Holy Stone F181C RC Quadcopter Drone For Kids

Last updated: August 11, 2020


With a contoured and compact controller, this quadcopter done will be easy to use for little hands. The joysticks are a familiar tool for children who like to game, so this controller will prove to be a win for the kids. The actual drone is lightweight, and you can use either batteries or an adapter charge as a power source. You’ll find the versatility of this to be super handy.

Holy Stone F181C RC Quadcopter Drone For Kids

We looked at the top Drones for Kids and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Drone for Kids you should buy.

Product Details

Key Takeaway: This quadcopter drone has a controller that kids will easily adapt to using, with joysticks and easy-to-push buttons.

In our analysis of 130 expert reviews, the Holy Stone RC Quadcopter Drone For Kids placed 6th when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

rc drone with camera for beginners adults Holy Stone F181 RC Quadcopter Drone with HD Camera RTF 4 Channel 2.4GHz 6-Gyro Headless System Altitude Hold Function Black Main Features · Altitude Hold Function (upgraded): When you release the throttle stick, the drone will stay hovering at the current height. · 720P HD Camera: No FPV (First Person View) You can capture videos and take wonderful photos to record happy moments. · Headless mode: Great function for beginners to recognize the drone and operate it. · One Key Return: Press this button to summon your drone back. (Please read manual carefully) · 3D Flips & Rolls: Cool flips make flying interesting. It can flip at four directions. · 2pcs Powerful Batteries and Motors: Batteries and motors can offer strong power to the drone, support a longer flying time. · One Key Engine Start / landing: Easy and safe to start the flight. · 4 Speed Control Mode: 4 speed modes from low to high are suitable for both beginners and experts. · Left / Right Hand Operation Mode: You can choose a left or right hand mode according to your preference. · Controllable LED Light: The lights can help you to locate the drone especially at night and they can be turned on/off. 720P HD CAMERA: Enjoy the photography during flights! 720P HD camera with upgraded 4GB Micro SD card included, with the sky perspective, your friends and family are going to record the world in a brand new angle! * This drone has no FPV (First Person View). It CANNOT be connected with Phone. 6-Axis Gyro Technology with Altitude Hold Function: Makes it possible for excellent performance of flips and rolls by a simple push of the button. Hold down the right direction stick to perform each a cool roll in any direction. 3D FLIP HEADLESS MODE PACKAGE 3D Flip: You are able to finish the flip with a push of a button! Even for the beginners it is very easy to get a WOW performance with this highly responsive function! Headless Mode Tips: An orientation function. In Headless Mode, no matter what direction the aircraft is facing, forward stick is forward, and back stick is backward. That is all set from the position of it’s initial take-off position. EASY for Beginners! What is included: 1 x F181C Chaser Quad Copter 1 x 2.4 Gigahertz Remote Transmitter 2 x 3.7 V 750mAh LiPo Battery 4 x Rotating Blade 4 x Protection Frames 2 x Landing Skids 1 x 4G TF Card 1 x SD Card Reader 2 x USB charging cables 4 x Small Gears for Motors 12 x Screws for drone 1 x Screwdriver 1 x User Manual Specification: · 2.4Ghz 6 Axis Gyro 4 Channel RC Drone Weight:4.8 Ounces (FAA Registration NOT Required) Drone Dimensions: 12.2(L) X3.5 (H) X12.2 (W) Inches Video Recording Modes: 1280 x 720p Transmitter Operation Range: about 50-100 meters Battery of Quadcopter: 3.7V 750mAh Lipo Battery Battery of Controller: 4 X 1.5V AA Battery (Not included) Charging time: about 70-90 Minutes Playing time: 7-10 Minutes

