Holyton HS330 drone review

Can indoor flying be fun and safe, and potentially useful?

Holyton HS330 review
(Image: © Adam Juniper / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

As bargain toy drones go, the Holy Stone HS330 (aka Holyton HS330) is near the top of the pack. It’s got excellent safety features – especially the frame – and a better quality and duration batteries than most. It doesn’t hurt that they put three in the pack too, so you can stay aloft longer than expected. We’d love some clearer visual feedback when choosing mode, but at this price it is impossible to complain.

Pros

  • +

    Strong propellor guards protect children

  • +

    Battery pods easy to insert and remove

  • +

    Adjustable front light

  • +

    Multiple flight modes

  • +

    Easy-to-follow manual

  • +

    Good flight time for tiny drone

Cons

  • -

    Regular battery swapping

  • -

    Trim adjustments didn’t seem effective

  • -

    No camera

  • -

    Remote batteries not rechargeable

  • -

    Obstacle avoidance not very effective

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.

Drones are here to stay, and have a lot of appeal for children of all ages. Flying them, however, isn’t without worries or regulation. You’ll be the villan of the family if you don’t let your kids fly your photography drone, but it might not wise to let them fly such a big investment as without any practice. In fact, perhaps you might need some way to familiarize yourself with controls.

That is where the toy market can be useful not only for birthdays and holiday gifts. What, though, makes a sensible choice? Constraints are typically safety and where you can fly – outdoor drones with bare propellors don’t fare well in an indoor collision. Nor do innocent humans or pets! Safety, then, is a crucial aspect of the design.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

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