DJI vs Insta360: The Full Story of a Total War | Avata 360, Patent Lawsuits, U.S. Courtroom Battle (September 2026 Update)

Which Company Will Make the Next Device You Pick Up?

This article was originally published in Japanese on March 27, 2026. Translated and adapted for English-speaking readers. Read the original Japanese version

March 26, 2026. DJI made a quiet but decisive move.

They announced the “DJI Avata 360,” an FPV drone with 360-degree capture capability. Priced from ¥77,330 for the body alone, or ¥159,830 for the Fly More Combo (tax included). The price gap with Insta360’s “Antigravity A1” (standard edition: ¥209,000), released in December 2025, was plain to see — a clear declaration of war aimed at the same market.

But another piece of news was hiding behind this announcement. Three days earlier, on March 23, 2026, DJI had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Insta360’s parent company “Arashi Vision” in the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court. The product launch and the courtroom battle began simultaneously. This was clearly on a different level from ordinary corporate competition.

Rivals Fifteen Minutes Apart by Car

Let’s step back and consider the bigger picture.

DJI and Insta360 are both Chinese tech companies headquartered in Shenzhen. Their offices are less than a 15-minute drive apart. DJI was founded in 2006, Insta360 (Arashi Vision) in 2015 — a 9-year gap. In terms of scale, DJI’s 2024 revenue was approximately 80 billion yuan, compared to Insta360’s 9.86 billion yuan — a 14x difference. What should have been an adult-versus-child gap has, over the past decade, evolved into what’s now called a “hometown rivalry.”

The Questions This Article Answers

So why is this all-out collision happening right now? And which company will make the next camera or drone you pick up?

In this article, I’ll review the history of the DJI-Insta360 rivalry category by category, assess the current score in each battleground, and then offer my outlook for the future. When you read “DJI Avata 360 Announced” within the context of this decade-long saga, it takes on an entirely different meaning.

DJI and Insta360 — Hometown Neighbors, Separated by 9 Years

First, let’s establish the backgrounds of both companies.

DJI (大疆创新, Dàjiāng Chuàngxīn) was founded in 2006 by Wāng Tāo (Frank Wang), a graduate of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It is the world’s largest drone manufacturer, holding top market share in the commercial drone segment. Its product lineup spans the consumer Mini series, the professional Matrice series, the FPV Avata series, the Ronin stabilizer series, and the Osmo camera series. Its 2024 revenue was approximately 80 billion yuan (over 1 trillion yen).

Insta360 (影石创新, Yǐngshí Chuàngxīn / Arashi Vision) was founded in 2015 by Liú Jìngkāng (JK Liu). Built around the X-series of 360-degree action cameras (X1 through X5), the company also offers the Ace Pro series for action cameras and the GO 3 series for selfie-focused shooting. Its compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2024 was a staggering 65.25%, and on June 11, 2025, the company went public on the Shanghai STAR Market (688775.SH). Its share price opened at 182 yuan on the first day against an IPO price of 47.27 yuan (+285%), instantly pushing its market cap above 70 billion yuan.

These two companies, in the same city of Shenzhen, spent nine years building their respective “sanctuaries” — then in 2025, each stepped into the other’s territory. That is the essence of today’s competition.

On Weibo, JK Liu has described DJI as “an overly dominant presence in the industry” while also saying “my respect for DJI runs deep.” This doesn’t seem like diplomatic courtesy — it reads more like a genuine sentiment from one engineer to another. Yet to prevent his company from being encroached upon, he chose a strategy of stepping directly into the enemy’s home turf.

DJI vs Insta360: A Category-by-Category History of Rivalry

Battleground #1: 360-Degree Cameras (2016–) — “Insta360’s 9-Year Monopoly”

The first battleground was pioneered by Insta360.

In 2016, Insta360 brought a pioneering consumer-grade 360-degree action camera to market. Since then, the lineup evolved through the X1, X2, X3, and X4, and with the X5 in April 2025, a 1/1.28-inch sensor was introduced. Technologies developed in-house by Insta360 — “FlowState stabilization,” “invisible selfie stick,” and “AI reframing” — became industry standards, and for nine years after launch, Insta360’s market share in this space reached 85–92%.

