Holy Stone HS360 Review 2023 (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Holy Stone HS360 review.

If you want to talk about the top five Holy Stone drones. I am sure that the Holy Stone HS360 will make that category. The HS360 is perfect for both beginners and professionals.

Holy Stone is a Chinese drone manufacturer known for selling consumer drones at low prices to the general public. The Holy Stone HS360 comes equipped with all the features required for a drone of its caliber, and the HS360 is famous for being fast and durable. 

Its accessories, like GPS, “return to home” headless mode, and altitude hold, are super elite and updated, so you don’t get to miss out on a lot of fun. It is a great budget drone for people who do not want to break the bank when buying their first drone.

In this Holy Stone HS360 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 HS360

Holy Stone HS360 Review

The Holy Stone HS360 comes equipped with an amazing 4K HD camera with a 2-axis gimbal fitted with vibration-damping mounts that mimic a 3-axis gimbal. Videos and pictures can be stored on the SD card or phone through the drone app. With its “return to home” button, the chances of you losing your drone are almost non-existent unless you are actively trying. 

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The Holy Stone HS360 is one of those drones that skirts the border between professional and recreational. This drone is ideal for beginners because it is simple to operate. The flight controls figures will undoubtedly prepare you for a fun and adventurous flight.

The Holy Stone HS360 is one of those drones that skirts the border between professional and recreational. This drone is ideal for beginners because it is simple to operate. The flight controls figures will undoubtedly prepare you for a fun and adventurous flight.

What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS360 Box

• 1 x HS360 RC Drone
• 1 x Transmitter
• 2 x Batteries
• 1 x USB Charging Cable
• 4 x Extra Propellers
• 1 x Manual
• 1 x Screwdriver

Holy Stone HS360 Specifications

• Weight:276g/9.74oz
• Size:11.02 x 8.26 x 2.16 inches (unfolded) 5.62 x 3.46 x 2.16 Inches (Folded)
• Flight Distance:2624~3277 feet / 800~900 m
• FPV Distance:984~1640 feet / 300~500 m
• Flight Time:23 min
• Charging Time:6 hours
• Operating Temperature Range:41°F to +104°F (0°C to +40°C)
• Operating Frequency:5Ghz
• Lens Angle: FOV 118°
• Adjustable Range: -80°~0°
• Resolution in TF Card: 2.5K(2560x 1440P)
• Resolution on a mobile phone: Photo: 4K(3840x2160P) Video: 1920x1080P
• Live View Quality:30fps
• Supported TF Card:128GB (Not included)

Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS360

Let’s go over the features of the Holy Stone HS360 and its benefits to users.

Design and Build

The Holy Stone HS360 has a very compact and sturdy design. The HS360 camera is lodged underneath with a vibration-damping system that helps camera stability. This drone can be classified as a medium size drone with measurements of 11.02 x 8.26 x 2.16 inches.

Just like most advanced Holy Stone drones, this one weighs more than 250 grams; this weight can be an advantage when flying in windy conditions, and even with its weight, the HS360 is pretty fast. Given that it weighs more than 250 grams, you will have to register it with the FAA before flying.

In the spirit of honesty, most drones are going to be difficult to fly in windy conditions. The HS360 is not in that category, and with its powerful brushless motors, you are sure to have a stable and balanced flight.                    

The detachable battery fits in a hole that can be found on the back of the drone, while the camera is fixed underneath the drone to give it enough clearance to capture footage from different angles.

Battery Flight Time

The Holy Stone HS360 is powered by a 7.6V, 2000mAh Li-Po battery that gives it a 20-minute flight time, which is different from the 24-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.

After testing, the Holy Stone HS360 battery takes around 2 hours to charge completely, which is impressive compared with other drones of similar size and battery that usually take 5 hours to charge completely.

You can always have two batteries on hand; that way, you get up to 40 minutes of flight time, so purchasing extra batteries may be the way to go.  

Camera

The Holy Stone HS360 is equipped with a 4K camera with an operational frequency of 5 GHz that is sure to take decent shots and record video in ultra-clear 1080p. 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 90-degree adjustable camera lens can capture photos and videos from different perspectives.

The HS360 camera is equipped with a vibration-damping system to give the camera some stability for overhead shots. Videos recorded on the drone SD card will have a higher resolution than those streamed and saved on your phone.

However, do not expect the videos to be of the same quality as those from other, significantly more expensive drones.

Remote Control

The Holy Stone HS360 remote is great to handle; the HS360 remote controller is pretty unique and different from most Holy Stone remote controllers. 

The remote control is not difficult to figure out; it’s pretty straightforward, like the power button, takeoff button, and land button.

