In this edition of Just Fun Tech, we’re reviewing the Holy Stone HS900: a 249g drone that doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA and rivals DJI for features and video quality. At $379.99 with the current coupon, it’s a ton of fun to fly and a great pick for beginner to mid-level drone pilots.
Specifications
Current Price: $419.99 $379.99 with instant $50 coupon (Amazon)
What is Just Fun Tech?
Here at MMORPG, we often get requests to review products that fall outside of our scope. Beauty products, clothes dryers, couches, thermal cameras… the works. Most of the time, these are just not a good fit, but every now and again, we get a request for something that looks genuinely fun and interesting. We believe that though it is PC gaming that draws us together, our audience is interested in fun and exciting technology. Rather than let those opportunities pass, we decided to share them with you as part of this special series.
With many of these products, we don’t claim to be the expert authority. Instead, we approach them from the newcomer’s perspective with two core questions: Are they fun and do they bring joy that enhances your life? Just FunTech is about highlighting and exploring these products.
Holy Stone HS900 - Getting Started with Drones
If you’re anything like I used to be, you’ve investigated the drone hobby, found out how expensive it can be for anything resembling a “normal” camera drone, and turned away. Holy Stone is out to change that and that’s exactly what it did for me. It offers a number of well-priced drones ranging from toy-grade to true videography and photography tools, lowering the barrier of entry for different tiers of drone.
In 2022, I had my first experience with the brand when I tested the HS720G. From there, I went to the Ruko F11 GIM2, which, at the time, was one of its biggest competitors. At the time, I appreciated the extra video quality and features it offered — which is fitting, considering it was also more expensive. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to fly a number of different drones, including some of the consumer-tier DJIs. I’m not a drone expert but I have much more experience with the nuances between the models.
I don’t fly them for work and don’t make any money using them. But as a fan of video and someone who just finds remote controlled helicopters a lot of fun to fly and use for exploration, I consider these just about the definition of “Just Fun Tech.”
Holy Stone HS900 - What Makes it Special?
The Holy Stone HS900 is a major step up from the HS720G. It’s a generational leap, but in the shift up in models, it has actually become a different class of drone entirely. While the HS720G was lightweight, it weighed in at 377 grams, meaning that it needed to be registered with the FAA and be equipped with a remote ID module. The HS900 weighs in at 249 grams, just under the FAA weight requirement for registration.
Don’t be mistaken about your rules and requirements, however. All of the other guidelines for flying an aircraft are still in place, which means you need to take the free TRUST safety course, have authorization for controlled airspace, that you must always be able to see your drone, and can't fly above 400 feet. Not needing to register or have a Remote ID transmitting your location at all times is a big deal, however. The mental barrier of needing to register a drone like you do a car, and then jump through all of these other hoops, is a big hurdle that keeps many newcomers away. This one you can take out of the box and use, as long as you’re in open airspace and have your TRUST course done.
But here’s the thing: it’s absolutely worth doing with the HS900. Despite being smaller and lighter than its predecessor, it’s also much better in most ways. It uses the same brushless motor system as the original for smooth flight, but since it’s not as heavy, it can fly for longer between recharges: up to 30 minutes and now comes with fast charging, so you can replenish in about an hour and 15 minutes.
And despite being so small, it’s able to offer Level 5 wind resistance and remain stable in gusts up to 24 mph. It uses a three axis gimbal for its camera and electronic image stabilization to offer a steady, cinematic picture. Across multiple flights, it was surprisingly stable and smooth even at maximum height. It is genuinely impressive.
The biggest improvement, however, comes with its video quality. Though the HS720G was no slouch, the HS900 offers the best 4k video quality I've seen on a drone of this caliber. It is an immediately noticeable upgrade in clarity, color, and smoothness of motion. It is not an exaggeration to say that it’s competitive with the DJI Mini 3. It is close enough, in fact, that much of the opinions surrounding which is best will come down to subjective preferences. Simply put, this is where you see the biggest generational leap and where this drone sees Holy Stone become a compelling option for a much wider range of creators.
While it still lacks any kind of obstacle avoidance, it has a number of other features which make it a great choice even for drone newcomers. It supports multiple navigation systems, GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou to keep track of its location at all times. Using this, it can offer a return to home feature with a single button press or when the drone detects low battery or that it has gone out of range. It also supports a number of filming modes with a single button press and can track targets for follow footage.