During this period, DJI did not enter the 360-degree camera market. More precisely, it may not have been that they “chose not to” — rather, they “didn’t need to.” DJI had established an overwhelming position in the much larger drone and action camera markets. The 360-degree camera was simply too niche.

That equilibrium shattered on July 28, 2025. Insta360 announced its entry into drones through a new brand called “Antigravity.” Three days later, DJI unveiled the “Osmo 360,” a 360-degree action camera priced at 2,999 yuan — 800 yuan cheaper than the Insta360 X5. After nine years of Insta360’s monopoly, DJI launched a surprise attack.

The result was shocking.

Three months after the Osmo 360’s release, data emerged showing that the DJI Osmo 360 had overtaken Insta360 in GMV share in the Chinese market, capturing approximately 49% share. However, this figure comes with caveats. Insta360 has pushed back in its disclosure materials, stating it “cannot independently verify the accuracy of certain third-party data,” and the reliability of the data source is debated. It’s also true that Insta360’s 2025 revenue continued to grow at +76.58% year-over-year.

📍 Verdict for this battleground: Contested, slight DJI advantage

The Osmo 360 surpasses the X5 in some specs (sensor size, 10-bit recording). On the other hand, Insta360 still holds the edge in interchangeable lens ecosystem, AI app editing polish, and community depth. DJI is catching up fast, but calling it a “complete collapse” would be premature.

Battleground #2: Action Cameras (2019–) — “A War of Attrition, Outcome Undecided”

The action camera market is “third-party territory” for both companies — neither’s home turf. Originally dominated by GoPro, DJI entered in 2019 with the “Osmo Action.” When Insta360 released the “Ace Pro” in 2023, it became a three-way battle.

Generation	DJI	Insta360	Assessment
2019–2021	Osmo Action / Action 2	ONE RS	DJI leads, Insta360 follows
2022–2023	Action 3 / Action 4	Ace Pro	Ace Pro overtakes on image quality & AI
2024	Action 5 Pro	Ace Pro 2	Contested; DJI edges with 10-bit & 20m waterproofing
2025–2026	Action 6 (8K support)	Ace Pro 2 (firmware updates)	First direct 8K-vs-8K collision

What stands out is DJI’s aggressive pricing strategy. They slashed ¥1,129 off the Action 4 and ¥900 off the Pocket 3, applying relentless price pressure on Insta360 (36Kr: Insta360 and DJI in “close combat”). The collateral damage of this price war hit GoPro directly — GoPro is now effectively retreating from the consumer hardware business.

📍 Verdict for this battleground: Long-term attrition — DJI wins on price, Insta360 on AI ecosystem

360-Degree Drones — The Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1 Showdown

This is the most closely watched battleground right now.

Insta360’s new sub-brand “Antigravity” was announced in August 2025, with the A1 officially going on sale in December. The world’s first 8K 360-degree drone, it featured a 249g lightweight design (below registration thresholds in many countries), AI-powered automatic editing, and an immersive FPV goggle experience. The Japanese retail price starts at ¥209,000 for the standard edition.

Antigravity: A Separate Brand

Pay attention to the brand name “Antigravity.” This is not a brand created directly by Insta360. It’s a separate brand co-launched with a third party — a strategic structure designed to let Insta360 enter the drone market without directly exposing its core business to risk.

A Pricing Misjudgment and Four Sales in Eight Months

The problem was a miscalculation in pricing and market sizing. Having enjoyed success selling Insta360 X-series and Ace Pro products at premium prices, the Insta360 side may have underestimated the fundamental differences between action camera buyers and drone buyers. Action cameras serve a wide range of uses — skiing, surfing, travel. FPV drones, by contrast, are a niche market burdened by pilot licensing, aircraft registration, and flight regulations.

The sales reality told the story clearly. Within just 8 months of launch, 3 to 4 discount events were held. Late January 2026 (15% off) → March spring sale (20% off in North America) → March 26 back-to-school sale (20% off in Japan, bringing the price to ¥167,000). Even at 20% off, ¥167,000 is still more expensive than the DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (¥159,830). The market had clearly not accepted the pricing.

