-250g drone that includes collision avoidance, and which is controlled via 360-degree FPV goggles and a motion controller. You’ll have to read on to discover whether it’s one of the best drones you can buy, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting.

The idea of a 360-degree drone isn’t a new one, and the fact that Antigravity is an offshoot of Insta360 may shed a little light on its pedigree in this department. But this isn’t Insta360’s first experiment in this arena; first, there was an Insta360 / BetaFPV 360-degree collaboration with the SMO 360 camera for some FPV drones. Then there was the Insta360 Sphere, which was a 360-degree camera that attached to the DJI Air 2 and Air 2S.

Both were great ideas, but – no pun intended – they simply didn’t take off as hoped. The Insta360 Sphere was an interesting idea because it attached to a standard camera drone, but operation was fiddly, and it was tied to a drone model that would inevitably become obsolete.

The Antigravity A1 addresses this issue, as the 360-degree camera is built into the drone. You wear FPV goggles with head tracking that give you a 360-degree view during flight, while control is mostly via a motion controller with head tracking of the goggles. One thing I must stress at this point is that the A1 is not an FPV drone. It’s a 360-degree camera drone that uses goggles and a motion controller, rather than a standard controller and phone.

(Image credit: James Abbott)Antigravity A1: price and release date

• Launched on December 4 2025
• Expensive compared to standard camera drones
• Three kits available

The Antigravity A1 was launched on December 4, 2025. The drone is more expensive than other sub-250g drones due to the high-quality goggles and motion controller that come with the three available kits. These certainly provide an immersive experience, but it would have been massively more affordable if the drone used a standard stick-based controller with a phone attached, or even a smart controller.

There are three kits available: the Standard Bundle, the Explorer Bundle and the Infinity Bundle. In a nutshell, the Standard Bundle includes the drone, motion controller, FPV goggles and one battery. The Explorer Bundle is all that, but it comes with three batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and spare propellers. The Infinity Bundle is the same as the Explorer, but it includes higher-capacity batteries for longer flight times.

The Standard Bundle costs $1,599 / £1,299 / AU$2,099, the Explorer Bundle costs $1,899 / £1,399 / AU$2,599 and the Infinity Bundle costs $1,999 / £1,499 / AU$2,799. To cut to the chase, you'll want to avoid the Standard Kit because one battery isn’t enough, as it doesn’t provide a long flight duration. The best-value package is the Explorer Bundle, while you can enjoy more flight time by paying a bit more for the Infinity Bundle, if you’re happy for the weight of the drone to exceed 250g.

• Price score: 3/5

Antigravity A1: specsAntigravity A1 specs

Camera:

Dual 1/1.28-inch sensors

Video resolution:

8K

Frame rates:

8K up to 30fps / 5.2K up to 60fps / 4K & 1080p up to 30fps / 4K & 1080p slow motion at 100fps

Video transmission range:

Up to 6.2 miles / 10km (Tested in FCC environments)

Flight modes:

Cinematic, Normal, Sport

Battery:

2360mAh, up to 24 minutes flight time / 4345mAh, up to 39 minutes flight time

Charger type:

USB-C / Battery Charging Hub

Weight:

8.78oz / 249g
(10.26oz / 291g with the high-capacity flight battery)

Dimensions:

Folded: 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.20 inches / 141.3 x 96.2 x 81.4mm

Unfolded (propellers extended): 12.15 x 15.05 x 3.51 inches / 308.6 x 382.3 x 89.2mm

Antigravity A1: Design

• Standard folding mini drone design
• Vision googles for a 360-degree camera view
• Motion controller

The A1 sports a standard folding design that makes it look a lot like most sub-250g drones, but it also has an undeniably unique look. The two cameras that provide the 360-degree view to effectively make the drone invisible are on the top and bottom of the front section of the drone. This is dampened and has two forward-facing binocular vision sensors that look like cameras.

There's also a downward binocular vision system, alongside a 3D infrared sensor at the bottom of the drone. Without going into exact dimensions, the A1 is the same sort of size as all other sub-250g drones, but where it differs most notably is the retractable landing gear: two legs extend when the drone is switched on and when it’s landing, while they retract when it has taken off.

This functionality keeps the lower camera off the ground, helping to maintain the invisible drone aspect of the camera stitching for clean footage. Furthermore, when you use the Antigravity landing mat, it provides a precise Return to Home point if you choose to use this functionality to bring the drone back to you at the end of flights. It works surprisingly well, too, so no complaints here.

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The overall design of the A1 makes it a camera drone, but rather than using a standard controller, the A1 uses a motion controller paired with FPV goggles. The motion controller is easy to use and intuitive, and when you first connect everything, you’re taken through a short and useful tutorial that familiarizes you with the controls.

