Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Autel Robotics vs Insta360
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Autel Robotics |  Insta360 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1,520 | €309 |
| Top video resolution | 6k | 8k |
| Weight (g) | 866 | 53Lower |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 yearsHigher |
| Flight time (min) | Not confirmed | 39 |
| Stabilisation | Not confirmed | Yes |
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Key differences
- Insta360 scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.3.
- Weight (g) is lower at Insta360: 53 vs 866.
- Warranty is higher at Insta360: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Autel Robotics offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Insta360 offers Email, Chat, Community.
- Founded is lower at Autel Robotics: 2014 vs 2015.
- Products: only Insta360 offers Compact, Action camera, 360 camera.
Our verdict on each
Autel Robotics
Autel Robotics is a dedicated drone maker, and it suits buyers who want 6k video plus a phone line rather than a general camera shop. The trade-off is the entry cost of $1,520, which sits far above the cheapest drone sellers, and a warranty of 1 year.
Insta360
Insta360 suits buyers who want action, compact, all-round and drone video from one maker, with max video of 8k and a warranty of 2 years behind it. Entry at €309 is the trade-off, ranking the range well down the price table, so value buyers should compare rivals first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Autel Robotics | Insta360 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1$1,520 is the entry point, and $25 at Holy Stone shows how wide the gap to budget drone sellers runs. | 8.4HigherEntry at €309 ranks 32 of 42, well above the €86.82 site median, so cost is the weaker axis. |
| Offer | 8.3drone is the whole range, so the 6k recording ceiling comes from a specialist rather than a mixed catalogue. | 9.2HigherProduct types cover compact, action camera and 360 camera and max video reaches 8k, so the range spans more categories than any alternative listed here. |
| Trust | 8.6HigherAutel Robotics Co., Ltd. is the named operator, founded 2014 in CN, with phone and help centre behind it. | 8.3Warranty of 2 years places 6 of 41, and support runs on email, chat and help centre. |
Choosing between them
Pick Autel Robotics if trust matter most.
Pick Insta360 if cost, offer, weight (g), and warranty matter most.
How the counts compare
| Fact | Autel Robotics | Insta360 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (g) | 866 | 53 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Autel Robotics | Insta360 |
|---|---|---|
| Drones | 15 of 18 | 5 of 18 |
Also worth a look
DJI has weight (g) at 52, against 866 for Autel Robotics and 53 for Insta360.
DJI reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Autel Robotics | Insta360 |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Drone | Compact, Action camera, 360 camera, DroneCovers more |
| Legal entity | Autel Robotics Co., Ltd. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2014Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Autel Robotics | Insta360 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight time (min) | Not confirmed | 39lowest quarter | 50.5 |
| Weight (g) | 866highest quarter | 53lowest quarter | 189.75 |
| Warranty | 1 yearbelow the median | 2 yearsabove the median | 1.5 years |
Median across 39 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Autel Robotics
Pros
- Specialist focus: the range is drone only, so 6k video and a 866 g machine define what the money buys.
- Reachable help: phone and help centre covers a phone line and a help centre, and help centres appear on 100% of the drone brands compared.
- Wide budget spread: $1,520 opens a specialist range, while Holy Stone at $25 covers the opposite end of the market.
Cons
- Entry cost is steep: $1,520 places the brand 41 of 42 on price from, so the budget is committed before any flying.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, leaving live chat and email outside the listed channels.
- Cover is short: 1 year sits well under the 2.25 upper quartile for this category, so longer terms are available elsewhere.
Insta360
Pros
- Product types cover compact, action camera and 360 camera, a wider spread than Campark at action camera and compact, and the drone sits in the same range as the bodies.
- Max video of 8k with stabilisation as standard covers the upper recording band without a separate gimbal.
- A warranty of 2 years, well above the 1 year median across the site.
Cons
- Price from €309 sits well above the €86.82 median entry price across the brands here, and above the €69 median in action cameras.
- That entry price ranks 32 of 42 on price from, so cheaper options sit in the same shopping list.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed, so voice support is not part of the plan.
Who each suits
Autel Robotics
Who it suits
- Buyers who want 6k video from a maker that sells nothing but drones.
- Pilots who would rather phone, since phone and help centre includes a phone line.
- Owners planning a long stretch of flying who are comfortable with 1 year of cover.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a small budget, who should start with Holy Stone at $25.
- Buyers who want a drone and a camera body in one basket, since Scan lists mirrorless, drone and lenses.
- Anyone assembling a full imaging kit, because Wex Photo Video carries mirrorless, compact and instant.
Insta360
Who it suits
- Buyers who want action, compact, all-round and drone video from a single maker, given the compact, action camera and 360 camera range.
- Travellers and sports shooters who record at 8k and want stabilisation as standard rather than as an add-on.
- Anyone who will carry a 53 g body for long handheld takes and still fly a drone with 39 minutes of flight time.
Who should look elsewhere
- Mirrorless and lens buyers: Scan lists mirrorless, drone and lenses, and none of those types sit in the Insta360 compact, action camera and 360 camera range.
- Second-hand buyers on a budget: Defender Cameras lists 360 camera and used cameras, so a used all-round body is available there rather than new.
- Buyers who only want an action or compact body: Campark lists action camera and compact, without the drone or all-round lines that push Insta360 entry up.
Questions about each
Autel Robotics
What does an Autel Robotics drone cost to buy?+
The range starts at $1,520. That is the entry point for the whole drone catalogue, and it places the brand at 41 of 42 brands on price from, so it belongs to the expensive end of this comparison. Holy Stone sits at $25 by contrast, which covers a very different budget.
How long is the warranty on Autel Robotics drones?+
Warranty is 1 year from purchase. On warranty years the brand places 18 of 41, so the cover is mid-table rather than exceptional, and a longer term is available elsewhere in the comparison. Buyers flying hard outdoors have more at stake than buyers replacing a light indoor machine.
Insta360
How much does an Insta360 cost at entry?+
The store lists entry at €309, which places Insta360 32 of 42 brands on price from. That sits well above the €86.82 median entry price across the brands here and above the €69 median in action cameras, so budget buyers have cheaper options to weigh.
What resolution do Insta360 cameras record at the top end?+
Max video is listed as 8k, one of the upper resolution bands in these rankings, and 30.4% is among the more common settings in the cameras and lenses group. Paired with stabilisation as standard, that points the range at travel and sports shooting rather than quick everyday clips.