The Holy Stone HS720G drone is a mid-range drone that offers a good balance of features and performance for its price point. It comes equipped with a 4K camera that can capture high-quality video and photos and has a transmission range of up to 500 meters.
One of the standout features of the HS720G is its long battery life, which can last up to 26 minutes on a single charge. The HS720G also includes GPS capabilities, which can help you to fly it more accurately and safely. It has three intelligent flight modes, including Follow Me and Orbit Mode and comes with an automatic return to home function.
Overall, the Holy Stone HS720G is a solid choice for anyone looking for a mid-range drone with good performance, features, and battery life. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive drones, it offers a lot of value for its price and is a great option for beginners.
Key Features
- HD camera with 120° FOV
- Captures 4k images
- Records video footage in 4k at 30fps
- Electronic image stabilisation
- Intelligent flight modes
- 26 minutes of flight time
- Transmission range of 500 meters
Hi, and welcome to my review of the Holy Stone HS720G. This is the third version in the Holy Stone 720 series and maybe their best drone yet. As many of you may know, Holy Stone is a popular brand for low-cost drones. Their drones are very popular with beginner pilots and enthusiasts as they are easy and fun to fly. In this review, we shall explore the main features of the HS720G that will allow you to make an informed decision on whether to purchase this or look at an alternative.
Do You Need To Register The HS720G?
Whether you need to register this drone will depend on where you live and the local laws regarding operating drones for recreational use.
For example, if you live in the USA, you must register any drone weighing above 250 grams with the FAA. This HS720G meets these criteria, so you must register it if you live in the USA. If you are new to flying drones, you must also pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).
Those living in the UK must obtain an Operator ID and a Flyer ID from the CAA. If you live anywhere else, please check with your local aviation authority.
Holy Stone HS720G Review – Design
If you are familiar with the 720 series from Holy Stone, it will come as no surprise that the HS720G has very similar design features to its predecessors.
The Holy Stone 720 drones are aesthetically pleasing, and the HS720G is no different. It has a compact foldable design that measures 305x230x63mm when it is unfolded and weighs 377g. It’s a very lightweight drone but feels sturdy and not at all cheap.
The drone has a futuristic look with its all-black colour scheme and LED lights on the end of each arm.
These lights are not only there for aesthetic reasons but also to help troubleshoot any issues that may arise. A couple of optical sensors have been fitted on the bottom to help stabilise the drone in areas where the GPS signal is weak.
The drone is powered by an intelligent battery that provides it with 26 minutes of flight time, although you will most likely get around 22-24 minutes.
The remote controller is the same one used for the 720 and 720E; it’s small and has an LCD screen in the middle that displays vital telemetry data about the drone. There is a smartphone attachment on top, and a pair of handles that fold out from the bottom, provide a better grip.
There are buttons for take-off/landing, switching speed mode, and capturing videos and images. The controller requires 2 AA batteries which are not included, which is a shame.
You must download the Ophelia Fly App to access the drone’s advanced features, FPV and camera settings. On a side note, not all smartphones will be compatible with this drone; if your phone is compatible with 5G technology, it will be compatible. However, if not, you may have problems connecting to the drone.
Holy Stone HS720G Camera
The Holy Stone HS720G has a decent camera with a 120° FOV and can record 4k video footage at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps. Although, you can only get this resolution if you record onto a memory card. The drone has a memory card slot, and its maximum capacity is 128GB; however, you will need to purchase one as none is provided with the drone. As you can see from the video below, the quality of the video footage is very good and stable, you can hardly notice any shake, and that is because of the 2-axis gimbal that stabilises the camera as well as the electronic image stabilisation feature.
The drone captures images in 4k; if you record the image on your smartphone, it will only record in 1080p and not 4k. For 4k images, you will need to capture them locally onto a micro SD card.
The FPV feed is also good, as long as the weather is decent and you keep the drone within the maximum transmission range, which is around 500 meters.
The camera angle can be controlled 90° downwards, and it also has a zoom function, which isn’t very good as it makes the image look grainy the more you zoom in.
Overall, the camera is impressive; is it worth its price? That comes down to your preference, I think it is, but I still prefer the DJI Mini SE over this drone, despite the Mini SE having a camera that records videos in 2.7k and not 4k.
Intelligent Features
Like many low-cost drones, the HS720G comes with three autonomous flight modes; these flight modes are probably one of the reasons drones have become so popular, as they are fun to play around with.
The three intelligent flight modes are:
Follow me – The drone locks on your mobile device and follows you.
Tap fly – This allows you to draw a flight path on the app map, and the drone automatically flies along that route.
Point of interest – The drone will orbit your position; you can adjust the height and radius to your requirement.
The drone also comes with an automatic return-to-home function; this safety feature can be activated manually via the remote controller or the app and is activated automatically whenever the drone loses connection or the battery gets low on charge.
One thing to note when using these functions is that the drone has no obstacle avoidance system, so you must be aware of your surroundings and make sure not to crash the drone by mistake.
Flight Performance
So, how does the drone fly? It flies well, as you would expect from a Holy Stone drone. It’s easy to operate as long as you operate in GPS mode; if you are an experienced drone pilot, you may switch off GPS and fly faster. The drone also holds up well in slightly windy conditions, although I would recommend beginners refrain from flying, where controlling the drone will be challenging.
Holy Stone HS720G vs DJI Mini SE
The main competitor for the HS720G (I’m not including the other drones in the 720 series) is the DJI Mini SE. Although I prefer the Mini SE, the Holy Stone HS720G does come with some features that are not available with the Mini SE, such as the ability to record 4k videos and the autonomous flight modes.
However, the Mini SE does have a pretty good camera and can record HD videos in 2.7k at 30fps and is stabilised by a 3-axis gimbal. The Mini SE also gives you more control over the camera and how you want to record videos and images. The drone also has a longer flight time and transmission range.
Who Should Buy This Drone?
If you are a complete beginner and looking for an easy-to-fly drone with some cool features, the Holy Stone HS720G is worth considering. If you are looking for an alternative to the Holy Stone 720E and Holy Stone 720, the 720G is a good choice and comes with improved features.
Final Thoughts
This is a very good drone from Holy Stone; it’s suitable for beginners and drone hobbyists and is enjoyable to fly. I recommend it; however, if you are looking for alternatives, check out my list of the best drones under $300.
