8 Best Phone Gimbals in 2023 (For iPhone & Android)

Are you looking for the best phone gimbals? Look no further! This article explores the eight best phone gimbals you can buy this year.

From the Hohem iSteady Pro 2 gimbal to the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal, we’ll cover the features and benefits of each product. The DJI OM 6 Smartphone Gimbal is our top choice. It’s easy to use, works with most phones and has many shooting options. But we’ve included several alternatives to give you the best selection of phone gimbals.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Phone Gimbals

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal

Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus

Zhiyun Smooth 5 Phone Gimbal

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What Are the Best Phone Gimbals?

A gimbal is a device with motors and sensors that allows your camera to rotate smoothly around an axis. It stabilizes your camera while you tilt, pan, and roll and helps you film fluid, steady footage when you’re moving. So it helps with shaky hands!

The best phone gimbals are a godsend for making video footage look professional. And it all comes down to three-axis stabilization motors that eliminate camera shake.

The traditional gimbal market leaders are DJI and Zhiyun. These brands top our list. But some excellent alternatives are worth your consideration. Here’s a quick peek at our list. You’ll find more information on each phone gimbal in the section after.

Our Top Choice

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal

Compatible with most smartphones
Innovative design for smooth and stable videos
3-axis stabilization with extendable pole
Supports time-lapse and panorama shots
Easy to use and set up with the Mino mobile app

Great Value

Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus

Gives you ultra-stable video footage from your smartphone
3-axis stabilization with no jerks or lags
360-degree full rotation
4 filming modes for creative filmmakers
Lightweight and portable

Most Advanced

Zhiyun Smooth 5 Phone Gimbal

Easily adjustable for portrait and landscape shots
3-axis motorized stabilization
Up to 18 hours of runtime
Supports up to 210 g (7.4 oz)
Compact and lightweight

Best for Social Media

Zhiyun Smooth Q3

Supports up to 260 g (9.2 oz)
High torque motors for smooth movement
Up to 12 hours of runtime
360-degree rotation and unlimited angles
Compact and lightweight

Best JOBY Choice

JOBY Smart Stabilizer

Highly-rated highly by users
Easily mountable
Smooth and silent shots
Compact and durable
Intuitive app control

Best Subject Tracking

FeiyuTech Vimble 3 Smartphone Gimbal

Excellent AI tracking module
Compatible with multiple phones
Silent motors that don't ruin your audio
Battery lasts up to 10 hours
Compact and lightweight

Budget Pick

MOZA Mini S Extendable Smartphone Gimbal

Smooth and stable motion control
Reliable and accurate subject tracking
Professional-grade features for pro media creation
Multi-accessory compatibility for creative options
Lightweight and portable design

Best for Beginners

PowerVision S1 Phone Stabilizer

Easy set up and operation
Provides effortless mobile video recording
Smoothly tracks motion
Accurate 360-degree control
Robust construction and versatile design

The Best Phone Gimbals in Detail

All the smartphone gimbals on our list have three-axis stabilization. It smooths out camera movements and buoys their electronic image stabilization. And they’re all compatible with iOS phones and Android devices. But remember that these devices aren’t meant to hold action cameras, mirrorless cameras, or DSLRs!

1. DJI OM 5

Brand	Brand DJI
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 7.4 x 3.3 x 4 inches / 18.8 x 8.4 x 10 cm
Weight	Weight 1.1 lb / 500 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size 2.6 x 3.3 inches / 6.7 x 8.4 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 6.4 hr
Extension	Extension Yes (8.5 inches / 21.5 cm)
Key Features	Key Features Built-in telescopic extension pole and mini tripod

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal is a two-in-one combination of a lightweight gimbal and a selfie stick. It boasts all the usual gimbal features. But it has the added benefit of shooting from a higher or lower angle or turning the camera around to create a better selfie.

The phone is attached to the gimbal using a magnetic phone clamp in a unique magnetic mounting system. On the grip itself, there are a limited number of buttons and controls:

Front joystick, record and rotate buttons
Side zoom slider and power button
Back trigger and USB-C port

The DJI Mimo app controls the gimbal and gives you access to various features, including Active Track 6.0, CloneMe pano, and video modes. The latter includes story mode templates, dynamic zoom, time-lapse, motion-lapse, hyper-lapse, and panoramas. There’s also a SpinShot gimbal movement mode.

The ShotGuides menu includes stylized clips designed to create a more cinematic feel without too much effort on your part. You can launch ShotGuides by tapping the icon in the DJI Mimo app. But the window also automatically appears if you’re in video mode and point the camera at your subject.

ShotGuides is divided into various sections, each containing several different options. The Chilled section, for instance, includes seven different scenarios. It includes options like Nostalgia and Summer Days.

If you shoot six clips and tap the video generation icon, the app enables Shot Reel and creates a video for you. By attaching a fill light phone clamp, you can add fill lighting with many brightness options and color temperature levels.

