by 2 reviews.
Holy Stone HS700E 4K UHD Drone Review: A High-Flying Adventure for Beginners and Enthusiasts
The Holy Stone HS700E 4K UHD Drone is a feature-packed quadcopter designed for adults who want to capture stunning aerial footage with ease. With its 4K EIS anti-shake camera, GPS and GLONASS navigation, and user-friendly controls, this drone promises to deliver a seamless flying experience. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned drone enthusiast, the HS700E offers a range of features that make it a standout choice in its category. Let’s dive into the details and see how it performs based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Build Quality and Design
The Holy Stone HS700E boasts a robust and aerodynamic design that customers appreciate. Its rigid X-body legs and silicone-like skin give it a sleek, durable appearance. One reviewer noted, "The 700e has an almost silicone slick skin, all aerodynamic curves, and the long hanging legs & camera lower its center of gravity!" This design not only enhances its wind resistance but also makes it easier to handle during flights.
However, some users mentioned that the drone’s weight requires FAA registration, which might be a minor inconvenience for recreational users. But overall, the build quality is a major plus, especially for those transitioning from cheaper, less durable models.
Ease of Use
One of the standout features of the HS700E is its user-friendly interface. The drone comes with a detailed instruction manual, making it easy for beginners to get started. A customer shared, "It is easy to learn the transmitter controls as well as the app. This is due in large part to the very good instruction manual that comes with this drone." The controller’s built-in screen provides real-time flight information, adding to the convenience.
For novice pilots, features like Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, and Optical Flow make flying a breeze. However, the lack of collision detection was noted as a drawback, especially for indoor use. One user suggested, "If you're going to fly it near anything, buy the propeller guard bumper rail things. They’re a lifesaver for beginners."
Camera and Video Quality
The 4K EIS anti-shake camera is a highlight of the HS700E. Customers praised the clarity and stability of the footage, even during fast-paced flights. "The EIS technology reduces video blurring and makes video transmission more stable. The 90° adjustable camera with a 130°FOV lens captures a wide view of every precious moment," shared one reviewer. The 5GHz FPV transmission ensures smooth video streaming to your smartphone, allowing you to pull off epic shots effortlessly.
That said, some users were disappointed that the app doesn’t display Google aerial photos, which could enhance the waypoint navigation experience. "I hope an iPhone/5GHz WiFi will unlock the full Google Earth photo map," mentioned a customer.
Flight Performance and Features
The HS700E’s GPS and GLONASS navigation system ensures stable hovering and precise positioning. Features like Follow Me, Custom Flight Path, and Smart Return to Home add to the fun and functionality. One user raved, "The Follow Me, Point of Interest, and Way Point mode make this drone fun to fly outdoors." The brushless motors are another plus, offering powerful and quiet performance compared to cheaper models.
However, the lack of an internal remote ID module was a point of confusion for some customers. While the drone is FAA-compliant, Holy Stone markets an external remote ID module separately. This might require additional investment for those who need full compliance.
Customer Support
Holy Stone’s customer service received glowing reviews from multiple users. One customer shared, "Their tech support team ran me through a few troubleshooting options, all of which were clear, concise, and accompanied by pictures and videos." Another reviewer was impressed by the responsiveness, stating, "I reached call waiting and opted to end the call, but my call was returned a short time later. It’s comforting to find a truly responsive customer support service."
Battery Life and Portability
The HS700E comes with a modular battery and a premium carrying case, making it easy to transport and store. One user appreciated the convenience, saying, "This superior drone comes with a premium carrying bag. These features make the HS700E easy to use outdoors and very simple to store safely when not in use." While some customers expected two batteries, the single battery still provides ample flight time for most users.
Final Verdict: Is the Holy Stone HS700E Worth It?
The Holy Stone HS700E 4K UHD Drone is a solid choice for both beginners and experienced drone enthusiasts. Its high-quality build, user-friendly controls, and impressive camera capabilities make it a standout in its price range. While it lacks collision detection and an internal remote ID module, these are minor drawbacks compared to its overall performance and features.
Customer support is a major highlight, with many users praising Holy Stone’s responsiveness and helpfulness. If you’re looking for a reliable drone that delivers excellent value for money, the HS700E is a fantastic option. Just don’t forget to grab those propeller guards if you’re a beginner!
