HOLY STONE F181C RC Quadcopter Drone with HD Camera RTF 4 Channel 2.4GHz 6-Gyro with Altitude Hold Function,Headless Mode and One Key Return Home, Color Black

SpecsQuadcopter Weight: 399gVideo Recording Modes: 720p VideoFlight time: approx 7-9 minutesTransmitter Operation Range: Approx 50-100 metresPackagingPackaging is basic but well secured to avoid any damage during transit. The quad comes with the landing feet and prop guards unattached but are easily fitted and secured with small screws included in the package. A spare set of props and a spare battery are also included along with the charging cables for each battery.Ease of SetupAs there is no app to download setup is very easy and quick. The controller takes four AA batteries (not included) and once powered up a simple up and down on the throttle pairs the controller and is confirmed by a reassuring beep. Build Quality and FeaturesBuild quality is good for the price point as with all Holy Stone products. The F181 would be classed as a toy level drone so plastics are used throughout rather than any composites you might find in more expensive products.As with the HS110 quad that I reviewed recently the F181 comes with a great altitude hold feature which works extremely well. It is based on air pressure to maintain high and can make setting up 360 flips very easy for the beginner. Also helps when taking photos of course. The quad also comes with a headless mode which is a great feature for beginners. Headless mode essentially means you no longer have to worry about the orientation of the quad and what is the front and back of the drone.Flying ExperienceThis is were the F181 really came alive for me. While usually I fly quads with FPV apps its clear this drone is made for fun flying with the basic controller. The display shows power as a percentage and not much more really. A less is more approach really works with this quad as it allows you to really enjoy the flying. 360 flips are easy to perform and are so much fun! The drone is even very easy to control indoors as well as outdoors with its small size and great manoeuvrability its an ideal quad to play with indoors if the weather is poor.Click here to see a video of an indoor test flight!Sample PhotosWhilst I would class this quad as more of a fun flying experience rather than camera drone the photos are still good quality for a drone of the level. Obviously with no FPV app its not possible to set up your shots but again for me this quad is about having fun flying! The angle of the camera and the limited altitude means its also a little tricky to get the shots you may want. SummaryThis is a really solid quad for the price and honestly one of the most fun flying quads I've tested. If you are looking for a good starter drone that will help you learn the basics of controlling a quad then look no further than the F181 from Holy Stone!*Please note I was provided this quadcopter free of charge for testing and review purposes by Holy Stone. I was not paid for this review in any way however.

We got the HolyStone F181C quadcopter drone about a week ago. My son is an experienced drone pilot, but I really am not – so this review covers both views!Out of the box, it is clear that engineering quality is high. It’s easy to fit the prop guards and landing gear and they are fixed by a screw (screwdriver supplied!), so can’t fall off. You also get two batteries and two chargers which extends your flying time (we got 7-10 mins per battery). Unusually, you also get a 4GB SD card for the 720p camera and an adapter to transfer footage to your computer – a really nice touch.As a beginner, what did I like best? I think the remote control is very clear, it’s easy to see what button does what. You have auto take off and landing, and also altitude control. This latter lets you concentrate on steering and having fun flying the drone. I have really struggled with the other drones that I have tried and generally just given up… with this one, I was flying around and doing flips straight away.As more of an expert, what about my son’s opinion? He was really happy with how responsive the drone was, he put in in expert mode (full power) and was immediately comfortable. You would have thought he’d been flying it for an age. He flew it high, around in a wide circle and flipped back and forth, getting the interest and attention of other folks on our local playing field.The drone is light, and it is true that it struggles in a strong wind, but that applies to all drones in this price range. Return to home is useful, but be aware that you generally have to help the drone a little yourself – no problem. Headless is not absolutely perfect every time, but again, that’s usual in this bracket.It has a camera and it’s easy to take videos or stills. Quality is really good for the type of camera (better than other similar ones that we have used) and likely this is because the altitude hold makes it steadier.Would we recommend it to others? That’s a resounding ‘YES’! If you’re a beginner, you can fly it in your garden (back yard) or even indoors… and you’ll make really fast progress. As an expert, it is light, responsive and fun. At the price bracket, you just can’t fault it.I have a Holy Stone RC truck too and have found the company to be really helpful post-sales. That’s very unusual in my experience and worth a lot.