If you are looking to shoot crispy cinematic videos that are clear and look professional, there are some options that one can opt to use. Among the best options is through the use of smartphone gimbals. These state of the art equipment offer video enthusiasts with tip-top flexibility and convenience on ways to take the best shots. However, there are lots of smartphone gimbals in the market which can make it confusing for anyone to handpick the right one. In our comprehensive guide, we have researched and reviewed some of the best smartphone gimbals one can find.
Best Pick – DJI OM 4 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal
Gesture Control & Dynamic Zoom for Hollywood-style Visuals
The DJI OM 4 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal offers a creative zoom feature that allows you to take high-quality visuals with minimal effect. It supports gesture controls to allow you to operate the gimbal with your hand movements. It’s compatible with most iPhone and Android phones, making it an excellent accessory for capturing your fun moments.
Best Smartphone Gimbals 2022 You Can Buy
Here is a countdown of the best smartphone gimbals that can choose from in the market.
9. Feiyu Gimbal VLOG Pocket Stabilizer
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: One-Key orientation, Compact size.
Dimensions: 42.8 x 21.9 x 57.3 inches & weighs 9.4 ounces.
This is a great pocket-size gimbal stabilizer that offers 3-axis functionality and is intended to be used on both smartphones and iPhones. It is very flexible and versatile making it usable in many different scenarios. With the self adaptation motor, the 3-axis gimbal allows users to easily shoot any videos and photos with ease and no shake.
Whether you are looking for a high quality 3-axis gimbal stabilize for your outdoors excursions or for your vlogging project, this is a great option that you can always count on. With the quality and performance it brings, you are surely getting something of good value.
Pros and Cons
- It is compact and foldable making it easy to carry.
- Easy to use and great for beginners.
- Might not be the best for professionals.
8. Snoppa Atom 3-Axis Foldable Pocket Sized Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Zoom focus control, Object tracking, Face tracking.
Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.1 x 12.9 inches & weighs 1.2 pounds.
Designed to be used on iPhones, the Snoppa Atom is a high quality gimbal stabilizer that is small and lightweight. The handheld gimbal comes with some of the latest features that enhances performance and usability. Using the gimbal is pretty easy while allows both beginners and advanced users to capture the best shots.
Anyone looking for a good quality gimbal stabilizer that they can fit in their pocket and use when needed should consider getting this one. It is ideal for both beginners and professionals who like to travel and want to capture moments while on the go.
Pros and Cons
- It is very stable and totally eliminates shaking.
- It is small, compact and easy to carry.
- Some find it to be complicated to use.
7. CINEPEER 3-Axis Phone Gimbal Stabilizer for iPhone Android
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Object tracking, Time-lapse, Panorama.
Dimensions: 4.7 x 4.1 x 11.2 inches & weighs 15 ounces.
Expertly engineered with some of the latest and on-demand features like object tracking, Panorama and time lapse, the Zhi Yun gimbal stabilizer is one of the best smartphone gimbals one can get online. It is a 3-axis gimbal that is very easy to use and promises users better stability and professional video shooting. It offers 4 gimbal modes which someone can seamlessly switch between depending on the need.
The gimbal comes with a 4,000mAh battery which is capable of delivering up to 12 hours of continuous usage. Overall, this is a powerful and lightweight smartphone gimbal that both amateurs and professionals will appreciate.
Pros and Cons
- It is easy to use and beginner friendly.
- It comes with excellent stability.
- The app it comes with needs some tweaking and upgrading.
6. hohem iSteady X 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
Price: Low price tag.
Special features: Foldable, lightweight design, 3 axis stabilizer, cinematic templates, easy to use, auto transition, dolly zoom, compatible with most Android & iOS phones.
Dimensions: 3 x 1.5 x 7 inches & weighs 9.1 ounces.
If you’re looking for a lightweight gimbal for your outdoor adventures, the hohem 3-Axis Gimbal is the best smartphone gimbal you can get right now. It is lightweight and folds easily for effective packaging when heading outdoors. It offers 8 hours runtime, which is enough to capture all your amazing moments before it needs a recharge. The gimbal provides outstanding stabilization thanks to its 3 axes. This ensures your videos are stable and eliminates the worry of capturing blurry and shaky videos.