Satellite support is an excellent safeguard that any early drone pilot wanting a step up from toy-grade quadcopters can benefit from. Speaking from experience, it has saved my butt more than once. Using the coordinates for where it launched from when it begins the Return to Home process, it can accurately make its way back to its launch position within a foot or two. You can aid this process by having a high contrast launchpad, many of which are available from Amazon, but can also be made at home fairly easily.
The filming features are also a major asset and work in conjunction with the remote control and the supporting app. The controller itself feels well made and has numerous buttons to control both flight and recording. It connects to your phone with a USB cable and has a telescoping bracket to hold it in place just below the controls. You can one click launch and one click land, control your flight speed, begin filming or snap a picture, and adjust the camera angle up and down. When you are done for the day the handles fold in, the sticks unscrew and secure underneath, and the antennas fold down so it becomes compact enough to store alongside the drone in the included carry bag.
The app is also very good for providing different recording options and one-touch motions. It guides you through basic processes like calibrating the compass so navigation is accurate and gives you a readout of how many satellites you’re connected to at any given time, your altitude, and flight speed. You can easily touch-target a subject you would like the drone to track and follow (perfect for motion shots of kids or vehicles). There are other common shots ready to go, such as the slow circle; catapult, which quickly launches the drone backward to show your surroundings; and a bird’s-eye view, which goes straight up and keeps you in the frame as it launches.
Holy Stone HS900 Compared to the Ruko F11 GIM2
Even though these two drones are in a different class — the F11 GIM2 is bigger, heavier, and needs to be registered — in pricing and features, they’re quite competitive. The GIM2 has a couple of things that work to its advantage. Since it’s larger and has more powerful motors, it’s able to offer better wind resistance. It can be used in more challenging scenarios and in weather conditions where the Holy Stone HS900 may struggle. It also has a more advanced controller and an app that, to me, feels slightly better to use.
Both drones offer very good camera stability and camera footage. I would give the edge to the HS900 in clarity and colors, however. I also find the smoothness of its pans to be a bit more graceful. This isn’t surprising considering that the F11 GIM2 has been out since early 2021 while the HS900 just debuted this year. It’s using newer technology that wasn’t available to the F11 GIM2. If you’re recording for yourself or don’t mind its warmer hues, the Ruko is still very usable and holds up well today.
The Ruko F11 GIM2 feels like the better value for the cost-conscious, however. As of this writing, the F11 GIM2 comes with a second battery and a Remote ID for the same $379.99 price. That doubles its potential flight time to just over an hour. A second battery for the HS900 will set you back another $99. There are bundles with multiple batteries on the Holy Stone site but it’s unclear what the price increase will be. [Editor’s Note: We will update this article with those details as we receive them].
The two drones, while priced similarly, really ask you to consider what you prioritize most. If it’s video quality, size, and no need to register with the FAA, the Holy Stone HS900 is the better choice. If you want something a bit more stable in the wind and comes with an extra battery for the same price, the Ruko F11 GIM2 is going to be the better pick. Both are great and both undercut the DJI Mini 3 by around $50.
One thing to note, however, is that Ruko is launching its F11 PRO2 drone in the near future. Details are scarce on what it offers, but it will be its first enthusiast drone in some time, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for.
Holy Stone HS900 - Video Examples
It wouldn’t be a drone review without some examples of the video quality on offer. We would like to thank Half Chrome, Alien Drones, and Idaho Quadcopter for their excellent video samples and content over the years. Give them a subscribe.
Video Credit: Half Chrome
Video Credit: Alien Drones
Video Credit: Idaho Quadcopter
Final Thoughts
The Holy Stone HS900 really surprised me. This industry, like most in the creation sector, moves quickly. While it still faces stiff competition from DJI, Holy Stone is really onto something with the advancements on display. Between its stability and image quality, it’s shaping up to be a real contender in the middle-tier of drones for consumers. Not only is it a ton of fun to fly, but it leaves me exceptionally excited to see what its successor might offer.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Some articles may contain affiliate links and purchases made through this will result in a small commission for the site. Commissions are not directed to the author or related to compensation in any way.
