- Potensic’s new Atom 3 replaces the Atom 2 beginner drone
- Adds a larger sensor, higher 4K frame rates, better battery life, and more
- The Fly More package includes an upgraded controller with a 5.5-inch screen
I don’t need 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 alternative to drones for beginners, and that is Potensic.
Unfortunately for American consumers, Potensic also faces the same barriers to entry as DJI, as the drone maker 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 60fps with a Log color profile, 50MP photos in JPEG and RAW, 7x slow motion in Full HD, plus a host of improved flight features.
Battery life has increased, now up to 40 minutes on a single charge, as has the transmission range, now extending to 16km – although you’d never expect to fly that far!
And the regular 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 display than Potensic’s previous offering, rated at 900 nits.
Potensic has improved the tracking capabilities of its drone with AI Tracking 2.0, which can now operate up to a low altitude of 4 meters and recognize and follow walks and vehicles.
Naturally, there are also a variety of flight movements, one of which includes Waypoint (which is 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, even if that drone also includes omnidirectional object avoidance, especially with its competitive price. 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 on Amazon and the Potensic store with pre-orders now available. I will update this page with Australian pricing when that information is available.
In the United States? no dice
The US pricing of the Atom 3 is positive news for US consumers, but we don’t really know if or when the Atom 3 will land in the US. After all, the US drone ban doesn’t just apply to DJI, but to all foreign-made drones, including those from Potensic.
Potensic is another drone manufacturer based in China, so it faces the same barrier to entry as DJI. So for now, the Atom 3 looks like another affordable, feature-packed drone for aerial photography that drone fans in the US might miss out on.
For the rest of us, the Atom 3 is easily Potensic’s best drone yet, with a feature set that rivals the Mini 4 Pro/Lito X1, minus the ability to avoid objects. I’ll share my in-depth review of the Atom 3 once I’ve had more time with it.
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