When I first started looking at drones, I quickly realised how difficult it is to choose one as a beginner. There are plenty of options, and the prices vary massively. As a first-time drone pilot, I was not ready to spend a lot of money on a high-end model, so I started looking for something more budget-friendly.
That search led me to the Holy Stone HS720E 4K EIS Drone on Amazon. On paper, it looked like a good beginner option. It had a 4K camera, Electronic Image Stabilisation, GPS-assisted flight, a foldable design and a price that felt easier to justify for a first drone.
For travellers, road-trippers and anyone wanting to capture a different view of a place, a drone can be a tempting bit of kit. It needs to be portable, easy to set up and reliable enough that you can actually enjoy using it. After spending time with the HS720E, my experience was mixed, and there were some clear limitations that are worth knowing before buying one.
First impressions of the Holy Stone HS720E
The first thing I noticed was the presentation. The Holy Stone HS720E comes in a compact carrying case, which immediately made it feel like a practical option for travelling. Whether you are packing camera gear into a car, campervan or day bag, having everything in one case makes a difference.
Inside the case, you get the drone itself, a controller, a battery, a charging cable and a set of spare propellers. The drone has a sleek black exterior and foldable arms, so it packs down neatly when not in use.
From a design point of view, it makes a good first impression. It looks smart, feels compact and does not take up much space. For anyone travelling with limited storage, especially in a van or campervan, that compact design is one of its more appealing features.
Setting up the drone
Setting up the HS720E was fairly straightforward. The user manual included in the package was clear enough to follow, which is important if, like me, you are completely new to flying drones.
The controller has an ergonomic design and sits comfortably in the hands. The buttons and joysticks responded well to touch, and the general setup did not feel overly complicated.
Connecting the drone to a smartphone through the Holy Stone app gives access to extra features, including a real-time video feed and GPS-assisted flight. This is the sort of setup that sounds reassuring for a beginner, because it suggests the drone should be easier to control and track while flying.
Camera quality and video performance
The Holy Stone HS720E comes with a 4K camera and Electronic Image Stabilisation, which were two of the main reasons I was interested in it. For travel use, the camera is a big part of the appeal. If you are stopping somewhere scenic on a road trip or trying to capture a wider view of your surroundings, image quality matters.
The camera did produce decent images, but they were not as sharp or vibrant as footage I have seen from more expensive drones. That is not entirely surprising at this price point, but it is worth being realistic about what you are getting.
If you mainly want casual aerial shots, the quality may be acceptable. If you are expecting crisp, polished footage straight from the drone, it may leave you wanting more.
Flight performance and stability
The biggest issue I had with the Holy Stone HS720E was its flight performance.
Despite having GPS and optical flow positioning, I struggled to keep the drone stable during flights. It would not hover in place as I expected, and I found myself constantly trying to keep it under control.
As a beginner, that made flying stressful rather than enjoyable. Instead of being able to focus on learning, framing shots or building confidence, I spent most of the time correcting the drone’s movement. I was never able to complete a successful flight without the drone crashing.
This is where the HS720E became difficult to recommend. A first drone should help you build confidence. In my experience, this one did the opposite. The instability made it hard to trust, and that matters when you are flying outdoors and trying to avoid damaging the drone or losing control of it.
Battery life and built-in features
The HS720E has a listed flight time of 23 minutes on a full charge, which is good for a drone in this price range. In practice, I found it difficult to properly enjoy that flight time because of the repeated crashes and control issues.
There were some built-in features I liked. The return-to-home function was particularly useful when I lost control of the drone. In those moments, having the drone automatically fly back to its take-off point was reassuring.
The follow-me mode was also an interesting feature. In theory, it allows the drone to follow and film you automatically, which could be useful for travel clips, walking shots or filming around a parked-up stop. However, because I found the flight unstable, I could not use this feature as effectively as I had hoped.
Is the Holy Stone HS720E good for beginners?
Based on my experience, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend the Holy Stone HS720E as a first drone.
There are things it gets right. The carrying case is practical, the foldable design is useful, the controller feels comfortable, and the feature list is appealing for the price. It looks like a sensible entry-level drone when you first take it out of the box.
The problem is that the actual flying experience did not match that promise for me. The unstable hover and difficulty keeping control made it hard to learn, and the crashes quickly took away the enjoyment.
For a traveller, that reliability matters. If you are stopping somewhere on a road trip, setting up by the van or trying to capture footage while out for the day, you want a drone that feels controlled and predictable. I did not get that from the HS720E.
Final thoughts
The Holy Stone HS720E 4K EIS Drone has an attractive price point, a neat design and some useful features on paper. For the money, it is easy to see why it catches the eye of beginner drone pilots.
However, my experience with it was frustrating. The camera quality was decent but not especially sharp or vibrant, and the flight performance was the main drawback. I struggled to keep the drone stable and was never able to complete a successful flight without crashing.
If you are buying your first drone, I would consider spending more on a higher-quality model that offers a smoother and more reliable flying experience. The idea of saving money is tempting, especially when you are not sure how often you will use a drone, but reliability is important.
For me, the Holy Stone HS720E was not the right beginner drone. Before making a final decision, I would look at other options and think carefully about whether a cheaper drone will actually give you the confidence and control you need when learning to fly.