Holy Stone HS700 Drone Review 2019 – is the Holy Stone HS700 quadcopter worth the money? Review of features, pricing, flight duration, battery, camera and more.
The Holy Stone name is one synonymous with quality and feature-rich gadgets, and the Holy Stone HS700 drone is no exception. Know as ideal for experienced droners and beginners alike, its durable build and impressive camera make it a popular drone choice for many. Although it’s make of plastic, the Holy Stone HS700 body is compact and resistant to damage from crashes, making it appealing for beginners. Let’s further explore its features, what others are saying, and how it stacks up against the competition.
Holy Stone HS700 Drone Build and Design
The Holy Stone HS700 drone is lightweight and compact, making it ideal for portability and traveling. The size and weight make it better suited for flying in large open spaces, rather than indoors.
The drone’s build boasts craftsmanship and durability. The Holy Stone HS700 does not, however, come with protection guards, so it is recommended that pilots keep a safe distance between themselves and the drone during operation.
The complete drone packages comes with a transmitter, battery, camera, charging cables, battery-charging bag, 8 propellers, landing gear, screwdriver and user manual.
Camera
Perhaps the most impressive of the Holy Stone HS700 features is its camera. Its 5G 1080p FHD camera brings it to the forefront of its competition as it is capable of capturing superior-quality still photos and shooting excellent video footage that can be viewed in real time.
The camera features an advanced lens with a 110-degree panoramic field of view. The first-person view (FPV)is ideal when combined with its real-time video and image transmission capabilities with a smartphone. The FPV feature allows pilots to see exactly what their drone sees, and it is also compatible with GoPro cameras that can be easily installed and removed from the Holy Stone HS700.
Battery
The Holy Stone HS700 relies on a 2800mAh battery that provides up to 20 minutes of flight time. Compared to other drones of a similar price range on the market, a 20-minute flight time is quite impressive. The battery comes complete with a charge-transfer box, USB charging cables, a balance charger, and a battery-charging cable. The battery does have a longer charge time at 5-to-7 hours, so for those wanting to increase their flight time, it is recommended to purchase an extra battery or two.
Image Storage and Transmission
The Holy Stone HS700 features a 5G transmission feature that enables the viewing of clean and crisp images and video transmission. In terms of storage, the camera has a 8GB memory card that can easily be swapped out with a memory card with more space if needed.
Flight Time and Performance
The HS700 comes equipped with a 1500KV brushless motor resulting in noiseless and powerful flight performance. Capable of attaining a maximum speed of 25km/h in upwind flights and 60km/h in downwind flight, the drone’s impressive features are evident when it takes to the sky.
Also equipped with a GPS, the drone’s location can be determined in real time. The ‘Follow Me’ flight mode sets the drone to automatically follow the user, and by using the app, pilots can customize their flight path by simply drawing the desired route in the screen. The ‘Headless’ mode allows pilots to easily adjust the drone’s direction, and its simple controls make it a blast to fly.
Controller
The Holy Stone drone controller is extremely responsive and user-friendly. The controller is modern looking and features a phone holder. If the drone loses signal during flight and cannot stream its video, the controller stays connected.
The controller with its LCD display screen relays the status of the battery, flight duration and distance, the drone’s position, and number of connected satellites.
Safety Features
By far, the handiest safety feature of the Holy Stone HS700 is the GPS which automatically reroutes the drone to return to take-off point once the battery reaches a critical level.
If the drone loses its connection, it will automatically return to where it took off from or the pilot. This makes it impossible to lose the drone as a result of flying it out of range.
These safety features gives beginners peace of mind that they are unlikely to lose the drone and crash it by flying it out of range. Operators also don’t need to be keeping constant track of the battery level as it returns home before it can run out.
Holy Stone HS700 Drone Pros
• Superior camera quality
• GPS-assisted flight
• Affordable
• Durable build and design
• LCD display screen
• Panoramic field of view
• App for video streaming
• User-friendly controller
• Excellent image storage
• Long flight time
Holy Stone HS700 Drone Cons
• Long battery-charge time
• No protection guards
• Windy conditions decreases its flight time
What Others are Saying
People who have purchased this drone have reported that the controller is extremely user-friendly, and the LCD screen is excellent for relaying important information like location and battery life to the pilot.
People have praised the camera quality and its pro videography potential. Users have reported that it is the ideal drone for people wanting to fly a drone for personal enjoyment that they can also use for professional applications like photography and videography.
At first glance, droners were skeptical about the drone’s durability, being made out of plastic, but after handling and flying it, they reported that their concerns were unfounded as its superior build, craftsmanship, and durability were clear.
Conclusion
For less than $400, the Holy Stone HS700 is a cut above its competition when compared with drones in the same price range. While some drones do have a shorter battery-charge time, this can easily be remedied by purchasing as additional battery. The flight time of 20 minutes outshines many other drones in its class, many with flight times of 8-to-10 minutes.
For people wanting to purchase a drone that won’t break the bank, will be enjoyable to fly, but can also be used for pro image capturing and videography, the Holy Stone HS700 drone is an excellent choice and representation of why the Holy Stone name is held in such high esteem.