First, you have to unfold the remote controller by releasing the antenna and attaching the phone holder. On the back of the remote controller (right) is the video and camera button (long press for video and short press for the camera). Under this button is the speed button.

Still on the back of the remote controller (left) is the gimbal turning button used for balancing the camera to take still shots during flight.

The front of the button has the power button to switch on the remote controller and a LED screen to show you the battery level and if the GPS is on and connected. The left side has the gyro button (press and hold this button to reset the gyro) and the take-off button.

Still on the front of the controller to right is the GPS button, which has a dual purpose (short press to switch on/off the GPS and long press to perform a trim)

The remote comes with four A-batteries at the back of the controller. You have to download the Holy Stone drone app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices, to connect your smartphone to the drone and also utilize the FPV feature.

Control Range

The Holy Stone HS360 has a maximum range of 900 meters before it loses connection with your smartphone and remote control. The good thing about this drone is that it will continue to record footage even after it loses connection and save it to the SD card attached to the camera.

Another advantage of the Holy Stone HS360 is that it saves you money on repairs and replacements by automatically activating its Return to Home function during low battery, weak signal, or when flying out of range and returning to its initial launch position so you don’t lose it due to crashes and damages.

GPS-Assisted Flight Experience

The GPS-assisted flight feature provides you with accurate positioning details for your drone. If the GPS is on, it enables the return home function, just in case you lose sight of the drone.

Speed and Power

The Holy Stone HS360 comes with a 4-speed mode, which can be adjusted from the left-hand side of the controller to vary your speed during flight. 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 HS360 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy.

The Holy Stone HS360 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 HS360 Pros and Cons

Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Holy Stone HS360

Pros: What I Like About the Holy Stone HS360

• The drone is pretty easy to fly.
• Its camera is pretty sharp
• The GPS signal is very strong and does not lag
• Its user interface is pretty basic, and novice fliers will quickly catch up.
• Very reliable and fun to use for beginners
• Doesn’t have glitches or problems.
• It comes right out of the box ready to use
• Very super simple to calibrate
• GPS mode enables precise positioning and prevents losing the drone
• Built-in altitude hold function allows the drone to fly while its height locked
• It has amazing specs like GPS, a “follows me” mode, a return to home, and intelligent batteries.
• Instruction manuals are easy to follow (they did a great job transmitting from Chinese to English)
• It records and saves your footage on both the SD card on the drone and your phone’s memory.

Cons: What I Don’t Like About The Holy Stone HS360

• It can be difficult to fly in high winds.
• The phone holder on the remote controller is not really efficient
• The 4k camera drains the battery power faster
• 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 HS360 Set Up

I’ll go over some basic setups for the Holy Stone HS360 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 HS360

The first step is to charge the Holy Stone HS360 drone battery with the USB cord. Unfortunately, only one USB cable is provided in the package, so you’ll either have to wait for one of them to get full before charging the other or simply buy another USB cable.

2. Assembling the Holy Stone HS360

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 HS360 With Your Smartphone

The next step is to pair the Holy Stone HS360 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. Calibrating the GPS of the Holy Stone HS360

This is the final step you have to take before you can begin flying the drone.

Step #1: Switch on your drone and the remote controller, and flip the joysticks upwards when everything is on.

Step #2: Rotate the drone counterclockwise while it is on the ground by standing above it, looking down at it from above, and rotating it while it is on the ground as if you were turning off a faucet. When this is successful, two of the drone’s lights ought to cease flashing and go blue.

Step #3: Turn the drone 90 degrees so that it is on its side, then spin it so that the propeller guards are perpendicular to the ground and rotating in a plane that is parallel to the ground. The second time you correctly spin the drone, the second pair of lights will cease flashing and turn white. So, the drone’s four lights—two of which are white and two of which are blue—are all solid and not flashing.

Step #4: Press the joystick in and flip it down to switch on the propellers. With that, your drone is ready for flight.

Simply step outdoors and choose a space free of obstructions like telephone or power wires.

Best Alternatives to the Holy Stone HS360

In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Holy Stone HS360 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 HS360. 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 HS360 Safety Tips

Below are some safety tips you should be aware of before flying your Holy Stone HS360 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 HS360 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 HS360.
• 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 HS360

The Holy Stone HS360 is one of the best Holy Stone drones you can find on the market for its price and features. The HS360 is perfect for both professionals and beginners. This drone is pretty durable and will make excellent presents for kids and teenagers.

You do not have to break the bank when buying your first drone. Plus, there is every probability that you are going to crash the drone. This will be a significant loss, and that is where the HS360 comes in with its affordability and professional features to provide that safe drone flying experience.

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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