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Holy Stone HS290 Review | 95 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£55
  • Avg. price in US: ~$50
  • Max flight time: 12 min
  • Video resolution: 1080p
  • Max transmission distance: 0.05 km

Holy Stone HS290 review. Compare 95 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among drones and if it is worth buying.

4.9

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the drone's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best drones on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

6.9

User score

Poor
4.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the drone's technical performance, covering key areas such as flight performance, camera quality, transmission, safety features, battery life, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare drones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

3.1

Flight

24.0%

5.6

Camera

20.0%

4.0

Safety

16.0%

5.7

Connectivity

14.0%

6.2

Battery & Design

Poor
6.9

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the drone.

When it matters: When you want to know how a drone performs in real flights and how reliable it is for stability, video capture, and controls according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

9.0

User reviews

30.0%

2.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(13)

(Reviews last updated: Apr 2026)

Good
    • No image
    No image

    Best prices

    Best rankings

    ?

    Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
    All: ranking among all products in the database.

    Technical Specifications of drone Holy Stone HS290

    Technical Score

    What it is: An assessment of the drone's technical performance, covering key areas such as flight performance, camera quality, transmission, safety features, battery life, and design.

    When it matters: When you want to compare drones based on technical performance and available features.

    Score components:

    26.0%

    3.1

    Flight

    24.0%

    5.6

    Camera

    20.0%

    4.0

    Safety

    16.0%

    5.7

    Connectivity

    14.0%

    6.2

    Battery & Design

    4.7
    Holy Stone HS290 has a technical score of 4.71 points, which is lower than that of 94.8% of products in this category.
    User score

    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the drone.

    When it matters: When you want to know how a drone performs in real flights and how reliable it is for stability, video capture, and controls according to user feedback.

    Score components:

    70.0%

    9.0

    User reviews

    30.0%

    2.0

    Popularity

    User score:
    United Kingdom
    amazon
    4.5
    (13)

    (Reviews last updated: Apr 2026)

    6.9
    Holy Stone HS290 has a user score of 6.89 points, which is lower than that of 83.8% of products in this category.
    Popularity
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the drone.
    When it matters: When you prefer to choose a drone reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
    2.0
    Holy Stone HS290 has a popularity of 2 points, which is higher than 55.8% of smartphones.
    Ratio quality/price

    What it is: An indicator that combines the drone's overall rating with its cost.

    When it matters: When you are looking for a drone with a good balance between flight quality, camera features, and price.

    Score components:

    60.0%

    4.9

    Overall score

    40.0%

    10

    Price

    6.4
    Holy Stone HS290 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.4 points, which is lower than 77.9% of smartphones.
    Brand name
    What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
    When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Holy Stone
    Max flight time
    What it is: The quoted endurance shows how long the drone can stay airborne on one battery in ideal conditions.
    When it matters: When you want longer flights from each battery.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=30

    12 min
    Holy Stone HS290 has a max flight time of 12 min, shorter than 85.3% of drones and equal to 1.3%.
    Max flight distance
    What it is: The range figure indicates how far the drone can travel while maintaining control and telemetry.
    When it matters: When you plan longer routes and want more range margin.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=10

    0.1 km
    Holy Stone HS290 has a max flight distance of 0.1 km, shorter-range than 82.2% of drones and equal to 7.5%.
    Stored as control-range fallback.
    Max flight speed
    What it is: The maximum horizontal speed defines how quickly the drone can move across a scene.
    When it matters: When you want quicker movement or smoother tracking of fast subjects.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=50

    4 km/h
    Holy Stone HS290 has a max flight speed of 4 km/h, slower than 95.1% of drones and equal to 0.8%.
    Max wind resistance
    What it is: The wind resistance rating shows how much wind speed the drone can handle while staying controllable.
    When it matters: When you fly in windy conditions.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=10.5

    3.3 m/s
    Holy Stone HS290 has max wind resistance of 3.3 m/s, lower than 95.5% of drones and equal to 0.9%.
    Show more
    Video resolution
    What it is: The listed recording format states maximum capture resolution and frame rate.
    When it matters: When video quality matters for your footage.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 4K+

    1,080p
    Holy Stone HS290 records video at 1080p, lower than 80.5% of drones and equal to 9.4%.
    4K camera
    What it is: Indicates whether the drone supports 4K or higher video recording.
    When it matters: When you want a drone that can record in 4K or a higher video resolution.

