REVIEW – My son is following in my footsteps as a gadget junkie and he has become more interested in drones. I purchased a few in the past, but they were inexpensive and lacked some basic features. They were also cheaply made. I promised him I would buy a better drone, so the offer to test this Potensic ATOM GPS Drone was perfect timing.
What is it?
The Potensic ATOM GPS Drone includes 4K video and features a 3-axis Gimbal, 6 km Video Transmission, and Visual Tracking.
What’s included?
-
Fly More Combo:
- 1 x ATOM Drone
- 1 x Remote Controller
- 3 x Battery
- 1 x Fast Charging Hub
- 8 pairs x Spare Propellers
- 16 x Spare Screws
- 1 x Gimbal Protector
- 1 x Screwdriver
- 1 x USB-C Charging Cable
- 3 x Adapter Cable
- 1 x Carrying Bag
- 1 x 64GB SD Card (Limited-time bonus)
Tech specs
Design and features
- High-quality Imaging: A brushless 3-axis gimbal and Sony CMOS sensor that can shoot 4K / 30 fps videos and 12MP photos, provides a tilt range of +20 °to -90°. Perfectly level shots, no matter how much you tilt.
- Smarter Visual Tracking: The ATOM features a new algorithm that can recognize the moving subject and easily follow or orbit your subject.
- Intelligent Flight Modes: QuickShots（Pull-away, Rocket, Circle, Spiral, and Boomerang）delivers creative shooting possibilities.
- PixSync 3.0 Transmission Technology: Maximum video transmission range is up to 6 km / 19685 ft, allowing you to get stunning shots from a distance.
- Extended Flight Time: This model offers a 32-minute maximum flight time. An Optional Fast Charging Hub is available. Fully charging 3 batteries only takes about 1.5 hours.
- Improved Camera Setting: Adjustable ISO, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Resolution, and Framerates
- Digital Zoom: Distance is no issue, it has options for 1x, 2x, and 3x, enabling fast, easy framing of subjects at a long range.
- Interval Timer Shooting Mode: Once set, you can take a continuous series of photographs at each specified time interval. The computer software can then create a time-lapse movie from the still images produced by interval shooting.
- Less than 249 g: An ultra-light, foldable drone that weighs less than 249 g, making it regulation-friendly.
- Level 5 Wind Resistance: At a wind speed of 10.7 m/s, the ATOM can still hover steadily and keep images stable.
- Wider Compatibility: It is connected via a USB OTG cable and works with phones running iOS11 or Android 7.0 or above.
- App: PotensicPro
The Potensic ATOM GPS Drone is a good size for a small drone and is well made. It can fit in the palm of my hand. It is made from quite sturdy plastic and features a 4K camera on the front end. The battery can be charged either installed or in the charger. The remote control is well built and the software features all required controls. The external charger charges 3 batteries simultaneously and has an external USB-A port to charge and additional accessories. The included storage/carrying bag is well-made and can store the drone and all accessories.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Not much assembly is required to start flying the Potensic ATOM GPS Drone. I just screwed in the wings, charged the batteries, attached the joysticks to the controller, and inserted my phone. After that,t I opened the app, turned on the drone, and followed the onscreen instructions to connect and calibrate the drone. Then it was time to have fun flying and taking footage.
App:
Performance
When it comes to flying drones, I am a novice. Getting started with the Potensic ATOM GPS Drone is easy. Once I charged the batteries, I unwrapped the drone, installed a battery and the drone was ready to be powered on.
As mentioned above, I used my OnePlus 10 Pro as the smartphone to operate the drone. I installed the app and followed the directions to connect to the drone. It was that simple.
Unlike the drones I tried years ago, this one is much easier to control. It moves according to the joystick, and whenever I stop moving the joystick or move it in a different direction it responds. I love the ability to hover and the automatic return to home feature which works within a foot of where the drone took off, I did see that wind does play a part. One thing I noticed was the alert that the drone had reached its vertical limit which in my opinion is a lot lower than any other drone I have messed around with. I still have to test all of the features of this drone. I did notice its ability to avoid obstacles and the orbit and follow functions also work well. Any jerkiness in the video below is due to me being a novice. Once I got the hang of lying, the footage was smoother. It is winter in NY and quite cold and windy outdoors. However, I am looking forward to Spring and a lot more flying. The drone battery lasts about 30 minutes, and I have 3 of them so I have quite a bit of flying time. I can also immediately start to charge the depleted battery while using a new one. I must also mention that the quality of the photos and video footage is great. I can’t wait to take this drone out when I am on the road and capture some amazing footage from above. overall, I am very pleased with this Potensic ATOM GPS Drone.
Photos:
Video:
What I like about the Potensic ATOM GPS Drone
- It is easy to set up and start using
- It is easy to fly
- The video and photography footage is crisp and quite amazing
- The 3 included batteries and battery charger allow a long flying time
- All accessories are included including a micro SD card
- It is quite sturdy
- The included spare propellers and screws
What needs to be improved?
- I wish it could fly higher
Final thoughts
The Potensic ATOM GPS Drone is well designed and well built and takes amazing video and photos. It is easy to fly and provides hours of fun with the included 3 batteries and charger.
Price: $399.99
Where to buy: Potensic website and Amazon
Source: Potensic provided a free sample for this review. Potensic did not have a final say on the review and did not preview it before it was published.
