Holy Stone HS120d Review –

Holy Stone HS120D drone is based on modern technology and has amazing features. Moreover, the price of the drone is very reasonable and budget-friendly. It is usually difficult to get all the good features and functions at such a low price. This article provides a review of the features and functions of the Holy Stone HS120D drone.

Our Verdict in a Glance

Holy Stone HS120d Drone comes with better pictures, 1080p videos and steadier FPV views provided by the 2K Full HD camera having 120° FOV and 75° adjustable wide-angle. With the help of the Follow Me mode, you can instruct the drone to follow you wherever you go. The Tap-fly can be used to design the path for the drone to fly. The drone can be operated with Gesture controls.

With the help of the GPS positioning, the automatically returns back when the battery is low, the signal is weak, or lost. It comes with features like Headless Mode, Altitude Hold and One Key Start/Landing functions which makes it perfect for kids and beginners. It provides 18 minutes of powerful flight and control range of 300M.

Design

The HS120D has a strong built and good design compared to many other classic quadcopters. The weight is less and it is durable even if the body is made up of plastic. The plastic body might not sound very appealing but the high-quality materials used in this drone will not disappoint its users. It won’t easily damage even after a lot of crashes. This drone is also foldable. This quality of drones is mostly found in pricier models.

The carrying case is not available in the package therefore, you need to buy one yourself. As already told the drone is very lightweight therefore, it reduces the risk of momentum-based injuries. The drone’s camera is attached in the middle. There is a protruding landing gear around the camera that protects it. Each arm of the rotor has an LED indicator to provide clear visibility and calibration.

The drone also consists of propellers, propeller shields and landing gear to increase damage protection.

Battery Life

The battery life of the HS120D drone is longer when compared to other drones in the same price range. It operates on a 1200 mAh LiPo battery. The drone can be operated for 18 minutes of continuous flight time. However, the time might vary with the speed of the drone. About 60 to 90 minutes of average charging time is required for the drone. The time is not bad compared to the other same range models.

No extra battery packs are provided with the package. You need to buy a battery if you require one. If you want to operate the drone for longer hours or multiple times in one sitting, then the manufacturers of the drone advise you to let it rest for about 10 minutes per flight.

Camera

The HS120D comes with a 1080p Full HD camera having a wide field of view of exactly 120°. A 75° vertical allowance is also provided by the drone’s camera. This provides a wide range or angle for capturing different pictures. The FPV mode of the drone can be accessed through the Holy Drone smartphone app. This provides increased control over the craft, particularly for long-distance runs.

To a clear video playback on the FPV’s live feed in full 1080p resolution, the camera of the drone is adjusted to match the requirements of the transmission signal. The Altitude Hold feature makes it very easy to take pictures, selfies and videos with the drone. The HS120D drone performs well with the balance point of view. Therefore, there are the least chances of getting blurry pictures.

Features

• GPS/GLONASS Tracking- A GPS/GLONASS system is provided in most of the drone’s to ensure their stability during the flight. The HS120D also has this feature which makes its mid-air flight very stable. It becomes more noticeable when set to hover, attaining excellent balance. This makes capturing stills very easy.
• Follow Me- If you want to move around then the following feature becomes a great option. The drone actually follows the controller so by keeping the controller in your hand you can make it follow you around.
• TapFly- The TapFly feature is a great feature, mostly seen in premium drones. The HS120D also provides you with this feature. You can draw a path on an app layout on the screen of your smartphone hand by activating this feature the drone will fly along the direction of the path. This mode is a great option for cinematic sweeping of the surrounding. It allows you to focus on the camera movement as the drone makes it way through the path.
• One Key Takeoff/Landing- By pressing the One Key Take-off/Landing button you can take off all and the drone very easily. This feature is very handy for beginners as it eases down the learning of the controls and also provides safety. However, this mode should be used only during emergencies.
• Altitude Hold- The Altitude Hold feature provides the facility to hold the drone in a particular position. This mode is helpful for beginners to take a slow learning process or to take videos and selfies with the drone.
• Headless Mode- The Headless Mode is used to fly the drone in the forward direction of the controller irrespective of the position of the camera. It reduces the risk of the drone going off a path at the time of manual manoeuvres.
• Return To Home- The Return To Home function is one of the modern functions provided in the drone. This mode is useful in recording the takeoff position of the drone. It is useful at times when the battery level is low, loss of transmission signal, and other inevitable problems.

Ease Of Use

The HS120D drone is very easy to fly and comprises smart and safe features. This drone is ideal for kids and adults and the difficulty level of a flying head is very low. The controller can be folded when it is not being used. This model is ideally known for its basic joystick layout and easy access ability to the power and GPS button. The edges of the drone have camera angles and drone speed controls.

This can be easily adjusted by scroll wheel type controls. The LED control on the controller it needs to be observed. It is used to indicate when some feature is activated or there is a need to be addressed, for example, low battery. The FPV mode of the drone can be activated by the Holy Drone app. This provides full control of the drone when it is in the air.

The button layout on the controller is the same as on the app which makes it convenient to choose from the different modes required for you. You can use the app to take off the default beginners mode and set new parameters based on the level of your skill. To provide a good view of the flight path the app comes with a handy option of syncing with the GPS. This app also keeps the record of the flights and stores the corresponding data.

Flight Performance

The HS120D drone having GPS assistance is perfect for beginners. It is embedded with intuitive and automated features search as the One Key Takeoff/Land function. This drone provides a very great experience of flying it. The beginner’s mode is very helpful and easy to control the drone.

After learning the features of the drone properly you can disable the builder’s model and set the flight parameters like speed and distance according to your skill level with the help of the Holy Drone smartphone app. The drone has a great well-balanced design which gives competition to many other forms of the same range. It is very easy and fun to record videos and shoot pictures from the drone which are very clear.

Pros

• Chargeable remote
• Lightweight and well-built
• Ergonomic remote
• Good quality videos and pictures
• The camera can be tilted using the remote to change the view
• Remote has handles, making the operation of the drone easier and convenient.
• Quick pre-flight calibrations
• Camera streaming is smooth.
• Great battery flight time
• Easy to use. Ideal for a beginner

Cons

• Initially setting up the GPS sync can be difficult.
• Might face problems while pairing it with the smartphone
• Manual might not be updated
• Initially, the remote might be sticky
• When manually landing, you have to press the emergency stop button.
• Watching the VR and camera screen is difficult in low altitudes.
• The camera does not provide high detail videos or photos of the landscapes
• The camera becomes blurry when it is a few meters far

Conclusion

If you are a newbie to using the drone, there is no requirement of going for high priced drones. The Holy Stone HS120D is the perfect beginner-friendly drone available at a great price. It also comes with intuitive features and functions. The specifications and build quality of the drone is excellent. The performance and balance of the drone are stable and smooth. The picture quality and recording quality of the drone is better than other drones available at the same price range.