Comparison	Antigravity A1	DJI Avata 360
Market entry	First mover / category creator	Fast follower / undercut pricing
Price (Japan, full kit)	¥167,000 (after 20% off)	¥159,830 (MSRP)
Sensor	1/1.28″ F2.2	1/1.1″ F1.9
Max 360° frame rate	8K/30fps	8K/60fps HDR
Single-lens mode	Not supported (in development)	4K/60fps supported
Weight	249g (no registration in some countries)	455g (registration required in Japan)
Flight time	Up to 39 min (high-performance battery)	~23 min
Transmission range	10km (FCC)	20km (O4+)
Obstacle avoidance	Front + downward	LiDAR omnidirectional

Performance to the Avata 360, Weight to the A1

The Avata 360 leads in camera performance and transmission capability; the A1 leads in lightweight design and flight duration. But with both priced at roughly the same level and the Avata 360 offering superior performance, the question “why buy the A1 at full price?” is hard to answer. UK media outlet T3 wrote: “After the Avata 360 launch, justifying the A1’s price became nearly impossible.”

📍 Verdict for this battleground: DJI Avata 360 has the advantage; A1 struggling at present

The Patent War — When Product Competition Spilled Into the Courtroom

On March 23, 2026 — three days before the Avata 360 announcement — DJI filed suit against Arashi Vision, Insta360’s parent company, in the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court (original Chinese source: Cailian Press).

The suit concerns six patents (covering flight control, structural design, and image processing) filed by former DJI employees within one year of leaving the company. DJI is seeking to have ownership transferred to DJI on the basis that these constitute “service inventions” under Chinese law. A key piece of evidence is the inconsistency where “inventor names were concealed in the Chinese filings, but the former DJI employees’ real names appeared in the PCT international applications.”

JK Liu’s Rebuttal and the 28-Patent Trump Card

JK Liu issued a full rebuttal on Weibo (original Chinese source: Beijing News) the same day: “These ideas were independently developed within Insta360. The reason inventor names were anonymized was to protect developers from aggressive headhunting by competitors.”

Then Liu delivered the most impactful figure of all: Insta360 has identified 28 of its own patents that DJI products may infringe, but has never once filed suit. The breakdown: 11 hardware/structural patents, 8 software/method patents, 6 control method patents, and 3 accessory patents. “As a smaller company with limited resources, we have chosen to prioritize innovation over litigation.”

This isn’t just talk. Insta360 has a proven track record of winning patent litigation against GoPro. In a patent infringement case brought by GoPro before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the ITC issued a final ruling in Insta360’s favor. The confidence behind the statement — “we can fight and win” — has substance. On March 24, Insta360 also released an official announcement (Securities Times) stating that “litigation materials have not been received” and “the patents in question are non-core.”

A Total War That Reaches the Supply Chain

This sequence of events — product launch → price war → courtroom battle — is a textbook case of competitive escalation. Furthermore, reports indicate that DJI has pressured 33 suppliers to halt shipments to Insta360. When supply chain interference is factored in, this is truly a “total war.”

Why Is This Total War Happening Now?

DJI’s Anxiety: U.S. Regulatory Risk and the Need to Diversify

DJI faces the risk of being placed on restricted lists under the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, casting a geopolitical shadow over its drone sales in the American market. In fact, the Avata 360 will reportedly not be sold in the United States. DJI needs to move beyond being a drone-only company and build a revenue base in the camera and creator market. The Osmo 360 and Avata 360 are exactly those kinds of moves.

Insta360’s Anxiety: Over-Reliance on 360-Degree Cameras and a Growth Ceiling

Insta360 finds itself in a post-IPO moment. As a public company, it needs to show investors a growth axis that breaks its over-dependence on the 360-degree camera market (which accounts for more than 80% of revenue). The Antigravity drone entry was, beyond the success or failure of the product itself, a message: “Insta360 is more than a camera company.”

This structure — where both sides are compelled to go on the offensive — is what’s making the competition fiercer than anyone expected (36Kr: DJI vs Insta360, the troubles of geniuses). Neither can afford to play defense, so both keep attacking.

Outlook Beyond 2026 — Where DJI vs Insta360 Is Headed

360-Degree Drones: Avata 360 Has the Upper Hand; A1 Must Differentiate

Now that the Avata 360 has undercut the A1 at its retail price, the A1’s price justification is eroding. To survive, the A1 needs to quickly ship the “single-lens mode” and “omnidirectional obstacle avoidance” updates reportedly in development, and clearly differentiate on the experiential value of its 249g lightweight design.

