Recently, Holy Stone released a brand new drone called the HS120D GPS quadcopter. It is one of their latest toy that is available for beginners and aspiring aerial photographer. If you have been looking for a quality camera drone to start with. Stick with us because what you are about to read is one of the best camera drones to this date. Before I start talking about Holy Stone HS120D GPS review, I want to briefly introduce you to Holy Stone.
Holy Stone is a Chinese-based drone manufacturer that has gained a reputation for its amazing drones namely the HS700 Ophelia and its most popular quadcopter HS170 Predator. They are well known for their exceptional customer service and the quality of drones is beyond any on the shelves products that you would see. This is why we are so excited to share the Holy Stone HS120D GPS review with you. And, to tell you everything about this latest smart camera drone for beginners.
Inside The Box
To launch the Holy Stone HS120D GPS review, we are going to share what is inside the box with you. I think we can agree that getting to know what comes in the box is the first and foremost important part of any product review. Keep it in your mind that the Holy Stone HS120D GPS is an RTF (ready-to-fly) drone. Which means you can start flying it right out of the box immediately. The only catch is that the battery will be partially charged.
If you truly want to experience the full flight experience, I highly recommend charging the battery first. And installing the propeller guards so to ensure that your drone is fully protected before the takeoff. Below is the list of what is included in the box. You should make sure that you have every part upon arrival:
Package Content:
- HS120D GPS Drone
- Remote Controller
- 1200mAh Battery
- USB Charging Cable
- Extra Propellers (4)
- Propeller Guards (4)
- Landing Gears (2)
- Screwdriver
- User Manual
Design & Build Quality
On the first look, the Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone looks like an obsidian edition of Phantom 4 Pro. I have likened this drone as a baby version of the popular Phantom 4 series. The jet black coating all around its main body framework makes it easy to spot during daylight. Furthermore, the led lights which are located at each end of motor arms provide support for spotting the drone during the daylight and especially nighttime.
The Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone is outfitted with brushless motors that reduce friction and enhances the duration of battery life. Not just only that, it also minimizes the heat and allows the drone to cool off quickly, thereby preserving the drone’s design longer. Furthermore, this small size quadcopter comes with a built-in 1080P HD camera that delivers quality aerial shots and videos.
I liked the fact of how they add landing gears underneath the drone. It acts as a shock absorber and provides a safe distance between the camera and the ground. So that the camera doesn’t get dirty at all. The battery is located on the back which provides the drone 16 minutes of flight time. At the price range that this drone is going for, it is a real deal packed with amazing design mainly for durability and protection.
Superior Performance
It is not common to see GPS-assisted drones within the price range below $200 and finding good ones can be especially challenging. But, because it is a Holy Stone product. You can expect the best out of them. And it is a no-exceptions with the Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone boasting superior performance thanks to integrated GPS/GLONASS positioning system. This feature allows the drone to achieve stability and precise control that makes it easy enough for beginners to fly.
As I mentioned previously in the Holy Stone HS120D GPS review that it is outfitted with a 1080P HD camera. The good news is that the camera can be operated remotely. This means you can point the camera in the direction you want without having to land and adjust manually. It is a major step forward from camera drones with limited options. When it comes to performance, the Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone possesses superior flight controls.
It has built-in speed mode which offers smooth and gradual piloting skills. At first, the drone will be at the slowest speed setting by default. Once you learn the basics of flight controls, you can increase the speed setting to challenge yourself. Not to forget to mention that the Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone is built upon a 9-axis gyroscope that is far more sophisticated compared to these drones that use a 6-axis gyroscope stabilizer.
Other Features Available
Automatic Home Return – If ever the drone loses connection with the controller or the battery level is low, the drone will automatically return home. The user can choose to manually activate this feature using the return home button found on the app or the controller itself.
Follow Me Mode – This intelligent flight mode may only be used through the app. Once activated, the drone will lock onto the smartphone and follow you wherever you go. This feature can be a hit or miss as you need a strong GPS signal to make it work.
Headless Mode – This mode is excellent for starters because it makes the drone flying experience easier. The drone will always move to the direction of the controls, so there’s no need to differentiate where the head or tail is.
Tap-fly – This is a feature where the user can draw a path on the app, and the drone will automatically follow this path and come back home.
Flexible Camera
One of the most important features that the HS120D GPS drone incorporates into modern technology is a flexible camera. Since it uses Wi-Fi technology which means it can be adjusted remotely to offer a complete aerial experience for beginners like you. The camera can rotate up to 75-degree upward and downward. So that you are not entirely limited to the direction the camera is pointing at.
In addition to that, the camera is optimized. For those of you who aren’t sure what is the difference between a regular camera and an optimized camera. The regular camera doesn’t have an enhanced wi-fi transmission system and the quality of the video is subpar. It is also prone to signal breakups which can be frustrating if you are trying to enjoy the real-time video. That being said, the optimized camera delivers quality video in real-time while meeting 1080P HD fluidly.
Advanced Remote Controller
The latest change is an advanced remote controller. This remote controller is a complete professional looking and is available to Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone. It looks like it came from one of these professional-grade camera drones. But the fact that I liked how it is designed is likely to capture your attention. It even comes with a foldable mount holder that you can insert your favorite smartphone.
On the left side, it has built-in LED lights that show how much battery life the remote controller has left inside. The buttons are simplified so that beginners will have an easy time flying. The handlebars are located on the bottom for easy to hold the remote controller. And finally, the antennas are located behind the smartphones. It is functional antennas that provide the drone with a maximum control distance of up to 300 meters.
Final Verdict of Holy Stone HS120D GPS Drone
Overall, the HS120D GPS drone has to be one of the best camera quadcopters for beginners. It is integrated with smart flight modes and an optimized 1080P HD camera that delivers quality aerial shots. Not to forget to mention that the fact this drone has 16 minutes of flight time per battery charge. Which puts this quadcopter ahead of its competitors by several miles. Even more so, it has a maximum control distance of up to 300 meters.
If you are truly looking for a smart camera drone that is easy to fly and learn. We think you won’t be disappointed with the Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone. After all, it is a professional design quadcopter made for beginners and kids. You can buy a Holy Stone HS120D GPS drone here for just only $169.99. We hope you found our review helpful and insightful. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop a comment in the comments section below.
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I have had my hs120d for about a month and I must say it meets all expectations I love flying it, it’s a fun and stable drone and definitely the best bang for your buck!