Our Expert Consultant

Molly Thornberg   
Technology and parenting blogger

Molly Thornberg is a professional writer, creative and mom to four kids, living her best life outside of Dallas, Texas. With a love for all things tech, she is passionate about helping parents raise kids in the digital age. She writes about technology, parenting and humor on her blog Digital Mom Blog.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The controller is sleek, compact, and it fits in the palm of our hands without any problem. Another thing we liked about the controller is that although it has no special anti-slipping materials, we did not have any issues in this area.
F181 comes with a controller that resembles a typical PlayStation or XBox joystick. It’s very comfortable to hold since most of us are familiar with joysticks
It is easier to control: the transmitter of the F181 quadcopter that has both the manual controls and the LCD screen make it easier to note changes in signal, connectivity and such like changes that enable better piloting.
The highlights for me were its altitude-hold feature, 360 flip capability, and comfortable remote control. I really loved the way this thing was ready out of the box and also came with two batteries and cables to charge both at the same time.
- IGN
The F181 has amazing durability for a drone of its price range. A customer mentioned that there was no problem with the drone even after it flew into a clump of pine trees and fell 30 feet to the ground.
The flight performance of Holy Stone F181 is excellent.
This isn't a drone that excels in any one category, but it splits the difference nicely between the needs of a camera, stunt, or racing drone.
We also liked how it’s a great option for beginners as a result of the one key system, headless mode, and altitude hold functions that are available. The one key system allows kids to experience smooth takeoffs and landings by pressing a button.
To say the Holy Stone is minor league compared to DJI’s two drones on our list is a gross overstatement, but for anyone looking to see what the drone craze is all about, this $109 drone is surprisingly comprehensive.
- BGR
Yes, the HolyStone F181C boasts 4 different speed levels. So that you can learn drone flying step by step. By the end of the journey, you can even capture aerial pictures even while maneuvering the quad comfortably.
Functions-wise, the F181 Chaser drone is packed with some really good features. Especially the altitude hold function and headless mode. For some of you who might have never flown a drone before and is wondering what the heck Headless mode means.
The F181C will fly for between 7 and 8 minutes, according to the makers, and takes a whopping 80 minutes to charge. So it’s a good thing it comes with two batteries and two chargers.
The Holy Stone F181 Quadcopter is equipped with a 6-axis gyro stabilization system which helps make this quadcopter easy to fly. You can fly it indoors and outdoors!
The drone can perform several stunts midair thanks to its gyration capabilities that enable it do 3D flips and rolls. It flips in four directions to give that perfect picture or video required.
This is a great drone for beginners, it has a lot of features that will make flying a drone that much easier, for a drone that is quite cheap,it is worth purchasing if you are looking for a bit of fun.
This is another great feature that makes this drone so special. The one key return allows you to get the drone back when you don’t seem to find a way to land it back close to you. This prevents the drone from being lost and at the same time assists the beginners with landings (the part of the process when most crashes occur).
One of the things we really love about the Holy Stone F181 is that it manages to offer you a decent camera at this price. So you can get a feel of aerial photography and videography without having to shell out a lot of money.
The drone is capable of performing complete airborne spins with rotations at 360 degrees – thanks to its stability. Powered with the 6-axis headless gyro system, it is also capable of performing other similar stunts.
Awesome sports quad, for tricks and flips
If you lose control and have the copter crash, it is nicely protected from serious damage due to the two stabilizing bars underneath it.
Sturdy and can withstand some hard landings
On and all, this is a superb entry-level drone for a person just starting out since this copter provides amazing handling to give you a stellar experience.
This drone has one amazing feature that only few other drones have. It has altitude hold function. Meaning you can keep the drone at a certain height. It will hover in that position. It’s great in a sense that you will be able to capture great photos and videos like this.
You will be pleased to know that you also get an extra battery with this quadcopter. It does take about 90 minutes to charge a battery, so the extra battery is a nice touch.
It has great maneuverability. It is able to execute four-way flips and make 360 degree turns in all directions. The four-way flip function allows the drone to roll continuously and execute actions with perfection.
The controller is like your gaming console controller, very comfortable to hold especially if you are familiar with the joysticks.
It offers two modes – beginner mode and expert mode. You can change the speed according to the mode.
For beginners who want to get in for 3D flips and stunts.
The excellent performance of the flip is made possible by the 6-axis Gyro technology which is just a single button away.
Why we like it: this drone has a built-in anti-interference system that limits each controller to a single drone if you buy two drones and you are worried if your kids can fly them at the same time.
F181 is easy to fly, has a sexy design, and comfortable to fly with its ergonomic LCD flight controller.
One of the first things we discovered was that this drone is also exceptionally durable. It can fall out of the sky or Holy Stone F181crash into a tree and there is a good chance it will survice the impact, and – incredibly – the battery still stays in place after a hard fall.
This is another impressive feature of the drones. You can get the drone based on your needs. As a matter of fact, the drones are available at a different price as the manufacturers want to make the drones available to everyone.
It’s very affordable and has very good, stable flight. It’s responsive to controls and can withstand bumps and crashes.
The drone looks really cool, especially with the lights on, as they are nice and bright
Good camera that delivers 720p at 30fps + 2MP stills with autofocus
Equipped with a 4GB Micro SD card, this affordable aircraft allows you to control at 4 speeds achieve the perfect performance of 360°flip, giving you a unique perspective and interesting experience.