The gimbal is easy to use with just a few buttons that can be operated by one hand. You can create cinematic videos with the gimbal thanks to the dolly zoom and auto transition feature. The gimbal has a wide range of compatibility and can support most iOS and Android smartphone on the market. It offers accurate face recognition and tracking to enable you to capture amazing photos.
Pros and Cons
- Accurate and intelligent face recognition and tracking
- Long running time
- Lightweight and foldable design for enhanced portability.
- It takes longer to get used to it. The onboarding process should be simplified for new users.
5. MOZA Mini-S Essential Foldable Phone Gimbal
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: 3-Axis video stabilizer, Object tracking, Zoom vertigo inception, Slow motion, Hyper-lapse, Time-lapse.
Dimensions: 7.67 x 5.12 x 2.67 inches & weighs 1 pound.
Battery life: 5h
Compatibility: iPhone & Android.
This MOZA foldable gimbal stabilizer makes a great addition to your gadget-box if you are a traveler or love spending time outdoors while taking videos and photos. The gimbal has been designed to offer universal compatibility and can be used on many different smartphones and iPhones. It has a maximum payload of 260 grams which by market standards is excellent and easy to use on many phones without becoming too heavy.
Its anti-shake technique uses a built-in sensor and a brushless magnetic motor which ensures efficient stability when turning or rolling in any direction. This together with other features makes the gimbal stabilizer an excellent performer that is worth investing on.
Pros and Cons
- It is very stable and easy to hold.
- The gimbal stabilizer is convenient and lightweight.
- Its battery life is short.
4. Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Integrated control panel, Axis thumb screw, PhoneGo mode.
Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.1 x 12.9 inches & weighs 2 pounds.
This is a high quality tripod-style gimbal that one can use on their iPhones as well as Android smartphones to record crisp videos without having to worry about stability and shakiness. The gimbal comes with tons of high end features that helps users seamlessly take control of the stabilizer to get their desired shots.
Although it might take some time for beginners to get started and learn to balance the gimbal stabilizer, it still makes one of the best gimbals in the market. The features, control options and overall delivery of the gimbal is one of the best that one can get.
Pros and Cons
- Comes with tons of convenient and performance features.
- For its quality and features, it offers good value for the money.
- Balancing the gimbal might be tricky at first for beginners.
3. Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus
Price: Fairly priced.
Special features: Object tracking, Time-Lapse, Sport Inception mode, Face tracking.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 2 x 13.4 inches & weighs 7 ounces.
Ranking first in our list of the best smartphone stabilizers is the Hohem 3-axis gimbal stabilizer. Coming from a brand that has been around and making some of the best gadgets in the arena, it is not a big surprise to see that they are topping. The gimbal stabilizer uses a unique 3D inception technique to ensure that users can rotate and tilt their gimbal as they need to yet still get the best shots.
The flexibility of this gimbal which lets users rotate 360-degrees and do pretty much all they want to makes it stand out from the rest. It is one of the best engineered gimbal stabilizers that comes packed with advanced features that boosts usability and performance. The gimbal can also be used on almost every smartphone.
Pros and Cons
- It is very lightweight and easy to use.
- Comes with tons of high end features.
- It has a high customer satisfaction rating.
- Might take some getting used to fro beginners to explore and use all the features.
2. DJI OSMO Mobile 3 Combo Lightweight and Portable 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal
Price: Modestly priced.
Special features: Story mode, One-Tap Templates, Hyperlapse Hype.
Dimensions: 11.2 x 4.9 x 4.1 inches & weighs 14 ounces.
Made by DJI, this extreme 3 combo portable gimbal stabilizer delivers beyond many in its class. The gimbal has been designed with a lightweight and foldable design that makes it very easy to move and use. With a unique standby mode, users can access and use their smartphone by easily folding the gimbal and proceeding fast and easy.
The gimbal offers unique features such as the Story mode which gives users access to One-Tap templates that lets them easily transform photos and videos with unique and beautiful effects. It is a great deal for anyone looking for a gimbal stabilizer that works for both Android and iPhones.
Pros and Cons
- It is easy to use and is beginner friendly.
- Comes with advanced functional features.
- The app could use some improvements.
1. DJI OM 4 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal
Price: High price tag.
