by 60 reviews.
Holy Stone HS280D FPV Drone Review: A Beginner’s Dream or Just Another Toy?
If you’re in the market for an affordable yet feature-packed drone, the Holy Stone HS280D might have caught your eye. Priced under $100, this foldable FPV drone boasts a 1080P HD camera, brushless motors, and a host of beginner-friendly features like gesture control, tap fly, and optical flow positioning. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details and see what real customers have to say.
Product Overview
The Holy Stone HS280D is designed with beginners in mind, offering a lightweight, foldable design that makes it portable and easy to carry. It comes with two modular batteries, providing up to 28 minutes of flight time, and features like altitude hold, headless mode, and emergency stop ensure a smooth learning curve. The 1080P HD camera can be adjusted remotely, and the drone supports FPV (First Person View) real-time transmission, allowing you to share your aerial adventures instantly.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Build Quality and Design
Pros:
- Premium Feel: Many users praised the build quality, noting that it feels sturdy and well-made, comparable to higher-end drones like DJI. One reviewer even said, “It does not have that cheap feel at all.”
- Foldable and Portable: The foldable design and lightweight construction (164g) make it easy to carry around, and it doesn’t require FAA registration, which is a big plus for casual users.
Cons:
- Wind Sensitivity: Several users mentioned that the drone struggles in windy conditions. One reviewer noted, “Any wind and the drone has a mind of its own. You can’t take your eyes off it.”
2. Performance and Flight Experience
Pros:
- Beginner-Friendly Features: The HS280D is packed with features that make it easy for beginners to learn. Functions like one-key takeoff/landing, altitude hold, and headless mode were highlighted as particularly helpful.
- Brushless Motors: The brushless motors are quieter and more durable than traditional brushed motors, providing better wind resistance and longer lifespan.
- Decent Flight Time: With two batteries included, users appreciated the extended flight time, though some noted that real-world usage often falls short of the advertised 28 minutes.
Cons:
- Limited Wind Resistance: As mentioned earlier, the drone struggles in even mild breezes, which can be frustrating for outdoor use.
- No GPS: Some users felt that the lack of GPS made it harder to control, especially for beginners. One reviewer suggested opting for a GPS-enabled drone if you’re serious about learning.
3. Camera Quality
Pros:
- Adjustable 1080P HD Camera: The camera’s remote angle adjustment and decent stabilization were praised by users. One reviewer said, “The camera quality isn’t that bad,” while another appreciated its ability to capture usable footage for casual use.
- Gesture Control: The gesture selfie feature was a hit, allowing users to take photos and videos with simple hand gestures.
Cons:
- Low Resolution: While the camera is decent for the price, it’s not suitable for professional or cinematic footage. One user noted, “If you’re looking for a drone to get cinematic footage, buy a DJI drone.”
- Laggy FPV Transmission: Several users reported lag in the FPV real-time transmission, making it difficult to fly by sight.
4. Usability and Setup
Pros:
- Easy to Learn: Many beginners found the drone easy to operate, with one reviewer stating, “For a first-time drone purchase, I am extremely satisfied.”
- Great Customer Service: Holy Stone’s customer service received high marks. One user shared their experience: “I messaged customer service about a propeller issue, and they sent me a brand-new drone within 3-6 business days.”
Cons:
- Wi-Fi Setup Confusion: Some users struggled with the Wi-Fi setup, as the drone broadcasts its own Wi-Fi signal rather than connecting to your home network. One reviewer said, “It took me a while to realize the Wi-Fi was coming from the drone.”
- Phone Compatibility Issues: The transmitter’s phone holder doesn’t accommodate larger phones or tablets, which was a drawback for some users.
Final Verdict: Is the Holy Stone HS280D Worth It?
The Holy Stone HS280D is an excellent choice for beginners and casual users who want an affordable, feature-rich drone. Its sturdy build, beginner-friendly features, and decent camera make it a standout in its price range. However, it’s not without its flaws—wind sensitivity, laggy FPV transmission, and limited phone compatibility may frustrate more advanced users or those looking for professional-grade footage.
Who Should Buy It?
- Beginners and kids looking for an easy-to-use drone.
- Casual users who want a portable, affordable drone for fun and light photography.
- Anyone who values good customer service and warranty support.
Who Should Skip It?
- Advanced users or those seeking cinematic-quality footage.
- People who frequently fly in windy conditions.
