The latest and best smartphones have turned all of us into amateur filmmakers. The power to capture everything in 4K is great, but one thing can ruin it – the dreaded camera shake. Thankfully, finding the best smartphone gimbal can be an affordable way to shoot smartphone videos like a pro.
Despite sounding like an axe-wielding character from The Lord of The Rings, a gimbal is an essential accessory for filmmakers and vloggers. Once the preserve of professional cameramen, the best smartphone gimbal uses precision motors to keep your lens level with the ground. And that smooth automatic control enables innovative modes like time-lapse and object-tracking – even if you're using a budget smartphone – unlocking a whole new world of creative videography.
Best smartphone gimbals of 2024 at a glance:
• Best overall smartphone gimbal: DJI OSMO Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer - View on Amazon
• Best budget smartphone gimbal: Hohem iSteady X2 Gimbal - View on Amazon
• Best compact smartphone gimbal: DJI OM 4 Combo - View on Amazon
• Best high-end smartphone gimbal: Feiyu SCORP Mini P AI Tracking Phone Gimbal - View on Amazon
It’s fair to say that adding the best smartphone gimbal to your kit is a game-changer for any video creator. Say goodbye to those annoying shakes and vibrations, and say hello to smooth tracking shots and handheld vlogging on the move. Pair one of these with a smartphone with professional camera specs, and you'll be well-placed to shoot a masterpiece. However, some gimbals are more complex than others, not to mention heavier. So, which one is right for you? And will you need one with super-advanced features? That’s where we come in.
Our experts have looked for the best smartphone gimbals with advanced three-axis stabilization, great battery life, and responsive stabilisation. We’ve also listed various sizes to ensure compatibility with your smartphone's size and strong enough motors to handle its weight. Plus, to help you choose wisely, we have a buyer’s guide and some FAQs at the end. So, let's leave shaky footage on the virtual cutting room floor and take your videos to the next level. Here are our picks for the best smartphone gimbals of the year.
Best smartphone gimbals of 2024
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall smartphone gimbal
You may well have heard of DJI as they burst onto the video scene a few years ago with their range of affordable drones. Unsurprisingly, they also applied their know-how to smartphone and action camera gimbals - and this model is a great example. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer has impressive advanced features such as the Inception-like 'SpinShot' mode and an effective FPV mode that will automatically track whatever you choose and keep it in-frame. Compatibility-wise, this will fit various smartphones with screens under 6.7 inches well, and the magnetic phone clamp makes for a fast and easy setup.
While we think this is deserving of our top spot here, we would have liked the DJI Mimo app to become available from the Google Play Store – although non-Apple users can still get their hands on it directly from the DJI site, so it's not a huge issue. All in all, this is a practical and very solidly built gimbal that can deliver the goods, plus a few high-tech extras on top. Brilliant.
Pros
- Excellent stablisation
- Magnetic phone clamp
- ActiveTrack feature
- Lightweight for the size
- Plenty useful features
- Great battery life
Cons
- Smartphones larger than around 6.7 inches may not fit
- Mimo App for Android must be downloaded from the DJI site
Best budget smartphone gimbal
While there's a good chance you'll have heard of DJI, above, the rest of the smartphone gimbal ecosphere is dominated by lesser-known Chinese brands. But don't let that sway you - the Hohem iSteady X2 Gimbal is the first of a handful of leading gimbal brands that are tried and tested by thousands of users. If you're a filmmaker or vlogger on a super-tight budget, you could pair this up with one of the best phones under £200 and instantly get professional results... without having to film your very own reality TV bank heist.
The standout feature here, especially considering the price tag, is the inclusion of gesture control. That's right – you can wave at the camera to control key functions – ideal for hands-free operation when presenting to the camera. Even better than that, this also has Object Tracking – so you or your chosen subject will always stay in the frame. Portable, light, affordable, stabilisation is right here.
