The best smartphone gimbals make it trivially easy to shoot super-smooth video. Even the best stabilization systems can't fully ward off the effects of a shaky hand, and with a dedicated gimbal, you can effortlessly create smooth panning and sweeping motions in your footage. Many modern gimbals also boast smart features that allow them to track subjects in the frame, making them perfect for to-camera presenting.
In this guide, I've compiled the best smartphone gimbals available today, based on the DCW team's reviews and my own experience. These mechanical stabilizers use multiple axes of rotation (usually three) to steady your smartphone, with independently working motors compensating for movement in all directions.
Furthermore, the best smartphone gimbals come equipped with companion apps that wirelessly integrate in order to offer advanced features like subject tracking, automated panoramas, and more. If you're using a dedicated camera rather than a smartphone, be sure to check out our separate guides for the best gimbals for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, as well as best GoPro gimbal.
Gareth is a photographer based in London, working as a freelance photographer and videographer for the past several years, having the privilege to shoot for some household names. With work focusing on fashion, portrait and lifestyle content creation, he has developed a range of skills covering everything from editorial shoots to social media videos – for which he has made use of the best smartphone gimbals.
Best smartphone gimbals: the full guide
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Best smartphone for novices
If you’re after a gimbal that can grow with your skills, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is one of the most compelling options we’ve tested. It builds on DJI’s long-running Osmo Mobile series with a remarkably robust and well-thought-out design: the telescopic extension pole and integrated tripod make it easy to shoot everything from elevated crowd shots to hands-free time-lapsing, and the ergonomics feel more purposeful than the flimsier plastic alternatives in this category.
Where the OM8 really sets itself apart is in its subject tracking and smart features. The built-in Multifunction Module doesn’t just add a fill light – it also uses an optical sensor to help the gimbal’s AI keep people (and pets) in frame, and the whole experience feels slick whether you’re using an iPhone’s native camera app or DJI’s Mimo app. Battery life is more than adequate for a day’s shooting, and the option to charge your phone from the gimbal’s USB-C port is a thoughtful bonus.
In practical use, footage is confidently smooth, and the controls – wheel for zoom or focus, joystick for framing, and simple buttons for recording – are intuitive enough for both novices and more experienced creators. The OM8 doesn’t come with a remote in the box, and its feature set can take a few moments to master, but its overall performance, solid build quality, and price point give it a strong value proposition in a crowded field.
Read more: DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review
Best smartphone gimbal for tracking
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is a compact and portable smartphone gimbal packed with features to enhance mobile videography. Featuring a lightweight, foldable plastic body for easy transport. The magnetic spring clamp ensures a quick and secure attachment of your iPhone, making setup effortless.
One of its standout features is the built-in tripod integrated directly into the gimbal’s shaft. Unlike other models with separate or flimsy tripod attachments, the Flow 2 Pro offers a sturdy and stable base simply by extending its legs. This design makes it more convenient for stationary shots, time-lapses, or hands-free filming.
A major advantage is its ability to pan continuously through 360 degrees, allowing for seamless subject tracking without limitations. This feature is especially useful for dynamic shots where movement is key. The Insta360 also offers access to Apple's Dockkit tech, which enables intelligent tracking – following your subject by locking focus and keeping them in the center of the frame – very clever stuff.
If you're looking for a gimbal that balances portability, functionality, and stability, this one is a solid choice – although it is a little more expensive than rival products.
Read more: Insta360 Flow 2 Pro review
Best iPhone gimbal for price
If you want strong stabilization and smart shooting tools without paying premium gimbal prices, the Zhiyun Smooth Q5 Ultra makes a compelling case. It’s lightweight, compact, and generally effortless to use straight out of the box – setup is quick and intuitive, and the controls feel natural whether you’re capturing quick clips or longer sequences.
The Smooth Q5 Ultra’s headline feature is its AI-based subject tracking and detachable remote, which together elevate the basic gimbal experience. The tracking system will keep your subject centred reliably, and the remote lets you control framing and recording from a distance – a neat advantage for solo creators. There’s also a built-in fill light and ergonomic grip that make shooting more comfortable and flexible during longer sessions.
Performance is solid overall: the 3-axis gimbal does a credible job of smoothing out motion, and its battery life is generous, giving you plenty of filming time before you need to recharge. A few features, like gesture controls, can be a bit inconsistent in everyday use, but the core experience is dependable and accessible across both iPhone and Android devices.
Read more: Zhiyun Smooth Q5 Ultra review
Best minimalist smartphone gimbal
If you're looking for a gimbal more to improve your holiday videos and have fun with friends, as opposed to becoming a Serious Content Creator™, then the Insta360 Flow 2 is your best bet. It's an entry-level stabilizer for smartphones, with an emphasis placed on ease of use, portability and affordability. But it still delivers the goods in terms of its stabilization, and is a great choice for travel.
A smaller cousin to the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro featured above, this gimbal is slim and easy to use. As it supports NFC One-Tap Pairing, you can get up and running with the Insta260 app right away, though it'll also work with the native iOS Camera App if you prefer. You don't really need to spend any time balancing it the way you do with more complex camera gimbals
Equipped with AI smarts, the Flow 2 can track human subjects through the frame and pan to follow them, and can also emulate classic camera moves like tilt, pan, crane and dolly. Gesture control allows you to trigger different modes without needing to be physically proximate, and there's also a built-in tripod that means the gimbal can be set up to stand independently – perfect for holiday group shots!
