A Holy Stone HS100 review should mention the features not common to entry-level drones that the HS100 carries. Namely the vast control range and the fantastic, 2K camera. It’s easy to see why it’s considered a best follow me drone and a best VR drone for these two reasons alone. The lack of a gimbal stabilizer is unfortunate, though, so be prepared for some possibly shaky videos.
However, read our Crazepony Sonicmodell Flywing review and our Blade Chroma review for drones that don’t record shaky videos. Moreover, while the videos may be shaky on the Holy Stone HS100, it still makes it on our list of the leading drones you can buy.
Why We Like It – Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100
Similar to the Holy Stone HS200, the Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 is an excellent entry-level mid-range drone for those who want to try getting their feet wet. Three-speed settings ensure the drone will fly at the pace you set, and the 16 minutes of flight time is an excellent starting point for beginner drones.
- Powerful Motors For Altitude Hold
- 350-600m Control Range
- Can Shoot in 2K
- No Obstacle Avoidance
- Three Hour Charge Time
- No Gimbal Stabilizer
Speed/Power
The Holy Stone HS100 Drone comes with 3-speed settings and, although there are no direct specs given on speed, many Amazon customer reviews have commented on how fast it can go. If you’d like something that has direct specs, consider the DJI Mavic Air 2. The HS100 is also equipped with large and powerful motors so that its altitude holds even on windy days. Headless mode and one key take-off and landing also help with this stability.
Range
Unlike the Potensic T25 FPV RC drone, the HS100 RC Drone can be controlled from a maximum range of 600m or 350m if you’re flying in FPV mode. The drone’s flight time in real-world conditions is 16 minutes. That may sound a little low, and it is, but it’s acceptable for an entry-level model. Charge time is three hours, though, which is a lot of sacrifices considering the flight time. If you’d like a longer flight time, try the DJI Mavic Mini.
Durability
The Holy Stone sits right on the edge of the mid-range drone market. It’s big, yes, but not big enough to weigh you down. It’s 1.73 pounds, and while that may be weighty when talking about mid-range drones it’s still not heavy by any stretch of the imagination. Further, this weight helps it to stabilize itself in windy conditions, so we’re considering this a plus.
Camera Features
One of the best things about the HS100 drone is that the HD camera can shoot in 2K, which is more than what most entry-level drones can say. But if you desperately need 4K shooting, consider the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. The camera lives on the bottom of the drone, pretty standard, but lacks a gimbal stabilizer. So in harsh conditions, your videos may come out a little shaky.
Value
The Return Home feature is an excellent failsafe feature that makes the drone go back home automatically if you are ever out of range. The HS100 also comes with a remote controller if you prefer controlling it the old-school way instead of via smartphone. One feature that’s not included is obstacle avoidance, so make sure you’re using the drone in the open air to avoid damage.
Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 Wrap Up
It’s hard to justify a three-hour charge time, especially in this day and age. But unfortunately, it’s something you’re going to have to live with. Still, The Holy Stone HS100 drone is fantastic in every other capacity. And when you feel like you want to make the step to a more advanced drone the features won’t be as daunting.