    Importance: LOW

    ?
    Sensor size
    What it is: The sensor format value describes the physical light-collecting area.
    When it matters: When you shoot in more difficult lighting.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 1 inch or larger

    ?
    Main camera megapixels
    What it is: The megapixel count states how many millions of pixels the main sensor captures per photo.
    When it matters: When you want more detail for photos or cropping.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=12

    ?
    Max movie bitrate
    What it is: The bitrate indicates how much video data is recorded each second, usually in Mbps.
    When it matters: When video quality matters for your footage.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=100

    ?
    Show more
    Obstacle detection
    What it is: Indicates whether the drone can detect obstacles and warn the pilot or avoid them automatically.
    When it matters: When you fly near trees, buildings, or other obstacles.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: Omnidirectional

    no
    Holy Stone HS290 lacks obstacle detection, while 34.7% of drones offer it.
    Return to Home (RTH)
    What it is: Indicates whether the drone can automatically return to its takeoff point when needed.
    When it matters: When signal drops or the battery gets low.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: Smart RTH

    no
    Holy Stone HS290 lacks return-to-home (RTH), while 74.3% of drones provide it.
    GPS
    What it is: Indicates whether the drone can use GPS positioning for navigation and stabilisation.
    When it matters: When you want steadier flight and more reliable positioning.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    no
    Holy Stone HS290 lacks GPS, while 69% of drones offer GPS navigation.
    GNSS systems supported
    What it is: Lists the satellite navigation systems the drone can use, such as GPS, Galileo, or GLONASS.
    When it matters: When this part of flying or filming matters to you.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: GPS+Galileo+GLONASS

    ?
    Obstacle sensing directions
    What it is: The listed sensing coverage shows which directions the drone can monitor for obstacles.
    When it matters: When you fly near trees, buildings, or other obstacles.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: Omnidirectional

    N/A
    Holy Stone HS290 senses obstacles in N/A directions, which is the same as that of 51.7% of drones.
    Show more
    Max transmission distance
    What it is: The maximum transmission distance indicates the farthest stable control-and-video link under ideal conditions.
    When it matters: When you plan longer routes and want more range margin.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=10

    0.05 km
    Holy Stone HS290 has a max transmission distance of 0.05 km, shorter-range than 92.8% of drones and equal to 2.6%.
    Transmission latency
    What it is: The transmission latency measures delay between camera capture, pilot view, and control response.
    When it matters: When you want the live view to feel more responsive.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=130

    ?
    Video transmission system
    What it is: The transmission system value identifies the radio-link technology used for control and live feed.
    When it matters: When video quality matters for your footage.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: Digital low-latency

    Wi-Fi
    Holy Stone HS290 uses Wi-Fi for video transmission, which is more advanced than that of 1.4% of drones and the same as that of 49.3% of drones.
    Live view quality
    What it is: The live-view mode defines resolution and frame rate of the pilot feed.
    When it matters: When video quality matters for your footage.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 1080p+

    1,080p@25 fps
    Holy Stone HS290 offers live view quality of 1080p@25 fps, higher-quality than 44.5% of drones and equal to 8.8%.
    Remote control
    What it is: Indicates whether a dedicated handheld remote controller is included or supported.
    When it matters: When you want easier control and monitoring in the field.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: Dedicated controller

    yes
    Holy Stone HS290 includes a remote control, and 96.1% of drones ship with one.
    Show more
    Battery capacity
    What it is: The battery capacity shows how much electric charge the pack can store, commonly in mAh.
    When it matters: When you want longer sessions before changing batteries.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3500

    1,300 mAh
    Holy Stone HS290 has a battery capacity of 1300 mAh, smaller than 73.2% of drones and equal to 2.6%.
    Battery energy
    What it is: The battery energy figure, usually in Wh, describes total available energy in the pack.
    When it matters: When you want longer sessions before changing batteries.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=40

    4.81 Wh
    Holy Stone HS290 has battery energy of 4.81 Wh, lower than 82.7% of drones and equal to 0.7%.
    Charging time
    What it is: The charging time measures how long a depleted battery needs to reach full charge.
    When it matters: When you want shorter turnaround between flights.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=90

    90 min
    Holy Stone HS290 charges in 90 min, faster than 45.6% of drones and equal to 18.4%.
    Weight
    What it is: The measured mass of the drone body and flight hardware, usually in grams.
    When it matters: When you want the drone to be easier to carry or pack.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <=900

    128 g
    Holy Stone HS290 weighs 128 g, lighter than 84% of drones and equal to 0%.
    Removable battery
    What it is: Indicates whether the flight battery can be removed and swapped by the user.
    When it matters: When you want to swap batteries quickly between flights.

