✈️ Potensic ATOM 2 Drone Review: A Feature-Packed Sub-250g Contender
The drone market is intensely competitive, especially in the "sub-250g" category, which offers flyers a registration-free, travel-friendly option in many regions. Stepping up as a serious challenger to the established leaders is the Potensic ATOM 2 Drone, particularly in its comprehensive Fly More Combo. Packed with advanced features like 4K video, 8K photos, a 3-axis gimbal, and intelligent flight modes, the ATOM 2 aims to democratize high-quality aerial cinematography.
This in-depth review explores the ATOM 2’s performance, camera capabilities, flight experience, and the value offered by the Fly More Combo, concluding that it is an exceptional choice for beginners and enthusiasts looking for a potent, budget-friendly DJI alternative.
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| Potensic ATOM 2 Drone Review: A Feature-Packed Sub-250g Contender |
🛠️ Design and Portability: The Sub-250g Advantage
The ATOM 2 follows the popular foldable quadcopter design, making it extremely compact and easy to carry.
Ultra-Lightweight: Weighing in at just under 249g, the drone falls into the most flexible regulatory class (C0), eliminating the need for mandatory registration in many countries. This is a huge plus for travelers and casual pilots.
Build Quality: Despite its light weight, the construction feels solid and well-finished. The folding arms lock securely, and the overall aesthetic is functional and appealing.
Redesigned Controller: The included controller is a significant upgrade from previous models. It features an ergonomic, symmetrical pull-out design for smartphone mounting, making the flight experience more comfortable and balanced. It also includes two customisable buttons and two control dials—a premium touch at this price point.
📸 Camera and Imaging: Clarity and Detail
The most significant upgrade from its predecessor lies in the imaging system, which positions the ATOM 2 well above many of its entry-level rivals.
Sensor Power: It boasts a larger 1/2-inch Sony CMOS sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This is key to its improved performance, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
High-Resolution Output: The drone can capture 4K video at 30fps (with HDR support) and impressive 8K (48MP) still photos. While the highest-resolution photos are currently limited to JPEG format (12MP is available in RAW), the detail captured is excellent for its class.
3-Axis Mechanical Gimbal: Stability is paramount for cinematic footage, and the ATOM 2 delivers with a full 3-axis mechanical gimbal. This system smooths out pitch, roll, and yaw movements, ensuring buttery-smooth video even when maneuvering in moderate winds (it can handle up to Level 5 wind resistance).
AI Night Shot: A dedicated AI Night Mode intelligently pushes the ISO range up to 25600, enhancing clarity and reducing noise in low-light environments like sunsets or night-time cityscapes.
Vertical Shooting: A feature highly sought after by social media creators, the ATOM 2 offers Vertical Shooting mode, instantly optimizing content for platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
🚁 Flight Performance and Features
The ATOM 2 isn't just a capable camera platform; it's also a responsive and reliable flyer.
Stable and Fast: Utilizing a multi-GNSS system (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou), the drone achieves a very stable hover. In Sport mode, it can reach a top speed of 35.8 mph (16 m/s), offering a fast and engaging flight experience.
10KM Transmission: The drone employs Potensic’s PixSync 4.0 transmission technology, rated for a maximum range of 10km. In real-world testing, the signal remains strong and stable over long line-of-sight distances, with a sharp 1080p live feed.
Intelligent AI Track: This is perhaps the most advanced feature for its price tier. The AI Track suite includes Spotlight, Follow, and Parallel modes. Once a subject is framed, the drone reliably tracks and follows, a feature often restricted to more expensive drones. Note: Like many drones in this class, the ATOM 2 does not have full obstacle avoidance sensors (only downward vision), so manual oversight is required during tracking.
QuickShots and Creative Modes: Beginners can instantly capture cinematic clips using the automated QuickShots (Pull-away, Rocket, Circle, Spiral, Boomerang) and the popular Dolly Zoom effect. Other helpful features include Cruise Control for steady flying and the new P-Log color profile (via firmware update) for greater flexibility in post-production color grading.
🔋 Fly More Combo: Maximizing Flight Time
The Fly More Combo significantly elevates the user experience, providing everything needed for extended shooting sessions.
| Item | Standard Kit | Fly More Combo | Key Benefit |
| Intelligent Batteries | 1 | 3 | Up to 96 minutes of total potential flight time. |
| Max Flight Time (Per Battery) | 32 minutes (advertised) / ~20-22 min (real-world) | 32 minutes (advertised) / ~20-22 min (real-world) | More time in the air, less waiting. |
| Charging Hub | No | Yes | Conveniently charges up to three batteries in sequence. |
| Spare Propellers | 4 (2 Pairs) | 16 (8 Pairs) | Ample spares for peace of mind. |
| Carry Bag | No | Yes | High-quality, compact shoulder bag for easy transport. |
The advertised 32-minute flight time is a best-case scenario; real-world usage typically yields about 20-22 minutes per battery. This makes the three batteries in the Fly More Combo an essential purchase for serious content creators, enabling three times the flight time to capture the perfect moment.
✅ Verdict: An Outstanding Value Proposition
The Potensic ATOM 2 is a genuinely impressive drone that punches well above its weight and price class. It successfully combines the regulatory advantage of a sub-250g weight with the advanced features typically found in more expensive models.
It is an excellent drone for beginners due to its stable flight, intuitive app (Potensic Eve), and automated QuickShots. It is also a strong contender for enthusiasts seeking a highly portable travel drone that doesn't compromise on video stability (3-axis gimbal) and photo quality (1/2-inch sensor, 48MP/8K). The AI Track feature is a particular highlight that sets it apart from other budget competitors.
The only notable drawback is the lack of full, multi-directional obstacle avoidance, which requires pilots to be vigilant, especially when using the tracking modes.
The Potensic ATOM 2 Fly More Combo is highly recommended for anyone seeking a portable, feature-rich drone that offers a compelling combination of performance, image quality, and value, standing toe-to-toe with the best in the entry-level segment.