Holy Stone HS420 Review 2023 (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Holy Stone HS420 review.

The Holy Stone HS420 is one of the best mini drones on the market. It set itself apart by being one of the few mini drones capable of taking pictures and recording video.

Holy Stone is a Chinese drone manufacturer known for selling consumer drones at low prices to the general public.

The Holy Stone HS420, like most mini drones, doesn’t have GPS functions. 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 HS420 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 HS420

Holy Stone HS420 Review

The Holy Stone HS420 is capable of doing 360 flips, fast spins, and circular orbits. It also has a 720p camera for videos and photos. The HS420 is capable of performing the eight axes of flight (forward pitch, backward pitch, left roll, right roll, and yaw left and right yaw). This drone is known to be pretty durable which is why it is perfect for beginners. 

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The Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 Box

• 1 x Drone and Transmitter;
• 2 x Drone Batteries;
• 2 x USB Charging Cable;
• 4 x Extra Propellers;
• 1 x Screwdriver;
• 1 x Propeller Spanner
• 1 x Instructions for Use

Holy Stone HS420 Specifications

• Weight:31g/1.1oz
• Size:84 x 90 x 34 mm
• Flight Distance:330 feet / 100 m
• FPV Distance:98 feet /30 m
• Flight Time:6 min x2
• Charging Time:60 min
• Camera Adjustable Range:-90°~0°
• Video / Photo Resolution: HD1280 x 720P
• Live View Quality:720P@20fps

Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS420

Let’s go over the features of the Holy Stone HS420 and its benefits to users.

Design and Build

The Holy Stone HS420 has a compact design. The HS420 is pretty unique in its design, but some will say it looks like the HS190. This drone can be classified as a small drone, measuring 84 x 90 x 34 mm.

The Holy Stone HS420 weighs about 31g/1.1oz. Even though it is small in size, it does not cut back in mobility or speed. The HS420 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 HS420 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 HS420 is powered by a 3.7V 300mAh Li-Po battery that gives it an 8-minute flight time, which is different from the 10-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.

After testing, the Holy Stone HS420 battery takes around 40 minutes to charge completely. The HS420 box comes with three 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 24 minutes of flight time.

Remote Control

The Holy Stone HS420 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 headless/trim button is on the lower left. Long press to activate the trim (to use the trim function, long press the button and direct with the joystick), and short press to activate the headless mode (you should not use this mode as a beginner).

The camera and video buttons are on the upper left side of the remote controller (short press for the camera, long press for video).

The speed dial is underneath the power button (there are only 2-speed modes). The take-off/land button is on the lower right of the remote controller (short press for take-off and long press to land).

I should warn you that if you long press the land button with your drone still flying, the propellers will stop working and your drone will crash.

On the upper right side of the remote is the 360-degree flip and rotation button (short press for 360-degree which flips and long press for rotation function).

At the back of the remote controller is the gimbal button (which will not work given that the gimbal on the HS420 can only be adjusted manually).

The remote comes with triple-A batteries that are enclosed underneath with a screw.

Camera

The Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 comes with a 2-axis gimbal camera that can be manually adjusted.

Control Range

The Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 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, I have not noticed any lag during the flight.

Speed and Power

The Holy Stone HS420 comes with a 2-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 HS420 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy to carry.

The Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 Pros and Cons

Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Holy Stone HS420

Pros: What I Like About the Holy Stone HS420

• 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 with a 2-axis gimbal
• 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 HS420

• 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 HS420 Set Up

I’ll go over some basic setups for the Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420

The first step is to charge the Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420

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 HS420 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. Pairing the Holy Stone HS420 With Your Smartphone

The next step is to pair the Holy Stone HS420 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 or 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.

5. Calibrating the Gyro of the Holy Stone HS420

Switch on your HS420 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.

6. The function of the Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 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 HS420

In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420. 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 HS420 Safety Tips

Below are some safety tips you should be aware of before flying your Holy Stone HS420 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 HS420 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 HS420.
• 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 HS420

The HS420 gives its users the best of both worlds. The HS420 is fast and portable, it also has a camera, which is not a feature in most mini drones.

Overall, the Holy Stone HS420 is one of the best mini drones for beginners and kids. The HS420 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 HS420 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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