Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Holy Stone HS190 review.
The Holy Stone HS190 is one of the best mini drones on the market. It is known to be very fast and easy to fly. It’s also another beginner drone for kids launched by Holy Stone, a company known for retailing consumer drones at affordable prices to the public
The Holy Stone HS190 is not a GPS drone, but it does hold very well and does not drift as much as you would expect a drone of its size to. This budget drone promises to make an excellent gift for your kids, family, and friends.
In this Holy Stone HS190 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 Holy Stone HS190
- What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS190 Box
- Holy Stone HS190 Specifications
- Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS190
- Holy Stone HS190 Pros and Cons
- Holy Stone HS190 Set Up
- Best Alternatives to the Holy Stone HS190
- Holy Stone HS190 Safety Tips
- Final Thoughts on the Holy Stone HS190
Quick Overview of the Holy Stone HS190
The Holy Stone HS190 is one of the first mini drones capable of 360 flips and spins while flying. The HS190 is capable of performing the eight axes of flight (forward pitch, backward pitch, left roll, right roll, and left and right yaw). This drone is known to be pretty durable, which is why it is perfect for beginners.
The Holy Stone HS190 is perfect for beginners, kids, and teenagers. It is easy to fly and handles very well. It comes fixed with a protective propeller guard to prevent any injury during accidents.
What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS190 Box
- 1 x HS190 Quadcopter;
- 1 x 2.4GHz Controller;
- 4 x Spare Propellers;
- 4 x Propellers Guards;
- 1 x Propellers Crowbar;
- 1 x USB Charger;
- 1 x Screwdriver; 1 x User Manual
Holy Stone HS190 Specifications
- Weight: 23.2 g
- Dimension: 91x55x29 mm
- Flight Time: 5~7 minutes
- Charging Time: 30~40 minutes
- Transmitter Range: 50 m
Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS190
Let’s go over the features of the Holy Stone HS190 and its benefits to users.
Design and Build
The Holy Stone HS190 has a compact design and is foldable. The HS190 is pretty unique in its design, but some will say it looks like the HS420. This drone can be classified as a small drone, measuring 91 x 55 x 29 mm.
The Holy Stone HS190 weighs about 23.2 g. Even though it is small in size, it does not cut back in mobility or speed. The HS190 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 HS190 has a non-detachable battery that fits underneath it. The battery is a Lipo battery, so ensure that you do not overcharge or else the battery will be damaged.
Battery Flight Time
The Holy Stone HS190 is powered by a 3.7V 220mAh Li-Po battery that gives it a 7-minute flight time, which is different from the 8-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.
After testing, the Holy Stone HS190 battery takes around 40 minutes to charge completely. The HS190 comes with an in-built battery. The USB battery charger is in the remote controller.
Remote Control
The Holy Stone HS190 remote is great to handle; it has a similar design to the Holy Stone drone’s remote controllers.
The remote control is not difficult to figure out; it’s pretty straightforward, like the on/off button, take-off, headless mode, speed button, and flip button.
The first thing you notice is that the remote controller has a great grip. On the upper left-hand side, you will see the speed button (3-speed button) and the spin button.
On the lower left-hand side are the landing button and automatic take-off button. On the upper right-hand side there is the trim button (to trim right or left).
The lower right-hand side is the headless mode (do not use this unless you have mastered flying the drone) and the return to home button (this button will work because the drone is not a GPS drone).
To perform the 360 flips on the HS190, press down on the right joystick and flip up or down.
The remote comes with four-A batteries that are enclosed underneath with a screw.
Control Range
The Holy Stone HS190 has a maximum range of 50 meters. These types of drones do not have GPS and are pretty small, so do not fly them above your line of sight or their maximum range. Your drone may end up missing, and if the battery runs out, there will be no way to locate it.
The HS190 is capable of performing 8 axes of flight (forward pitch, backward pitch, left roll, right roll, and yaw left and right). Its control is good, and, personally, I have not noticed any lag during the flight.
Speed and Power
The Holy Stone HS190 comes with a 3-speed mode, which can be adjusted by pressing the speed button on the remote controller.
Holy Stone 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.
