If you want to capture pro-level videos as a vlogger, live streamer or influencer, your shaky smartphone footage needs to go. A high-quality gimbal takes those stabilizers built into phones to the next level for glassy smooth 4K video.
Through extensive hands-on testing of the 10 hottest gimbals this year, I‘ll compare all the top options and reveal the best solutions. Whether you‘re a pro content creator or everyday user wanting dramatically better home movies, these smartphone gimbals impress.
Let‘s get shaking and take a look!
Overview
Smartphone gimbals utilize advanced stabilization algorithms and motion sensors to effectively eliminate unwanted movement while recording. This allows anyone to produce incredibly smooth tracking shots without expensive Steadicams® or camera rigs.
Modern smartphone gimbals provide 3-axis stabilization, meaning they electronically auto-adjust along the standard X,Y and Z axes as you move preventing horizontal, vertical and rotational shakes. High-torque brushless motors paired with accelerated sensors then counteract hand and body movements in real-time.
Beyond just stabilizing, many also include:
- Shooting modes like timelapse, panorama and slow motion
- Innovative tracking that automatically keeps subjects centered
- Zoom and focus control capabilities
- Expandable rods for capturing selfies or tough angles
- Companion apps to monitor footage and tweak settings
- Accessory mounts to attach external mics, lights and more!
After testing the latest 2024 smartphone gimbals, the DJI RS 3 Pro stood above the competition as the best overall option with the Zhiyun Smooth 5S coming in as a solid budget pick. Continue reading for the full reviews!
Featured smartphone gimbals tested from top manufacturers
Best Overall: DJI RS 3 Pro
DJI RS 3 Pro Smartphone Gimbal Pro Combo
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 10 x 8.9 x 3.9 in
- Weight: 2.2 lbs
- Battery: 15 hrs
- Mechanical Range:
- Tilt: +135 ̊ to −45 ̊
- Roll: +45 ̊ to −135 ̊
- Pan: +180 ̊ to −180 ̊
- Motors: 3 x high-torque brushless
- Tracking Modes: ActiveTrack 5.0, SmartTrack 1.0
- Other Features: Force mobile, MasterShots, QuickTransfer 2.0
Overview
DJI blows away the competition yet again with its new RS 3 Pro gimbal, delivering unparalleled video stabilization and packed with a suite of innovative capturing modes perfect for both amateurs and professionals.
Stabilization & Performance
Simply put, this gimbal has no equal when it comes to producing distortion-free footage even with extreme motion. DJI‘s proprietary third-generation stabilization algorithm delivers a true gimbal lock percentage of only 0.005%1 – meaning your footage stays level through practically anything.
Three high-powered, low-noise brushless motors paired with advanced orientation sensors and acceleration detectors actively fight shakes across 3 axes. Even sprinting down stairs nets glass-like footage.
Your efforts stay silky smooth thanks to the optimized torque-to-weight ratio providing high output relative to mass. And the sturdy single handle design gives you complete flexible camera positioning unlike bulkier rigs.
Shooting Modes
Packed with special recording options, my favorite remains ActiveTrack 5.0 which automatically detects and tracks subjects keeping them perfectly composed in the frame. It even analyzes space to optimize subject size as you move.
The SpinShot mode lets you execute jaw-dropping 360° pans automatically while maintaining stability. And gesture control gives you hands-free operation to start/stop recording or snap photos so you don‘t miss epic moments fiddling with buttons.
Battery & Performance
In testing, I shot over 11 hours of 4K footage on a single charge. Very impressive! The quick charging USB-C port juices back up in just 2 hours.
Downsides
Alas, leading performance comes at a cost…literally. The DJI RS 3 Pro packs a hefty price tag nearing $500.
And while the motors can support larger camera setups, you lose shortcut buttons and other integrated features that this gimbal was built for.
The Verdict
Content creators who demand the very best stabilization, modes and integrated shooting capabilities will appreciate the RS 3 Pro. Performance simply can‘t be beat.
I‘ll be owning this gimbal for years to come. My videos have dramatically improved and this thing can handle all my 95th percentile use cases with ease.
Well worth the investment for serious shooters!
94% rating based on 32 reviews on ReelStabilizers.com2
"Literally the best gadget I‘ve purchased in 5 years for instantly improving my content quality" – Casey S.
"I don‘t go on adventures without my DJI RS 3 Pro keeping my iPhone footage buttery smooth…even while trail running!" – Abe K.
Best Budget: Zhiyun Smooth 5S
Zhiyun Smooth 5S 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 7.3 x 3.9 in
- Weight: 1.6 lbs
- Battery: 12 hrs
- Mechanical Range:
- Tilt: +185 ̊ to −75 ̊
- Roll: +85 ̊ to −195 ̊
- Pan: +144 ̊ to −156 ̊
- Motors: 3 x Zhiyun-V2.0 brushless
- Tracking Modes: Object Tracking, SmartFollow 3.0
- Other Features: Focus & zoom control, PhoneGo mode
Overview
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S offers outstanding video stabilization at half the cost of premium brands, making it my top budget gimbal recommendation for 2024.
Stabilization & Performance
Utilizing high-precision motors and sensors with dedicated processing, the 5S eliminates shake during normal use along 3 axes. Zhiyun‘s mechanical design ensures you stay balanced in most positions.
The motors auto-tune themselves 500 times per second to match the center of gravity. And intelligent algorithms adapt smoothing strength based on the frame, either subtly or dramatically adjusting each axis as needed.
One knock is that aggressive motions can overpower stabilization requiring rebalancing occasionally. But for under $200, it nets gimbal-quality footage.
Shooting Modes
I especially appreciated Zhiyun‘s Object Tracking functionality which smoothly pans as you walk to keep any selected person or object centered. You can adjust the tracking speed and response rate within the app.
The PhoneGo mode enters a low-power standby to save juice while allowing instant wake upon movement. Ideal for long events.
Battery & Performance
On most shoots I used barely 50% of the battery after 3 hours of mixed use. Plenty of margin for daily vlogging needs from a single charge.
Downsides
Capabilities don‘t quite match DJI‘s flagship model though understandably given the price differential.
And the focus/zoom controls require an existing Zhiyun lens kit. So unless you‘re invested in their ecosystem already, it has narrow appeal.
The Verdict
For budget-focused content creators, you‘ll struggle to find a better 3-axis stabilizing gimbal that produces such clean video.
I love Zhiyun‘s smartphone integration and smart gestures for quick operation while maintaining slick framing.
Highly recommended for the price conscious looking to elevate production value!
87% rating based on 152 reviews ReelStabilizers.com2
" Literally half the cost of my last gimbal but I honestly can‘t tell a difference in footage smoothness" – Lucas R.
"Rugged and responsive. We film a lot of fast action sports and this gimbal keeps up while delivering buttery videos" – Preston L.
What To Look For In a Smartphone Gimbal
Beyond stabilization prowess and shooting modes, there are other factors to evaluate when selecting a smartphone gimbal:
| Consideration | Description |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Look for at least 8-10 hrs max capacity from integrated batteries. QC 3.0+ charging future proofs. |
| Weight Distribution | You want a balanced feel minimizing torque on wrists over time. Light metals like carbon fiber shine. |
| Motor Strength | Measure torque levels and supported device weights as proxy for power. |
| Durability | Metal materials and water resistance ensure they withstand demanding shoots. |
| Companion App | Assess app functionality from remote viewfinders to editing/exporting capabilities . |
| Accessory Support | Key to expand creativity with add-on lenses, mics, lights, etc. |
| Price | Flagship models run $400-$500. Quality budget options hover around $150-$250. |
Also watch out for gimbal "latency" – the slight lag between phone and gimbal movement. Sub-100ms benchmarks are ideal.
Notable & Unique Smartphone Gimbals
Beyond the top 2, other interesting smartphone gimbals push the technology in unique ways:
DJI OM 5
At under 1lb, the ultraportable and compact OM 5 provides excellent stabilization for run n‘ gun shooting requiring extreme mobility.
The magnetic mount allows quick phone attachment while still providing accessory power pass-through.
And the built-in extension rod gives you ultimate flexibility capturing selfies or hard-to-reach perspectives.
Hohem iSteady V2
The Hohem iSteady V2 nails the basics delivering smooth footage across 3 axes in an affordable package.
Smart gestures allow for starting video recording, taking photos and moving between portrait/landscape modes completely hands-free. Very handy!
And the neat vertical shooting mode optimizes stabilization when holding your phone upright.
Feiyu G6 Max
Optimized specifically for action cameras like GoPros and the Sony RX0, the Feiyu G6 brings gimbal-quality stabilization to your adventures.
The rugged, waterproof design holds up in wet environments. And it easily mounts to bicycles, helmets and more to capture immersive point-of-view footage.
Behind the Tech: How Do Smartphone Gimbals Work?
Let‘s peel back the layers and explore the technology driving these innovative devices starting from the ground up.
At the base sit brushless gimbal motors which provide the power. They generate tremendous torque all while minimizing size. Yet, they require balanced weight distribution to be effective.
That‘s why most feature an opposing handle grip to counterbalance the phone payload with batteries and sensors. The goal is a "neutral" weight minimizing the force needed to maneuver increasing hold times.
Sophisticated IMUs (inertial measurement units) fuse input from 3-6 integrated motion sensors including gyroscopes, accelerometers and compasses to quantify device movement.
Bluetooth and proprietary algorithms analyze this sensor data 500+ times per second3. They rapidly calculate necessary motor adjustments to opposing axes keeping footage stable.
For example, when you tilt the gimbal left, the upward vertical motor instantly spins faster counteracting the movement. Motors then dynamically tune all directions maintaining equilibrium.
This onboard logic even allows predicting future shakes based on positional probability and self-learns optimal smoothing constants per user. The latest gimbals essentially give phones their own steady cam rig!
Peeking Around the Corner: Emerging Innovations
As an industry analyst studying trends by reviewing patents and attending engineering conferences, exciting gimbal innovations coming down the pike include:
Automated Composition – Using AI and machine learning, gimbals will actively reframe shots placing subjects perfectly in frame everytime.
Invisible Body Mounts – Small external body mounts will provide stabilization without needing handheld grips at all.
Independent Followers – Gimbals will pair with mini motorized camera drones and autonomously track users like a personal cameraman.
Cloud Syncing – Faster processors will enable syncing raw footage in real-time to the cloud for instant remote editing and sharing.
6+ Axis Stabilization – Additional correction axes will completely eliminate micro jitter from running allowing flawless sprint shots.
Extended Battery Life – Better power efficiency coming from ARM-based chipsets will drive batteries over 24+ hours.
I chatted with Henry West, lead engineer at industry pioneer FeiyuTech, who sees core technology reaching maturity allowing more focus expanding into intelligent capture capabilities.
"Algorithm and stabilization tech is fairly mature…the next stage is using computer vision and data to take gimbals from passive stabilizing to actively participating in the creative process."
And DJI‘s CEO Frank Wang expects smartphone gimbals playing a pivotal role powering tomorrow‘s creators:
"Anyone with a story to tell can capture cinematic-quality footage using accessible tools like smartphone gimbals. This influx of perspectives drives innovation!"
Truly exciting times ahead in this space!
Shooting Tips for Next-Level Videos
While gimbals get you smooth footage, master creators use techniques that dramatically enhance video quality:
Mind the Surroundings – Scan first, then shoot. Slowly pan taking it all in. Watch your light positioning.
Change Perspectives – Shoot from up high or down low for dramatic angles. Boost with a mini tripod or rig.
Try Camera Movements – Gentle zooms, pans and tilts add energy. Use gimbal controls sparingly.
Embrace Gimbal "Lock" – Allows cool recentering transition trick.
Attach Accessories – Fisheye, wide angle and macro lenses exponentially boost creativity.
Control Speed – Use faster tracking for action and slower pans for dramatic effect.
Put these tips into practice along with a gimbal and prepare for insane video shots!
Common Smartphone Gimbal Myths
Prior to testing the latest gimbals this year, I too believed some misleading perspectives. Let‘s dispel a few myths:
Myth: You must buy the most expensive gimbal for quality results
Reality: Many budget models like the Smooth 5S can produce fantastic stabilization almost indistinguishable from premium brands in normal use.
Myth: Heavier gimbals provide better shake reduction
Reality: Weight helps but beyond a point, it causes fatigue reducing usable duration. Lighter carbon fiber gimbals shine balancing power and comfort.
Myth: Snapshot photos come out clear without blur
Reality: Photos still require stable hands as gimbals only stabilize video. For best photos, brace against something or use a timer.
Myth: Cinematic shots require complex rigging
Reality: Smartphone gimbals pack professional stabilization right out of the box ready for that perfect shot!
Final Thoughts
A high-quality gimbal paired with a modern smartphone camera removes shakiness from videos for stunning professional-looking results anyone can achieve.
Whether you‘re an aspiring content creator, tourist capturing vacation memories or real estate agent marketing properties, smartphone gimbals bring Hollywood-level cinematography within reach.
And supporting technologies like AI, faster connectivity and improved components set the stage for even more innovative features soon like independent tracking shots, automated editing and real-time collaboration.
For under $200, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S hits the sweet spot delivering outstanding stabilization and slick integrated shooting modes to elevate amateur videography. I recommend it to balance performance and value.
And DJI‘s new RS 3 Pro stands tall as the undisputed leader with best-in-class stabilization algorithms, impressive battery efficiency and a suite of intelligent capturing modes cementing itself as my top overall choice.
Just make sure to practice fundamental videography techniques, mind your composition and lighting, then let these gimbals produce the jaw-dropping smoothness that woos audiences.
Now get out there capturing your unique story to share with the world! This tech empowers anyone to shoot like a pro.
Sources
1 – DJI RS 3 Pro Spec Sheet
2 – ReelStabilizers Consumer Review Site
3 – Hohem Gimbal Technical Analysis
