Holy Stone HS420 vs Holy Stone HS430
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The HS420 and HS430 are both Holy Stone budget drones, but they're aimed at different people. The HS420 is a 31-gram palm-sized whoop for young kids.
The HS430 is a 75-gram foldable with a 1080P camera that looks like a miniature Mavic. Ten dollars separates them, and the differences go well beyond price.
Pros & Cons
Holy Stone HS420
- Three batteries in the box give about 21 minutes of total flight for $30
- 31 grams fits in the palm of your hand. You can fly this in a bedroom without fear
- Toss-to-launch actually works and kids love it. Throw it in the air and the motors catch it
- Prop guards mean crashes bounce off walls and furniture instead of leaving scratches
- Simple enough for a 6-year-old to fly within 5 minutes of opening the box
- The controller is small, ergonomic, and runs on AAA batteries (no charging wait for the remote)
- 6-7 minutes of real flight per battery. You spend more time swapping than flying
- 720p camera with a 30-meter video range. The image is blurry at any distance and useless past the length of a room
- 31 grams means any air movement pushes it around. Even walking past it creates enough turbulence to knock it off course
- No altitude hold on some firmware versions. The drone slowly drifts downward unless you actively correct it
- Brushed motors wear out after 30-50 hours of use. The drone becomes a paperweight unless you replace them
- The HS FUN app is bare-bones and the Wi-Fi video stream freezes frequently
Holy Stone HS430
- Three batteries included for 39 minutes total flight time at $40
- Foldable design fits in a jacket pocket, pocketable at 75 grams
- One-key takeoff and landing makes first flights completely painless
- Altitude hold is steady enough that beginners can focus on direction without worrying about throttle
- Voice and gesture control is a fun party trick, especially for kids
- Emergency stop button gives you a panic button when things go sideways
- 1080P is generous labeling. Real-world footage looks more like 720P with compression artifacts
- WiFi FPV has about a 1-second delay, so you're always flying by looking at where the drone was
- No GPS means it drifts in any wind. Even a light breeze pushes it around
- 100-meter range is the theoretical max. Expect signal issues past 50 meters outdoors
- No gimbal or stabilization produces jittery footage that's unusable for anything serious
- Propeller guards are flimsy plastic that crack after a few hard crashes
Price Range
The HS420 costs $30. The HS430 costs $40. Both come with three batteries. The HS420 gets about 17 minutes total. The HS430 gets about 32 minutes total, nearly double.
Per dollar, the HS430 gives you more airtime and a significantly better camera. The HS420's lower price makes sense for parents buying a toy for a young child who might lose interest in a week.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
2 | 3.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 720P | 1080P |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (tiny CMOS) | Small CMOS |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 7 min | 13 min |
| Range | 0.03 km | 0.1 km |
| Max Speed | 6 m/s | 8 m/s |
| Gimbal | None (no stabilization) | None (fixed mount) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $30 | $40 |
| Weight | 31g | 75g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Design Philosophy
Design philosophy separates these two. The HS420 is a protected whoop: round prop guards, non-foldable, toss-to-launch, built to bounce off furniture.
The HS430 is a foldable mini-drone with exposed props (removable guards included) and a camera that shoots 1080P.
Build and Performance
- HS420: 31g, safer for indoor flying, full prop guards
- HS430: 75g, more stable outdoors on calm days, foldable
- The HS430 is bigger, heavier, and more capable. The HS420 is safer, simpler, and more suited to indoor flying.
Camera
Camera quality gap: 1080P compressed (HS430) versus 720P (HS420). Neither is good, but the HS430 is noticeably better in daylight.
Battery Life
- HS420: 3 batteries, ~17 min total
- HS430: 3 batteries, ~32 min total
- The HS430 gives you nearly double the airtime
Choose the Holy Stone HS420 if:
- The pilot is under 10 and flying indoors
- Full prop guards, toss-to-launch, and 31g weight make it crash-proof
- You want the safest possible option for young kids
- $30 is the budget
Choose the Holy Stone HS430 if:
- The pilot is 10+ or an adult wanting a more "real" drone experience
- Better camera (1080P vs 720P) and foldable design matter
- Outdoor flying on calm days is part of the plan
- Double the flight time (32 min vs 17 min) is worth the extra $10
Our Verdict
The HS430 is the better drone by every measurable spec. The HS420 is the better toy for young kids. If the pilot is under 10, buy the HS420 for $30. If they're older or you want more capability, the HS430 at $40 is worth the extra $10.
Holy Stone HS430
3.5/5 overall · $40
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13