Special features: Magnetic pull, 3 axis stabilization, iPhone & Android compatibility, gesture control, ActiveTrack 3.0, foldable design.
Dimensions: 8.070 x 7.68 x 2.73 inches & weighs 13.8 ounces.
The DJI OM 4 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal is one of the best smartphone gimbals you can get to create magnetic moments. It comes with a powerful 3 axis motor that keeps your smartphone steady to ensure you don’t capture shaky videos anymore. The gimbal is easy to control with its innovative zoom feature allowing you to achieve a Hollywood effect with minimal effort. It’s compatible with iPhone and Android phones, making it the perfect accessory for your outdoor adventures.
Another impressive feature of this gimbal is its magnetic pull that allows you to capture great photos whenever the inspiration strikes effectively. With the magnetic pull, your phone instantly connects to the gimbal for seamless filming on the go. The gimbal also offers gesture control, allowing you to take group photos hands-free. You can remotely control the gimbal with a gesture, making it easy to snap a pic or start a video. You also get to enjoy the ActiveTrack 3.0 feature that offers high-resolution recognition for adults, kids, and pets. The product package comes with everything you need to capture unforgettable moments and a manual to simplify the setup process.
Pros and Cons
- The dynamic-zoom feature allows you to capture Hollywood-style videos
- Gesture control makes it easy to operate the gimbal
- The magnetic pull enables effortless capture whenever you feel inspired.
- Not effective when extra lenses are added to the gimbal.
Choosing The Best Smartphone Gimbals to Buy
Here are some of the most important considerations when you are looking for a good smartphone gimbal to buy.
Weight
When choosing a smartphone gimbal, it is always important to look at the weight it comes with. This is especially crucial if you have projects that will demand you to be holding the gimbals for a long time. So, if you get a heavy gimbal at such a moment, you will find it tiring and very exhausting to hold on to it. That said, you should invest in one that is lightweight.
Stabilization
One of the reasons why gimbals exist is simply to offer better stabilization and avoid shaky videos when you are recording. If the gimbal you are getting doesn’t offer good stabilization, then you are better off without it. One should invest in a smartphone gimbal that offers flexible and sharp stabilization where one can easily tilt or roll it to any position or angle. 3-axis gimbals are among the latest advancement, and although they are pricier, they are really worth the investment.
Battery Life
Gimbals are devices that operate using batteries. The adjustability, tilting and pretty much every function in a gimbal is battery powered. It is also worth noting that due to this fact, the battery life of gimbals can vary wildly and if one is not keen enough they could end up with one that doesn’t stay up for long. They can vary anywhere between 2 to 14 hours. depending on how long you intend to be shooting videos, you need to ensure that the one you are getting will stand up to the task.
Compatibility & Software
Not every gimbal in the market is compatible with any smartphone. Some have been specifically designed for android while others are meant to be used with iPhones only. For you to get the best experience of the gimbal that you are getting, they much be compatible so that they communicate together. Without that, the gimbal is useless and you cannot use it.
Final Verdict
With the latest trends of taking photos and videos surging, there is always a need to have the best gadgets to get the best shots. One of the best ways that one can get the best out of their smartphones is by getting a gimbal. Shared in this guide are reviews of some of the best smartphone gimbals in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a smartphone Gimbal?
A: Smartphone gimbals are versatile devices that are meant to be used to achieve stability when shooting videos using smartphones. A smartphone gimbal is a modern incarnation of what many people know as steadicams and is meant to help people shoot steady videos without any shake.
Q: What does a gimbal do exactly?
A: A gimbal has been designed using a pivoted point and adjustable joints that automatically adjust on an axis or multiple axes. It can roll, tilt and move with ease while holding the attached smartphone in a stationary position that makes it good when raking videos and sometimes stationary photos.
Q: Is a Smartphone gimbal worth it?
A: The question on whether one should get a smartphone gimbal depends on their desire for videos. If you are seriously in need of a gimbal to use for shooting and making professional videos, then investing in a good gimbal is something that you should highly consider.
Q: Why are Smartphone gimbals so expensive?
A: They aren’t all necessarily expensive, but they vary greatly in price. There are some affordable single axis smartphone gimbals that one can get, but again the market offers more sophisticated ones that are more advanced which may cost more. It all depends on the sophistication and purpose of the smartphone gimbal that you are getting.
