The Holy Stone HS510 GPS Drone is a budget drone with an inbuilt camera, making it perfect for beginners. In addition, the drone has many advanced features, including altitude hold mode, headless mode, and one key return home function, making flying the device much easier.
However, what sets this model apart from others in the price point is its built-in GPS that allows you to track where your drone is at all times. This feature ensures that even newbie pilots can fly their quadcopter without fear of losing it or damaging anything below.
So let’s take a closer look at some of the other stand-out features in the Holy Stone HS510 GPS Drone review.
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At A Glance
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1-Minute Review
One of the newest drones from the Holy Stone collections, brilliantly developed to sail in every circumstance, the Holy Stone HS510 GPS Drone should be one of the first choices for drone pilots on a budget.
Portable yet solid and durable, the ease of squeezing into a front pocket makes the drone an excellent choice to move around with. In addition, this drone has a superb transmission range of beyond 300m, along with its programmed return home feature and brilliant sensor flight mode, making it one of the most easy-to-operate drones.
The Holy Stone HS510 is a better option than the DJI Mavic Mini, as it weighs less than 250g. Presently, the HS510 drone does not need to be registered with the FAA. This gives it a massive advantage over competing drones.
To add to its beauty, the Holy Stone HS510 has an excellent field of view and 4k UHD camera quality to supplement its dual GPS module, giving it an added market value.
As a drone expert or beginner, this quality Holy Stone product makes using a drone fun and simple. If pros and cons could judge the Holy Stone HS510 review, then:
- Apt option for amateurs due to its simplicity in navigation
- Affordable with good features accompanying its price
- 4k UHD still camera resolution
- Remote still controls from a distant location
- Excellent flight added modes and action
- Portable due to its foldable arms.
- Poor battery life
- Inability to fly strongly in the resilient wind
- It has a single-axis gimbal; hence, filming in flight becomes difficult and unsteady
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
But that’s probably not enough for an in-depth Holy Stone HS510 review.
Let’s Take a Closer Look
What comes in the package?
- An instructions manual
- 2 Li-on lithium batteries
- 1 USB type C charging cable
- 1 Screwdriver
- 4 Spare Propellers
- 1 Charger hub
- 1 Remote controller
- 1 Holy Stone HS510 drone
Key Features
Take a sneak peek. See what makes the Holy Stone HS510 drone special in our Key Feature Holy Stone HS510 review below.
Design Quality
The beautiful design of the drone and the fact it comes in a package makes it a good choice for some drone lovers. The arms being foldable adds to its elegance as well as contributes to exciting flight performance.
Incorporated Intelligent Flight Modes
Adaptations can be made to “Follow Me Mode” and “Orbit Mode” as it exhibits a rich list of intelligent flight modes. With a bit of tweaking, the Holy Stone HS510 drone can also fly a personalized route. Although, I advise you to take great caution as the drone is not fully equipped with a sensor to navigate through interruptions as it travels customized courses.
LED Lights Feature
The added LED feature is located at the back and front of the drone. I must add that this feature gives the drone a more lovely look. The LED lights function primarily to help indicate the drone’s position in darkness, whether it is switched on and regulated.
External Memory Slot
The Holy Stone HS510 gadget has a slot for an external micro SD or SD memory card to help you extend its inbuilt storage memory with easy to retrieve data. A 32GB micro SD card is the max storage space the drone is compatible with, which I highly recommend.
Return Home Function
The in-built return home signal put this drone on the safe bet. When the battery of the Holy Stone HS510 is running low, or the drone loses signal to its connected satellite, the drone comes back home to the place it was launched.
Optical Flow Sensor
Found at the back of the drone, it substitutes the GPS connection and is quite supportive if the drone loses connection to its main satellites and if the signal is poor. The sensor also enables accurate positioning on the flight to record authentic videos.
Camera Quality
Positioned at the front of the drone, the Holy Stone HS510 drone has a proper camera resolution of 4k UHD, good lighting, vision sensor, and color attribute to go with. In addition, the 5G Wi-Fi FPV camera transmits from a distance of about 300m, has an adjustable tilt of 90 degrees and adds to its camera accuracy.
However, this 4k ultra HD works only for the still mode and video records at 1080P resolution.
Highly Portable
The Holy Stone HS510 is portable and measures 5.6 by 2.9 and 2.0 inches when folded with foldable arms that make it stress-free to travel with. In addition, the drone measures less than 250g, so there’s a lesser need to register with the FAA.
Intelligent Remote Controller
The remote controller operates from a wider range of about 800m. It has a sound working transmitter that connects to the drone at 2.4GHz frequency. It displays the drone’s traveling distance, battery, and distance from the ground.