    Importance: LOW

    yes
    Holy Stone HS290 has a removable battery, and 99.4% of drones include one.
    Show more

    Holy Stone HS290 vs the average drone

    • TapFly supported
      Holy Stone HS290 supports TapFly, while the average drone does not.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone can fly toward a tapped point on screen automatically.
      When it matters: When you want easier straight-line shots with less manual control.

      Importance: MEDIUM

      Good value: TapFly available

      Holy Stone HS290 supports TapFly, while the average drone does not.
    • 48.6% lighter weight
      Holy Stone HS290 is lighter than the average drone (128 g vs 249 g). The average drone weighs 249 g.
      What it is: The measured mass of the drone body and flight hardware, usually in grams.
      When it matters: When you want the drone to be easier to carry or pack.

      Importance: LOW

      Good value: <=900

      Holy Stone HS290 is lighter than the average drone (128 g vs 249 g). The average drone weighs 249 g.128 g vs 249 g
    • 3 year/s newer release date
      Holy Stone HS290 is newer than the average drone (2,024 vs 2,021). The average drone was released in 2,021.
      August 2,024
      What it is: The launch period shows how recent the drone platform and software generation are.
      When it matters: When you care about how recent the platform is.

      Importance: LOW

      Good value: >=2023

      Holy Stone HS290 is newer than the average drone (2,024 vs 2,021). The average drone was released in 2,021.2024 vs 2021
    • 13 mm more compact height
      Holy Stone HS290 has a lower height than the average drone (52 mm vs 65 mm). The average drone height is 65 mm.
      What it is: The physical height describes the drone's vertical size: the third H value in its Length x Width x Height (L x W x H) dimensions set.
      When it matters: When you care about overall size, packing clearance, or how tall the drone sits in storage or transport.

      Importance: LOW

      Good value: <=120

      Holy Stone HS290 has a lower height than the average drone (52 mm vs 65 mm). The average drone height is 65 mm.52 mm vs 65 mm
    • 4.55x cheaper
      Holy Stone HS290 is cheaper than the average drone (£55 vs £250).
      Holy Stone HS290 is cheaper than the average drone (£55 vs £250).£55 vs £250
    • Supports headless mode
      Holy Stone HS290 supports headless mode, while the average drone does not.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone offers a headless mode that keeps controls relative to the pilot position.
      When it matters: When you want simpler directional control that is easier to learn for beginner flying.

      Importance: LOW

      Holy Stone HS290 supports headless mode, while the average drone does not.
    • TapFly supported
      Holy Stone HS290 supports TapFly, while the average drone does not.
    • Supports headless mode
      Holy Stone HS290 supports headless mode, while the average drone does not.
    • 48.6% lighter weight
      Holy Stone HS290 is lighter than the average drone (128 g vs 249 g). The average drone weighs 249 g.
    • 3 year/s newer release date
      Holy Stone HS290 is newer than the average drone (2,024 vs 2,021). The average drone was released in 2,021.
    • 13 mm more compact height
      Holy Stone HS290 has a lower height than the average drone (52 mm vs 65 mm). The average drone height is 65 mm.

    Total
    Overall
    Safety
    Battery & Design
    • 7.4 m/s lower max wind resistance
      Holy Stone HS290 handles weaker wind than the average drone (3.3 m/s vs 10.7 m/s). The average drone handles wind up to 10.7 m/s.
    • 12 km/h slower flight speed
      Holy Stone HS290 reaches a lower max flight speed than the average drone (4 km/h vs 16 km/h). The average drone reaches 16 km/h.
    • 11 min shorter flight time
      Holy Stone HS290 offers shorter max flight time than the average drone (12 min vs 23 min). The average drone offers 23 min of max flight time.
    • 3,000 m lower max service ceiling
      Holy Stone HS290 can fly at a lower max service ceiling than the average drone (1,000 m vs 4,000 m). The average drone reaches 4,000 m.
    • 1.9 km shorter flight distance
      Holy Stone HS290 has a shorter max flight distance than the average drone (0.1 km vs 2 km). The average drone can fly up to 2 km.
      Stored as control-range fallback.
    • Less advanced motor type
      Holy Stone HS290 uses brushed motors, while the average drone uses brushless.
    • Lower video resolution
      Holy Stone HS290 supports lower video resolution than the average drone (1,080p vs 4K/100 fps). The average drone supports 4K/100 fps video resolution.
    • Fewer photo format options
      Holy Stone HS290 supports JPEG photo formats, while the average drone supports JPEG, DNG (RAW).
    • Lower photo resolution
      Holy Stone HS290 supports lower photo resolution than the average drone (1,920x1,080 MP vs 4,000x3,000 MP). The average drone supports 4,000x3,000 MP photo resolution.
    • 1 axis lower gimbal axes
      Holy Stone HS290 has fewer gimbal axes than the average drone (0 axis vs 1 axis). The average drone has 1 axis gimbal axes.
    • Narrower tilt range
      Holy Stone HS290 offers a narrower camera tilt range than the average drone (-90 to 0 ° vs -90 to 20 °). The average drone offers a camera tilt range of -90 to 20 °.
    • No memory card slot
      Holy Stone HS290 does not have a memory card slot, while the average drone does.
    • 128 GB lower max external memory supported
      Holy Stone HS290 supports less external storage than the average drone (0 GB vs 128 GB). The average drone supports up to 128 GB of external storage.
    • No GPS
      Holy Stone HS290 does not have GPS, while the average drone does.
    • No return-to-home
      Holy Stone HS290 does not include return-to-home (RTH), while the average drone does.
    • No waypoint flight
      Holy Stone HS290 does not support waypoint flight, while the average drone does.
    • No subject tracking
      Holy Stone HS290 cannot track subjects, while the average drone can.
    • No compass
      Holy Stone HS290 does not have a compass, while the average drone does.
    • 2 fewer intelligent flight mode/s
      Holy Stone HS290 has a lower n. of intelligent flight modes than the average drone (2 vs 4). The average drone value is 4.
      POI, TapFly
    • No beginner mode
      Holy Stone HS290 does not include beginner mode, while the average drone does.
    • 48.6% heavier weight
      Holy Stone HS290 has a higher max takeoff weight than the average drone (128 g vs 249 g). The average drone has a max takeoff weight of 249 g.
    • Fewer frequency bands
      Holy Stone HS290 supports 2.4 GHz operating frequency bands, while the average drone supports 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz.
    • 1.46 km shorter transmission distance
      Holy Stone HS290 has a shorter max transmission distance than the average drone (0.1 km vs 1,507 km). The average drone reaches 1,507 km of transmission distance.
    • Basic companion app
      Holy Stone HS290 uses the HS FPV companion app, while the average drone uses FreeFlight Pro.
    • 930 mAh lower battery capacity
      Holy Stone HS290 has a smaller battery capacity than the average drone (1,300 mAh vs 2,230 mAh). The average drone battery has a capacity of 2,230 mAh.
    • 12.51 Wh lower battery energy
      Holy Stone HS290 has lower battery energy than the average drone (4.8 Wh vs 17.32 Wh). The average drone battery has 17.32 Wh of energy.
    • Lower video resolution
      Holy Stone HS290 supports lower video resolution than the average drone (1,080p vs 4K/100 fps). The average drone supports 4K/100 fps video resolution.
      What it is: The listed recording format states maximum capture resolution and frame rate.
      When it matters: When video quality matters for your footage.

      Importance: MEDIUM

      Good value: 4K+

      Holy Stone HS290 supports lower video resolution than the average drone (1,080p vs 4K/100 fps). The average drone supports 4K/100 fps video resolution.1,080p vs 4K/100 fps
    • 7.4 m/s lower max wind resistance
      Holy Stone HS290 handles weaker wind than the average drone (3.3 m/s vs 10.7 m/s). The average drone handles wind up to 10.7 m/s.
      What it is: The wind resistance rating shows how much wind speed the drone can handle while staying controllable.
      When it matters: When you fly in windy conditions.

