DJI Avata 360 VS Insta360

DJI Avata 360: A New Way to Capture 360° Aerial Video

DJI Avata 360 VS Insta360. 360° videos have become increasingly popular for real estate, travel, virtual tours, action videos and immersive content. Companies such as Insta360 have made handheld 360° cameras extremely popular.

But DJI has taken the concept in a different direction with the DJI Avata 360 — a drone designed to capture immersive 360° aerial footage.

Unlike the DJI Avata 2, which uses a single ultra-wide camera, the Avata 360 is specifically designed for 360° imaging. DJI says the Avata 360 can capture 8K/60fps HDR 360° video and uses dual imaging sensors to create the immersive view.

How Does DJI Avata 360 Capture 360° Video?

The basic principle is similar to a traditional 360° camera.

Instead of having one camera looking in only one direction, the DJI Avata 360 uses two cameras/sensors positioned to capture different directions.

The footage from these cameras is then combined computationally to create a 360° image.

This means that during a flight, the camera can capture the surroundings rather than recording only the direction in which the drone is pointing.

The result is an immersive 360° video that can later be reframed to show different directions and perspectives.

DJI describes the Avata 360 as offering a 360° mode with an 8K/60fps HDR maximum video specification, along with a 360° virtual gimbal.

Is DJI Avata 360 Similar to Insta360?

Yes — in the fundamental 360° imaging concept.

Both systems capture a much wider view than a conventional camera and allow you to choose the viewing direction after recording.

However, there is a major difference:

Insta360

An Insta360 camera such as the X-series is primarily designed as a ground-based 360° camera.

You can mount it on:

A selfie stick
Tripod
Vehicle
Helmet
Motorcycle
Camera pole
Other accessories

The camera captures the surrounding environment and the software stitches the views together.

DJI Avata 360

The Avata 360 puts the 360° camera on a drone.

That means you can capture the same type of immersive 360° perspective while flying.

This creates possibilities that a normal Insta360 camera cannot easily reproduce — particularly aerial 360° footage.

DJI Avata 360 vs Insta360

Feature	DJI Avata 360	Insta360 360 Camera
360° capture	Yes	Yes
Aerial 360° footage	Yes	No, unless mounted to another aerial platform
Ground 360° footage	Yes	Yes
Reframing	Yes	Yes
360° virtual experience	Yes	Yes
FPV flying	Yes	No
8K 360° video	Yes	Depends on model
Best use	Aerial + immersive content	Ground + action + virtual tours

The exact Insta360 capabilities vary by model, so it is better to compare the Avata 360 with a specific camera such as the X5/X6 when discussing resolution and image quality.

What Makes DJI Avata 360 Different?

The biggest advantage is movement.

Imagine recording a real estate project.

With a traditional Insta360 camera, you might place the camera at a fixed location and capture the surroundings.

With DJI Avata 360, you can fly around the property while capturing a 360° view.

That opens up creative possibilities such as:

Flying through a property → rising above the building → rotating around the structure → revealing the surrounding landscape.

Because the footage is captured in 360°, the viewer can potentially experience the scene from different directions after the recording.

What Is the 360° Virtual Gimbal?

One of the interesting features of DJI Avata 360 is its 360° Virtual Gimbal.

A traditional drone camera normally has a physical gimbal controlling its orientation.

The Avata 360 takes a different approach in its 360° mode.

Because the camera captures the surrounding scene, the final viewing direction can be controlled through software. DJI describes the system as providing 360° infinite rotation and tilt control.

This is particularly useful for creative FPV-style footage.

Instead of worrying about pointing the camera perfectly during the flight, the 360° capture gives you more flexibility during post-production.

Can DJI Avata 360 Replace Insta360?

Not completely.

They serve different purposes.

If your primary requirement is:

Real estate virtual tours, property interiors, hotels, resorts, schools and businesses

a dedicated Insta360 camera can still be extremely useful because it is designed to be placed inside and around physical spaces.

For example, you can place a 360° camera in:

Villa interiors
Living rooms
Hotel rooms
Reception areas
Showrooms
Classrooms
Offices
Restaurants

The resulting images can be used to build an interactive virtual tour.

The DJI Avata 360 is more interesting when you want to add an aerial dimension.

DJI Avata 360 for Real Estate Marketing

This is where the technology becomes particularly interesting for real estate marketers.

Imagine a property video containing:

Ground-level 360° virtual tour

↓

Drone 360° aerial experience

↓

Traditional cinematic drone footage

↓

Property photographs

↓

Interactive website experience

Combining these formats can create a much stronger digital presentation than using ordinary property photographs alone.

For large layouts, villas, resorts, farm properties and commercial developments, aerial 360° footage could provide an additional way of showing the relationship between the property and its surroundings.

DJI Avata 360 vs DJI Avata 2

This distinction is very important.

DJI Avata 2 is NOT a 360° camera drone.

The Avata 2 has a single 1/1.3-inch 12MP sensor and a 155° field of view. It can record up to 4K/100fps and uses RockSteady 3.0+ and HorizonSteady stabilization.

The newer DJI Avata 360 is specifically designed for 360° imaging, with dual 1/1.1-inch sensors and up to 8K/60fps HDR 360° video.

So:

Avata 2 → FPV ultra-wide video

Avata 360 → FPV + true 360° video

That is a major difference.

Is 360° Video Better Than Normal Drone Video?

Not necessarily.

They are simply different creative formats.

Normal drone video

Best for:

Cinematic real estate videos
Building reveals
Construction progress
Roads and connectivity
Property advertisements
Social media reels
Commercial advertisements

360° drone video

Best for:

Immersive experiences
Virtual exploration
Creative FPV content
Tourism
Resorts
Large properties
Adventure content
Interactive experiences

For commercial advertising, traditional cinematic drone footage may still be more effective for a short 15–30 second advertisement.

But for immersive experiences, 360° footage can provide something completely different.

Can DJI Avata 360 Be Used for Virtual Tours?

Potentially, yes — but it should be viewed as an additional capture method, rather than automatically replacing a dedicated 360° virtual-tour camera.

For a professional real estate virtual tour, you may want:

Insta360 → Interior 360° views

DJI Avata 360 → Aerial 360° views

DJI Air 2S / Air 3 → Cinematic aerial footage

Normal camera → Interior photography/video

Together, these can create a much more comprehensive property presentation.

Final Verdict

The DJI Avata 360 is similar to Insta360 in the way 360° imagery is captured and viewed, but its biggest difference is that the 360° camera is integrated with a drone.

That means you get something a conventional Insta360 camera cannot provide by itself:

360° aerial capture while flying.

For someone working in real estate marketing, virtual tours and commercial video production, this could be particularly interesting because it adds a new layer between traditional drone cinematography and ground-based 360° virtual tours.