Holy Stone HS720E drone review

Is this the cheapest GPS drone with a 4K camera? If so, why spend more?

Holy Stone HS720E review
(Image: © Adam Juniper / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The HS720E’s 4K camera doesn’t have a gimbal for perfect stability, yet it manages to capture surprisingly steady images which are enjoyable to watch and crisp in detail. Stills aren’t so good, but Photoshop can still make them useful. Overall this drone has a lot to offer a creator on a budget, or someone looking for a toy which won’t just be abandoned after the first use.

Pros

  • +

    Landing lights and optical flow sensor

  • +

    Effective electronic image stabilization

  • +

    4K video lives up to expectations

  • +

    Robust-feeling drone

  • +

    Good quality case

  • +

    Two batteries offer over 40 minutes of flight total

Cons

  • -

    Slow mode is too slow outdoors

  • -

    Battery charging takes 5 hours

  • -

    Above 250g limit

  • -

    Controller uses AA batteries, not rechargeable

  • -

    Frequent calibration needed

  • -

    60fps mode produces poor quality image

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Easily portable travel drones are an immensely popular category, whether for pure fun or creative aspiration. The market leader DJI, however, leans toward quality features and high pricing (their packaging looks a lot like Apple’s) which leaves a clear opening for a little compromise.

Holy Stone in fact offers drones for nearly half the price of the HS720E and claims they produce 4K. That wasn’t our experience – see our HS175D review. This drone, however, certainly does produce 4K video, putting it (theoretically) on a par with DJI’s Mini 2. Cost-wise, however, the drone comes in significantly below that while at the same time including extras like spare batteries which DJI expect customers to dig deeper for.

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook