Design and Features
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone is a recently released drone model that weighs less than 250 grams. This means that it does not require registration with the FAA or remote ID, making it a convenient choice for beginners. Despite being a budget-friendly drone, it offers impressive features such as GPS intelligent assist in Flight and a 4K resolution camera. All of this comes at a price of $200, and currently, there is a discount available.
Easy to Pilot
As someone who is new to flying drones, I found piloting the Holy Stone HS360S surprisingly easy. One of the reasons for this is its self-leveling feature, which allows the drone to hover on its own without the need for constant adjustments from the pilot. This feature greatly simplifies the learning curve for beginners and provides a smooth flying experience.
Convenient Carrying Case
The drone comes with a nice carrying case that can hold the drone itself, the remote control, and two batteries. However, it only comes with one battery initially. The carrying case ensures that you can easily transport the drone and its accessories without worrying about damage or losing any components. Additionally, the case includes a tiny screwdriver for spreading propellers and spare screws, as well as an instruction manual.
Controller with LED Display
The controller for the Holy Stone HS360S features an LED display that shows you all the important information about the drone. Once connected, physical buttons on the sides of the controller allow you to change the speed, take pictures, start recording, and return the drone home. There is also a small speaker on the top of the controller that provides audio cues for successful connection, low battery warnings, and more. Moreover, the joysticks on the controller can be removed and tucked away to prevent damage or inconvenience during transportation.
In conclusion, the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone is a budget-friendly and beginner-friendly option that offers impressive features such as GPS intelligent assist in Flight and a 4K resolution camera. Its self-leveling feature makes it easy to pilot, and the included carrying case ensures convenient transportation. With its affordable price and user-friendly design, this drone is a great choice for those looking to enter the world of aerial photography and videography.
Joystick Controls for Flying
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K drone comes equipped with a user-friendly joystick control system. Flying the drone is made simple and intuitive with these controls. By pushing the joystick up, the drone will fly upwards. On the other hand, pushing the joystick down will cause the drone to descend.
Turning the drone is also easily achieved with the joystick controls. Pushing the stick to the left or right will cause the drone to turn in that respective direction. This allows for smooth and precise maneuverability while flying.
Movement Control
In addition to the joystick controls, the right joystick provides control over the movement of the drone itself. By pushing the joystick forward, the drone will move forward. Conversely, pushing the joystick back will make the drone fly in reverse. This enables the drone to explore its surroundings with ease.
Furthermore, pushing the joystick to the right or left will enable the drone to fly side to side. This lateral movement provides even more versatility during flights, allowing for a diverse range of shots and angles to be captured.
Camera Capabilities
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K drone is equipped with a versatile camera that adds an extra dimension to the overall experience. With the wheels on the back of the drone, users can tilt the camera and zoom in and out. This feature allows for capturing stunning shots from a bird’s eye view.
Whether you are capturing breathtaking landscapes or filming exciting action sequences, the camera control on this drone ensures that you can achieve the perfect shot every time. Explore new perspectives and unleash your creativity with the Holy Stone HS360S 4K drone.
Using the Holystone App
To fully utilize the capabilities of the Holy Stone HS360S 4K drone, users are required to download the Holystone app on their mobile phones. The top section of the drone expands to securely hold your phone in place while flying. The app can be easily accessed through a USB-C connection.
For iPhone users, simply plug in the cable to your phone, and the app will automatically start up. Alternatively, there is a lining to USB-C cable available that can be used by removing the cable from the controller and replacing it. The connection between the phone and the drone controller is strong and reliable, resulting in a seamless flying experience.
With this tether connection, the latency between the phone and the controller is significantly reduced compared to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections. This ensures a smooth and responsive video feed, allowing for optimal control and maneuvering of the drone.
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone – A Good Budget Beginner Drone
Design and Construction
The Holy Stone HS360S is a drone that boasts a brushless motor and arms that can be tucked away into the body, making it easier to transport and store in smaller spaces. The drone is well-made and feels like a quality product. It has proven to be durable, surviving six crashes, two of which were caught on video. Despite these crashes, the drone has held up incredibly well, with only minor damage to the corner section where the battery is inserted.
Functionality and Features
The Holy Stone HS360S comes with some impressive features to enhance your flying experience. It has a joint where you can insert a micro SD card with a capacity of up to 128 gigabytes, allowing you to store all your videos and pictures. The drone’s camera is capable of shooting video in 4K resolution, but at a frame rate of 20 frames per second, resulting in slightly less smooth video quality. However, by setting the resolution to 2.7K, you can achieve a frame rate of 30 frames per second, which produces much smoother footage. It is worth noting that this drone does not have a gimbal, so video stabilization may not be as optimal, resulting in slightly shaky footage.
Overall Performance
For a budget beginner drone, the Holy Stone HS360S performs admirably. It offers decent video quality, especially when the resolution is set to 2.7K. The drone’s durability is a standout feature, as it has survived numerous crashes without significant damage. It is also relatively easy to control, making it suitable for beginners who are just starting to explore the world of drones. The compact design allows for easy transport, and the battery life is decent, giving you ample flying time before needing to recharge.
