The 5 Best Phone Gimbals to Stabilize Your Quaking Videos

by Unknown on November 07, 2019 in TECH

An iPhone 8 on a Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal. — MPIXTURE.COM/Shutterstock

You’ve got ambition, a great phone camera, and shaky hands. It’s a curse many videographers have experienced. But don’t worry—you can easily lift the curse (and achieve stunning image stabilization) with a motorized phone gimbal.

What to Look for in a Phone Gimbal

A gimbal is a photography tool that uses motors and gyroscopic sensors to stabilize a camera automatically. It allows photographers and videographers to achieve clean, floating shots without having to use a large Steadicam. Gimbals kind of look like selfie sticks, except they contain batteries, motors, and (sometimes complicated) photography controls.

Phone gimbals are a growing phenomenon, and they’re very popular among amateur videographers, YouTubers, and video hobbyists. Because they’re so niche, it can be hard to find a phone gimbal that matches your needs. So, before you buy a phone gimbal, we suggest you consider the following key qualities and features:

Build quality: All the gimbals in this article are made of lightweight, durable plastic. If you plan to film in riskier situations, though (while skateboarding, for example), we recommend you choose a chunky gimbal that can handle some abuse.
Battery life: You want to make sure your gimbal has a decent battery life, so your project isn’t interrupted. The gimbals in this article all have a battery life of at least 10 hours.
Controls: Most phone gimbals have built-in hotkeys to activate recording or snap photos. But some have additional buttons to adjust focus or exposure or change the shooting mode (things you would normally adjust on your phone).
App features: Premium phone gimbal apps have features like face tracking or time-lapse modes. Make sure your phone gimbal has the in-app features you’re most interested in.
Phone compatibility: The adjustable mounts on phone gimbals are made to fit all flagship phones. However, if your phone isn’t made by Apple, Google, or Samsung, do a web search to see if it works with the gimbal you like.
External lens compatibility: Some external lenses won’t work with phone gimbals. If you use an external lens on your phone, you might have to do some research to make sure it’s compatible with the gimbal you’re thinking about purchasing.

Now that you know what to look for in a phone gimbal, it’s time to start shopping. Here are some of our favorite phone gimbals in all shapes and sizes.

Best Overall: Zhiyun Smooth 4

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal holding a smartphone and sitting next to its accessories. — Zhiyun

If you’re looking for a full-featured phone gimbal with robust controls, check out the Zhiyun Smooth 4. It’s reliable with great image stabilization, in-app video modes (object tracking, time-lapse, etc.), a 12-hour battery, and more hotkeys and controls than any other competitor.

In other words, you don’t have to reach up to your phone to change your contrast or picture settings; it’s all right there on the Smooth 4’s thin body. This makes the Smooth 4 a great option for professionals, quality freaks, or hobbyists who want to familiarize themselves with traditional video controls and equipment.

Of course, more isn’t always better. If you’re afraid the Smooth 4’s controls will make things more complicated than they need to be, it might be best to stick with a more straightforward gimbal.

Best Overall