How to shoot a high-quality video using a smartphone without optical stabilization so that it is not spoiled by "shaking" footage? The simplest solution is to use stabilizer for smartphone... This inexpensive device will always be more stable than your hand and keep your smartphone in the correct position when shooting.
In this rating, we will consider the best stabilizers for a smartphone in 2020, which have earned positive reviews from experts in specialized publications and Russian users. When preparing the rating, we took into account the quality of stabilization, the cost of the device and its additional functionality.
What to consider when choosing a steadicam
Number of stabilization axes
The most important feature of a smartphone gimbal is its ability to hold the camera steady. There are two different types of steadicams - two-axis and three-axis. The former will stabilize your tilt and roll, while the latter will stabilize your panning. Dual-axis gimbals are more affordable, but 3-axis gimbals are better for shooting moving subjects.
Battery
Some models use standard alkaline batteries that need to be replaced regularly. Others use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but they have shorter runtimes.
Weight
Most smartphone gimbals weigh less than 1 kg, but even such a device can be heavy if you hold it for a long time. Generally, the lighter the gimbal the better, but make sure you don't sacrifice performance just to save an extra hundred grams.
Software
The software is a powerful tool to help you get the most out of your stabilizer. For example, you can stream directly to Instagram or YouTube. However, software often only works with a specific operating system.
Compatibility
If your gimbal doesn't work with iOS and you have an iPhone, you're out of luck. In addition, many stabilizers work only with certain diagonals of smartphone screens, regardless of the operating system.
Smartphone stabilizer rating 2020
Now let's move on to finding the best stabilizer for a smartphone, depending on your financial capabilities and needs.
10. Zhiyun Smooth 4
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- number of stabilization axes: three
- gimbal weight 547 g
This model has a built-in user-friendly control panel that minimizes the need to constantly touch the smartphone screen. You can easily enlarge and reduce footage. In addition, Zhiyun Smooth 4 supports advanced shooting techniques such as slow motion and auto-pan, and has an object tracking function (helps to track human faces).
Zhiyun Smooth 4 can work up to 12 hours. You can charge it with a portable battery. The gadget also has a USB port for charging the phone.
pros: Tripod and carrying case included, can be used for GoPro (adapter required).
Minuses: inconvenient application for Android (for example, you cannot choose to record video in 4K, even if the smartphone can do it).
9. Freefly Movi CR
- mount: smartphone
- Max. load (kg): 0.7
- Max. phone width (mm): 90
- Camera control: buttons;
- Capacity (mAh): 4000
- Removable battery
- Bluetooth
This robotic gimbal for mobile stills and videos has 3-axis stabilization and comes with the Movi app, which offers 7 different shooting modes:
- Majestic (effortless stabilization),
- Echo (staged shots with a complex camera trajectory),
- Timelapse (flawless dynamic time-lapses),
- Movielapse (smooth time-lapse in motion),
- Barrel Roll (rotation of the camera along the frontal plane for an immersive effect),
- Smartpod (change the direction of the camera manually),
- Orbit Mode (rotation around the subject),
to help you take professional pictures and videos.
The Freefly Movi CR can shoot in 4K or 1080p at 24 to 60 frames per second. Its battery can work up to 8 hours without recharging.
In addition, this model comes with a 1 hour USB fast charging current cable and a replaceable lithium-ion battery. You can mount it on a tripod and use external Moment lenses as well as an external light source or microphone.
pros: Freefly Movi is compatible with most Android phones, as well as iOS 11 and above, and has a hard, armored case.
Minuses: high price, difficult to find on sale in Russia, search on foreign online trading platforms.
8. Hohem iSteady
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- stabilizer weight 495 g
This high-quality and affordable smartphone gimbal is made of heavy-duty aluminum and is compatible with action cameras, digital cameras and mobile phones. Thanks to its heavier frame, it offers great balance for your camera without any additional counterweights.
Like many other steadicams, the Hohem offers 360-degree rotation, roll and pan, allowing you to shoot from almost any angle. A five-way joystick makes it easy to control movements.
This model uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to an independent app on your smartphone, allowing you to remotely control the device or adjust video settings.
The Hohem Gimbal app provides features such as object tracking, zoom and focus, face tracking, slow motion and panorama mode.
pros: case included, long battery life - up to 8 hours, you can attach additional photo accessories such as a tripod.
Minuses: The holder is only suitable for thin smartphones, if the smartphone is long, it becomes difficult to calibrate in a vertical position (outweighs the upper part).
7. Mijia Smartphone Handheld Gimbal
- Mount: Smartphone, Action Camera
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- gimbal weight 476 g
The three-axis gimbal from the subsidiary Xiaomi brand is equipped with a high-precision sensor that allows you to determine the position of the smartphone in real time.
And with a 360 ° rotation angle, this accessory allows you to shoot high-quality slow-motion videos or fast action with less distortion. He also has the function of tracking the selected object, it is used in the proprietary application.
The device can be used for handheld video shooting, as well as a selfie stick. It can also be mounted on a tripod. The battery lasts for 16 hours.
pros: light weight, durable plastic case, long autonomy, allows you to recharge your smartphone, there is a joystick to control the direction of the axis.
Minuses: jerky zoom, no case included, grip gets dirty quickly.
6. Moza Mini-S
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- gimbal weight 498 g
- sliding
One of the most affordable gimbals on the market for smartphone gimbals is far from lacking in features and cannot complain about the build quality.The Moza Mini-S features 3-axis stabilization and an attractive design.
