With the increased popularity of drones, there are more and more companies emerging to meet the demand. Holy Stone is one such company that has a wide variety of drone models for sale, but how are they when compared to established excellence such as DJI?
If you’re looking to travel with a drone, the Holy Stone HS720E or DJI Mavic Mini might be the perfect match. Both drones are lightweight and portable, but how do they compare in features and functionality?
In this blog post, I will compare the Holy Stone HS720E vs DJI Mavic Mini to help you decide which is the right drone for you.
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Quick Comparison
Last update on 2023-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Quick Answer
This decision wasn’t too hard to make; the DJI Mavic mini is a better option. Although both drones are in the same price range, the DJI Mavic Mini has more features and a dominant brand name backing it.
In addition, the DJI Mavic Mini doesn’t just look better but build wise it looks astonishing for its price point. Have you ever been in a situation where you want to brag about your gadget to your friends, and you realize the massive difference in lookalikes? Yeah, this is precisely that.
Though the Holy Stone HS720E 4K brags a 2800mAh battery than the DJI Mavic mini’s 2600mAh battery, the DJI Mavic mini’s still guaranteed an additional 6 minutes of flight time above the Holystone 720E’s flight time of 23 minutes. This is because the Holystone’s 720E model has a flight distance of 1km against the DJI Mavic mini’s 4km flight distance.
In terms of camera quality, they both have 2160p cameras, but the DJI Mavic mini model shoots at 1530 x 30fps while the HS720E model is 2160 x 25fps.
So to be clear, the DJI Mavic Mini proves its worth by charging an additional $100 for useful additional features.
Product Overviews
DJI Mavic Mini
The DJI Mavic Mini is a lightweight mini drone just under 250 grams, and it is packed with a lot of exciting features. The DJI model makes its predecessors bulky due to its unique and compact design.
The DJI Mavic Mini boasts a 30 minutes flight time, 4km flight distance, 2.7K camera with a 3-axis gimbal for image stabilization, a 2600mAh battery, and a remote smartphone feature. This starter drone costs $395 on Amazon.
The Mavic Mini also has other camera features that make it unique, including a CMOS sensor for improved image quality and reduced power drainage, a serial shot mode for rapid continuous photo burst action, and a built-in HDR for more dynamic range.
Pros and Cons of DJI Mavic Mini
- Reliable battery life
- Good image stabilization and camera performance
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Obstacle detection sensors are unavailable
- Uses WiFi in place of Ocusync
- Mobile app (DJI fly) drains your mobile phone battery while flying
- This drone, in comparison with other expensive DJI models, has fewer smart modes
Last update on 2023-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Holy Stone HS720E
The Holy Stone HS720E 4K is a brushless motor drone that weighs about 460 grams and has somewhat of a quality build.
An adjustable lens (90 degrees), digital stabilization 4K camera is installed on the Holy Stone HS720E with a flight distance of 1000m (with the controller) and 500m (with a WiFi-enabled mobile device).
The guaranteed flight time for the HS720E is 46 minutes upon full charge (5 hours of charging) of both batteries.
This drone comes with a carrying case, two batteries for the drone, a controller which uses AA batteries, four additional propellers, a USB charging cable, a set of instructions, and a charging cable.
Pros and Cons of Holy Stone HS720E
- Basic controls make it easy to fly
- Durable controller considering its price range
- Reliable tech support
- The sleek carrying case makes it easy to travel with
- Auto return home feature at the tap of a button
- Having to wait 5 hours for a full charge of both batteries that only guarantees a total of 46 minutes flying time is quite ridiculous. Also, the charger can only charge one battery at a time
- The video quality is average, and the image stabilization does not perform as well as expected, as the footage jerks in follow mode and in windy conditions
- Flying indoors is a hassle because the drone doesn’t have obstacle detection sensors
- The footage is shaky windy conditions due to poor image stabilization
- Yes, the lens is adjustable but the drone lacks a gimbal. Therefore, the camera has to be adjusted before takeoff
- You cannot place certain phones on the controller’s phone holder and use the transmitters simultaneously
Last update on 2023-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Side by Side Comparison
The Holy Stone HS720E and the DJI Mavic Mini have several similarities when comparing their features, some of which include:
GPS-assisted Intelligent Flight
Both mini-drones have this feature installed, allowing users to set flight paths and make the drone track and follow objects.