Pros
- Great value
- Lightweight but solid build
- Strong motors
- Wide phone compatibility
- Intuitive control interface
- Great companion app with lots of useful features
Cons
- Some users report the buttons being a little stiff to use
Best compact smartphone gimbal
DJI make it back into our pick of the best and for good reason. The DJI OM 4 Combo is squarely aimed at those who like to be able to travel light – and that's evident when you see what's included with the kit. There's a magnetic phone clamp, a tripod, and a handy carry case. Once again we see the quick-release magnetic smartphone attachment for fast and easy phone mounting.
This high practicality meets cutting-edge functionality with the inclusion of Hyperlapse and Timelapse modes. Hyperlapse will allow you to shoot a timelapse while moving. Add to that DJIs leading ActiveTrack technology for accurate automatic subject tracking, and you have some seriously convenient creativity-boosting tech at hand.
Pros
- Reliable stabilisation
- Very compact and light
- Simple and quick magnetic mount
- Excellent range of shooting modes
- Good phone compatibility
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Not ideal for heavier phones
Best smartphone gimbal for iPhone
ZHIYUN has developed quite a reputation for solid, reliable camera-related tech in recent years. The company's Smooth 5S Gimbal Stabilizer offers advanced object tracking - much like some of the other products here – but this time there's a dedicated "Vertigo" mode that will echo the distinctive 'triple-reverse-zoom' or Dolly Zoom effect seen in many a Hollywood movie.
Interestingly, ZHIYUN boasts a high-capacity battery for the Smooth 5S, supposedly lasting up to 25 hours; but users report that this is slightly reduced with real-life usage. That aside, if you're an iPhone owner, this smartphone gimbal has an extensive compatibility list that should make for trouble-free mounting and operation.
Pros
- Stabilisation is super-solid
- Well-designed accessible controls
- Supports an optional magnetic fill light
- Wide compatibility with cameras and phones
- ActiveTrack object tracking
Cons
- Some users report the stated huge battery life isn't accurate
Best smartphone gimbal with built-in light
Hohem return to our list, with its iSteady XE Kit Gimbal Stabilizer. There's no doubt that, as versatile camera accessories go, this one is especially well-placed to enhance your videography skills. Not only is it compact and lightweight (and yes, once again we have Active Tracking and Gesture Control) but it comes equipped with a stunning range of creative modes. But, there's one thing that this smartphone gimbal can do that many others can't: lighten up your shots. The LED light here has ten brightness levels and attaches magnetically for maximum convenience. So, now not only can you have super-smooth shots but the fill light will increase your creative options and deliver a professional result every time.
Pros
- Best-in-class steady stabilisation
- Very portable
- Decent battery life
- Excellent compatibility, including phones and action cams
- Lots of intelligent features
Cons
- The build is not as solid as some others
Best smartphone gimbal for travellers
Although we already have a compact gimbal category, this takes things up a notch in the portability stakes. The MOZA Mini MX Gimbal Handheld Stabilizer really packs a lot of intelligent shooting modes (including the much sought-after Inception Mode) into a super-light package. But being small and light doesn't mean this can't support a good-sized smartphone - the payload is a respectable 280 grams. The foldable design, which includes a tripod, makes this Mini MX the ideal portable option for holiday or road trip videos and for those who need to travel small and light. Perhaps best of all is the 20-hour battery life - so, you won't be left high and dry power-wise when you're out and about.
Pros
- Extra lightweight
- Foldable and very compact
- Powerful and accurate motors
- Good phone compatibility
- Outstanding battery life
- Plenty of shooting modes
Cons
- App is not the best
- The grip could be larger
Best high-end smartphone gimbal
Not everyone who aspires to shoot super-smooth tracking shots will have the cash to splash on something with this many features, but if you have the budget (and need seriously advanced performance) this offering from Feiyu is your best option. The SCORP Mini P is a highly advanced smartphone gimbal that uses AI to intelligently track whoever or whatever you need it to. If you're a lone vlogger presenting to the camera, this gimbal is a no-brainer of a kit upgrade. We have the usual gesture control for hands-free use, and the companion app is especially well designed with easy and quick access to multiple features.