      Importance: HIGH

      Good value: >=10.5

      Holy Stone HS290 handles weaker wind than the average drone (3.3 m/s vs 10.7 m/s). The average drone handles wind up to 10.7 m/s.3.3 m/s vs 10.7 m/s
    • 12 km/h slower flight speed
      Holy Stone HS290 reaches a lower max flight speed than the average drone (4 km/h vs 16 km/h). The average drone reaches 16 km/h.
      What it is: The maximum horizontal speed defines how quickly the drone can move across a scene.
      When it matters: When you want quicker movement or smoother tracking of fast subjects.

      Importance: MEDIUM

      Good value: >=50

      Holy Stone HS290 reaches a lower max flight speed than the average drone (4 km/h vs 16 km/h). The average drone reaches 16 km/h.4 km/h vs 16 km/h
    • No GPS
      Holy Stone HS290 does not have GPS, while the average drone does.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone can use GPS positioning for navigation and stabilisation.
      When it matters: When you want steadier flight and more reliable positioning.

      Importance: MEDIUM

      Holy Stone HS290 does not have GPS, while the average drone does.
    • No return-to-home
      Holy Stone HS290 does not include return-to-home (RTH), while the average drone does.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone can automatically return to its takeoff point when needed.
      When it matters: When signal drops or the battery gets low.

      Importance: HIGH

      Good value: Smart RTH

      Holy Stone HS290 does not include return-to-home (RTH), while the average drone does.
    • 11 min shorter flight time
      Holy Stone HS290 offers shorter max flight time than the average drone (12 min vs 23 min). The average drone offers 23 min of max flight time.
      What it is: The quoted endurance shows how long the drone can stay airborne on one battery in ideal conditions.
      When it matters: When you want longer flights from each battery.

      Importance: HIGH

      Good value: >=30

      Holy Stone HS290 offers shorter max flight time than the average drone (12 min vs 23 min). The average drone offers 23 min of max flight time.12 min vs 23 min
    • No waypoint flight
      Holy Stone HS290 does not support waypoint flight, while the average drone does.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone can follow saved waypoint routes automatically.
      When it matters: When you want repeatable routes or automated flights.

      Importance: MEDIUM

      Good value: Waypoint flight available

      Holy Stone HS290 does not support waypoint flight, while the average drone does.
    • No subject tracking
      Holy Stone HS290 cannot track subjects, while the average drone can.
      What it is: Indicates whether the drone can automatically follow a selected person, vehicle, or object.
      When it matters: When this part of flying or filming matters to you.

      Importance: HIGH

      Good value: Reliable AI tracking

      Holy Stone HS290 cannot track subjects, while the average drone can.
    Total
    Overall
    Flight
    Camera
    Safety
    Connectivity
    Battery & Design

    Graphic comparison of Holy Stone HS290 and other drones

    Attribute category
    Attribute
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    Third-party reviews

    amazon
    4.5
    13 Reviews

    (Reviews last updated: Apr 2026)

    What customers like about Holy Stone HS290?

    • Excellent for beginners and children due to ease of operation
    • Compact, lightweight (128g), and foldable design makes it very portable
    • Comes with two batteries providing a total flight time of around 24–25 minutes
    • Good value for money as a starter drone
    • Stable hovering in indoor or wind-free environments thanks to optical flow positioning
    • Responsive customer service and support mentioned by multiple users
    • Features fun flight modes like 360-degree flips and hand gesture control

    What customers dislike about Holy Stone HS290?

    • Poor performance in windy conditions; prone to being carried away by even light breezes
    • Lack of GPS makes it difficult to track or retrieve if it flies out of range
    • Long battery charging times, sometimes reported up to several hours
    • Camera quality is basic (1080p) and lacks a gimbal, leading to shaky or 'jerky' footage
    • No SD card slot; all photos and videos must be recorded directly to a smartphone app
    • Short individual battery life of approximately 12 minutes per charge
    • Uses older brushed motors which may have a shorter lifespan than brushless alternatives

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