But the controls are not the most convenient. For example, to enter a new mode, you need to exit the previous one, otherwise the camera will shoot the wrong thing.
The battery life reaches 5 hours, which is quite enough to get great shots. Shooting modes include time-lapse photography, portrait mode, selfie, hyperexposure, slow motion, tracking mode, and more.
pros: the package includes a case and a tabletop tripod,
Minuses: Low battery may slow down, no support for 1080p / 60fps shooting.
5. Zhiyun Crane-M2
- Mount: GoPro, Smartphone, Action Camera
- use: manual, on a tripod, on a GoPro mount
- Bluetooth
- number of stabilization axes: three
- stabilizer weight 500 g
It is a versatile gimbal that is suitable not only for smartphones but also for GoPro, Canon, Sony and Panasonic cameras.
It allows you to control the smartphone camera through a proprietary application, provides convenient zooming with a single press of the switch and displays all the necessary information (operating mode, connection and Bluetooth status, battery level, etc.) on the OLED display.
From the Crane-M2 you can recharge your smartphone, and the device itself can be charged from good external battery.
pros: a large number of shooting modes (POV Mode, Vortex Mode, PF Mode, etc.), an intuitive menu, up to 7 hours of operation on a single charge.
Minuses: Slow balancing before shooting, not suitable for heavy cameras.
4. LanParte HHG-01
- mount: smartphone, GoPro action cameras (with optional GoPro GOC-01 mount)
- number of stabilization axes: three
- stabilizer weight 478 g
This stabilizer comes in a sturdy hard case with a shoulder strap for easy transport. The device is safe and reliable thanks to its quality assembly. It is made of plastic with a rubberized finish for greater comfort and design.
The gadget can fit most mobile phone models: from iPhone SE to iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10.
Setting up LanParte HHG-01 is not difficult, you just need to put your phone in the holder, connect it to the gimbal and balance accordingly. This is a great option for beginners who have never used a gimbal and don't need a lot of features. Nevertheless, the quality of stabilization of this model is excellent, and its battery will provide 80 minutes of continuous video shooting.
pros: easy to set up, the manufacturer promises that the alignment error will not exceed 0.1 °, there are two mounting frames for smartphones of different sizes.
Minuses: short battery life, difficult to find on sale in Russia, search on Aliexpress and eBay, no GoPro GOC-01 mount included.
3. FeiyuTech Vimble 2
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- gimbal weight 428 g
- sliding
The Vimble 2 is no stranger to the smartphone gimbals market, but that's a good thing because the price is slowly coming down.
However, this device is attractive not only for its low cost, but also for its capabilities. It expands and can be used as a selfie stick. This is useful if you are vlogging and need to capture a large group of people in a selfie mode.
The phone holder can be moved manually using the joystick on the handle, and there is the Feiyu ON app for additional features like face and other object tracking.
However, the build quality of this model is not as good as that of the Osmo Mobile 2 and 3, which took the second and first places in the rating, respectively. Battery life of 5 hours is also significantly less than that of DJI models. Therefore, we cannot recognize this gadget as the best stabilizer for a smartphone.
pros: good stabilization, excellent ergonomics.
Minuses: small battery capacity, you need to get used to joystick control.
2. DJI Osmo Mobile 2
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- stabilizer weight 485 g
One of the lightest and most comfortable gimbals for smartphones, you can play with time like never before. It has both regular slow motion and Hyperlapse, Motionlapse and ActiveTrack modes.
- Hyperlapse allows you to shoot accelerated videos while driving, using stabilization.
- Motionlapse allows you to conduct interval shooting from one point with an interval of 0.5 to 60 seconds and a duration of up to 5 hours. This creates the effect of accelerating time.
- ActiveTrack - Tracking function, for shooting subjects such as people or pets in motion. The steadicam will keep the subject within the frame by rotating the camera.
In addition, the Osmo 2 makes it easy to create beautiful panoramas by combining multiple shots into one seamless image using the Panorama World function. It also helps you learn some professional cinematography special effects such as Dolly Zoom. This technique allows you to move the camera away and at the same time zoom in on the subject. And you can do the opposite.
pros: Up to 15 hours of battery life, Selfie mode, lightweight yet durable.
Minuses: If you put a smartphone larger than 5.5 inches in the DJI Osmo Mobile 2, you will have to sacrifice balancing, slow motion is available only for iOS.
1. DJI Osmo Mobile 3
- mount: smartphone
- use: manual, on a tripod
- Bluetooth
- battery: built-in
- number of stabilization axes: three
- stabilizer weight 405 g
- sliding
This smartphone stabilizer has intuitive buttons and you can use it with one hand without any problem. Three axes reduce the chance of video shake, and a convenient foldable design makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
With the DJI Osmo Mobile 3, you can shoot Hyperlapse videos, create short cutscenes with minimal effort using creative templates in Story Mode, and capture panoramic and slow motion footage. The gadget also has a sports mode in which it moves much faster.
The ergonomic grip allows you to hold the stabilizer for a long time. The device weighs only 405 grams making it extremely lightweight. Finally, the Mobile 3 has gesture controls for the front and rear cameras.
pros: works up to 15 hours, comes with a cloth bag for storage and a strap for wearing on the hand, allows you to charge your mobile while shooting.
Minuses: the zoom is not perfectly smooth, the starter kit does not include a tripod or case.