What reviewers didn't like

Another thing we recommend is buying an extra battery for the drone, and the extra spare parts kit.
Batteries are not included in the package so you’ll have to buy them separately.
It has a poor internal cooling system that may cause it to burn out when used without adequate breaks of about 10 minutes.
Motor failure aside, I was also disappointed by the low resolution of the stills and shaky video taken by the onboard 2MP camera.
- IGN
Note that the F181 has a relatively slow yaw. Its right and left movements are not as fast as other quadcopters, but the adjustable settings more than make up for this. It also makes the quadcopter more controllable for novice pilots.
It features a shorter battery life.
Video footage takes up a lot of MB space
No First Person View (FPV) functionality.
Limited Battery Time
There are a very small number of build-quality complaints, but given the volume of these things sold, that seems to be in line with normal manufacturing error rates.
Because it is very light, powerful winds may take control of it
The drone heats up very fast hence should be used between breaks
The included Lithium-ion polymer batteries give decent power to the drone; however, you have to be sure to follow the instructions for proper LiPo battery care to avoid burnout. LiPo batteries are also extremely powerful, so you may wish to purchase a bag to charge and store it in.
One thing that really disappointed us is that the drone gets heated up pretty quickly and there’s no heat system to counter that effect. This makes it difficult to stay airborne for long.
Lower battery life
Propeller guards and camera affect flying performance negatively
There is no ventilation, so internal core components like the battery heat up quickly.
Because of it’s light weight, strong winds may veer it off it’s intended course.
Anything at a stretch is bad. It should be kept in mind that a minimum break between two individual flights is necessary. In that way the parts cool down.
At barely 400g of weight, you should expect the F181 to be a slightly unstable in bad conditions such as wind and rain
It has little wind resistance when used outdoors
You might find it a bit difficult while flying outdoors as it has a little wind resistance.
Less fly time
The circuit board hats up often, you have to take a ten-minute break
Yes there are negatives that I've observed and experienced with the Holy Stone F181, but most of them were not related to the performance and flight aspects of the F181 Quadcopter drone but more on the lines of fit and finish issues relating to the factory and their processes.
There have also been some issues with the motor overheating.
No FPV: the drone lacks First Person Viewing (FPV) feature. Some might find it troublesome.
It’s a lightweight quad weighing in at 399 grams so because of this we don’t advise flying the craft on days when the outdoor wind speeds are high.
The yaw isn’t fast (There are 4 rates in total, and the yaw is the same in all rates), so the turns aren’t very quick.
Poor wind resistance
it does not allow viewing the scene from the first angle
View our Drone for Kids buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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