The accurate observation of the microphysical structure of cloud and precipitation plays an important role in understanding the formation of clouds and precipitation. In-situ measurement using measuring instruments carried by meteorological balloons is an effective way to obtain the microphysical properties of cloud and precipitation particles, which is a supplementary means for aircraft to observe cloud and precipitation particles. This observation method plays a more and more important role in in-situ measurement. According to the difference of the working principle of the existing balloon-borne cloud and precipitation particles probes, the detectors can be divided into particle impact-sampling sensors, particle imaging sensors, light-scattering sensors, light intensity attenuation sensors and charge measurement sensors. The working principles, key technologies and main advantages and disadvantages of typical instruments were summarized, and their applications to detailed cloud structure acquisition, cloud remote sensing method establishment, cloud and precipitation physical process research and parameterization, and scientific observation of thunderstorm clouds were briefly introduced. Finally, the development trend of balloon-borne cloud precipitation particle detectors was prospected, which will provide reference for related technical research and equipment development.