The Vision Goggles provide the camera view on dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED screens with a 2560 x 2560px resolution. Yes, that’s square, and quite different to the usual FPV goggle widescreen view, but it works well with a 360-degree drone. I was surprised because I’m much more familiar with FPV goggles offering a 16:9 ratio image, but I found this square view worked well for the A1. The battery for the goggles can be attached to an included and comfortable lanyard that you can conveniently wear around your neck – a well-thought-out and simple solution.

There are also diopters with a range of -5.0 D to +2.0 D, which is great if you wear glasses and need to correct the view to your prescription. Plus, there’s 30GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for capturing goggle footage. The goggles are comfortable to wear and provide a clear image for flight, while the head tracking functionality provides intuitive control alongside the motion controller.

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There’s also a screen on the front-left of the googles, so people can see the forward-facing camera view while you fly. The downside to a goggles-based approach is that you need a spotter to maintain visual line of sight of the drone while you fly. This makes it much less convenient than a standard camera drone, despite the A1’s immersive and fun flying experience.

The A1 features two battery options, with the 2360mAh option offering up to 24 minutes of flight time, and the 4345mAh option providing up to 39 minutes of flight time. The higher capacity takes the overall weight of the A1 over 250g, so bear this in mind if you plan to opt for the kit with these batteries.

I used standard batteries during testing, and these typically provided around 16 minutes of flight time before Return to Home was automatically initiated. One feature of the batteries that stands out is that you only have to touch the rear end of the batteries and the lights showing the charge level light up – this is rather than pressing a button, as on other drone batteries, and is a subtle yet neat feature.

• Design score: 5/5

Antigravity A1: Features and performance

• Intelligent flight modes
• Solid flight performance
• Subject tracking

The A1 flies incredibly well, while the FPV goggles and motion controller approach suit the system. But – and it’s a big but – this does add cost, and requires pilots to have an observer with them to remain safe and legal during flights. Both, you could argue, are a hassle. If Antigravity had taken a standard controller-and-phone approach it would have kept the price down and removed the need for an observer, without sacrificing much, if anything, in terms of flight performance.

You would lose the immersive flight experience, of course, and the two flight modes, FreeMotion Mode and FPV Mode, are enjoyable. The former requires you to point the controller target in the desired direction of flight, while head tracking on the goggles allows you to turn. You can also use a dial on the motion controller to do this. One point I must make is that you should read about how FPV Mode works before flying it, because it’s completely different to FreeMotion Mode, and the drone feels like it’s out of control if you try to use FreeMotion-style control.

FPV Mode isn’t true FPV, but it does allow for more sweeping and flowing drone movements where you simply tilt the motion controller left and right to turn. This was my favorite mode for flight, although I preferred FreeMotion when I needed more precision, such as when flying back to the take-off point to land.

Standard flight modes include Cinematic, Normal and Sport, although even Sport is quite pedestrian in terms of speed and agility. The A1 certainly lacks the excitement of the DJI Avata and Avata 2, but again this isn’t an FPV, drone despite the goggles and controller. This means that flight is fun, but not exciting. With a fly-first, frame-later approach, where you reframe photos and videos in software, you can increase speed here and make the drone appear to dive, flip and roll like an FPV drone to some degree.

I’ve reviewed many drones, and I’m not normally impressed with Quickshots-style automated flight patterns, but the A1’s equivalent, which are called Sky Genie, did impress me. Then there’s Sky Path, which is waypoints, where you can pre-program a flight path and someone else, a non-pilot, can wear the goggles and look around as the drone follows its course. With the goggles, you get a full 360-degree view as you turn around, look up and look down.

Sky Genie modes include Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away and Ascend. These allow you to achieve flight that’s not possible with the motion controller, which makes them invaluable, particularly in situations when you want to fly around a subject for visually interesting video reframing later.

There’s also a subject-tracking mode that works well once a moving subject is selected. The drone dutifully follows, and like with Sky Genie, the drone does all the work for you, focusing on the subject so you can reframe your video later. This uses Insta360's impressive Deep Track technology. And if you’re looking for a bit of fun, Virtual Cockpit in FPV mode provides an overlay that aims to inject augmented reality fun into flights. At the time of writing, you can fly with a dragon, and more skins will be added in the future. It’s a bit of a gimmick and not for me, but other people may enjoy it.

• Performance score: 4/5

Antigravity A1: Image and video quality

• Image quality on a par with 360-degree cameras
• Fly-first, frame-later approach
• Invisible drone technology

(Image credit: James Abbott)

If you’ve ever used an Insta360 camera, such as the X5, you’ll find the Antigravity A1 as easy and intuitive to use, since Antigravity is an offshoot of Insta360. What’s more, Antigravity Studio is a reskinned version of Insta360 Studio, so if you’re already familiar with it, you’ll be right at home. There is a learning curve if you’ve never used it, and it takes time to get to grips with the software, but it’s far from rocket science.