Considering how much work this is doing behind the scenes, battery life is more than respectable. Although we do think it's a little heavy for some users, that's understandable when you look at how well-designed and built this is. One slight downside that may affect you if you have a pocket-sized phone or a smartphone that is approaching a phablet in size, is the mount. It'll fit most phones, but not the extremes. There's a small built-in fill light to round off what is a wholly impressive and solid piece of kit for the more serious videographer.
Pros
- Amazing stabilisation
- Excellent range of motion
- Lightweight (for its size)
- Brilliant battery life
- Well-thought-out and featureful app
Cons
- On the heavy side for some travellers
- Won't fit very small or extra large phones
Best smartphone gimbal of 2024: Buyer’s guide
By choosing the best smartphone gimbal, you’ll invest in the most powerful tool in any modern videographer’s kit. But sometimes, having too many features or not having the right shooting mode to hand can scupper your shots. Here’s some pointers to help you narrow down what you need.
How long will you be shooting for?
Most of the time, a gimbal is best used out and about. So, the chances are you’ll be away from a power source. If you invest in a portable power bank, you’ll still have to stop shooting to charge up. Not many gimbals have removable batteries, either. So, it’s important to estimate how long you need to spend filming and check the gimbal specifications for battery life. Ideally, if you're planning on a longer shoot, you have a smartphone with excellent battery life to match. As always with battery specs, manufacturers do tend to base them on idealised and light use, so take them with a pinch of salt.
Do you need more or less automation?
As featured in the Feiyu SCORP above, you may not need super-advanced features like AI tracking. It might be enough for your style of video-making to have a no-frills gimbal to reliably keep the smartphone level. But, you may want to be able to use handle-based controls for quick manual control. If you’re unsure, and have the budget, go for more control and automation. More is more.
Best smartphone gimbal: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 3-axis and 2-axis gimbal?
A 3-axis gimbal works to continuously stabilise your smartphone in three directions:
Pitch (or tilt)
Roll
Yaw (or pan)
Obviously, we wouldn't recommend going for a 2-axis gimbal as you'll only get smooth shots in two directions. Normally those two directions will be pitch and yaw, which means that any side-to-side rolling movement will still be uncontrolled and jerky.
Can I use a smartphone gimbal with a case on my phone?
The best smartphone gimbal designs can fit around a range of phones rather than one specific model. And that naturally means that phones in slim cases can often fit into the gimbal mount unhindered.
However, some bulkier cases may simply not fit; Or worse - they might add too much weight to the gimbal, which will overwork the motors and affect shot stability. It might be tempting to use a military-drop-tested rugged smartphone case while shooting on the move, but you'll probably overtax your gimbal and get substandard shots.
Can I use a smartphone gimbal with multiple devices?
As mentioned above, most gimbal phone mounts are flexible enough to fit a range of smartphones. But, if you have two very different phones - one small and the other more of a phablet - you're probably better off getting a different gimbal for each. That way you'll avoid fiddling around re-mounting each phone, and small phones won't need a large and powerful smartphone gimbal in any case.
Best smartphone gimbals: Jargon Buster
3-Axis Stabilisation
The best smartphone gimbal will be able to smoothly stabilise your phone along three axes. As mentioned above, these three directions are often called Tilt, Roll, and Pan (or Pitch, Roll, and Yaw). Having all three axes monitored and corrected means you can even run with one of these and still end up with watchable, smooth footage.
Object Tracking
Object Tracking is exactly what it sounds like. Not all smartphone gimbals have this ability, but the companion apps that come with the gimbal can enable automatic tracking of faces and other objects. The benefit here is that it will free up your hands if you're shooting and presenting. You can relax knowing that whatever you're pointing your camera at will stay in-frame.
Inception Mode
This is a nod to the Christopher Nolan movie of the same name. The movie is renowned for its reality-bending shots that rotate the camera in an endless spiral motion. This mode will do the same thing, and automatically rotate the camera as you move. Even if your smartphone costs less than £300, features like this will bring an instant wow factor to your videos.
Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best and Yours. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.
He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.
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