That said, there is one market where the Avata 360 can’t sell: the United States. Geopolitical restrictions may limit DJI’s sales there, and in that market the A1 could function as “the only option.” Rather than a global winner-take-all, the outcome may be split by region.

360-Degree Cameras: The Osmo 360 Surge Is Real, but the Ecosystem Moat Runs Deep

While data exists showing the Osmo 360 captured significant share in a short time, Insta360’s ecosystem — AI app, interchangeable lenses, and community — is an asset that can’t be torn down overnight. For DJI to win here, it needs to design not just superior specs, but a “keep coming back” experience. That’s a battle of software and services — precisely the area where DJI has historically struggled the most.

Patent War: A Protracted Battle, with Supply Chain Pressure as the Short-Term Impact

Patent litigation in China often takes years to reach a verdict, and the direct market impact before a final ruling is likely to be limited. However, if DJI is indeed pressuring suppliers, that could have a more immediate effect in the short term. Insta360 is holding 28 patents in reserve as a “trump card” and always retains the option of filing a counterclaim.

(This outlook reflects the situation as of April 2026. In June, Insta360 did in fact file countersuits in the U.S. — see the June 11 update. The U.S. withdrawal, the second round in China, and the next product round are scored in the September 5 update.)

The Big Picture: DJI on the Offensive, but Insta360 Won’t Disappear

Let me state my overall assessment frankly. 2026 is likely to be DJI’s year on the offensive. The Avata 360’s pricing strategy is cutting deep into Insta360, and the Osmo 360’s share gains are real. The patent lawsuit, combined with supply chain pressure, could squeeze Insta360’s cost structure.

But I don’t believe Insta360 will “vanish.” It possesses nine years of software assets and community — a moat DJI cannot replicate in the short term. It also has the financial stamina to keep investing in R&D, thanks to IPO proceeds. JK Liu, as a founder-CEO, takes a long-term view and has publicly stated that he prioritizes technological uniqueness over short-term stock price. That’s the kind of advantage only an owner-operator can have.

Conclusion — The Winner of This War Is the User

I opened with a question: “Which company will make the next device you pick up?”

The answer is: both DJI and Insta360. And neither is going to stop.

DJI is closing in on Insta360 in the convergence of 360-degree cameras and drones, entering the 360-degree drone market in earnest with the powerful Avata 360. Insta360 has stepped into DJI’s home turf of drones, and despite struggling, refuses to back down. The patent lawsuit is starting to look like a war of attrition — but that, in itself, proves just how serious this competition is.

There’s an irony to this battle: “Two hometown companies from Shenzhen stepped into each other’s sanctuaries, and as a result, both are on the verge of losing theirs.”

Still, the ultimate beneficiary is the user. We are in a position to enjoy the “byproducts” of a battlefield where two of the world’s best companies are clashing head-on. If you want to pick up a 360-degree drone in 2026, right now might be the best time in terms of value for money.

I’ll continue watching how this war unfolds.

[June 11, 2026 Update] The Front Moves to the U.S. — Luna Ultra’s Launch and a “Sue-on-Launch-Day, Countersue-the-Next” Exchange

This article originally framed the patent war as litigation over “service inventions” in Shenzhen, China. In June 2026, the war changed character. The venue moved to the United States, the subject shifted from drone technology to a new gimbal camera, and the structure went from one-sided lawsuits to a two-way exchange. The “mutual invasion of core markets” this article described was vindicated in the most dramatic way over the course of three days.

Luna Ultra: A Strike at DJI’s Home Turf

The trigger was Insta360 launching its first gimbal camera, the Luna Ultra (June 10, around $770, co-engineered with Leica — dual-lens, 1-inch 8K, detachable OLED monitor). The gimbal camera is the “home turf” DJI has monopolized for years with its Osmo Pocket series, and Insta360 charged straight into it. On its first day, the Luna Ultra ranked as the top seller in Amazon’s camcorder category in the U.S. (launch report via Engadget).