2. Hohem iSteady

Brand	Brand Hohem
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 12 x 4.5 x 4.3 inches / 30 x 11 x 10.8 cm
Weight	Weight 1 lb / 490 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size 2.3 x 3.5 inches / 5.8 x 8.9 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 12 hr
Extension	Extension No
Key Features	Key Features Long battery life, 600-degree panning, and facial recognition and tracking

The Hohem iSteady is a mid-range, black, metallic alloy phone gimbal. It was designed to compete with the FeiyuTech Vimble 2S and Moza Mini S. It’s an upgraded version with an adjustable roll arm and trigger button.

Here is the arrangement of the buttons and controls on the grip:

Front joystick, mode and power buttons, T / W switch (Telephoto / Wide-angle), and two LEDs (for Bluetooth connection and mode)
Side LED indicators (four), microphone screw hole, micro USB charging port, and USB-A port
Back trigger button

It offers four shooting modes—Pan Follow (PF), Pan and Tilt Follow (PTF), All Lock mode (AL), and All Follow (AF). The Hohem Gimbal app—which can be temperamental—controls everything else.

Six modes are available—Standard, Slow Motion, Motion-lapse, Time-lapse, Long Exposure, and Light Trail. Stabilization is quick and smooth, including panoramas, and all the usual features are present.

It is also possible to customize all the most crucial exposure, camera, and gimbal settings. This includes exposure value (EV), ISO, white balance, resolution, and shutter sound. You also control video stabilization, zoom speed, follow speed, and joystick speed.

3. Zhiyun Smooth 5

Brand	Brand zhi yun
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 12 x 6.6 x 2 inches / 31 x 17 x 5.2 cm
Weight	Weight 1.3 lb / 615 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size 2-3.5 inches / 5-9 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 4.5 hr
Extension	Extension No
Key Features	Key Features Strong weight capacity, tripod attachment, excellent smartphone software

The Zhiyuh Smooth 5 is an upgraded version of the Zhiyun Smooth 4. So it costs a bit more. It offers all the features of the Smooth-Q3. But it has a stronger motor capable of handling larger, heavier smartphones like the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The control and editing app is the same, but there are far more controls on the grip. That means this isn’t a good choice for the beginner!

Front mode has an indicator light, menu button, mode button, capture button, joystick, and center-fill light button. There’s also an adjustment wheel for resolution and frame rate. And you can pull up ISO and exposure adjustment, display, and the photo album.
Side focus and zoom wheel, with a power button and customizable function button. There’s also a quarter-inch threaded hole (for a gimbal stabilizer or extension bar).
Back trigger button, roll axis lock, and USB-C port.

The combo package includes a protective bag, wrist strap, fill light, and four color filters. It also includes a ZY Cami one-year prime service card. You can also attach two 300-lumen fill lights (max) and various color filters for 360-degree illumination.

Note that some of the Smooth 5’s features aren’t available on Android phones. So it’s worth checking the compatibility with your phone before you buy one.

4. Zhiyun Smooth Q3

Brand	Brand Zhiyun
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 1.8 x 6 x 7 inches / 4.5 x 15.4 x 18 cm
Weight	Weight 0.74 lb / 340 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size 2.8 to 3.5 inches / 6 to 8.8 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 7 to 15 hr
Extension	Extension Yes
Key Features	Key Features Built-in time-lapse and hyper-lapse modes, smart tracking features, and analog joystick

The unique selling point of the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3 is its built-in reversible fill light. It has three brightness levels and is very helpful if you want to vlog or take selfies in low light. There are also the usual controls on the grip:

Front indicator lights, mode button, capture button, and joystick
Side USB-C charging port and zoom rocker
Back trigger button and power button

The ZY Cami smartphone app offers live streaming. Plus, it provides creative shots with gesture control, instant dolly zoom, time-lapse, and hyper-lapse. The Smart Follow subject tracking and panoramic modes are particularly impressive. And there’s also a MagicClone pano that lets you appear several times in your shots!

The app lets you edit your video by adding music, subtitles, filters, and stickers. You can also change the playback speed, reverse the video, zoom, rotate, change colors, etc. You can also buy a combo package, including a storage bag, wrist strap, and ZY Cami’s one-year prime service card.

5. JOBY Smart Stabilizer

Brand	Brand Joby
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 7.7 x 5 x 3 inches / 19.5 x 13 x 6.8 cm
Weight	Weight 0.94 lb / 428 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size Up to 3.3 inches / 8.4cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 10 hr
Extension	Extension Yes (7 inches / 18 cm)
Key Features	Key Features Extendable pole and tripod and case included

Joby is perhaps better known for its Gorillapod flexible tripods. But they now produce this black plastic smartphone gimbal with a built-in selfie stick.

The buttons and grip controls are straightforward:

Front joystick, shutter button, and on-off button
Side zoom slider
Back multi-function trigger

The joystick is for manually moving the angle of the phone’s camera. And you can press and hold the shutter button to start a video instead of taking a photo.

Feiyu makes the Smart Stabilizer app. It has advanced features such as dolly zoom, light trails, slow-motion, time-lapse, and Motion Control mode. Plus, there’s a helpful adjustment to level the horizon.