- Users with larger phones or tablets that may not fit the transmitter.
In conclusion, the Holy Stone HS280D is a solid entry-level drone that delivers great value for its price. If you’re just starting out or buying a drone for a child, this is a fantastic option. But if you’re looking for something more advanced, you might want to consider investing in a higher-end model.
Specification Holy Stone FPV Drone with 1080P HD Camera for Beginner Adults and Kids, HS280D Foldable RC Quadcopter with Brushless Motor, Optical Flow, Tap Fly, Voice Control, Gesture Selfie, 2 Modular Batteries:
Comments from Amazon:
As a complete notice, I purchased this drone to learn to fly. It is fun and pretty good for that purpose but it has the expected limitations even slightly more advanced flyers will probably find annoying. The setup for WiFi connections were unclear and it took me a while to realize the WiFi was coming from the DRONE not from my home WiFi. Once figured that out, it was pretty easy to connect the drone's camera to my phone via the app. Transmission of the video is laggy preventing fly by sight. The camera is low res and isn't particularly crisp but it was good enough for me to find debris left on my roof by some maintenance guys!. Flying time is very limited but the spare battery is nice to have and makes for longer practice sessions. These limitations are to be expected for an inexpensive/cheap first drone but, overall I have really been enjoying learning to fly...and at this price, I don't worry about my occasional rapid descent!
I got this for my 7 year old grandson and it was perfect. Easy to operate and he loved it! I feel it’s a great value for your money.
My son wanted a drone with a camera for Christmas. Flew OK. Started smoking after second landing. Doesn't broadcast SSID so we can't connect to camera. Son still doesn't have a drone with a camera. :(
For a first time drone purchase I am extremely satisfied with this product. Easy to learn how to fly. Camera has nice video and picture quality. Easy to understand manual. Good video tutorials. The one thing that I didn't like was the handheld transmitter will only hold up to a certain size / width phone. My newer Samsung GalaxyS23 was to wide to fit in the spring loaded phone holder. I happened to have held onto an older Samsung that was narrow enough to fit in the holder, and had newer enough software to be compatible with the app. (The manual states your phone must have a 5.0 or higher version for Android phones, which my older phone was a 7.0 ) I also tried using my new Samsung S9+ tablet to load the Holystone App on, and was disappointed to have my tablet tell me that IT wasn't compatible with the App. Not sure if this is because its a tablet and not a phone, or what ........ Anyways , I still am enjoying my purchase of the HS 280D. For the cost, it is a great starter drone if you are looking for one as your first. Sincerely, Greg in NW Missouri USA
The price of the HS280D (less than $100) is very attractive. The brushless motors are very quiet. Comes with 2 modular batteries It also seems to be very quick. Nice looking drone and hovers well if there is no wind. This is the area I did not like. Any wind and the drone has a mind of its own. You can’t take your eyes of it or it could disappear. There are two speeds and you need to be in high to have any chance of getting back to your home base with some breeze. If you are looking for a beginner drone you are better off with a gps one. A least you can look at the phone for a photo. Flight time is decent.
Great drone for the money.
The strong feels like a DJI drone it does not have that cheap feel at all and the controller is pretty good quality also and I know they don’t include this in the product description but for the controller you need 4 AAA batteries and the drone takes the rechargeable batteries it comes with. I’ve only had this drone for two days. If you are a beginner or if you are buying this for your kid! This is a drone to buy!, for under $100 I would definitely buy this if you are a beginner, do not buy any other offbrand drone from Amazon the dirt cheap ones are basically all the same and they suck, so do not buy those dirt cheap ones, invest a little money and buy this one, and don’t even get me started on customer service! If you go onto the holy Stone app they have customer service on the app, and it is amazing 10/10! The warranty is great, if you have a problem with the drone, do not message Amazon about it! Because all they’ll do is tell you to return it and it takes a while to get a refund. But go to the holy Stone app. And they have customer service. That I literally messaged this morning. And said after I crashed it the right propeller doesn’t spin as fast as the other ones. And they were right on it and they said that they were going to send me a brand new one within 3-6 business days. So I’m just saying. Buy this drone. Because this one is almost close to a DJI. And the camera quality isn’t that bad but if you’re looking for a drone to get cinematic footage on, then buy a DJI drone, and the camera on this drone has remote angle movement and the stabilization on it is pretty good! So overall on this review, I give it a 10/10 5 STAR!