There are some compromises when compared to the flagship Flow 2 Pro. The Flow 2 has more restricted pan and tilt angles, meaning it can't follow a subject around a full 360°. However, it produces solid stabilized footage for a very reasonable price, and is probably the better entry-level buy for those who want something straightforward and easy to operate.
Read more: Insta360 Flow 2 review
Best smartphone gimbal with a remote screen
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra isn't just one of the cheapest and lightest gimbals on this list, but also has plenty of other tricks up its sleeve as well.
A slight upgrade on the previous iSteady V3, the iSteady V3 Ultra adds just 8g to the weight of the previous model, but brings in a host of new features. It can pan freely the full 360° range, meaning that if you've got it tracking yourself or another subject via the intelligent AI system, it'll always be able to keep you in the frame. It also now has a touch-sensitive screen, which also doubles up as a live video feed monitor for the AI tracking system, giving you a means of keeping an eye on your composition while filming yourself.
Of course, the reason filming yourself is possible at all is because the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra has a self-contained compact tripod design. Slide its three legs out of their storage compartment in the handle, and you've got yourself an independent, free-standing platform to hold your phone while you record. The legs are a little spindly, so you might see a little sway, but it's still hugely useful for solo content creators.
In use, the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is smooth and impressive, as George discovered in our full review. The AI tracking is reliable and consistent, and the gesture-based controls mean you can switch tracking modes on the fly without needing to trudge back over to your setup and fiddle with buttons. The real game-changer though, is that front-facing video feed, which just makes it so much easier to capture content when you're by yourself.
Affordable and light on its feet, the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is an ideal starter gimbal for smartphone shooters, especially those who are going to be shooting their content independently.
Read more Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra review
Best premium smartphone gimbal
One challenge we face when using a stabiliser is whether to use the smartphone’s front or rear cameras. If you use the front camera, you can see your footage on the smartphone’s screen and know exactly where you are in the frame. However, the front camera tends to be more limited and of lower quality than the rear cameras, but if you use the rear camera, then you won’t be able to see your footage as it's being recorded. The Insta360 Flow 2 featured elsewhere in this buying guide solves this problem by having a mirror on the rear of the gimbal, which gives you an idea of where your face is positioned when shooting a selfie ‘blind’. The more expensive Hohem iSteady V7 offers a more effective solution by feeding live video footage from the AI-sensor at the front of the gimbal to the touchscreen display at the rear.
The Hohem iSteady M7’s AI-tracker enables you to rest the gimbal on its mini tripod, extend the selfie stick (or extension pole), and then it will follow your every move as you walk and talk freely. You can also operate it remotely by detaching the touchscreen panel and using the mini joystick to pan and tilt the camera. When holding the M7 in your hand, it’s an easy operation to tap the physical Mode button to make the gimbal perform classic Pan, Pan Follow, and POV (Point of View) moves as well as craning the camera from a low to high angle for a cinematic look. Check out our full review to see a video of the M7 as it makes some Hollywood-style moves with it.
Every rose has its thorns, and in the case of the Hohem iSteady M7, we could occasionally glimpse a bit of the roll motor at the far right of the frame when making a steep tilting move. This didn’t cause problems for most of our camera moves, but it means the gimbal isn’t perfect, so it didn’t quite hit the 5-star rating that its innovative live front-to-rear camera feed would have earned it.
Read more: Hohem iSteady M7 review
How to choose the best smartphone gimbal
When looking for the best smartphone gimbal features, there are several important factors to consider. First, it's crucial to check the phone size specifications to ensure your device will fit the gimbal. Many of today's best camera phones are quite large, so this compatibility is essential. Another desirable feature is the ability to quickly rotate between horizontal and vertical shooting orientations, which can be especially useful for capturing content for platforms like TikTok.
Selfie sticks integrated into the gimbal design can also be a convenient addition, allowing you to hold the device further away to film yourself effectively. Additionally, the folded size of the gimbal is worth considering, as the most compact models can fit easily into a bag or coat pocket, making them highly portable. Finally, some gimbals come equipped with built-in or magnetically attached LED lights, which can be surprisingly powerful and effective for illuminating selfie shots.
What is a smartphone gimbal?
A smartphone gimbal is a motorized device that uses motors and sensors to counteract shake and keep your smartphone camera steady. This allows you to shoot smooth, professional-looking videos with your phone.
How do smartphone gimbals work?
Smartphone gimbals use brushless motors to constantly adjust the position of your phone, keeping it level and stable even when you move. They detect unwanted movements and counteract them, resulting in smooth footage.
What are the benefits of using a smartphone gimbal?
The main benefit of using a smartphone gimbal is the silky-smooth, stabilized video it produces. By eliminating shaky footage, your videos will take on a professional polish. Gimbals also benefit low-light shooting. Since the gimbal keeps your phone perfectly steady, you can use slower shutter speeds to capture more light without worrying about blurry videos. On top of these core benefits, many smartphone gimbals boast features like pan follows and object tracking that open up a world of creative camera movements for you to explore.
How we test smartphone gimbals
Our expert reviewers put smartphone gimbals through a rigorous testing process to assess their real-world performance and capabilities. First, they carefully balance the gimbals to ensure optimal weight distribution and smooth operation. They then test the various shooting modes, evaluating how well the gimbal is able to stabilize the phone during different types of movement and camera angles.
The accessibility and intuitiveness of the controls are also closely examined, as is the quality of any companion apps. Our testers assess features like the fill light, zoom/focus mechanisms, and tracking algorithms to see how they enhance the filming experience. Durability is tested too, by seeing how the gimbal handles being transported and used in different environments. Finally, the overall value proposition is considered: do the features and performance justify the price point?
Price comparison
