Hello, drone enthusiasts! Welcome to my Holy Stone HS450 review.
The Holy Stone HS450 should, hands down, be your very first drone. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is dominating the mini drone market like Holy Stone. The HS450 comes equipped with cool features that are pretty unique.
The Holy Stone HS450 is perfect for beginners to drone flying. Its durability and ease of use make it the perfect starter drone for beginners, especially kids. While the HS450 is not a GPS drone, it does have an internal miniature barometer.
The HS450 holds well during the flight, and it has sensors for obstacle avoidance. This budget drone will make an excellent gift for your family and friends.
In this Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450
- What’s Inside The Holy Stone HS450 Box
- Holy Stone HS450 Specifications
- Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS450
- Holy Stone HS450 Pros and Cons
- Holy Stone HS450 Set Up
- Best Alternatives to the Holy Stone HS450
- Holy Stone HS450 Safety Tips
- Final Thoughts on the Holy Stone HS450
Quick Overview of the Holy Stone HS450
The Holy Stone HS450’s unique obstacle avoidance feature distinguishes it from other Holy Stone mini drones. The HS450 is capable of performing the eight axes of flight (forward pitch, backward pitch, left roll, right roll, and yaw left and right yaw). It is equipped with a “headless mode” feature and compact, durable brushed motors. It has an automatic take-off button and a 3-speed range mode. This drone is very durable, which is why it is perfect for beginners.
The Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450 Box
- 1 x HS450 Drone and Transmitter;
- 3 x Drone Batteries;
- 4 x Extra Propellers;
- 2 x USB Charging Cable;
- 1 x Screwdriver;
- 1 x Propeller Screwdriver;
- 1 x Instructions for Use
Holy Stone HS450 Specifications
- Weight: 35g/1.2 OZ
- Dimension: 89 x 89 x 39mm
- Flight Time: 6 Minutes x3
- Charging Time: 40 Minutes
- Transmitter Range: 164 Feet
Features and Benefits of the Holy Stone HS450
Let’s go over the features of the Holy Stone HS450 and its benefits to users.
Design and Build
The Holy Stone HS450’s distinct design sets it apart from other mini drones. With prop guards on, it can be confused with Holy Stone HS420. This drone can be classified as a small drone measuring 80 x 80 x 30 mm
The Holy Stone, HS450, weighs about 35g (1.2 oz). Even though it is small in size, it does not cut back in mobility or speed. The HS450 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.
On top of the HS450 is a detachable battery. The battery should be placed correctly in its compartment and plugged into the drone.
Battery Flight Time
The Holy Stone HS450 is powered by a 3.7V 300mAh Li-Po battery that gives it a 6-minute flight time, which is different from the 7-minute flight time that’s advertised on the sales page.
After testing, the Holy Stone HS450 battery takes around 20-30 minutes to charge completely. The HS450 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 18 minutes of flight time.
Remote Control
The Holy Stone HS450 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 button.
The first thing you notice is that the remote controller has a great grip. You will find the on/off button underneath the remote controller. Two joysticks for drone control.
The automatic take-off button is on the left, and the headless mode button (press and hold for gyro calibration) is on the right. I recommend that you do not use the headless mode until you have completely mastered basic flight.
The speed button is on the left side. This drone has three-speed modes you can use interchangeably (normal, medium, and fast). If you are a beginner, I recommend you start with medium, as slow mode tends to lag.
The flip button is on the right side. Ensure that you perform flips when the batteries are full and not low. Crashes can occur if flips are done on a low battery. The remote comes with triple-A batteries that are enclosed underneath with a screw.
Control Range
The Holy Stone HS450 has a maximum range of 60 meters. Because these drones lack GPS and are small, they should not be flown above your line of sight or beyond their maximum range. Your drone may end up missing, and if the battery runs out, there will be no way to locate it.
The HS450 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 HS450 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
Durability
Like most other drones, the Holy Stone HS450 is made of plastic (reinforced plastic). The drone is light and very easy to carry.
The Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450 Pros and Cons
Here, I’ll go over what I like and don’t like about the Holy Stone HS450
Pros: What I Like About the Holy Stone HS450
- 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 well when flying indoors
- It is pretty durable
- It comes with fixed propeller guards
- 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.
- It has sensors for obstacle avoidance
- 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 HS450
- 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
Holy Stone HS450 Set Up
I’ll go over some basic setups for the Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450
The first step is to charge the Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450
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 HS450 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 HS450
Switch on your HS450 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, or you can press and hold the headless mode to calibrate the drone gyro.
5. The function of the Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450 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 it tends 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 HS450
In this section, I’ll share with you three alternatives to the Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450. 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 HS450 Safety Tips
Below are some safety tips you should be aware of before flying your Holy Stone HS450 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 HS450 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 HS450.
- 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 HS450
The Holy Stone HS450 is perfect for beginners to learn the orientation of flying before moving on to a more sophisticated drone.
Overall, the Holy Stone HS450 is one of the best, if not the best, drones for beginners. It may have simple features, but the flight experience is sophisticated and top-notch.
Remember that this is a toy drone with unique features that are also found in professional drones. The HS450 is an indoor drone and will not perform optimally in windy conditions outdoors due to its size.
As an added plus, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg (lol) to get this drone. The holy stone 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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