The DJI Mini 2 is among the best sub-250g drones that don’t break the bank, and while it may not have as many features as its pricier siblings, it offers excellent flight performance and cameras. Besides its weight advantage, beginners prefer it because of its affordability, but then there’s the Holy Stone HS720E, which is a lot easier on the budget.
Both share a few similarities, such as the ability to record in 4K. And despite having a lower price point, the HS720E even has a few unique benefits, namely a follow-me mode. However, the Mini 2 provides a more polished user experience. On that note, we compare the two to help you decide which one to get.
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DJI Mini 2 vs Holy Stone 720E Comparison Chart
| Model | DJI Mini 2 | Holy Stone HS720E |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at DJI.com | Check Price at HolyStone.com |
| Image | Up to 4000 x 3000 | Up to 3840 x 2160 |
| Video | Up to 4K at 30fps | Up to 4K at 30fps |
| Field of View | 83 degrees | 130 degrees |
| Transmission Range | 10km | 999m |
| Flight Time | 31 minutes | 23 minutes |
| Dimensions | Folded: 81mm x 58mm x 138mm Unfolded: 203mm x 56mm x 159mm | Folded: 177mm x 58mm x 104mm Unfolded: 337mm x 58mm x 240mm |
| Weight | Less than 249g | 495g |
Weight
Being a sub-250g drone, the DJI Mini 2 has a bit of an advantage over the Holy Stone HS720E right from the start.
The DJI Mini 2 weighs less than 249g, and that comes with advantages. First off, it’s light and easy to carry around, but more importantly, it doesn’t have to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. Take note that you’ll still have to comply with the restrictions in your area, meaning you can’t fly a sub-250g everywhere just because you don’t have to register it.
In contrast, the Holy Stone HS720E is about twice as heavy, weighing at 495g. By the same token, it’s also a lot bigger, so it’s not as portable. But because of its larger form factor, it has more room for certain features (more on that in a bit).
Click here for our Xiaomi Fimi X8 vs DJI Mini 2 comparison.
Flight Performance
While the DJI Mini 2 has a longer flight time, the Holy Stone HS720E includes two batteries in the box.
When it comes to flying, the DJI Mini 2 is the better performer. For starters, it has a transmission range of up to 10km, blowing the Holy Stone HS720E’s paltry 999m, which even dwindles down to 500m in FPV mode.
It’s the same story with their maximum flight time too. The Mini 2 can keep going for up to 31 minutes, and if you get the Fly More Combo, you can get up to 93 minutes’ worth of flight time. In comparison, the HS720E can only last up to 23 minutes, but in its defense, it does come with two battery packs out of the box, giving you 46 minutes of flight time in total right from the get-go.
Now the DJI Mini 2’s wind resistance is rated at level 5, capable of resisting winds of between 29 and 38kph. It’s not all about flight performance either, as that also means it can record stable footage in an environment where winds are as strong as 38kph.
Picture Quality
On paper, both have similar photo and video quality, but the DJI Mini 2 outputs better-looking footage than the Holy Stone HS720E.
The DJI Mini 2 can take photos of up to 4000 x 3000 in a 4:3 aspect ratio and up to 4000 x 2250 in 16:9. On the other hand, the Holy Stone HS720E can snap pictures with a resolution of up to 3840 x 2160. In short, the Mini 2 wins in this regard, but when it comes to video resolution, both are capable of recording in 4K at up to 30fps.
However, it’s worth mentioning that video quality on the Mini 2 is a whole deal better. Even in 2.7K, videos are sharper and clearer than 4K footage from the HS720E. They’re noticeably smoother too, and a lot more stable. The HS720E does have a wider 130-degree field of view than the Mini 2’s 83 degrees, so there’s that.
Other Features
The DJI Mini 2’s features are mostly for shooting footage, while the Holy Stone HS720E’s are for flying.
DJI Mini 2 QuickShots is among the drone’s most popular features. That’s because beginners and veterans alike can get a lot out of it, allowing them to record footage like a pro at just a tap of a button. For the uninitiated, it offers numerous shooting styles: Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix and Boomerang. And all you have to do to get a professional-quality shot is to hover the drone at least as high as two meters from the ground and select which mode you’d like via the DJI Fly app.
Moreover, the Mini 2 also has Panorama. As its name suggests, it lets you take panoramic shots in a snap. You can choose from wide and 180-degree angles, as well as a 360-degree sphere photo.
Meanwhile, the Holy Stone HS720E has more intelligent flight modes that make it more accessible for beginners. Like more advanced DJI drones, it has Point of Interest and Tap Fly that make flying a breeze and help you focus more on getting good angles and footage instead. Also, it has Follow Me, which is pretty self-explanatory.
Both do have a return-home feature, so they’re par for the course with most drones worth their salt nowadays.
Verdict
The DJI Mini 2 is simply better overall than the Holy Stone HS720E, even though it doesn’t have as many intelligent flight modes.
At the end of the day, our pick is the DJI Mini 2 hands down. For a sub-250g drone, it’s hard to beat, and it’s simply the more polished drone here. It has features like QuickShots and Panorama to help beginner flyers get professional-looking shots right off the bat. On top of that, it has better flight performance, from wind resistance to total flight time.
But that doesn’t mean the Holy Stone HS720E doesn’t have its place. It’s so cheap that it’s perfect for those who want to try their hand at flying drones, not to mention that it includes two batteries already so you can get up to 46 minutes of flight time without purchasing anything extra. Its intelligent flight modes are also useful if you just want to get the hang of things first.
FAQs
No, the DJI Mini 2 isn’t waterproof.
Not really, as DJI drones in general provide a more refined flying experience. Also, the picture quality of Holy Stone drones usually aren’t on par with DJI counterparts.
Yes, the DJI Mini 2 is a sub-250g drone with excellent flight performance and cameras. It also has features like QuickShots and Panorama, but take note that it doesn’t support intelligent flight modes such as Follow Me and TapFly.
Yes, the price-to-performance ratio of the Holy Stone HS720E is better than most drones in its range. While it doesn’t have the best cameras or flight performance, its cost makes it one of the best drones for beginners who want to try flying first.