But the max payload won’t be enough if you have an oversized smartphone like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. And face-tracking doesn’t work if you move too quickly or let the subject leave the frame for more than a fraction of a second.

6. FeiyuTech Vimble 3

Brand	Brand FeiyuTech
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 5 x 3.4 x 11.8 inches / 13 x 8.6 x 30 cm
Weight	Weight 0.85 lb / 387 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size Up to 3.3 inches / 8.5 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 10 hr
Extension	Extension Yes (7 inches / 18 cm)
Key Features	Key Features Extendable pole, good tracking features, and 360-degree panning rotation

The Vimble 3 is FeiyuTech’s best smartphone gimbal to date. It has an excellent selection of buttons and manual controls that make it easy to operate. There’s a built-in extension rod. And there are many valuable features. It has gesture controls, filters, HDR shooting, a timer, Beauty, Light Rail, and Panorama modes.

The Feiyu ON app automatically connects the gimbal to the phone, which is handy. And it’s possible to charge your phone from the gimbal via a cable using the built-in micro USB port.

With performance, the tracking and stabilization are excellent, and the gimbal offers 360 degrees of rotation on all three axes. The gimbal head can hold phones weighing up to 260 g (9.2 oz). That’s enough for the latest iPhones.

The AI tracking module gives you enhanced subject tracking. And this is built into the gimbal, so you don’t need to run it through the app. It helps you keep your subject focused, no matter how much movement there is!

7. MOZA Mini S Extendable

Brand	Brand MOZA
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 7.6 x 5 x 2.6 inches / 19 x 13 x 6.8 cm
Weight	Weight 0.92 lb / 420 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size Up to 3.3 inches / 8.5 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 5 hr
Extension	Extension No
Key Features	Key Features Quick to balance on three axes, hyper-lapse, slow-motion mode, and foldable body

The MOZA Mini S Extendable entry-level smartphone gimbal is made from plastic, but it’s solid enough. And the ten-degree tilt in the handle makes it more comfortable to hold for long periods. Because it’s not made of metal, the price point is much lower than you might expect for something so feature-rich.

Its foldable design makes it very portable. And you can extend the mount arm, giving you more shot versatility. It’s also easy to set up and operate with various buttons and controls on the grip:

Front joystick, battery indicator, and operation, playback, and photo buttons
Sides focus controls, power button, gimbal lock, and charging port
Back multi-function trigger

It has all the usual features of a phone gimbal. This includes different shooting modes, subject tracking, and smart gesture control. The stabilization is very smooth—albeit with the occasional lurch!

The MOZA Genie app controls the gimbal and phone. It offers the possibility of basic video editing. It also includes features to cut, splice, and paste. And you can add filters, effects, transitions, music, and subtitles. It’s a decent smartphone gimbal for the price.

8. PowerVision S1

Brand	Brand PowerVision
Dimensions (Folded)	Dimensions (Folded) 5.6 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches / 14 x 5.8 x 2.8 cm
Weight	Weight 0.65 lb / 298 g
Smartphone Size	Smartphone Size 2.6-3.3 inches / 6.7-8.4 cm
Battery Life	Battery Life 15 hr
Extension	Extension No
Key Features	Key Features Portable and lightweight, simple controls, gesture controls

The PowerVidion S1 has an ingenious, compact design. That means it’s very portable. It also offers most of the expected features of a smartphone gimbal. So it has three-axis stabilization, gesture control, PowerFollow, object tracking, and reverse charging.

Several introductory tutorial videos make it relatively easy to get started. And there are many different shooting modes, including time-lapse, slow motion, video, photo, and panorama. There are also only a few simple controls:

Capture button
Joystick
Power button
Zoom slider

But the panoramas show noticeable distortion, the built-in tripod is rickety, and the video is not well stabilized at full zoom. So all of that doesn’t quite justify the relatively high price.

You can read about our experiences with it in more detail in our PowerVision S1 gimbal review.

Conclusion

A phone gimbal is a must-have piece of equipment for anyone making media with their smartphone. Whether you’re an influencer, travel vlogger, or videographer—it doesn’t matter. Everyone needs to find the best phone gimbal for their smartphone media. They give you the step up from amateur to pro videography.

The DJI OM 6 Gimbal is the best phone gimbal right now. It ensures your smartphone footage is super-smooth and shake-free. The app works well and is full of creative features. And you get a solid piece of equipment for a good price!

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Phone Gimbals

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal

Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus

Zhiyun Smooth 5 Phone Gimbal

What Are the Best Phone Gimbals?

The Best Phone Gimbals in Detail

1. DJI OM 5

1. DJI OM 5

2. Hohem iSteady

2. Hohem iSteady

3. Zhiyun Smooth 5

3. Zhiyun Smooth 5

4. Zhiyun Smooth Q3

4. Zhiyun Smooth Q3

5. JOBY Smart Stabilizer

5. JOBY Smart Stabilizer

6. FeiyuTech Vimble 3

6. FeiyuTech Vimble 3

7. MOZA Mini S Extendable

7. MOZA Mini S Extendable

8. PowerVision S1

8. PowerVision S1

Conclusion

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