Holy Stone HS420 vs Ryze Tello
Specs, camera quality, and ratings compared · Updated 2026
The Holy Stone HS420 at $30 and the Ryze Tello at $99 are both small, light drones designed for beginners and indoor flying. The HS420 is a 31-gram toy drone for young kids.
The Tello is an 80-gram flight trainer with a DJI controller. The price difference is $69, which is a big gap when both drones shoot 720p video and lack GPS.
The question is whether the Tello's flight quality is worth more than three times the 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
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 HS420 at $30 includes three batteries (about 17 minutes total). The Tello at $99 includes one battery (10-11 minutes). Adding a second Tello battery ($20) brings it to $119.
So for $30, you get 17 minutes of airtime with the HS420. For $99-119, you get 10-20 minutes with the Tello. The HS420 is clearly the cheaper option, and the per-minute cost isn't even close.
But the HS420 and Tello are not really competing for the same buyer. The HS420 is a $30 toy you hand to a kid. The Tello is a $99 flight trainer you use to decide whether drones are your hobby. Comparing their prices directly misses the point.
Specs Comparison
Swipe to see all columns →
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
2 | 3.5 | |
| Camera & Imaging | ||
| Camera | 720P | 720P |
| Sensor Size | Unknown (tiny CMOS) | 1/5-inch CMOS |
| Aperture | — | f/2.2 |
| 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 (EIS only) |
| Smart Features | ||
| Obstacle Avoidance | ||
| GPS | ||
| Follow Me | ||
| Return to Home | ||
| Build & Design | ||
| Price | $30 | $99 |
| Weight | 31g | 80g |
| Foldable | ||
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
Flight Quality
Flight quality is where the Tello's price premium shows. The DJI flight controller makes the Tello hold position indoors, respond to stick inputs predictably, and handle like a real drone.
The HS420 wobbles, drifts, and requires constant correction. For a 6-year-old learning to push sticks, the HS420 is fine.
For a teenager or adult learning to actually pilot, the Tello's stability makes flying enjoyable rather than frustrating.
Weight and Safety
- HS420: 31g, lighter than a golf ball, full prop guards
- Tello: 80g, still very light, prop guards included
- Both survive crashes well. The HS420 is safer for very young children flying indoors around pets and siblings.
Programming and Education
Programmability is the Tello's unique feature. Scratch and Python SDK support turn it into a STEM education tool. The HS420 has no programmability.
Camera
Cameras are both 720p to your phone. The Tello's has electronic image stabilization which helps slightly. Neither drone produces video worth keeping.
Battery Life
- HS420: 5-6 min per charge, 3 batteries (17 min total)
- Tello: 10-11 min per charge, 1 battery included
- The HS420 compensates with three batteries, but each individual session is very short
Choose the Holy Stone HS420 if:
- The pilot is under 8 years old
- $30 is the budget and $99 is not an option
- You want a safe, lightweight toy drone for indoor play
- Toss-to-launch and immediate fun matter more than learning to fly
- You're buying a gift and don't know if the recipient will care about drones
Choose the Ryze Tello if:
- The pilot is 8+ and interested in learning real drone piloting
- Scratch or Python programming is part of the appeal
- You want a drone that builds transferable skills for future upgrades
- Indoor stability and predictable controls matter
- You're OK spending $99 as an investment in finding out if drones are your thing
Our Verdict
These drones serve different purposes at different price points. The HS420 is a toy that answers the question: does my kid think drones are cool? For $30, that's a cheap answer. The Tello is a trainer that answers a different question: do I enjoy piloting a drone? For $99, the DJI flight controller gives you a real answer instead of a frustrating one. If a young child wants a flying toy, the HS420 at $30 is the right pick. No question. If a preteen, teenager, or adult wants to try drone flying, the Tello at $99 is the right starting point. The flight quality difference between these two drones is the difference between playing with a toy and learning a skill.
Ryze Tello
3.5/5 overall · $99
Written by Paul Posea · Reviewed by Sarah Kim · Updated 2026-02-13