Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Potensic P4 review.
The Potensic brand makes a lot of great drones for beginners. When it comes to the Potensic P4, I have to be honest, it is not a great drone. I would say it is a miss for the Potensic brand as a whole. However, it does not mean it’s all doom and gloom.
I hope that through my honest review, you can make an informed decision on whether you want to purchase this drone.
The Potensic P4 is a beginner drone. It is the type of drone you would like to buy before moving to a more professional drone. Before buying a drone, you should know the ins and outs of handling one so you do not crash your very expensive drone.
That is where the P4 comes in; it is durable, easy to figure out, and affordable.
In this Potensic P4 review, I will go over the features and benefits of this beginner drone to show you if the drone is the right choice for you before you go ahead and purchase it.
Quick Overview of the Potensic P4
The Potensic P4 is a foldable beginner drone equipped with a 1080p camera capable of taking aerial shots and aerial video recording. The P4 camera has a manual 2-axis camera and intelligent batteries.
It is equipped with a “headless mode” feature and compact, durable brushed motors. It has an automatic take-off button and a 3-speed range mode. This drone is very durable, which is why it is perfect for beginners.
The Potensic P4 is perfect for beginners, kids, and teenagers. It is easy to fly and handles very well. It can be flown indoors and outdoors (with moderate winds).
What’s Inside The Potensic P4 Box
- 1 x Potensic P4 Drone with camera;
- 1 x Transmitter;
- 2 x Drone Battery;
- 4 x Extra Propellers;
- 1 x Instruction Manual;
- 1 x Charging Cable
- 1 x User Manual
- 1 x Screwdriver
Potensic P4 Specifications
- Fold up Size: 5.43 x 3.35 x 1.97 inch
- Unfold Size: 8.07 x 8.07 x 1.97 inch
- Take-off Weight: 132g
- Flight Time: 20 mins per battery
- Remote Control Distance: Max 100m/164FT
- Picture/Video Resolution: 1920×1080
- Micro SD Card: NOT SUPPORTED
- Lens Rotation Range: +0°-90° (Hand adjust)
- Remote Battery: AAA batteries*3 (NOT INCLUDED)
- Drone Battery Capacity: 1300mAh/3.7V
Features and Benefits of the Potensic P4
Let’s go over the features of the Potensic P4 and its benefits to users.
Design and Build
The Potensic P4 has a compact and firm design, like some Potensic drones. It has powerful brushed motors that are capable of impressive speed.
If you are going to fly indoors, it comes with four propeller guards to prevent accidents and damage. This drone can be classified as a small drone, measuring 8.07 x 8.07 x 1.97 inches.
The Potensic P4 weighs about 132 g. Even though it is small in size, it does not cut back in mobility or speed. The P4 weighs less than 250 grams, so you do not have to register it with the FAA before flying.
In all honesty, there are certain drawbacks as a result of its size. Like most small-size drones, it can be challenging to try and fly them outdoors, especially during windy conditions. However, it is perfect for flying indoors.
The P4 has a detachable battery. The battery should be placed correctly in its compartment and plugged into the drone.
Battery Flight Time
The Potensic P4 is powered by a 3.7-volt, 1300mAh modular battery that gives it a 17- to 18-minute flight time, which is different from the 20-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.
After testing, the Potensic P4 takes around 1 hour to charge completely. Two of the batteries used effectively can give you a flight time of 36 minutes. If you desire more flight time, you should consider buying more extra batteries.
Camera
The Potensic P4 has a 1080p camera for taking pretty okay shots and recording for a toy drone. In all honesty, I think you should not expect the camera quality to be high or on par with expensive drones.
The wide-angle lens has a 120-degree field of view that can capture maximum details in your shot. While the manually adjustable 900 camera lens can capture photos and videos from different perspectives.
Remote Control
The Potensic P4 remote controller is different from some of the remote controllers of other drones that I have reviewed.
The remote control is not difficult to figure out; it has the same functions as other phone controllers, like the on/off button, take-off, headless mode, camera button, and video button.
The first thing you notice is that the remote controller has a great grip. Unlike most controllers, the phone holder is at the button. If you do not want to use your phone, that handle can serve as a remote grip.
Another thing you notice is the two antennae that are duds and serves no purpose. The power button for the remote controller is at the epicenter of the drone. To the left-hand side of the drone is the “gyro calibration” button.
To the right-hand side of the remote controller are the button for take-off and land buttons (short press to initiate take-off and long press to land). You also notice the two joysticks for controls and some buttons with different arrows, these buttons are for trimming the drone when flying.
The left shoulder of the remote controller has the speed button (the P4 has a three-speed mode, press the button accordingly for your preferred speed). Underneath the speed button is the headless mode button (this button changes the orientation of the drone).
The right shoulder of the remote controller has the camera button and the video button underneath it. To initiate an emergency stop you have to press the “speed” and the “camera” at the same time.
The remote comes with triple-A batteries that are enclosed underneath the remote controller.
Control Range
The Potensic P4 has a maximum range of 100 meters. Because this drone lacks GPS function and is quite small, it should not be flown above your line of sight or beyond its maximum range. Your drone may end up missing, and if the battery runs out, there will be no way to locate it.
The P4 is capable of performing 8 axes of flight (forward pitch, backward pitch, left roll, right roll, and yaw left and right).
Speed and Power
The Potensic P4 comes with a 3-speed mode, which can be adjusted by pressing the right joystick on the remote controller. Potensic doesn’t give a direct specification of the speed on the sales page, but many people who purchased the drone on Amazon have attested to how far it can go.
Durability
Like most other drones, the Potensic P4 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy to carry.
The Potensic P4 is reasonably durable, despite being made of light and strong plastic; it can even stay together after falling one or two times. However, you should take precautions.
