by 2 reviews.
Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone Review: A Game-Changer for Beginners and Enthusiasts Alike
The Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone is a lightweight, foldable drone designed for both beginners and experienced pilots. Weighing under 249g, it doesn’t require FAA registration, making it a hassle-free choice for hobbyists. Packed with features like a 4K EIS camera, 62 minutes of flight time (thanks to two included batteries), and a 4KM FPV transmission range, this drone promises to deliver a premium flying experience at an affordable price. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Build Quality and Design
The Potensic ATOM SE is praised for its lightweight and compact design. Its foldable arms make it easy to carry, and the brushless motor ensures durability and stability, even in windy conditions.
Pros:
- Lightweight and Portable: Customers love how easy it is to carry around, fitting comfortably in a jacket pocket.
- Sturdy Build: The brushless motor provides excellent wind resistance, with some users reporting stable flights even in 32 MPH gusts.
Cons:
- Wind Sensitivity: While it handles wind well, some users noted that strong gusts can still affect stability, especially during video recording.
2. Camera Performance
The 4K EIS camera with a Sony sensor is one of the standout features of the ATOM SE. It captures 12MP photos and 4K@30fps videos, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals.
Pros:
- Excellent Image Quality: Users rave about the clarity and color accuracy of the photos and videos. One reviewer mentioned being able to "almost count the leaves on the trees" in their shots.
- Smooth Video Stabilization: The EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) ensures smooth footage, even during windy conditions.
Cons:
- Lack of Zoom: Some users wished for a zoom feature to enhance versatility.
- Wind Impact on Video Stability: While the EIS helps, strong winds can still cause minor jitters in the footage.
3. Flight Performance and Battery Life
With a maximum flight time of 62 minutes (using two batteries) and a range of 4KM, the ATOM SE offers impressive performance for its price range.
Pros:
- Long Flight Time: Customers appreciate the extended flight time, with one user reporting 28 minutes of flight on a single battery.
- Beginner-Friendly Controls: The SurgeFly flight control system offers multiple modes (Beginner, Normal, Sport) to help new pilots learn and improve.
- GPS Auto Return: The drone automatically returns to its take-off point if it loses signal or runs low on battery, providing peace of mind for beginners.
Cons:
- Cold Weather Impact: In colder temperatures, battery life may decrease slightly, though it still performs admirably.
4. Autonomous Features and Usability
The ATOM SE comes with advanced features like Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, and Circle Flight, making it versatile for various use cases.
Pros:
- Follow Me Mode: Users love how seamlessly the drone follows them, keeping them in the frame at all times.
- Waypoint and Circle Modes: These features are praised for their precision and smooth execution, allowing for creative shots.
- Easy Setup: The drone connects effortlessly to smartphones via Wi-Fi, and the app is intuitive and user-friendly.
Cons:
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While beginner-friendly, some users found the autonomous modes a bit tricky to master initially.
Conclusion: Is the Potensic ATOM SE Worth It?
The Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone is a fantastic choice for both beginners and intermediate pilots. Its lightweight design, impressive camera quality, and long flight time make it a standout in its price range. While it has minor drawbacks like wind sensitivity and the lack of a zoom feature, these are outweighed by its overall performance and value.
Customer reviews highlight its ease of use, reliability, and excellent customer support from Potensic. Whether you’re capturing stunning 4K footage, exploring autonomous flight modes, or simply enjoying the thrill of flying, the ATOM SE delivers on all fronts.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a high-quality drone that won’t break the bank, the Potensic ATOM SE is a top contender. It’s a reliable, feature-packed drone that’s perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Specification Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone with 4K EIS Camera, Under 249g, 62 Mins Flight, 4KM FPV Transmission, Brushless Motor, Max Speed 16m/s, Auto Return, Lightweight and Foldable Drone for Adults, Beginner:
Comments from Amazon:
An update to this review concerning Potensic Support. As with any product new to the market I have experienced a few bugs with the Atom SE. The Potensic support team has worked with me on each of these issues and there have been a few firmware updates that greatly improve it's operation. Many of these have been at the suggestion of Atom SE owners. They listen to and welcome our input to improve their product. Most recently the onboard compass has apparently failed and my Atom crashed pretty hard. Support sent instructiions I followed but to no avail. Potensic has apologized for any inconvience and is replacing the drone under warranty. As I said at the end of my initial review the Potensic Support team is quite simply the BEST support staff I have dealt with in over thirty years. They stand behind their products and work with customers to keep us satisfied and flying. Thank you Potensic, you folks are great!! I received my new Atom SE on Wednesday the weather was very overcast so I was only about to charge and start everything. Location, firmware update and time to fly. I am not easily impressed, but the short version of what I think of this drone, WOW! This drone flies amazingly well for one in this price range. Control inputs are instant, crisp, and very sensitive and took a bit of getting used to. Just basic maneuvers on the first day and it performs all of them extremely well. The weather finally broke today (Sunday 1/15/22) and it was off to the park to put it through it's paces. Temperature was around 35 degrees F and brisk winds (Ground level 8-16 MPH) at around 80 ft. altitude wind gusted up to 32 MPH. It handles the wind better than I expected, it holds position and is stable except in the strong gusts. Even then it does move maybe 10 ft. when the gust stops it recovers right back to steady hover. Despite the cold and wind the battery life is almost dead on the rated flight time. I got 28 minutes of flying on the first battery with 10% left, the wind had increased a fair bit so the second battery flight time was 24 minutes with 10% left and considering how it fought the wind so well I am very, very pleased with flight time. Was great fun, but with a couple of extra batteries it will be a blast (sorry wallet). Time to test the autonomous features. First the follow mode and it certainly does so. No matter the direction or number of direction changes it follows and keeps me in the frame. Circle mode is flawless and smooth (as my grampa used to say it's as smooth as the south end of a north bound baby). Waypoint mode again flawless, flies to each point smoothly and turns the corners crisply. The best part of this little gem is the camera, it is amazing. It will record video at 4K 30FPS, 2.7K 30FPS, 1080P and 270P. The EIS gives you a very smooth video. The photos, well you can almost count the leaves on the trees and the colors are vibrant and sharp. A three axis gimbal and some more camera settings I think would give DJI Mini 2 a run for it's money. In conclusion I am extremely happy with my Atom SE and highly recommend it especially for those who can't afford the likes of DJI or Autel. This is a very reasonably priced beginner to intermediate drone. I would love to see a three axis gimbal for even smoother and quality videos. Not to mention this is not my first Potensic drone and their support team is heads and shoulders above the norm, they are polite, prompt and most helpful. I give this drone five gold stars!
