<\/span><\/h2>\nEarlier than stepping into the way it flies and shoots, right here is the total specification because it stands at launch. I’ve pulled these figures from the official documentation and the provided technical sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nSpecification<\/th>\n Potensic Atom 3<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\nWeight<\/td>\n Underneath 249g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nFolded dimensions<\/td>\n 148 x 91 x 62 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nUnfolded (with propellers)<\/td>\n 343 x 266 x 63 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nDiagonal<\/td>\n 239 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSensor<\/td>\n 1\/1.3-inch CMOS, 50MP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nAperture<\/td>\n f\/2.8, fastened<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nEqual focal size<\/td>\n 24 mm (plus 48 mm mid-telephoto mode)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMax video<\/td>\n 4K at 60fps HDR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSluggish movement<\/td>\n 1080p at as much as 7x<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nColor modes<\/td>\n Customary, HDR, P-Log (P-Go online 2.7K and 4K solely)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nISO vary (video)<\/td>\n 100 to 25600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMax video bitrate<\/td>\n 120 Mbps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCodec<\/td>\n H.264 \/ H.265<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nGimbal<\/td>\n 3-axis mechanical, controllable tilt -90 to +30 levels<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nTransmission<\/td>\n PixSync 5.0, as much as 16 km, tri-band 2.4 \/ 5.2 \/ 5.8 GHz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nDwell feed<\/td>\n As much as 1080p at 60fps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nImpediment avoidance<\/td>\n None<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMax flight velocity<\/td>\n 16 m\/s (Sport Mode)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nWind resistance<\/td>\n Stage 5 (round 10.7 m\/s)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMax flight altitude<\/td>\n 120 m (topic to native guidelines)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCustomary battery flight time<\/td>\n As much as 40 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nGNSS<\/td>\n GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nStorage<\/td>\n microSD, U3 \/ V30 or above, as much as 512GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCertification<\/td>\n C0 class<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\nThere are a few figures price flagging immediately. The headline flight time of 40 minutes is measured beneath preferrred laboratory situations, hovering or flying ahead at a gentle 6.3 m\/s in 1080p at 24fps with no recording. The hovering figures Potensic quotes are decrease, at 34 minutes which is a extra practical baseline when you account for manoeuvring and wind. As is the case with any sub-250g airframe, count on a real-world determine beneath the rated quantity as soon as there’s a breeze.<\/p>\n
The opposite level is the 16km transmission ranking. That quantity is measured in an unobstructed setting at 120m altitude with the antenna pointed straight on the drone, and it describes a one-way, non-return flight. Within the UK you might be required to maintain the drone inside visible line of sight, so 16km is tutorial. What the determine actually tells you is that the transmission has loads of headroom for secure, interference-free flying on the distances you may legally and safely function.<\/p>\n
<\/span>How the Atom 3 compares to the competitors<\/span><\/h3>\nThe plain rivals are three DJI drones: the ageing Mini 3, the newer Lito X1 and the propeller-guarded Flip. Right here is how the 4 line up on paper earlier than I get into the place the Atom 3 stands by itself deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nSpecification<\/th>\n Potensic Atom 3<\/th>\n DJI Mini 3<\/th>\n DJI Lito X1<\/th>\n DJI Flip<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\nSensor<\/td>\n 1\/1.3in, 50MP<\/td>\n 1\/1.3in, 12MP<\/td>\n 1\/1.3in, 40MP<\/td>\n 1\/1.3in, 48MP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nAperture<\/td>\n f\/2.8<\/td>\n f\/1.7<\/td>\n f\/1.7<\/td>\n f\/1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMax video<\/td>\n 4K 60fps HDR<\/td>\n 4K 30fps HDR<\/td>\n 4K 60fps, 10-bit<\/td>\n 4K 60fps, 10-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nFlight time<\/td>\n 40 min<\/td>\n 38 min<\/td>\n 36 min<\/td>\n 31 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nTransmission<\/td>\n As much as 16 km<\/td>\n As much as 10 km<\/td>\n As much as 15 km<\/td>\n As much as 13 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nImpediment avoidance<\/td>\n None<\/td>\n None<\/td>\n Omni plus LiDAR<\/td>\n Ahead solely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nWeight<\/td>\n Underneath 249g<\/td>\n Underneath 249g<\/td>\n Underneath 249g<\/td>\n Underneath 249g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nUK value<\/td>\n Not confirmed<\/td>\n Approx \u00a3295<\/td>\n From approx \u00a3300<\/td>\n From \u00a3369<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\nAll 4 use a 1\/1.3-inch sensor, so the Atom 3 begins on degree phrases for sensor dimension. Its 50MP stills and 4K 60fps HDR video are a transparent enchancment on the Mini 3, which tops out at 12MP and 4K 30fps, and the video specification retains tempo with the Lito X1 and Flip on decision and body fee.<\/p>\n