DJI responded with lawsuits on launch day itself (PetaPixel detailed the complaints). Insta360 countersued the next day. The timeline:

Date	Party	Action
Jun 10	Insta360	Launches its first gimbal camera, the Luna Ultra, in the U.S. Tops Amazon’s camcorder category on day one
Jun 10–11	DJI	Files two suits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas: two design patents (Osmo Pocket’s appearance) plus four utility patents (gimbal control, subject tracking). Seeks a U.S. sales ban
Jun 12	Insta360	Files two countersuits asserting five of its own utility patents (stabilization, directional control, telemetry overlay, panoramic video stabilization), alleging DJI’s Osmo Pocket / Ronin / Osmo Mobile / Osmo 360 infringe them

Why the Eastern District of Texas

Note the court DJI chose. The Eastern District of Texas is famous as a venue friendly to patent plaintiffs — a go-to battleground. Whereas the Chinese case takes years to adjudicate and has limited near-term market impact, a U.S. sales-ban request aims at immediate, concrete harm: keeping the Luna Ultra off U.S. shelves. The tactics have escalated a notch.

Insta360’s Countersuits and JK Liu’s Case

Insta360’s rebuttal was pointed. CEO JK Liu said the company prefers to “let our products do the talking” but is “not afraid of a legal battle when challenged,” adding that the Luna Ultra is “the result of years of independent R&D, not a response to any competitor’s product” — development began in 2020 — and that filing suit on launch day “speaks volumes, exposing their fear of competition” (in the release announcing the countersuits). The five patents in the countersuit are aimed at DJI’s flagship lineup, pointedly including the Osmo 360, the very product with which DJI invaded Insta360’s 360-degree turf last year. The message: your home turf isn’t untouched either.

In this article’s outlook section, we wrote that “Insta360 always retains the option of filing a counterclaim.” It just did. On top of the product-for-product exchange (Osmo 360 vs X5, Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1), two new fronts — the Luna Ultra and the U.S. courtroom — have opened. The total war has entered a stage that truly earns the name.

[September 5, 2026 Update] Out of the U.S. Courtroom in 18 Days — The Center of Gravity Shifts to Shenzhen and the Store Shelf

In the June update, I described the launch-day lawsuit in Texas and the countersuits that followed as the start of a total war. Three months on, the war has moved in three directions. The U.S. courtroom fight ended in 18 days, the litigation’s center of gravity returned to Shenzhen, and the product war collided head-on with next-generation 360-degree cameras. And Insta360’s first-half results show the down payment on this war.

Eighteen Days in Texas

On June 28, DJI and Insta360 jointly moved to dismiss all four cases in the Eastern District of Texas (DJI’s two suits and Insta360’s two countersuits). The court reportedly closed them the next day, June 29, without prejudice, leaving either side free to refile (DroneXL). From the June 10 filing to the June 28 dismissal: 18 days. No settlement has been announced. DJI’s side described the move as a review of its global commercial strategy and litigation resources, saying its stance on enforcing its rights was unchanged; Insta360’s side called filing and withdrawing suits normal legal strategy (Sina Finance, Chinese).

Neither company has explained the retreat. Here is my reading. The point of choosing Texas was to get the Luna Ultra off U.S. shelves while it was selling. Once the countersuits put four of DJI’s core lines — Osmo Pocket, Ronin, Osmo Mobile, and Osmo 360 — on the table, and a quick injunction looked unlikely, there was little reason to keep paying for discovery. The tactic I described in June as aiming at “immediate, concrete harm” was folded up before any of that harm materialized.

Round Two in Shenzhen — Four Infringement Suits, Six Ownership Disputes

Both companies’ next moves were reported on July 3. DJI has filed patent infringement suits against the Luna series in multiple Chinese courts; the case at the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court (case no. (2026) Yue 03 Min Chu 5158) was scheduled for a hearing on August 3. The patents at issue cover handheld gimbal control methods, shooting methods, and detachable controllers — the core of the Osmo Pocket (Sina Finance, Chinese). The same day, Insta360 announced six suits of its own against DJI’s 360-degree cameras and gimbal products in courts across China, alleging infringement in panoramic capture and editing, bullet-time capture, thermal management, expansion, and gimbal support. It also petitioned the China National Intellectual Property Administration to invalidate DJI patents (Tencent News, Chinese).

Insta360’s 2026 half-year report, disclosed at the end of August, states that there are four major patent infringement suits and six patent ownership disputes between the two companies, all pending at first instance (Sina Finance, Chinese). No rulings as of that date. Whether the August 3 hearing took place as scheduled cannot be confirmed from public sources. The original outlook — that Chinese patent litigation takes years and has limited direct market impact — still holds six months on. But the return to Shenzhen matters. An injunction in China can, depending on its scope, stop manufacturing itself. For Insta360, that weighs more than a U.S. sales ban.