Brushless Motors
The added spare propellers work with the brushless motors, giving the drone a better flight efficiency, functions quietly, and lasts longer when compared to a drone with a brushed motor.
Dual GPS Module
The added dual GPS feature uses GLONASS and GPS to provide a double link system, making the loss of signal outdoors almost impossible.
How does Holy Stone HS510 GPS Drone work?
The HS510 drone works a bit differently from other drones due to the slight difference in features. One of what you should get acquainted with is the super brilliant flight modes. Some of these modes are:
Tap Fly Mode – With this feature, you have to trace a flight path on the map for the drone to follow using the app. Then, the drone follows the selected map.
Follow Me Mode – When this flight mode is activated from the app on your phone, the drone connects to your phone’s GPS and will follow you at a distance.
Orbit Mode – This flight mode works around a special spot, hovers around your point of interest, captures footage until you want it to stop.
Other flight modes the Holy Stone HS510 utilizes include headless mode, altitude hold, and a few other abilities of less concern.
Performance
For its size and cost, I agree the Holy Stone HS510 is a powerful quad. After all, it flies up to a speed of 20 miles/hour. However, the drone has a maximum duration of 16 minutes of flight.
Although it poorly detects obstacles, the intelligent flight mode, which allows you to set flight routes and specific restrictions, covers up for that.
The drone does not fly 800m away from its remote controller.
Limitations
- The controller lacks a follow-on battery. You’ll have to purchase a 2AA battery for it.
- Poor battery duration. One of its 1500mAh lithium polymer batteries can only fly for 16 minutes. Not efficient in recording for more extended periods.
- The single-axis gimbal, which does not provide enough balance for the drone on hovering, is a drawback I frown at. In addition, the instability affects the video quality.
- The remote isn’t made to control the camera angle and position. Every field of view alteration has to be done by you using your hands. I don’t find this incredible.
- It does not have a sensitive obstacle avoidance feature, so it needs to be closely monitored or put to flight in areas without interruptions.
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Ease of set up and use
With controls straightforward to navigate and steadiness fully in power, it maintains its position when left hovering. Moreover, its simplicity makes it easy to use even by a beginner.
Reliability
Though the HS510 has some downsides, it is one of the best drones at a price. Holy Stone is well known for producing durable drones. In addition, the Holy Stone HS510 does an excellent job of capturing great moments, so it is a reliable choice drone.
Ongoing Maintenance
A good feature of this drone is that it requires less maintenance. With everything in place and a guide to lead, fewer problems will be encountered if you are a beginner.
Extra Purchases and Ongoing Costs
Holy Stone HS510 comes with a lot in its package; you don’t have to spend so much. Batteries for the remote controller and more spare batteries for the drone need to be purchased to increase efficiency. The additives do not cost much, are not compulsory expenses to add.
A Couple of Alternatives to Consider
If you have two minds about purchasing the HS510, you should consider these options as an alternative to the HS510 drone.
For a larger budget, you may want to consider DJI Mini 2 Fly More quad. This drone comes in the same color as the Holy Stone HS510 drone, though better equipped.
The drone has a 3-axis gimbal to go with its 4k UHD camera. As a result, it will have better video transmission, wind resistance, and a flight time greater than 30 minutes. In addition, this drone has a better picture resolution even within an altitude as high as 4km.
If you want to save some money for another drone with similar qualities, the DJI Tello Quadcopter Drone from DJI is a competent and cheaper option. It is a quad with a 5MP camera drone and has a flight time of 13 minutes max.
The drone has two antennas to ease navigation and to make a stable video transmission. The ease of control also makes this drone one of the most accessible drones to fly, even by children. In addition, the covering gives it scratch-proof, adding to its protection.
If you are looking for more alternatives, then you can check out: Best Drones Under $500
FAQs
Some questions might have come up as you went through or before the Holy Stone HS510 review.
Are Holy Stone drones any good?
Holy Stone is one of the biggest and best drone producers in the world. Drones produced by this brand tops the list of durable, cost-effective, and efficient drones.
How fast is the Holy Stone HS510?
The HS510 travels at 20miles per hour. Thus, it is a reasonably fast drone.
What phones work with the drone?
Any phone that can support the 5 GHz Wi-Fi of the drone is compatible and will work well.
Does the drone record just voices?
The drone records videos but not solely audio clips.
What is the maximum size and format of SD cards that the drone can handle?
The drone instruction says it works great with a 32 GB memory card or less. However, some people have reported the drone’s efficacy with a formatted 64 GB. Therefore, by default, mp4 micro memory cards are selected.
If you want more suggestions for drones, then you must check out: Mid Range Drones.
Final Thoughts
Any person who has used the Holy Stone HS510 drone will have to admit its reliability to capture moments and its simplicity to operate; these advantages and others surpassing its disadvantages.
