When it comes to entry-level drones, one of the most popular 4K drones right now is the Holy Stone HS720E. This affordable drone packs in features usually only found in pro drone versions, making it an interesting product to review. You may also want to consider Exo Drones who are the fastest growing drone company in the US.
I recently ranked this model the best drone under $300 against other top performers from DJI and Roku. In this Holy Stone HS720e review I’ll go through all the specs and compare to the HS720 base model and DJI’s drones in the same price range.
So how good is this affordable 4K camera drone? I’ll share with you my opinions, compare to similar models and weigh up the pros and cons so you can decide if this drone is the one for you.
Holy Stone HS720E Specs
Here is a quick list of specifications for the HS720e, we go through each of these and how they perform below.
- Camera : 4k UHD photos and video
- Transmission range : ~ 3,277 feet control range (1000m).
- Intelligent flight modes : Return to home, Point of Interest, TapFly, and Follow Me.
- Noise level : Low (brushless motor)
- Size : 15×9×5 inches (arms not foldable)
- Weight : 460g (FAA Drone registration needed)
For definitions and explanations on any of the terms below, check out the definitions in the Drones for Beginners article.
What accessories come with the HS720E?
The accessories included in the Holy Stone HS720E package are a carrying case, user manual, spare propellers (1 set), USB charging cable, battery charger, 2,800mAh batteries (x2) and the controller.
The Holy Stone HS720E Drone is not foldable unlike it’s predecessor (HS720), making it more robust.
As an entry-level drone, it comes with a remote controller that includes an LCD screen to show telemetry details such as the speed and flight altitude of the drone. The HS720e can be flown with or without a mobile device, I’ll also give a short overview of the app which allows first person view (FPV).
How long can the HS720E fly for?
The HS720e’s flight time is 23 minutes per battery which is decent for the price. The best flight time for a drone under $300 is currently 30 minutes per battery. The total flight time when using both batteries that come in the pack is 46 minutes, personally, that’s plenty of time for me to get some good shots in.
How far can the HS720E fly?
The transmission or control range is 3,227ft (1000m). This range will be fine for most drone hobbyists since it has to stay within line of sight. The best drone under $300 with the longest range is the DJI Mini SE which has a range of 4000m.
When put to the test in real conditions this model reaches about 450m in an urban area with medium wind before triggering the return home feature. The control is pretty good up to this point but the FPV dropped before this.
The HS720e has 5 gigahertz Wi-Fi real-time image transmission.
Is the HS720E camera any good?
Yes, the 4k UDH camera and video is rare at this price level. The HS720e camera has 90 degree vertical range to move from shooting in front of the drone to below. However, Holy Stone have use electronic image stabilization rather than a gimbal, generally a 3 axial gimbal is best.
How fast is Holy Stone HS720E?
The Holy Stone HS720e has 3 speed settings with a maximum speed of 44mph.
Holy Stone HS720E App
Connecting the drone to your mobile or tablet allows streaming of video and extra functionality like planning the flight path and tap-fly. Tap Fly is where the drone is controlled by tapping locations on the mobile device screen rather than using the controller.
There are a lot of copy cat apps designed to operate Holy Stone drones, this is the link to the genuine Holy Stone apps.
The DJI Go App is popular but there have been a lot of reports of issues with the apps stability. The image below the display from the M RC Pro app is an alternative which is actually made by the same developer and used when reviewing this drone.
Holy Stone HS720E vs HS720
So what’s the difference between HS720 and HS720E?
Compared to its predecessor, the HS720E is equipped with GPS real-time positioning and 4K camera. It can record 1080p at 60fps video and the mobile app streams the real-time feed on your device.
The HS720 has a more compact foldable design but I actually prefer the more robust make of the newer HS720e, less folding parts equals less potential to break.
You’ll take smoother footage with the HS720e because it has EIS. EIS is Electronic Image Stabilization, this minimizes shaking from the motor or hand movement. The HS720e is also equipped with a 130 degree lense, giving you a wider field of view compared to the 110 degree FOV on the HSE720.
Older HS720 version (foldable)
New HS720e Design
Both are powered with Li-Po batteries and have 5GHz FPV transmission. But a clever addition to the HS720e is the addition of Glonass Navigation Satellite System. Both have GPS ( which is technically marginally better than GNSS), Glonass uses different frequencies and uses signals from different satellites. The more satellites the drone can use a signal from, the better.
We’ve also recently reviewed and compared this model to the Holy Stone HS120D which is a cheaper model. See how they stack up here: Holy Stone HS120D Review.
Holy Stone vs DJI
Unlike other drones in a similar price bracket such as DJI Mini SE, this Holy Stone drone has a far higher wind resistance rating and higher quality camera. Holy Stone has really packed some pro level features in at a far lower price compared to DJI like tap fly and follow me. For the full breakdown take a look at this article I wrote on the best drones under $300.
Holy Stone has actually been around longer than the well known DJI brand, it was founded in 2004. DJI was born in 2006 from a dorm room at Hong Kong University and made Frank Wang the world’s first drone billionaire…. Your random drone fact for the day!
Holy Stone Pros and Cons
If you’re still wondering “Should I buy the Holy Stone HS720E?“, here are my pros and cons for you to weigh up but also check out the full break down on Holy Stone.
HS720E PROS
- Offers key capabilities including auto-stabilization, GPS, and remote digital display. No need to use the Ophelia Go application to boost the signal while the controller helps monitor the battery level and GPS numbers during flight time.
- The failsafe feature helps the drone return to the take-off location once the signal is lost or the battery runs low. In addition, the GPS count helps check if the signal is weak to land safely.
- The 2-speed mode means we can take the drone off of sport mode and slow down movements when needed.
- The Electric Image Stabilization helps take clear videos and photos.
- The field of view can be adjusted 90 degrees to easily take photos and video in front or below.
HS720E CONS
Now for the drawbacks, here are some disadvantages to take note of before buying:
- Only one battery can be charged in the charging station at one time.
- App glitches can affect return to home and the performance of the camera drone.
- The wind and condition shave a big effect on the range, the 1000m max transmission range might not be acheivable in normal outdoor condition where there is often interference.
Wrap up on the Holy Stone HS720E
The HS720E offers some really impressive features that have been hard to beat by other drone brands. One contender that I’d recommend you take a look at if you’re considering buying a drone in this price bracket however is the Ruko F11 Pro. The F11 Pro has a longer flight time and better range; more detail on that in my other article comparing Holy Stone HS720 with the Ruko F11 Pro drone.