Potensic P4 Pros and Cons
Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Potensic P4
Pros: What I Like About the Potensic P4
- It is pretty easy to fly
- It comes with an internal miniature barometer for flight stability
- It super easy to calibrate
- Handles well when flying indoors
- It is pretty durable
- It comes with fixed propeller guards
- Very reliable and fun to use for beginners
- Excellent drone present for kids.
- Its user interface is pretty basic, and novice fliers will quickly catch up.
- Instruction manuals are easy to follow (they did a great job transmitting from Chinese to English)
Cons: What I Don’t Like About The Potensic P4
- It can be difficult to fly during windy periods
- The camera quality is low
- The drone does not have GPS. The chances of your drone getting lost are high if you are flying above its range.
- The button can have a lag response time
- The video recording lags
- It doesn’t have obstacle avoidance mode. This means you must fly the drone in open areas without lamp posts, tall buildings, electricity lines, trees, and other obstacles.
Potensic P4 Set Up
I’ll go over some basic setups for the Potensic P4 if you’re a beginner drone pilot who doesn’t know how to set up the drone. However, you’ll have to exercise patience so you don’t screw things up.
1. Charging the Potensic P4
The first step is to charge the Potensic P4 remote control and the drone battery with the USB cord. Unfortunately, only one USB cable is provided in the package, so you’ll either have to wait for one of them to get full before charging the other or simply buy another USB cable.
2. Assembling the Potensic P4
Putting on the propellers: This shouldn’t be too difficult. Potensic provided a magnetic screwdriver to help attach the screws to prevent them from falling off. They also provided extra screws in case you misplaced some while attaching the propellers to the body of the drone.
Install the propeller guards if you want
Insert the charged battery in the battery slot of the drone
3. Pairing the Potensic P4 With Your Smartphone
The next step is to pair the Potensic P4 drone with your smartphone
1) Download the Potensic app on your phone – free
2) Turn on the controller.
3) Switch on the drone’s battery. The battery’s lights will show the charge level; four lights indicate a full charge. before successful pairing and calibration.
4) Go to the WiFi section of your phone’s settings and choose the Potensic WiFi signal.
5) Click the “Enter Device” button in the app’s first page’s center after launching the Potensic app.
4. Pairing the Potensic P4 With the Remote Controller
The drone pairs with the controller quite easily. Just switch on our drone and remote controller and move the joysticks upward. You will hear a beep to notify you that the pairing is complete.
5. Calibrating the Gyro of the Potensic P4
Switch on your A20W drone and ensure that the green and red lights on the bottom are switched on. Push both joysticks up and down. You will hear a beep to notify you that the drone has been calibrated.
6. Function of the Potensic P4 You Should Know
One Key Take-Off: The one key (auto) landing function performs well. The drone is sure to land softly to avoid damage. It has the propensity to drift backward, which is why you have the trim feature. Ensure you modify the forward direction to avoid bumping into obstacles.
Altitude Hold: The Potensic P4 comes with an internal miniature barometer that helps maintain its height and stability. It will drift slightly as the altitude hold is not as good as that of more sophisticated drones.
Trimming: Because of its tendency to drift. You would have to trim the drone to avoid it drifting sideways.
Best Alternatives to the Potensic P4
In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Potensic P4 to give you more options:
1. Potensic Dreamer Pro (Best Overall Potensic Drone)
The Potensic Dreamer Pro is my best Potensic drone. It has a 4K camera for taking selfies and landscape photography, a 3-axis gimbal for stabilizing the camera during flight, 28 minutes of flight time per battery, and a ton of awesome features that provides a fun flight.
2. Potensic Atom SE (Best Potensic Drone With The Longest Flight Time)
The Potensic Atom SE is my best Potensic drone with the longest flight time. The package comes with dual batteries, each having a maximum battery life of 31 per battery. This gives you enough time to explore the sky while capturing your favorite scenes.
3. Potensic T25 (Best Potensic Drone Under 250 Grams)
The Potensic T25 is my best Potensic drone under 250 grams. It saves you from the hassle of registering your drone with the FAA because it weighs less than the minimum weight. Plus, it also has a ton of awesome features without breaking the bank.
Potensic P4 Safety Tips
- For your safety and that of the drone, avoid flying near or over obstacles, such as high-voltage power lines, crowds, trees, water bodies, and airports.
- You’re advised to fly in open areas, where you can maintain a line of sight, preferably below heights of 120 meters.
- Be careful with rotating motors and propellers, and keep a distance to avoid ear damage from the drone’s nose.
- Avoid flying in extreme weather conditions such as rain, fog, snow, and strong winds.
- Avoid flying the drone when tired, under the influence of alcohol or medication, or in any physical discomfort.
- Keep the drone clean and well-maintained.
- Read the user manual thoroughly before flying the Potensic P4.
- Follow the battery safety rules as outlined in the user manual.
- Fly the drone with a fully charged battery and perform all the recommended pre-flight procedures before take-off
- Follow your local laws on drone flying and avoid flying in No-Fly zones.
- Always check the drone, controller, and battery for damages and correct installation before a flight.
- The onboard compass can be affected by electromagnetic fields near base stations or power lines.
Final Thoughts on the Potensic P4
The Potensic P4 may not be the best beginner drone on the market, but it can help you learn to fly a drone, and my personal experience with this drone might not be yours.
If you encounter any issue with this drone, ensure to contact Potensic customer care; they are very responsible and helpful.
Remember that this is a toy drone with amazing features that are also found in professional drones. As an added plus, you do not have to break the bank to get a drone.
You can also check out the best Potensic drones to see reviews of various drones from the Potensic series and know what benefits they have in store for you.
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