Holy Stone HS110D vs Ryze Tello
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Holy Stone HS110D at $90 and the Ryze Tello at $99 are the two most expensive drones in our under-$100 roundup. The HS110D offers a better camera with SD card recording and two batteries.
The Tello offers a better flight experience with a DJI controller and programming support.
Nine dollars separates them. The choice is between recording and flying.
Pros & Cons
Holy Stone HS110D
- Two batteries in the box give about 16 minutes of total flight for $90
- 1080p SD card recording is sharper than what most sub-$100 drones stream over Wi-Fi
- 146 grams with prop guards attached makes it light enough for careful indoor flying
- Voice control handles basic commands like takeoff, landing, and flips, which kids find fun
- Altitude hold keeps the drone at a steady height without constant thumb adjustments
- 120-degree wide-angle lens captures a broader frame than the narrow-angle cameras on competing toy drones
- 7-8 minutes real flight time per battery, not the 10 minutes on the spec sheet
- 720p Wi-Fi feed lags noticeably past 30-40 meters from the controller
- No stabilization of any kind means shaky video that looks worse than phone footage in most conditions
- Android app crashes frequently and some features only work properly on iOS
- No GPS means it drifts outdoors in any wind. Even a light breeze pushes it sideways
- Flimsy controller and the phone mount doesn't grip larger phones (anything over 6.5 inches is a squeeze)
- SD card not included. Without one, you're stuck with the blurry 720p Wi-Fi recordings
Ryze Tello
- $99 and 80 grams, it's the cheapest way to learn real drone piloting fundamentals
- DJI flight controller hardware gives it indoor stability that generic toy drones can't touch
- Scratch and Python programming support makes it a legit STEM teaching tool, not a gimmick
- Prop guards and soft plastic body survive the kind of crashes that would wreck a $400 drone
- 8D flips and bounce mode give kids instant fun before they've figured out the sticks
- No FAA registration required in the US since it's well under the 250g threshold
- 720p camera is essentially useless for anything beyond the most casual snapshots
- No GPS means it drifts outdoors, and even a light breeze pushes it off course
- 10 minutes real flight time, not the 13 on the spec sheet
- 30-40 meters actual Wi-Fi range in practice, not the 100m DJI claims
- No gimbal or mechanical stabilization, so video is shaky unless you fly dead-smooth
- No obstacle avoidance, no return-to-home, just a low-battery auto-land
- Phone app is showing its age and drops connection mid-flight more than it should
Price Range
The HS110D at $90 is $9 cheaper and includes two batteries (about 15 minutes total real flight). The Tello at $99 includes one battery (10-11 minutes).
Adding a second Tello battery ($20) brings it to $119 for 20 minutes total. The HS110D with a spare microSD card ($8) is $98 for 15 minutes. For comparable total cost, the HS110D provides more airtime and SD card recording.
The Tello's price premium buys flight quality, not accessories. If you value what's in the box, the HS110D is the better package deal. If you value what happens in the air, the Tello justifies its price through flying experience alone.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
2.5 | 3.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 1080P | 720P |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (small CMOS) | 1/5-inch CMOS |
| Aperture | — | f/2.2 |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 8 min | 13 min |
| Range | 0.1 km | 0.1 km |
| Max Speed | 8.3 m/s | 8 m/s |
| Gimbal | None (no stabilization) | None (EIS only) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $90 | $99 |
| Weight | 146g | 80g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Camera and Recording
Camera and recording is the HS110D's advantage. It shoots 1080p and saves to a microSD card. The Tello shoots 720p to your phone.
The HS110D's footage is still shaky (no stabilization), but at least you get the full sensor resolution. The Tello's camera exists mostly to confirm the drone is pointing the right direction.
Flight Quality
Flight quality is the Tello's advantage. The DJI flight controller makes it more stable, more responsive, and more predictable. It holds position indoors better than any sub-$100 drone.
The HS110D's altitude hold keeps height steady, but horizontal drift is more noticeable.
Build and Portability
- Tello: 98x92.5x41mm, 80g, non-foldable
- HS110D: larger with prop guards, 146g, non-foldable
- Neither is truly pocket-sized
Special Features
The Tello supports Scratch and Python programming. The HS110D has voice control and a wider 120-degree FOV lens.
The Tello's programming support is a unique feature; the HS110D's voice control is a gimmick that works but doesn't change how you use the drone.
Battery
- HS110D: 2 batteries included (~15 min total)
- Tello: 1 battery included (~10 min)
- This matters a lot at this price point. The HS110D is ready for longer sessions. The Tello needs an extra purchase to avoid the fly-10-charge-60 cycle.
Choose the Holy Stone HS110D if:
- Recording 1080p footage to an SD card matters to you
- You want two batteries in the box for longer sessions
- Voice control sounds useful for basic commands
- $90 is your hard ceiling and $99 is over budget
- You care about the wider 120-degree field of view
Choose the Ryze Tello if:
- Flight quality and indoor stability are your top priorities
- You're interested in Scratch/Python programming
- You want to build real piloting skills for a future upgrade
- You don't care about camera quality (720p is fine for you)
- Crash durability matters (80g and prop guards survive everything)
Our Verdict
For most people, the Tello is the better buy. The DJI flight controller creates a flying experience that the HS110D can't match, and that experience is what teaches you whether drones are worth your time and money. The HS110D wins if you specifically need to record video. Its 1080p SD card recording is the one thing the Tello absolutely cannot do. The footage isn't great, but it exists at full resolution and you can transfer it, edit it, or share it. Nine dollars separates these two drones, so cost isn't really the factor. The factor is what you prioritize. Want to learn to fly? Tello. Want to record clips? HS110D. For beginners who aren't sure yet, the Tello's flight quality makes the learning process more enjoyable, and enjoyment is what gets people to stick with a hobby.
Ryze Tello
3.5/5 overall · $99
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13