You should be careful about going into full-speed mode because it doesn’t have an obstacle avoidance mode. Plus, you’re more likely to collide with obstacles if you’re a beginner drone pilot. so, avoid places with trees
Durability
Like most other drones, the Holy Stone HS190 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy to carry.
The Holy Stone HS190 is fairly 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.
Holy Stone HS190 Pros and Cons
Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Holy Stone HS190
Pros: What I Like About the Holy Stone HS190
- It is pretty easy to fly
- It comes with an internal miniature barometer for flight stability
- Batteries charge fast and are reliable
- It super easy to calibrate
- Handles really well when flying indoors
- It pretty durable
- 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 Holy Stone HS190
- It can be difficult to fly during windy periods
- 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
- It doesn’t have obstacle avoidance mode. This means you have to fly the drone in open areas without lamp posts, tall buildings, electricity lines, trees, and other obstacles.
Holy Stone HS190 Set Up
I’ll go over some basic setups for the Holy Stone HS190 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 Holy Stone HS190
The first step is to charge the Holy Stone HS190 battery with the battery USB charger provided in the box. The drone battery can be charged by plugging the USB into any outlet in your home, or you can charge the drone with the batteries in the remote controller.
2. Assembling the Holy Stone HS190
Putting on the propellers: This shouldn’t be too difficult. Holy Stone provided a magnetic screwdriver to help in attaching 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 Holy Stone HS190 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.
4. Calibrating the Gyro of the Holy Stone HS190
Switch on your HS190 drone and ensure that the green lights on the drone are switched on. Push both joysticks up and down. You will hear a beep to notify you that the drone has been calibrated.
5. The function of the Holy Stone HS190 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 Holy Stone HS190 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.
360° Flip: This function works perfectly. The drone is capable of drifting backward, forward, to the left, and also to the right.
Best Alternatives to the Holy Stone HS190
In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Holy Stone HS190 to give you more options:
1. Holy Stone HS720E (Best Overall Holy Stone Drone)
In my opinion, the Holy Stone HS720E is the best holy stone drone. It’s easy to use, has advanced flight mode, & comes with dual batteries for a more fun time and a 4K EIS anti-shake camera with a Sony sensor
2. DJI Mavic Mini (Best DJI Alternatives)
The DJI Mavic Mini is my best DJI alternative to the Holy Stone HS190. What I like about the Mavic Mini is that it has a long flight time of 30 minutes. Not just that, it comes with a triple battery for triple the fun and a 2.7K HD camera attached to a 3-axis gimbal that provides camera stability and smooth footage.
3. Holy Stone HS430 (Best Budget Holy Stone Drone)
The Holy Stone HS430 is my best-budget Holy Stone drone. It’s pocket-sized, easy to use, and comes with all the basic features and functions of premium drones on the market without the expensive price tag.
Holy Stone HS190 Safety Tips
Below are some safety tips you should be aware of before flying your Holy Stone HS190 to ensure a fun and safe flight for you and everyone around you:
- For your safety and that of the drone, avoid flying near or over obstacles, high-voltage power lines, crowds, trees, water bodies, and airports.
- The minimum recommended flying age for the HS190 is 16 years.
- You’re advised to fly in open areas, where you can maintain a line of sight and preferably below heights of 120 meters.
- Be careful with rotating motors and propellers, and keep a distance to avoid ear damage by the drone’s nose.
- Avoid flying in extreme weather conditions such as rain, fog, snow, and strong wind.
- Avoid flying the drone when tired, under the influence of alcohol, under medication, or when in any physical discomfort.
- Keep the drone clean and well-maintained.
- Read the user manual thoroughly before flying the HS190.
- 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 takeoff.
- 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 Holy Stone HS190
Overall, the Holy Stone HS190 is one of the best mini drones for beginners and kids. Its simple features are easy to get a handle on. The HS190 is one of the best indoor drones on the market.
Remember that this is a toy drone with amazing features that are also found in professional drones. Avoid flying in windy conditions and environments with lots of obstacles like trees.
As an added plus, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg (lol) to buy this drone. The Holy Stone HS190 is worth its price and more. It is sure to make your loved ones happy when gifted to them.
You can also check out the best Holy Stone drones to see the reviews of various drones from the Holy Stone series to see the benefits they have in store for you.
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