The Best Android and iPhone Gimbal

If you like filming video with your smartphone and are comfortable spending a little over $150 to achieve more-professional-looking results, a smartphone gimbal might be right for you. A gimbal is a handheld mechanical stabilizer that can help you shoot smooth, cinematic footage without the need for a larger tripod or an expensive dolly. We found the DJI OM 5 to be the easiest to use while also reliably stabilizing video.

Our pick

DJI OM 5

The easiest-to-use gimbal

The DJI OM 5 is the first gimbal we’ve tried that feels like it’s made for everyone. It stabilizes video shot with even the shakiest hands, while integrating useful features like a selfie stick.

Buying Options

$129

* from

Amazon

May be out of stock

$139

from

Walmart

*At the time of publishing, the price was $159 .

In a world where shooting polished smartphone videos for social media has become the norm, we appreciate the DJI OM 5 for its approachability, useful accessories, and portability. The few buttons on its comfortable handle (which telescopes to turn into a selfie stick) are simple to learn, and its app is clearly designed. Its customer service team also responded to our requests within seconds, so we think anyone who values technical help over app design and button layout should buy this one. However, it’s worth considering how you feel about recent controversies involving the drone branch of DJI’s business.

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The Zhiyun Smooth 5 has more buttons on its handle than the DJI OM 5, which means videographers can change settings faster and achieve trickier shots with more ease. Compatible apps also integrate smoothly with the handle’s buttons, so you don’t have to touch your phone’s screen as often. However, this model is more difficult to use and not as portable as the OM 5.

If you’re willing to spend more to ditch the smartphone in favor of a gimbal that fits in your pocket, the DJI Pocket 2 delighted us with its built-in camera and candy-bar size. To start filming, you have to push only two buttons, which means you can pull it out of your pocket and begin capturing important moments in just a few seconds. We found that it stabilized videos as effectively as the OM 5 and Smooth 5.