Holy Stone HS175D vs Potensic Atom SE
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Holy Stone HS175D at $170 and the Potensic Atom SE at $159-199 are both GPS drones under 250 grams targeting budget-conscious beginners. The Atom SE shoots 4K with electronic stabilization.
7K with no stabilization. The price is close enough that this comparison comes down to features, not budget.
The short version: the Atom SE is the better camera drone. The HS175D exists for buyers who care more about airtime than footage.
Pros & Cons
Holy Stone HS175D
- Two batteries included give about 44 minutes of total airtime for $170
- 215 grams stays under the 250g FAA registration threshold
- GPS auto-return works reliably and brings the drone home when battery gets low or signal drops
- Brushless motors are quieter and last longer than the brushed motors on cheaper drones
- Foldable design fits in a jacket pocket, making it easy to carry anywhere
- Wireless controller connection means no phone cable dangling from the remote
- Misleading 4K claim only applies to photos; video maxes out at 2.7K/25fps, and some reviewers only got 1080p files saved to the SD card
- No gimbal and no electronic stabilization means shaky, wobbly footage in anything but dead calm air
- 250-300 meter range in real-world use, nowhere near the advertised 500m
- Holy Stone app has quirks: recording indicators don't always match what actually saves to the card
- 25fps video looks noticeably choppier than the 30fps standard most other budget drones offer
- No RAW photo support, and the small sensor produces muddy colors in anything but bright sunlight
Potensic Atom SE
- Two batteries included for 62 minutes of total flight time out of the box
- GPS flight modes (Follow Me, Waypoint, Orbit) for under $200
- Sub-250g weight avoids FAA registration for recreational use
- RAW/DNG photo support gives editing flexibility unusual at this price
- Quad-satellite GNSS (GPS + GLONASS + Galileo + BeiDou) for reliable positioning
- Carry case included in the box, so you don't need extra accessories to start flying
- EIS-only stabilization produces noticeably shakier footage than any gimbal-equipped drone
- 1/3-inch sensor struggles in anything but bright daylight conditions
- 400-500 meters real-world range despite the 4km advertised spec
- 720p live view at 30fps with 200ms latency, making it hard to frame shots precisely
- No obstacle avoidance sensors of any kind increases crash risk for beginners
- Sensitive joysticks make smooth cinematic movements difficult to execute
- No downward tilt on the camera, limiting top-down shooting angles
Price Range
The Atom SE varies in price depending on the kit. The standard single-battery kit runs about $159. The fly more combo with two batteries and a carry case runs $199. Either way, you get 4K video, GPS, and PixSync 2.0 transmission.
The HS175D at $170 ships with two batteries for about 44 minutes total, a controller, and a carry case. It's priced between the Atom SE's two configurations.
At $159 (standard Atom SE), you get a better camera in a single-battery package. At $170 (HS175D), you get worse video but two batteries and a case.
At $199 (Atom SE Fly More), you get better everything but spend $29 more than the HS175D. The $159 Atom SE standard kit is the best value of the three.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
3 | 3.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 2.7K/25fps | 4K/30fps |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (small CMOS) | 1/3-inch Sony CMOS |
| Aperture | — | f/2.2 |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 23 min | 31 min |
| Range | 0.5 km | 4 km |
| Max Speed | 10 m/s | 16 m/s |
| Gimbal | None (no stabilization) | 1-axis mechanical (tilt) + EIS |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $170 | $199 |
| Weight | 215g | 249g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Camera System
Camera quality separates these two clearly. The Atom SE shoots 4K at 30fps with a 1/3-inch Sony CMOS sensor and ShakeVanish EIS. It also supports RAW/DNG photos for editing flexibility.
7K/25fps with no stabilization. The Atom SE's footage is usable for social media. The HS175D's is shaky and washed out.
Transmission and Range
0 through a dedicated controller with a stable range of 500-800 meters. The HS175D uses 5GHz Wi-Fi that degrades past 200-300 meters.
For anything beyond short-range flying, the Atom SE holds its connection while the HS175D starts dropping the video feed.
Battery and Flight Time
- Atom SE standard: one 2500mAh battery, 24 min real flight
- Atom SE fly more combo: two batteries, 48 min total
- HS175D: two 1700mAh batteries, 22 min each, 44 min total
- Per-flight, the Atom SE lasts slightly longer. Total airtime is comparable only with the fly more combo.
GPS Accuracy
Both have GPS with return-to-home, Follow Me, and waypoint modes. The Atom SE executes these more precisely thanks to its quad-satellite GNSS. The HS175D's GPS modes work but with less accuracy.
Choose the Potensic Atom SE if:
- Camera quality matters at all (4K with EIS versus unstabilized 2.7K is not close)
- You want RAW photo support for editing
- Transmission range and reliability matter
- You plan to post or share footage online
- You value a polished app and consistent recording behavior
Choose the Holy Stone HS175D if:
- The lowest possible price with GPS and two batteries is the priority
- Camera quality is irrelevant to your flying goals
- You only fly within 200 meters and don't need long-range transmission
- You want a complete kit with carry case for under $170
- You're buying a practice drone you expect to replace within a year
Our Verdict
The Atom SE is the better drone at every configuration. The $159 standard kit gets you 4K video and PixSync for $11 less than the HS175D. The $199 fly more combo gets you that plus two batteries and a case for $29 more. The HS175D's only argument is price and out-of-box battery count. But when the Atom SE costs the same or less and produces footage that actually looks presentable, the HS175D is hard to justify. Buy the Atom SE standard kit at $159 if budget is tight. Buy the fly more combo at $199 if you want the full package. Either way, skip the HS175D.
Potensic Atom SE
3.5/5 overall · $199
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13