Potensic Atom 2

A fantastic drone for budget- conscious pilots, capturing smooth 4K/30fps video and detailed 48MP stills

- NIKITA ACHANTA

Potensic made a splash in 2023 with its cheap yet capable Atom drone. The Atom 2 brings big improvements while keeping the same low price: £300 includes the battery and controller, while £400 for the “Fly More Combo” adds two spare batteries, a charging hub and a carrying bag.

The drone is as tiny as its name suggests, weighing just under 250g. This means you can legally fly it in residential, recreational and commercial areas that are usually out of bounds to heavier drones. There are still regulations you'll need to comply with, though, so do your research before you take to the skies.

Despite its low weight, the Atom 2 is solidly built; I accidentally crashed it twice into tree branches during testing, and it didn't sustain the slightest damage. For more serious mishaps, the Fly More kit also includes eight pairs of spare propellers, 16 screws and two smartphone connector cables for the all-new controller.

This is included with the standard and bundle variants, and feels far more premium than the previous model. It attaches neatly to almost any phone, even chunky ones - I used my Google Pixel 7 Pro without removing its case. When not in use, the two joysticks pull off and slot into the controller's underside for easy transport.