DJI Mini 2 SE vs Holy Stone HS600
These two sit on opposite sides of the 250-gram line, which is usually where the decision ends rather than begins. The DJI Mini 2 SE needs no FAA registration to fly recreationally; the Holy Stone HS600 needs registration and Remote ID. The Holy Stone HS600 is the cheaper of the two at ~$370.
| Drone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bundle price | ~$399multi-battery bundle | ~$370base kit |
| True first-year price | ~$399 | ~$370 |
| Flight min per $100 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Rating | No cited rating | No cited rating |
| Takeoff weight | 246 g | 541 g |
| FAA registration | Not required | Required |
| Remote ID | Built-in | Built-in |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
| Sensor area | 28.1 mm² | 28.1 mm² |
| Megapixels | 12 MP | 48 MP |
| Max video | 2.7K/30fps | 4K/30fps |
| Colour depth | 8-bit | 8-bit |
| Log profile | — | — |
| Gimbal | 3-axis | 2-axis |
| Obstacle sensing | None | None |
| Claimed flight time | 31 min | 28 min |
| Tested flight time | — | — |
| Battery | 17.32 Wh | — |
| Transmission | O2 | 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi |
| Max range | 10 km | 6 km |
| Max speed | 36 mph | — |
| Wind resistance | Level 5 (10.7 m/s) | Level 6 |
| Service ceiling | 4000 m | — |
| Internal storage | None | None |
| Controller | DJI RC-N1 (phone required) | Holy Stone controller (phone required) |
| Return to home | Yes | Yes |
| Geofencing | Yes | No |
| Care plan (1 yr) | Not in our snapshot | Not in our snapshot |
| US availability | Limited | Sold |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Flight claim measured at | DJI quotes 31 minutes in windless conditions at a constant forward speed. As with the rest of the Mini line, hovering to frame a shot costs noticeably more than cruising. | Holy Stone quotes about 28 minutes per battery. The "56 minute" figure on retail listings is the two included packs added together. |
DJI Mini 2 SE
DJI's cheapest way into the ecosystem for two years running, and the model the Mini 4K was built to replace. Identical airframe, identical three-axis gimbal, identical O2 link to 10 km and the same 1/2.3-inch 12MP sensor — the only meaningful difference is that this one stops at 2.7K where the newer one records 4K. Both sit at $299, which makes the choice between them a short conversation unless the Mini 2 SE turns up substantially discounted. Everything that makes a Mini easy is here: GPS hold, automatic return-to-home, Level 5 wind resistance and a weight that keeps it out of the registration system. Everything a Mini lacks at this price is here too, chiefly any obstacle sensing at all.
Full spec sheet →Holy Stone HS600
Sitting a step below the sub-250-gram HS900 in Holy Stone's range and a step above it in weight, this is the brand's answer for people who want reach rather than a registration exemption. Two-axis gimbal plus electronic stabilisation on the roll axis, a 48MP 1/2.3-inch sensor, integrated Remote ID, Level 6 wind resistance and roughly 6 km of transmission. Two batteries come in the box, which is the source of the 56-minute figure in the listings — a single flight is about 28. At 541 grams the registration, TRUST certificate and Remote ID obligations all apply, and the aircraft at least handles the last of those itself. There is no obstacle sensing, which at this weight and speed is the specification most worth noticing.
Full spec sheet →