Product War, Round Two — Launches One Day Apart, Prices ¥20,000 Apart

While the courts went quiet over the summer, the store shelves got loud. Lining up three months of Japanese launches shows each company throwing a next-generation product at the other’s home turf.

Japan release	Product	Category	Japan price (tax incl.)	Key points
Jun 15	Insta360 Luna Ultra	Gimbal camera	¥119,800	Dual-lens, co-engineered with Leica. First entry into DJI’s home turf
Jun 29	DJI Osmo Pocket 4P	Gimbal camera	¥99,000	First dual-lens Pocket. 1-inch sensor plus 60mm portrait lens. Global rollout Jul 30; not on sale in the U.S.
Aug 12	Insta360 X6	360-degree camera	¥118,000	Dual 1/1.1-inch sensors, native 8K30fps, in-camera Dolby Vision. $699.99 in the U.S.
Sep 2 (announced in China Aug 13)	DJI Osmo 360 II	360-degree camera	¥93,610	8K60fps, replaceable lenses, 105GB built-in storage. Not on sale in the U.S.

Just one day separates the X6’s launch from the Osmo 360 II’s announcement in China. In Japan, two weeks after Insta360 entered gimbal cameras, DJI put out the Pocket 4P at ¥20,800 less; three weeks after the X6, the Osmo 360 II arrived at ¥24,390 less. In the original article I wrote that “The Osmo 360 Surge Is Real, but the Ecosystem Moat Runs Deep”. DJI’s answer came in two parts: it adopted replaceable lenses, which the original Osmo 360 lacked and which had been an Insta360 strength, and then set its price below. Insta360, for its part, gave the X6 a sensor about a third larger than the X5’s and brought in-camera Dolby Vision as a new differentiator. Each side is copying the other’s strengths, on a one-day cycle. Whether the price gap moves buyers will only be visible in the year-end sales figures.

The Down Payment — Revenue Up 50%, First-Half Loss

According to reports, Insta360’s first half of 2026 brought revenue of 5.52 billion yuan (up 50.3% year on year) and a net loss of 94.25 million yuan. R&D expenses rose to 1.007 billion yuan (up 79.3%) and selling expenses to 1.017 billion yuan (up 62.0%), with costs growing far faster than sales. Higher raw material prices and pressure on selling prices also ate into profit (Guandian, Chinese). The first half ends in June, so the X6 and the Luna are not yet in these numbers. What is in them is the upfront investment in three new fronts: drones, gimbal cameras, and in-house chips (36Kr). The original outlook credited Insta360 with the “financial stamina to keep investing in R&D”. The investing is now a fact. Whether the stamina holds will show in the second-half numbers.

DJI is private and publishes no results, so the two cannot be measured with the same ruler. Insta360’s founder has told shareholders the company is sacrificing short-term profit to build long-term technological barriers, which is consistent for an owner-operator. The question is whether DJI’s third generation arrives before those barriers are finished.

The U.S. Variable — A Market Where Regulation Sets the Terms

The original article suggested “the outcome may be split by region.” In the U.S., that split is hardening into policy. On December 22, 2025, foreign-produced drones and related equipment, including DJI’s, were added to the FCC’s Covered List, and covered equipment can no longer receive new FCC authorizations. Neither the Pocket 4P nor the Osmo 360 II is on sale in the U.S. Insta360, by contrast, is not covered by Section 1709 of the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which names DJI; the X6 reached U.S. shelves on August 12, and the Antigravity A1 is on sale there (DRONELIFE). Of the two companies’ new models, only Insta360’s can be bought in an American camera aisle.

Then on July 21, the FCC proposed classifying drones with LiDAR or thermal imaging as “military-grade” and halting the import and marketing of even previously authorized foreign-made drones (PS Docket No. 26-189). Comments closed on September 2, and DJI reportedly filed a 26-page rebuttal the same day (DroneXL). If adopted, it would take effect after a 180-day wind-down; the timing is not settled. Because the Covered List applies to all foreign-produced drones, Antigravity’s next aircraft would hit the same wall. The asymmetry is in cameras. Outside the structure of DJI pressing on patents and Insta360 pressed on price, regulation is setting the terms in the American camera aisle. Washington is rewriting part of a Shenzhen rivalry.