The catch is the lens. At f\/2.8 the Atom 3 sits over a cease slower than the f\/1.7 optics on all three DJI drones, so it gathers properly beneath half the sunshine. That’s an odd pairing with the AI Evening mode the advertising and marketing leans on, and I’ll come again to what it means in apply. The DJI pair additionally supply 10-bit log seize for grading, the place the Atom 3 information P-Log in what seems to be a regular 8-bit pipeline.<\/p>\n
Flight time is the Atom 3\u2019s clearest specification win at 40 minutes towards 38 for the Mini 3, 36 for the Lito X1 and 31 for the Flip, though the identical wind caveat applies to each drone on this weight class.<\/p>\n
The larger hole is security. The Atom 3 has no impediment avoidance in any respect, counting on downward visible positioning, an AR return-to-home help and touchdown safety, which is far the identical internet because the older Mini 3. The Lito X1 is in one other league right here with omnidirectional sensing plus a ahead LiDAR sensor, and the Flip provides ahead sensing together with its full-coverage propeller guard. For a primary drone, the shortage of any forward-looking sensors will not be a small factor to surrender, and it’s the single level I might weigh most closely earlier than shopping for.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Unboxing \/ Design<\/span><\/h2>\n\nThe Atom 3 follows the now-familiar folding template for this class. The entrance arms unfold earlier than the rear arms, the propeller blades flick out, and the entire thing collapses all the way down to a package deal sufficiently small to drop right into a jacket pocket or the facet of a digicam bag. Folded, it measures 148 x 91 x 62 mm, which is genuinely compact.<\/p>\n
\n
The construct is the standard mixture of plastic, steel and composite, stored intentionally gentle to carry the all-up weight beneath 249g with the usual battery, propellers and a microSD card fitted. That weight determine will not be a advertising and marketing rounding train. It’s the line that separates the lightest regulatory class from the following tier up, and Potensic has engineered the drone and the C0 certification round staying beneath it.<\/p>\n
\n
The digicam sits on a three-axis gimbal on the entrance, protected in transit by a clip-on gimbal guard that you need to keep in mind to take away earlier than powering on. The mechanical tilt vary runs from -90 to +30 levels, with the controllable vary relying on the flight mode you might be in. One element I appreciated is the built-in lens heating to forestall fogging, which is a smart contact for anybody flying in chilly or damp British situations the place a chilly lens assembly humid air can in any other case go away you with a mushy, hazy body.<\/p>\n
Potensic additionally provides full-cover propeller guards as a part of the system. These absolutely enclose the props quite than simply ringing them, which makes the drone safer to fly close to folks and is a requirement for the low-altitude monitoring characteristic. Becoming the guards mechanically allows a Propeller Guard Mode that limits the drone\u2019s energy, and it additionally caps the utmost takeoff altitude, so they’re greatest considered a mode you turn into for particular photographs quite than one thing you allow on completely.<\/p>\n\nWithin the hand the drone feels tidy and properly completed for the class. There may be nothing right here that feels premium in the way in which a heavier prosumer machine does, however nothing feels flimsy both, which is about proper for the worth bracket it’s aiming at.<\/p>\n\n<\/span>Set Up<\/span><\/h2>\nPreliminary setup runs via the Potensic Eve app, which is obtainable for iOS 13 and above and Android 7 and above. You obtain the app, create or log in to an account, then join and activate the drone. Activation wants an web connection, and with out it you might be restricted to a few trial flights, so this isn’t a step you may skip.<\/p>\n
The primary-run course of additionally walks you thru a firmware replace. The documentation makes a degree of asking homeowners to not replace the controller firmware if prompted earlier than the official launch, which suggests the launch software program was nonetheless being finalised within the run-up to launch. On first use the drone defaults to Newbie Mode, which limits you to a 30m radius and 30m peak in Video Mode solely. That may be a smart security internet for a primary flight, and you may step out of it as soon as you might be comfy.<\/p>\n
Earlier than every flight there’s the standard guidelines: take away the gimbal protector, peel the battery and controller stickers on a brand new unit, be sure the propellers and battery are seated, unfold the arms absolutely, and await a GNSS lock earlier than taking off. The app prompts you thru most of this, and it nags you to set the return-to-home behaviour and return altitude, which is precisely the form of factor a newbie ought to be made to consider.<\/p>\n
One real enchancment price calling out is the GNSS sizzling begin. Potensic claims it cuts startup and connection time by greater than half, and in apply the drone is able to fly noticeably sooner than I anticipated from the class. When you find yourself attempting to seize a shot in altering gentle, shaving break day the boot-and-lock sequence is the form of small factor that provides up.<\/p>\n
<\/span>PTD 2 Sensible Controller<\/span><\/h3>\n\nFor me, this has been one of the spectacular facets of the drone. My earlier drone expertise required me to make use of my cellphone because the show, and having all the pieces constructed into one unit makes a giant distinction. There isn’t any fidgeting with a cable, no propping a cellphone right into a clamp, and no fear about notifications or a cellphone name interrupting a flight.<\/p>\n