Return-home Feature
Both devices are equipped with the GPS auto return to home feature, which helps the drone return to the takeoff point in case of lost signals or low batteries.
Key Differences
Below are some points to highlight the differences between the Holy Stone HS720E vs. DJI Mavic Mini.
Charging Time
The Holy Stone HS720E comes with a 2800mAh battery and requires 5 hours to get to full charge, while the DJI Mavic mini requires 1 hour and 30 minutes to charge fully.
Weight
The DJI Mavic mini is just a bit shy of 250 grams as it weighs 249 grams compared to the Holy Stone HS720E, which weighs 495 grams.
Camera Feature
Although both drones are equipped with 4K cameras, there is a slight difference between them, and that difference being the HS720E being able to shoot at 25fps on 2160p while the HS510 shoots 20fps 2160p.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Holy Stone HS510 guarantees 16 minutes of flight time per battery, while the Holy Stone HS720E guarantees 26 minutes of flight time per battery.
Also, check Best Drones Under $100
Flight Distance
The DJI Mavic mini can travel as far as 4km, whereas the Holy Stone HS720E can only travel 1km.
Supported External Memory
The maximum amount of memory supported by the DJI’s mini model is 256GB, while the Holy Stone HS720E only permits a maximum of 128GB.
Remote Smartphone Feature
With the DJI Mavic mini’s remote smartphone feature, users can control the drone with the following controller and with their smartphone.
Field of View
The Holy Stone HS720E has a broader FOV which gives users 130° while recording footage, whereas the DJI Mavic mini has a smaller FOV with 83°.
RAW Images
Photo enthusiasts and experts can have more flexibility when editing photos as the DJI Mavic mini does not hamper image quality by shooting in RAW. At the same time, the Holy Stone HS720E captures Jpeg images.
A Couple of Alternatives to Consider
There are several alternatives to look at when shopping for drones within a certain budget.
If you are an expert at flying or have a bigger budget, you might consider the DJI Mini 2. It is an upgraded version of the original Mini with many enhancements and not that much more expensive.
On the other hand, if you have a smaller budget and want to go for something cheaper, the Holy Stone HS510 GPS Drone could be an option. This foldable drone features a 16 minutes flight time, a sleek briefcase, shoots videos at 2160p x 20fps, a flight distance of 0.8km, and a return to home feature.
If you want more suggestions, check out: Best Drones for Beginners
FAQs
What’s the difference between Holy Stone HS720 and HS720E?
First impressions, the Holy Stone HS720E has a better-looking design as it somewhat looks like the DJI’s Mavic. Furthermore, the Holy Stone HS720E shoots 30fps on 2160p, supports a maximum of 128 GB external, whereas the HS720 is maxed at 35 GB.
In addition, the HS720E has other features such as a gyroscope and a compass for better navigation and orientation, whereas the Holy Stone HS720 does not have these features.
How fast is the Holy Stone HS720E vs. DJI Mavic Mini?
The Holy Stone HS720 has a top speed of 44mph, while the maximum speed of the DJI Mavic Mini is 13m/s.
Can the DJI Mavic Mini zoom?
The DJI Mavic Mini camera is not equipped with a zoom function.
What is the internal storage size of the DJI Mavic Mini?
The Mavic mini does not have internal storage. Instead, the Mavic Mini requires a memory card to save photos and videos.
Does the Holy Stone HS720E come with a memory card on purchase?
No, the HS720E does not come with a memory card on purchase.
Final Thoughts
While both of these drones offer performance that far exceeds their price point, I’d have to just side with the DJI Mini when comparing the two. It is more compact, and it is backed by one of the best Drone companies out there. I love the portability and the ease of use. If you are traveling with a drone, this is the one to go for.
