by 2 reviews.
Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone Review: A Game-Changer for Aerial Enthusiasts
The Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone is a lightweight, feature-packed drone designed for both beginners and experienced pilots. Weighing under 249g, it’s exempt from FAA and Remote ID registration, making it a hassle-free choice for aerial adventures. Its foldable design ensures portability, fitting easily into a jacket pocket. Equipped with a 4K EIS camera featuring a Sony sensor, this drone captures stunning 12MP photos and 4K@30fps HD videos. With advanced features like ShakeVanish technology, 4KM FPV transmission, and a 93-minute total flight time, the ATOM SE is a powerhouse in a compact package.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Ease of Use and Beginner-Friendly Features
One of the standout features of the Potensic ATOM SE is its user-friendly design. Many customers, especially beginners, have praised how easy it is to operate. One reviewer shared, "I am a novice and had no problems flying. The safety features like auto-return and beginner mode gave me confidence during my first flight." The drone’s intuitive controls and responsive handling make it a great choice for those new to drones.
However, some users noted that the drone’s sensitivity to wind can be a challenge. "The wind does affect its stability, especially during gusts. It moves about 10 feet but recovers quickly," mentioned one user. While the drone handles moderate winds well, it’s not ideal for extremely windy conditions.
2. Camera Quality and Stability
The 4K EIS camera is a major highlight of the ATOM SE. Customers have raved about the sharpness and vibrancy of the photos and videos. "The camera is amazing. You can almost count the leaves on the trees, and the colors are vibrant and sharp," said one enthusiastic reviewer. The ShakeVanish technology ensures smooth footage, even in less-than-ideal conditions.
That said, some users felt the lack of a three-axis gimbal was a drawback. "A three-axis gimbal would make the videos even smoother and more professional," commented a customer. While the EIS does a decent job, it’s not quite on par with higher-end drones like the DJI Mini 2.
3. Flight Performance and Battery Life
The ATOM SE’s flight performance has received glowing reviews. With a maximum speed of 16m/s and three flight modes (Video, Normal, and Sport), it caters to a variety of flying styles. "The drone handles wind better than I expected. Even in 32 MPH gusts, it recovers quickly and maintains stability," shared one user. The 93-minute total flight time, thanks to the included three batteries and 60W fast charging hub, is another major plus.
However, a few users reported minor issues with the compass and firmware. One reviewer mentioned, "The onboard compass failed, causing a crash. Thankfully, Potensic’s support team replaced the drone under warranty." While such issues are rare, they highlight the importance of regular firmware updates and proper calibration.
4. Autonomous Features and GPS Functionality
The ATOM SE’s autonomous features, such as Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, and Circle Flight, have been a hit among users. "The waypoints feature is fantastic for monitoring my property. I can set multiple points, and the drone flies smoothly to each one," said a satisfied customer. The precise GPS auto-return feature ensures the drone safely returns to its take-off point, even in case of signal loss or low battery.
Some users, however, felt that the drone’s wind resistance could be improved for smoother autonomous flights. "In strong winds, the drone struggles a bit during follow mode, but it’s still manageable," noted one reviewer.
5. Customer Support and Durability
Potensic’s customer support has been a standout feature for many users. "Their support team is the best I’ve dealt with in over thirty years. They’re prompt, helpful, and genuinely care about their customers," shared one reviewer. The company’s willingness to address issues and provide firmware updates has earned them high praise.
In terms of durability, the ATOM SE holds up well under normal conditions. However, as with any drone, crashes can cause damage. "The drone crashed pretty hard due to a compass failure, but Potensic replaced it without any hassle," said a user. This level of support adds significant value to the product.
Conclusion: Is the Potensic ATOM SE Worth It?
The Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality, feature-rich drone at an affordable price. Its 4K camera, long flight time, and user-friendly features make it a standout in its category. While it has minor drawbacks, such as wind sensitivity and the lack of a three-axis gimbal, its pros far outweigh the cons.
For beginners, the ATOM SE offers a safe and intuitive flying experience, while advanced users will appreciate its autonomous features and impressive camera quality. Combined with Potensic’s exceptional customer support, this drone is a solid investment for aerial photography and exploration.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performing drone that won’t break the bank, the Potensic ATOM SE is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced pilot, this drone delivers exceptional value and performance.
Specification Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone with 4K EIS Camera, Under 249g, 93 Mins Flight, 4KM FPV Transmission, Brushless Motor, Max Speed 16m/s, 60W Fast Parallel Charging Hub, Fly More Combo:
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.