Scoring the Outlook

Here is how the outlook from the original article and the June update lines up against the facts as of September.

Outlook at time of writing	Facts as of September	Verdict
Insta360 always retains the option of filing a counterclaim	Countersued in the U.S.; both sides withdrew in 18 days. Six suits and invalidation petitions in China	Exercised. The venue changed
The patent war will be protracted	Four infringement suits and six ownership disputes pending at first instance. No rulings	Still pending. Protraction under way
The Osmo 360 surge is real, but the ecosystem moat runs deep	Osmo 360 II adds replaceable lenses and launches in Japan ¥24,390 below the X6	Price gap confirmed. The moat’s fate is open
In the U.S., the A1 could function as “the only option”	X6 and Luna Ultra also on sale in the U.S.; DJI’s new models are not. FCC proposing wider restrictions	Realized as a gap in availability. Regulation still under review
Financial stamina to keep investing in R&D	First-half revenue up 50%, swing to a loss. R&D up 80%	Investing is a fact. Stamina depends on the second half

The conclusion said “The Winner of This War Is the User”. Three months later, it is also clear who is paying for it up front: Insta360’s profit. The next scorecard will come from whichever arrives first — a first-instance ruling in Shenzhen, or DJI’s third-generation 360-degree camera.

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External Links & Sources

Product & Official Information

• DJI Avata 360 Official Press Release (PR TIMES)
• Antigravity A1 Official Site (Japanese)
• Antigravity A1 “Up to 20% Off” Japan Sale (PR TIMES)
• Insta360 Luna Ultra Japan Launch (Digital Camera Watch, Japanese)
• DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Japan Launch (PRONEWS, Japanese)
• Insta360 X6 Announcement (Insta360 Japan, PR TIMES, Japanese)
• DJI Osmo 360 II Japan Launch (DJI JAPAN, PR TIMES, Japanese)
• Osmo Pocket 4P Global Announcement (DJI, PR Newswire)

Competition, Pricing & Product Comparisons

• Insta360 and DJI in “Close Combat” (36Kr, Chinese)
• DJI vs Insta360: The Troubles of Geniuses (36Kr, Chinese)
• Insta360 vs DJI Price War (36Kr, English)
• DJI Osmo 360 Launch Review (DPReview)
• DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1 Comparison (T3)
• Avata 360 Won’t Be Sold in the U.S. (Gizmodo)
• China Drone Competition Heats Up (Nikkei)

Patent Litigation & Legal

• DJI vs Insta360 Patent War Details (DroneDJ)
• DJI Sues Insta360 as Rivalry Escalates (Caixin Global)
• Patent Ownership Becomes Focus of DJI-Insta360 Dispute (Cailian Press via Sina Finance, Chinese)
• Insta360 CEO JK Liu Full Rebuttal, Translated (thenewcamera)
• JK Liu Responds to DJI Lawsuit (Beijing News, Chinese)
• Insta360 Official Announcement on DJI Patent Dispute (Securities Times, Chinese)
• Insta360 Beat GoPro — Supplier Pressure & GoPro Litigation History (Chinesellers)
• DJI, Insta360 Quietly Drop Their Texas Patent Suits (DroneXL)
• DJI Sues Insta360 in China, Hearing Set for August 3 (Sina Finance, Chinese)
• Insta360 Files Six Patent Suits Against DJI (Tencent News, Chinese)
• Insta360, DJI Take Different Paths in U.S. Market (DRONELIFE)
• FCC Covered List Addition, DA 25-1086 (December 22, 2025, PDF)
• FCC PS Docket 26-189 Request for Comment (Federal Register)
• DJI Tells FCC Its Military-Grade Drone Ban Was Invented In-House (DroneXL)

IPO & Corporate Information

• Insta360 STAR Market IPO, +285% on Day 1 (EqualOcean)
• Insta360 H1 2026: Revenue Up, Profit Down, 10 Cases Pending With DJI (Sina Finance, Chinese)
• Insta360 H1 2026 Revenue 5.52 Billion Yuan, Up 50.29% (Guandian, Chinese)

FAQ