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone: A Good Budget Beginner Drone
Smooth Footage and Video Resolution
If you want smooth footage without shakiness, flying the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone at the lowest speed and making slow turns is recommended. Additionally, setting the video resolution to 2.7K greatly enhances the video quality.
Progressive Speed Modes
This drone offers three different speed modes: 3 meters per second, 5 meters per second, and 7 meters per second. These varying speeds allow beginners to progress gradually and gain confidence. Though some may find these speeds slightly slow, they are perfect for those who are just starting out. However, during my test, I was able to reach an impressive speed of 28.9 feet per second, equivalent to approximately 19.7 miles per hour, exceeding the advertised top speed of 15.65 miles per hour. I achieved this speed during a forward descent, taking advantage of gravity to accelerate.
Landing Options
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone offers two landing options: manual landing and auto landing. For manual landing, descend slowly to avoid landing too hard. On the other hand, the auto landing feature can be activated by pressing a designated button. However, it should be noted that the drone may land with some force. As this drone lacks bottom sensors, it is crucial to ensure there are no obstacles in the landing area before using the auto landing feature.
Auto Return to Home
One of the best features of the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone is its auto return to home function. With great accuracy, the drone can be commanded to return to its initial starting position. This can be done by pressing a dedicated button or, in case of critically low battery, the drone will automatically return to home.
Overall, the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone impresses with its smooth footage, adjustable speeds, and convenient landing and return-to-home features. For beginners on a budget, this drone offers a great opportunity to learn and experiment with aerial photography and videography.
AI Tracking and GPS Tracking
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone offers AI tracking that is supposed to keep track of the user with the camera, ensuring that they are always in frame. However, it has been found that this feature does not work as expected. The drone loses track of the user almost immediately, rendering this feature ineffective. On the other hand, the GPS tracking feature works exceptionally well. The drone is able to accurately keep track of the controller, allowing for a smooth flying experience. The app also provides flight stats such as flight time, distance, max mileage, max altitude, and max speed. Additionally, users can view a map of their flight pattern.
Return to Home Feature
A notable feature of the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone is its return to home feature. Once activated, the drone will fly back to the starting point using the set return altitude. It does this by rotating to the direction it was facing when it took off. This feature is particularly useful for drone enthusiasts who want to ensure the safe return of their drone. However, it is important to note that before using this feature, it is crucial to take off from an area that is free from obstacles such as trees and poles. This will prevent any potential collisions during the return flight.
Adjustable Parameters and Beginner Mode
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone allows users to adjust various parameters for their flights. This includes the flight distance, flight altitude, and return altitude. By adjusting these parameters, users can customize their flying experience based on their confidence level. For beginners, there is also a beginner mode available. This mode provides preset parameters that make flying the drone easier and more user-friendly. It serves as a helpful feature for those who are new to drone flying and want a more straightforward experience.
Remarkable Features and Cons
While the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone comes with several remarkable features, it is important to consider some drawbacks as well. The AI tracking feature, which is supposed to keep the user in frame, does not work effectively. This may be disappointing for those who were expecting seamless tracking capabilities. Additionally, it is worth noting that the drone’s performance is highly dependent on a clear flying environment. Obstacles such as trees and poles can hinder its flight path or cause potential collisions. Therefore, it is essential to choose a suitable take-off location to avoid any issues.
In conclusion, the Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone offers a range of features such as AI tracking, GPS tracking, adjustable parameters, and a beginner mode. While the AI tracking feature may fall short of expectations, the GPS tracking feature works exceptionally well. The return to home feature ensures a safe return for the drone, and the adjustable parameters allow users to customize their flying experience. Despite a few cons, this drone proves to be a good budget option for beginners seeking a reliable and feature-packed drone.
Limited Battery Life
One notable drawback is a limited battery life, offering only 20 minutes of flight time per full charge. I got more of a 17-minute fly session because then it would auto return home when the battery was critically low. If you desire extended flying sessions, you will need to buy an additional battery and that will run you an extra 60 dollars now. Both the Drone and the control transmitter have a 1500 milliamp hour battery. The Drone charges in about three hours, while the transmitter fully charges in two hours. So if you only have one battery, you’ll need to be very patient and wait for the three hours for the battery to charge to fly again. The compromise on battery life contributes to a slight way build allowing it to remain under 250 grams.
Enjoyable Flying Experience
This was one of the most fun videos that I had creating. Overall, the Holy Stone HS360S Drone delivers an enjoyable flying experience. There are a couple of things that would have made the experience much better, like better image quality and a gimbal for video stabilization. For the price, it’s a good starter drone. Now, if you’re thinking of picking this up for the 4k camera, don’t. You will be disappointed. But if you’re picking this up for a fun experience and to learn how to fly a drone, then I would highly recommend it.
Conclusion
The Holy Stone HS360S 4K Drone is a solid option for those looking to dip their toes into the world of drones without breaking the bank. It offers good video quality, durability, and ease of use, making it a suitable choice for beginners. While it may lack some advanced features found in more expensive drones, it makes up for it with its affordability and reliability. Whether you are a hobbyist or simply looking to capture stunning aerial footage, the Holy Stone HS360S is worth considering as your first drone.
So that does it for today’s video.
