Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Holy Stone HS340 review.
The Holy Stone HS340 is perfect for beginners, kids, and teenagers. The HS340 controls mimic those of an expensive drone. You don’t want to buy an expensive drone and crash it the next day. So, getting a handle on a mini drone is better than flying more expensive drones.
The Holy Stone HS340 mini is a spectacular drone that stands out in the mini drone market.
Like most mini drones, it is not GPS enabled; however, unlike most mini drones, it has a 720p camera capable of taking decent videos and pictures. This budget drone will make an excellent gift for your family and friends.
In this Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340
- What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS340 Box
- Holy Stone HS340 Specifications
- Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS340
- Holy Stone HS340 Pros and Cons
- Holy Stone HS340 Set Up
- Best Alternatives to the Holy Stone HS340
- Holy Stone HS340 Safety Tips
- Final Thoughts on the Holy Stone HS340
Quick Overview of the Holy Stone HS340
The Holy Stone HS340 is capable of doing 360 flips, fast spins, and circular orbits. The HS340 is fitted with a 720p camera for videos and photos. The HS340 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 HS340 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.
If you are in the market for a drone that you can practice with before moving on to a more professional drone, then the HS340 is the drone for you.
What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS340 Box
- 1 x HS340 Drone and Transmitter;
- 2 x Drone Batteries;
- 4 x Extra Propellers;
- 4 x Extra Propeller Guards;
- 1 x USB Charging Cable;
- 1 x Screwdriver;
- 1 x Dust Cover;
- 1 x Phone Holder
- 1 x Instructions for Use
Holy Stone HS340 Specifications
- Weight: 50 g / 1.76 oz
- Dimension: 173 x 180 x 38 mm
- Flight Time: 11 minutes
- Charging Time: 60 minutes
- FPV Distance: 98 feet / 30 m
- Flight Distance: 131 feet / 40 m
- Camera Frequency: 2.4Ghz
- Video/photo Resolution: HD 1280X720P
Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS340
Let’s go over the features of the Holy Stone HS340 and its benefits to users.
Design and Build
The Holy Stone HS340 has a compact design. The HS340 is pretty unique in its design. This drone can be classified as a small drone, measuring 173 x 180 x 38 mm.
The Holy Stone HS340 weighs about 50 g (1.76 oz). Even though it is small in size, unlike other mini drones, the HS340 handles moderately windy conditions very well, and it does not cut back in mobility or speed. The HS340 weighs less than 250 grams, so you do not have to register it with the FAA before flying.
In all honesty, because of its size, it will always drift in extremely windy conditions. Unlike other mini drones, the HS340 does not drift in moderate winds, making it suitable for outdoor and indoor flight.
The HS340 has a 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 HS340 is powered by a 3.7V 500mAh Li-Po battery that gives it a 9-minute flight time, which is different from the 10-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.
After testing, the Holy Stone HS340 battery takes around 40 minutes to charge completely. The HS340 box comes with two batteries and a battery adapter charger capable of charging at least two batteries at a time.
The battery charger can be connected to a USB circuit or any device with a USB outlet. if all the batteries are charged. You can enjoy up to 18 minutes of flight time.
Camera
The Holy Stone HS340 is equipped with a 720p camera that can take pretty decent shots, and the video quality is 720p. In all honesty, because there are phones with quality cameras nowadays, the drone footage may not be up to par.
The wide-angle lens has a 120-degree field of view that can capture maximum details in your shot. while the adjustable 900 camera lens can capture photos and videos from different perspectives.
The HS340 comes with a fixed camera without a gimbal, so you have to know, how to fly properly to get stable shots. that can be manually adjusted.
Remote Control
The Holy Stone HS340 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 dial, and flip/rotation button.
The first thing you notice is that the remote controller has a great grip. You will find the on/off button at the center of the remote controller. Two joysticks for drone control.
The take-off/ trim button is on the left. Short press to take off, and long press to activate the trim function (to use the trim function, long press the button and direct with the joystick). The camera and video buttons are on the upper left side of the remote controller (short press for the camera, long press for video).
On the back of the remote controller is the speed button to the left (you have to tap to change the drone speed to any of the 3 different speed modes). To the right is the flip button (does not work unless the battery is fully charged).
In case you lose control of your drone or it flies towards a tree, wall, or someone’s face. You can initiate the emergency stop feature by pressing and holding down the speed and flip buttons. There are other features like “rotating drone” (press and hold the speed button) and “orbit mode” (press and hold the flip button). The remote comes with triple-A batteries that are enclosed underneath with a screw.
Control Range
The Holy Stone HS340 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
Speed and Power
The Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy to carry. The Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340 Pros and Cons
Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Holy Stone HS340
Pros: What I Like About the Holy Stone HS340
- 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
- It has a decent camera
- Handles 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 HS340
- 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 HS340 Set Up
I’ll go over some basic setups for the Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340
The first step is to charge the Holy Stone HS340 batteries with the battery charger provided in the box. You should not use any other charger except for the specific charger given to you (to avoid battery damage or explosion).
The remote controller is not rechargeable, and If in the event it stops working, you can unscrew the lid and change the batteries.
2. Assembling the Holy Stone HS340
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 HS340 With Your Smartphone
The next step is to pair the Holy Stone HS340 drone with your smartphone
1) Download the Holy Stone app on your phone – free
2) Turn on the controller.
3) Switch on the drone’s battery. The battery’s lights will show the charge level; four lights indicate a full charge. Before successful pairing and calibration, the drone’s lights will flash white and pink/red.
4) Go to the WiFi section of your phone’s settings and choose the Holy Stone WIFI signal.
5) Click the “Enter Device” button in the app’s first page’s center after launching the Holy Stone app.
4. Pairing the Holy Stone HS340 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.
5. Calibrating the Gyro of the Holy Stone, HS340
Switch on your HS340 drone and ensure that the green and red lights on the bottom are switched on. Push both joysticks up and down. You will hear a beep to notify you that the drone has been calibrated.
6. Function of the Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340 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.
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 HS340
In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340. 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 HS340 Safety Tips
Below are some safety tips you should be aware of before flying your Holy Stone HS340 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 HS340 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 HS340.
- 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 HS340
The Holy Stone HS340 gives its users the best of both worlds. The HS340 is fast and portable, it also has a camera, which is not a feature in most mini drones. Overall, the Holy Stone HS340 is one of the best mini drones for beginners and kids. The HS340 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.
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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