Precio / calidad es bueno. El manejo es relativamente sencillo, al app con la que se utiliza es buena, la Camara cuenta con buena definicion, sin embargo algo importante a resaltar es que el viento si le juega un poco en contra. Para los videos no tiene buena estabilidad, se mueve un poco brusco por el viento pero creo que pudiera funcionar en areas con menos potencia de viento. Si lo buscas para fotos es una excelente opción, para videos le doy 4/5, si sera tu primer dron entonces puede funcionarte bien (:
Gostei muito da câmera dele a da estabilidade no vôo, poderia ter um botão do zoom.....
I'm new to using these vehicles (under 5 hours flight time so far) and spent a lot of time deciding on which would be my first. I am extremely pleased I chose this one! The video included in this review has been greatly reduced for posting here but, trust me the 4k30fps original is truly quite spectacular for such a reasonably priced drone. I have found a little forward flight and gentle control movements while maneuvering greatly increases image stability, even in the 6-8 meter per second gusts present during capture. The flight characteristics of this vehicle are intuitive, very tame and highly competent. Mine has exceeded all claims made in the product description and then some. Battery life is terrific and the transmission range is quite frankly amazing. Even with power lines in between and a security system broadcasting nearby on 2.4gHz I can fly out 1000 meters and more. The controls are very, very smooth. This quad-copter is helping me gain skill and confidence. All I could have asked for and more. Thank you Potensic! *Update one year later... This has proven to be an excellent purchase. I have zero complaints and have had absolutely no reason to contact Potensic, for anything other than to give my profound thanks for offering so much quality for so little cost. In fact I have nothing but praise for Potensic and this magnificent little flying machine - with a camera attached! Again many, many thanks.
Eine super Drohne für Einsteiger mit vielen diversen Funktionen und Einstellungsmöglichkeiten. Die 4K-Videoauflösung ist superscharf, die Fernbedienung lässt sich sehr gut bedienen. Es gibt diverse Videos auf Youtube, die Fähigkeiten der Drohne zeigen. Es macht einfach Spaß damit zu fliegen. Am besten ist die Fly-More Combo mit zwei weiteren Batterien und der Aufladstation für eine schnelle Aufladung. 1.5h Flugzeit sind garantiert. Ich hab im Urlaub auf den Seychellen Videos und Bilder gemacht.
Bon
The Potensic ATOM SE was highly rated on YouTube so I purchased one for my birthday. It arrived the next day. I followed all the instructions and after I pressed the launch button I knew this drone was the one Ive been looking for. It hovered 5 feet above the launch pad and was perfectly steady even though winds were 7-10 mph. I was surprised to see that it was connected to 24 satellites. I hit record and flew for 20 minutes. Even though it was my first flight, I wasn't nervous because of the safety features. If the battery was too low or if I lost signal it automatically returns to the spot where it was launched. I didnt want to go too far on the first flight so once I reached one mile out, I hit the return home button. The drone elevated to the 200 foot setting then it flew back over my head and landed without my help, 18 inches from the launch pad. This drone is so steady and easy to fly. I am a novice and I had no problems flying. I have only flown one other cheap drone once or twice and I just got tired of running after it. This drone with the remote that connects to any phone is so easy to use. I am so pleased with this drone, I bought one for my son and after I let my two best friends fly it, both have ordered one. The flight time, distance, steadiness and safety features are well worth the cost of this drone. Then you add the 4K video quality and the choice is easy. I love the waypoints feature because I have property for hunting and fishing. I pick 4 or 5 green fields (deer plots) from the GPS map and the drone flies to each spot while I watch and record the deer and turkey. The drone doesnt seem to bother the deer unless it is 50 feet or less from the ground. The drone is also used to identify trespassers. I can fly the drone to where I hear ATVS or gunshots and take a high resolution photo of the trespasser or vehicle or license plate. I could keep signing this products praises but I am about to go flying. Do yourself a favor and try the Potensic ATOM SE. You will be glad you did.