- Potensic’s new Atom 3 replaces the Atom 2 entry-level drone
- It adds a larger sensor, higher 4K frame rates, better battery life and more
- The Fly More Bundle includes an upgraded controller with a 5.5-inch screen
You don’t need me to tell you that DJI dominates the consumer drone space, despite its current difficulties entering the US market with a current ban on all foreign-made drones. But there is a viable drone alternative for beginners, and that is the Potensic.
Unfortunately for American consumers, Potensic also faces the same barriers to entry as DJI, as the drone manufacturer is also Chinese. But for the rest of us, the shiny new Atom 3 looks like an excellent value option.
It upgrades the already excellent Atom 2 in several key ways, with a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K video recording at up to 60 fps with a Log color profile, 50 MP images in JPEG and RAW, 7x slow motion in Full HD, plus a host of improved flight features.
Battery life has seen a boost, now up to 40 minutes on a single charge, as has the transmission range, which now stretches to 16km, not that I’d ever expect to fly that far away!
And the usual Fly More Combo, which includes three batteries and a charging hub, also comes with an upgraded controller that has a brighter 5.5-inch Full HD screen than Potensic’s previous offering, rated at 900 nits.
Potensic has increased its drone’s tracking capabilities with AI Tracking 2.0, which can now operate down to a low height of 4 meters and recognize and follow hikers and vehicles.
Of course, there are also a number of flight movements, one of which includes Waypoint (that’s a pre-planned flight path that the drone follows).
All of these features point to the Atom 3 being a solid alternative to the new DJI Lito X1 — though that drone also includes omnidirectional object avoidance — especially with its competitive pricing. The standard Atom 3 kit (without controller) costs $429.99 / £319.99, while the bundle with the new ‘RC PTD 2’ controller costs $549.99 / £429.99 at Amazon and the Potensic store with pre-orders now live – I’ll update this page with Australia prices when that information is available.
In the US? No dice
US pricing for the Atom 3 is positive news for US consumers, but we don’t actually know if or when the Atom 3 will land in the US. After all, the drone ban in the US applies not only to DJI, but to all foreign-made drones, including those from Potensic.
Potensic is another drone manufacturer based in China and therefore faces the same barrier to entry as DJI. So for now, the Atom 3 looks like another feature-packed and affordable aerial photography drone that drone fans in the US could miss out on.
For the rest of us, the Atom 3 is easily the best drone from Potensic to date, with a feature set that rivals the Mini 4 Pro / Lito X1, minus object avoidance. I’ll share my in-depth Atom 3 review once I’ve had more time with it.
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