Drone cameras let amateur cinematographers, travelers and explorers get cinematic footage at the press of a button, and popular drone brand Potensic has lowered the bar of how easy it is to record such videos as it showcased its innovative PTD-1 controller at CES 2026.

The Potensic Atom 2, released in early 2025, is a portable drone tailored for travel enthusiasts and life’s passionate explorers, standing out for letting you snap 8K photos or record 4K HDR video footage while weighing less than 249g. This weight is an important distinction, as it classifies the Atom 2 as a mini-drone; these have more relaxed flying rules, and are much easier for beginners to use to get to grips with drone flying.

With a host of AI-powered features like tracking and automated camera moves, a competitive flight time of 32 minutes, night photography capability (with AI Super Night) and the ability to record video when the drone’s up to 10 kilometers away, the Atom 2 remains a drone operators’ favorite.

Despite its diminutive size, the complete feature set means the Atom 2 works seamlessly as a primary drone. But the PDT-1 controller makes the craft even easier to use in challenging conditions.

Introducing the PTD-1

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Based on consumer insights, PTD-1 was designed to address connection drop issues, unstable transmission, and overall control experience.

The controller features a 5.5-inch Full HD built-in display with 1920×1080 resolution. With 700 nits of brightness, the screen remains clearly visible even under strong sunlight. No smartphone is required for flight, and the ergonomic controller ensures simple, comfortable operation.

Frequent drone flyers will know that there are some pitfalls when using your smartphone to control a drone. You risk getting interrupted by calls and messages, having to wade through a lengthy set-up process and, most importantly, draining your mobile’s battery.

If you’re somewhere remote or rely on your handset for safety, this alone could stop you spending extra time getting that shot you really want. You also can’t use your phone to find reference shots, storyboards or note-taking apps if you’re using it to fly.

That’s not an issue with the Atom 2’s PTD-1, which replaces your phone for piloting the drone. It maintains the 10km transmission range with a 120ms latency for its onboard 1080p screen.

Thanks to its 6,400mAh battery, it can last for three hours of use, which is much longer than you’ll need for flying, and with 27W fast charging it can boost back up to 90% battery in just an hour and 25 minutes of powering. The handset has 32GB of built-in storage, which you can expand if you’re going for long bouts of drone flying.

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While those are useful features, Potensic has added a few extras that improve the flying experience for drone pilots. These include the ability to take off with just one hand, not two as many rivals require, improving the control you have over the craft.

The PTD-1 is now available to buy on Potensic’s website alongside the Atom 2, at $479.99 as part of the standard drone kit or $599.99 in the Fly More Combo which includes a carry bag, spare batteries, a charging hub and extra spare propellors.

However for a limited time, the brand is offering them for $419.99 and $519.99 respectively, letting you try out the controller for cheaper. Bundles with the original phone-requiring controller are still on sale, and are also enjoying their own discounts.