The software allows you to reframe the A1’s aerial photos and videos in the same way you can with a standard 360-degree camera. The only difference is that the drone is being flown rather than the camera being held, attached to a selfie stick or something else. This ultimately combines the advantages of 360-degree cameras with the aerial capabilities of a drone.

The dual cameras both feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. These create a 360-degree view where the drone is invisible, so you don’t have to edit it out – just like invisible selfie sticks with standard 360-degree cameras. Photos can be captured in INSP and DNG

formats at a resolution of 14MP (5248 x 2624) and 55MP (10486 x 5248). Shooting modes include Normal, HDR, Burst, AEB and Interval. You can reframe photos in various formats and even create animated photos.

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Video can be captured in 8K up to 30fps, 5.2K up to 60fps, 4K & 1080p up to 30fps and 4K & 1080p slow motion at 100fps. The maximum bitrate is 170Mbps and can be encoded in H.264 or H.265. Photo and video editing can take place in the Antigravity phone app or the Antigravity Studio Desktop app. The former has more templates for creating reframed videos, which is a shame because it would be great to see these available on the desktop app, where working with 8K footage makes more sense.

Reframed video

Image quality is great for a 360-degree camera – it’s what you’d expect, and capturing photos and videos in the highest resolutions possible allows you to maximize image quality. I shot in Auto mode when capturing both photos and videos, and found that the A1 did a great job in all light conditions; the exposure was balanced. The downside to this, compared to shooting in manual, of course, is that shutter speed can change during video capture.

Animated photo

Image quality isn’t, however, on par with standard camera drones – in the same way standard 360-degree cameras aren’t as good as standard action cameras. This has always been the case, and the trade-off for being able to capture an all-encompassing field of view at up to 8K. 8K, while it produces huge file sizes, isn’t as high-resolution as it sounds when you realize it’s the entire 360-degree view, as opposed to a 16:9 view at 4K or above with standard camera drones.

• Image and video quality score: 4/5

Antigravity A1: testing scorecardDJI Mini 5 Pro

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

The A1 is expensive as a result of the goggle-based approach.

3/5

Design

While the overall design is fairly standard, there are some innovative and unique aspects to the drone.

5/5

Performance

Excellent all-round performance, but flight feels quite pedestrian in terms of speed and agility.

4/5

Image and video quality

Great image quality in 360-degree terms, but not as good as a standard camera drone.

4/5

Should I buy the Antigravity A1?Buy it if...

You'd like a 360-degree drone
It goes without saying that if you would like 360-degree photo and video capture in a drone, the A1 is the only option available.

You’d like an immersive flight experience
If you’d like an immersive flight experience without the speed and risk of FPV drones, the A1 blends camera drone flight with FPV goggles and the motion controller.

You appreciate innovation
The A1 is undoubtedly an innovative drone with some impressive features that could pave the way for future drone innovation.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The A1 isn’t cheap, coming in at double the price, or more, of other sub-250g drones, so it’s far from being a budget option.

You'd like the best image quality
If you want the best image quality available in a sub-250g camera drone, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a more suitable option.

You'd prefer simplicity
Since the A1 relies on FPV goggles for the camera view and some control of the drone, you’re going to need to have a spotter with you every time you fly.

Antigravity A1: also consider

DJI Mini 5 Pro

If you’d like a standard camera drone but the best sub-250g model ever made, then look no further than the DJI Mini 5 Pro. This compact drone somehow manages to pack in a rotating camera with a 1-inch sensor and some seriously impressive performance. This is a drone that beginners and professionals alike will love, thanks to its fantastic image quality, safety features and compact size.

See our DJI Mini 5 Pro reviewView Deal

DJI Neo 2

The DJI Neo 2 offers a huge upgrade on the original model released in 2024. It’s arguably not the best selfie drone, with the HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax offering some serious competition in this area, but the Neo 2 is an impressive performer when it comes to subject tracking. What’s more, it offers obstacle avoidance and multiple controller options, including FPV.

See our DJI Neo 2 reviewView Deal

(Image credit: James Abbott)How I tested the Antigravity A1

• All flight modes tested
• Photos and videos captured
• Automated features tested

I tested the Antigravity A1 for a couple of months to experience all the features and functionality available, including FreeMotion and FPV mode. I captured photos and videos in the highest quality possible, and captured them in a range of conditions to assess overall camera performance.

I tested all Sky Genie Modes (Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away, and Ascend), alongside subject tracking and SkyPath functionality. I tested the motion controller and googles for usability, and tested the fly-first, frame-later reframing workflow extensively.

• First reviewed: December 2025
• Read more about how we test

The Antigravity A1 is an innovative 360-degree drone that uses FPV goggles and a motion controller for an immersive experience while capturing up to 8K video.