The PTD 2 Sensible Controller has a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 display screen rated at as much as 900 nits, which is shiny sufficient to stay usable in daylight. That brightness determine is a step up on the 700 nits of the earlier controller, and it’s the form of distinction you discover the second you attempt to body a shot with the solar behind you. The controller carries a 6200mAh battery, helps 27W quick charging with a quoted full cost in round 1.5 hours, contains 32GB of inner storage that you may increase with a microSD card, and comes with the Eve app pre-installed so it is able to use out of the field.<\/p>\n
The controller is clearly constructed on Android, and my one criticism is that booting it up is kind of sluggish. You study to energy it on first and let it settle whilst you put together the drone, quite than anticipating it to be immediately prepared. There’s a two-stage shutter button, which is a pleasant photographic contact: a half-press locks publicity and a full press takes the shot. Haptic vibration alerts for occasions like return-to-home and low battery are a small however welcome addition, because you shouldn’t have to maintain glancing on the display screen to know the drone\u2019s standing.<\/p>\n
For those who would quite use your cellphone, the drone can be appropriate with the usual PT 2 controller that makes use of a cellphone holder and a connecting cable. For many patrons, although, the built-in display screen of the PTD 2 is the model to get, and it’s the purpose this feels much less like a finances drone than the worth suggests.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Flight Efficiency<\/span><\/h2>\n\n
The Atom 3 makes use of Potensic\u2019s SurgeFly flight management system and provides three flight modes. Video Mode retains issues mild with a 6 m\/s flight velocity and sluggish, clean stick response. Regular Mode lifts that to 10 m\/s, and Sport Mode opens it as much as the total 16 m\/s with sooner ascent and descent. Sport Mode is locked out beneath 30% battery, and the documentation is candid {that a} minimal braking distance of round 30m is required in nonetheless air, so it isn’t a mode for tight areas.<\/p>\n
In calm situations the drone holds place properly, helped by the downward imaginative and prescient system and TOF sensor that give it correct low-altitude hovering. The quoted hovering accuracy is tight, at round 0.1m vertically and 0.3m horizontally with imaginative and prescient positioning, and that stability reveals within the footage. The gimbal does a superb job of smoothing out small inputs, and there’s an adjustable gimbal tilt smoothing setting if you wish to dial in how step by step the digicam ramps its tilt for cinematic strikes.<\/p>\n
Wind is the principle limitation. The Atom 3 is rated to Stage 5, which is round 10.7 m\/s, and that may be a respectable determine for the burden. Even so, physics applies to each sub-250g drone. In gusty situations the airframe works tougher to carry its line, the footage can choose up the occasional correction, and the true flight time falls away from the rated quantity. The app helpfully shows a wind indicator and the drone\u2019s tilt angle on an perspective indicator, which turns yellow after which purple as the lean will increase, providing you with a transparent visible warning to convey it residence earlier than situations get away from you.,<\/p>\n
The purpose I preserve returning to is the absence of impediment avoidance. There isn’t any ahead, upward or omnidirectional sensing of any variety. The drone leans on its downward imaginative and prescient system, a return-to-home operate and touchdown safety, however nothing stops it from flying right into a tree, a wall or a department should you misjudge a spot. For the newbie this drone is marketed at, it’s the characteristic I might most need and the one that’s lacking. It’s a must to fly with extra consideration than you’d on a Lito X1 or a Flip, and that’s price being clear-eyed about.<\/p>\n
On the protection facet, what’s right here is properly thought out. The AR Return-to-Dwelling overlays the house level and the return path on the dwell feed so you may see precisely the place the drone intends to go. A touchdown projection seems on display screen because it descends that can assist you decide the landing spot, and there’s touchdown pad recognition that nudges the drone onto a pad throughout the closing descent. An everyday return-to-home climbs to your preset altitude, flies again in a straight line and lands, and there’s a descending return choice that saves energy on longer flights by dropping altitude because it heads residence. None of this replaces impediment sensors, however it does make the automated return really feel managed quite than a leap of religion.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Video and Photograph High quality<\/span><\/h2>\nI might be importing extra movies and images quickly. I’ve solely had the prospect to add those I took on day 1 as I’ve been working away. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTaken at 5am on an overcast day, so pictures are a bit boring wanting <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe imaging system is the place Potensic has put the obvious effort. The 1\/1.3-inch sensor is the headline, with a light-sensitive space Potensic says is round 2.36 occasions bigger than the Atom 2, and 50MP stills captured in what the corporate calls an 8K picture mode. In good gentle the outcomes again up the sensor on paper. Outside landscapes maintain loads of element, dynamic scenes keep freed from movement blur, and the additional decision provides you room to crop.<\/p>\n
Video tops out at 4K 60fps with HDR, which is the determine most patrons will care about. The upper body fee is the one most helpful improve for this type of flying, as a result of clean, judder-free movement is what separates nice aerial footage from novice footage.<\/p>\n\n