The potter's wheel has changed very little in principle and enormously in detail. What separates one machine from another today is how much clay it will centre without slowing, how big the wheel head is, and whether the pedal gives fine control at low speed.
Centring capacity is the number
Manufacturers state how much clay a wheel will centre, and it is the specification that matters most. A wheel that bogs down under four kilograms is teaching a beginner that they cannot centre when the machine cannot. Motor wattage is quoted inconsistently between makers and is a poor substitute for the stated capacity.
Wheel head size
The head diameter sets the largest bat you can use and therefore the widest piece you can throw and remove intact. Small heads are perfectly good for mugs and bowls and frustrating for platters. Bat systems that pin to the head are worth having, since removing a wide piece by hand is where a good pot most often dies.
The pedal
Fine control at low speed matters more than top speed, because centring and trimming both happen slowly. A pedal with a dead zone or an abrupt take-up makes both harder. It is also the part that fails most often on older wheels, and it is usually replaceable, which is worth checking on a used machine.
Where the wheel sits
Wet, heavy, and needing a socket and a moppable floor. A wheel with a splash pan and a bucket beside it keeps most of the mess contained. The one thing not to compromise is height: a wheel at the wrong height for your seat will hurt your back within a month, and most machines are adjustable or can be raised on a frame.
Questions people ask about potters wheel
What should I look for in a potters wheel?
Stated centring capacity, wheel head size and fine pedal control at low speed. Motor wattage is quoted inconsistently and means less.
Is a potter's wheel the same as a potters wheel?
Yes. The apostrophe varies between listings and both refer to the same machine.
What height should a wheel be?
Whatever lets you sit with a straight back and reach the clay without stooping. Getting this wrong causes back trouble quickly.