Final Rating: 4.5/5
Specification Holy Stone HS700E 4K UHD Drone with EIS Anti Shake 130 FOV Camera for Adults, GPS Quadcopter with 5GHz FPV Transmission, Brushless Motor, Easy Auto Return Home, Follow Me and Outdoor Carrying Case:
Comments from Amazon:
Okay, the drone is great. It does exactly what is advertised. It's a solid drone, films at 4k, and the picture quality is great. You can go onto YouTube to find examples. It's good quality considering I don't know of anyone filming a blockbuster film with one (and even then, you get the right LUT and you might be surprised with how polished the end result comes out). It checks a lot of boxes for most people. It has GPS, a follow mode, it comes with 2x batteries which give it an absolute TON of flight time. But all of that pales in comparison to the customer service experience I had with Holy Stone. So when I first received the drone, I went ahead and set it up. I'm extremely new to flying drones, but I consider myself to be at least a little bit technically literate, so when I couldn't get the unit to produce a Wi-Fi hotspot for my phone to connect to, I went through the basics to make sure it wasn't a PEBKAC error or anything, and then reached out to their support... on a Friday evening. I called, and after hearing it was after hours, I shot them an email, fully not expecting to hear word one until Monday. That was until, probably not 30 minutes later my phone rang, and someone let me know that they were actively working on my issue. Their tech support team ran me through a few troubleshooting options, all of which were clear, concise, and accompanied by pictures and videos. After it was determined that the Wi-Fi module in my unit was nonfunctioning, they told me that they'd ship a replacement, along with the obligatory "I can take 3-6 business days under normal circumstances for parts to ship, please allow that plus additional time for COVID related delays...". So there I was on Sunday night thinking it'd be 2-3 weeks before I'd have parts in hand to repair the drone. Well, it's Tuesday morning now, and they sent me a new drone. I take it out, test it, everything is working and I've got an ear-to-ear grin as I can now chase my poor dog around the fields next to where I live. The only suggestion I'd have for anyone buying a new one of the HS700E's, and this is more an issue with me being a very new drone flyer than anything else, is if you're going to fly it near anything (near trees or anything outside, or just generally inside), they make these propeller guard bumper rail things. I'd just buy them whenever you buy the drone. I'm sure they're not necessary for someone who's been flying for a while, and I have gotten a pretty good handle on it over the last hour because the controls themselves are very easy and responsive, but if you panic and press a joystick the wrong way or something and it hits a wall, I'm sure it's not easy to bounce back. I've had a couple of close calls, so mine are already in the mail.
My first outdoor drone was a HS 720G which was too expensive for my novice flight skills. It got banged up all the time. A free fall landing killed the gimbal and a 2nd Kudzu crash lost it permanently. This drone on the other hand was exciting to pull out of the foam case! It's rigid X body legs look very strong and I can see why other reviews say It's wind resistant because unlike 720g this drone's body has no sharp edges! The 700e has an almost silicone slick skin, all aerodynamic curves and the long hanging legs & camera lower it's center of gravity! The Propellers are easy to put on (push down & turn like safety bottle caps!) and take off following small markings on each prop. The various LED color signals below the motors are new to me and will need memorizing! I was a little disappointed in that the app doesn't show the Google aerial photos but I was only using a 4ghz phone so I hope an iPhone/5ghz WiFi will unlock the full Google earth photo map so waypoints can be done safely in my dense residential area!! All though older YouTube reviews state the 700e ships with TWO batteries as mine was discounted by Amazon I didn't expect to get 2 and I didn't but at first I need to stay focused on 1 good, successfull flight without hurrying - Quality before Quantity!! When those are achieved I will update this review further.
Very nice, easy to set up drone! Smooth flight, clear sharp camera video and pictures. Love it! Highly recommend this drone!!
I purchased the Holy Stone 700E while it was on a Black Friday sale after reading many reviews. Also purchased the spare parts package for extra propellers and propeller guards upon recommendation of another purchaser. I am an amateur drone flyer; and I plan to use the drone for fun with grandkids. The HS700E build quality is high. It is easy to learn the transmitter controls as well as the app. This is due in large part to the very good instruction manual that comes with this drone. The controller has a screen that provides useful flight information. I have found it easy to pair this drone to the controller as well as to calibrate the compass. There are many flight features that can make this drone fun to fly - outdoors. These include Follow Me, Point of Interest and Way Point mode. Unfortunately collision detection is not included. Would be useful for both indoor and outdoor flying. The propeller guards help to mitigate the lack of collision detection. The guards firmly attach to the arms; and provide a fair amount of propeller protection should the drone come into contact with an object during flight. The extra set of propellers will reduce any anxiety when flying the drone. Particularly when grandkids are having the fun. The weight of the HS700E puts it in a category that requires FAA registration and remote id function. FAA registration is not difficult to accomplish. I completed the Recreational UAS Safety Test without any trouble; and I am not good at taking test. I learned a lot about safety going through these processes; and the HS700E features and quality are superior to toys on the market. Remote id functionality is not included internally with this drone; however, the FAA lists it as being compliant. This might be because Holy Stone markets an external remote module; and I found that their customer support will work with you while making a new purchase. I found the Holy Stone customer support team to be far superior to other customer support services that I have needed to contact. During a ‘chat’ my connection was lost. The team member reached out to me via email to continue our ‘discussion’. She understood my issue; and readily presented a very satisfactory solution. On a subsequent call I reached call waiting and opted to end call. Much to my surprise my call was returned a short time later. It’s comforting to find a truly responsive customer support service.