Holy Stone HS420 vs Loolinn Z3
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Holy Stone HS420 at $30 and the Loolinn Z3 at $50 are the cheapest drones on our under-$100 list. Both include three batteries, both shoot 720p, and both lack GPS.
The HS420 is a palm-sized 31-gram mini drone built for kids. The Z3 is a full-sized foldable drone with optical flow positioning.
Twenty dollars separates a toy from a more capable flyer.
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
Loolinn Z3
- Three batteries included give about 60 minutes of total flight time for $50. That ratio is hard to beat
- Optical flow sensor on the bottom helps it hold position indoors far better than pure barometer drones
- 132 grams and foldable makes it light enough to toss in a bag without thinking about it
- 20 minutes per battery is the longest single-charge flight time of any drone under $100 on this list
- Physical buttons on the controller for tricks means less time in the app, more time flying
- 720p camera produces grainy, washed-out video that looks like it's from 2015
- All recordings save to your phone over Wi-Fi. No SD card slot, no way to get higher quality files
- Optical flow only works over flat, well-lit surfaces. On grass, carpet patterns, or in dim light it loses tracking
- 80m range is the theoretical max. Real-world Wi-Fi range is closer to 40-50 meters before the feed breaks up
- No headless mode on some firmware versions, which is confusing for beginners who lose orientation
- The Loolinn brand has almost no presence outside Amazon. If you need support, good luck
Price Range
The HS420 at $30 is one of the cheapest camera drones you can buy. The Z3 at $50 costs $20 more. Both include three batteries.
Total flight time heavily favors the Z3: about 48 minutes (3x 15-17 min) versus about 17 minutes (3x 5-6 min) for the HS420. That's nearly three times the airtime for less than twice the price.
Replacement batteries for the HS420 cost about $10 for a two-pack. Z3 batteries run about $15 each. Props are under $8 for both.
Neither drone is expensive to maintain, and at these prices, replacing the entire drone is a reasonable option if something breaks badly.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
2 | 2.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 720P | 720P |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (tiny CMOS) | Unknown (small CMOS) |
| HDR | ||
| RAW/DNG | ||
| Flight Performance | ||
| Flight Time | 7 min | 20 min |
| Range | 0.03 km | 0.08 km |
| Max Speed | 6 m/s | 8 m/s |
| Gimbal | None (no stabilization) | None (no stabilization) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $30 | $50 |
| Weight | 31g | 132g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Build and Size
Size and weight is the most obvious difference. The HS420 weighs 31 grams and fits in your palm. The Z3 weighs 132 grams, folds, and has a full-sized quadcopter frame. The HS420 is a mini drone.
The Z3 is a small drone. They feel like different categories.
Battery Life
- Z3: 15-17 min per battery, 48 min total (3 batteries)
- HS420: 5-6 min per battery, 17 min total (3 batteries)
- The Z3's total airtime triples the HS420's
Positioning and Stability
The Z3 has an optical flow sensor that helps it hover steadily over flat, bright surfaces. The HS420 has basic altitude hold only. Indoors on a wood or tile floor, the Z3 holds position much better.
Camera
Cameras are roughly equal at 720p to your phone over Wi-Fi. Neither produces good video. The Z3's slightly larger sensor and higher flight altitude capability mean its footage is marginally less shaky.
Crash Tolerance
The HS420 at 31 grams with full prop guards survives anything. You can throw it at a wall and it bounces. The Z3 at 132 grams is more fragile. Arms can snap if it hits something hard at speed.
Choose the Holy Stone HS420 if:
- The pilot is under 10 years old
- You want the safest possible indoor drone (31g with full guards)
- Toss-to-launch and simplicity matter more than features
- $30 is your budget and you can't stretch to $50
- Short play sessions (5-6 min per battery) are fine
Choose the Loolinn Z3 if:
- You want real flying sessions (15-17 min per battery)
- Optical flow hover makes indoor flying smoother
- The pilot is 10+ and can handle a larger drone
- 48 minutes of total airtime sounds better than 17
- You want a foldable drone you can take places
Our Verdict
The Z3 is the better drone by every measure except one: the HS420 is lighter, cheaper, and safer for very young kids. If your child is under 8, the HS420's 31-gram weight and toss-to-launch make it the right choice. It's a toy, and a good one. For everyone else, the Z3's $20 premium buys triple the flight time, optical flow positioning, a foldable frame, and a more stable flying experience. If you're 10 or older and want to actually learn to fly, the Z3 is worth the extra money. The HS420 is fun for five minutes at a time. The Z3 gives you 15-17 minutes to actually practice and improve.
Loolinn Z3
2.5/5 overall · $50
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13