Smartphone gimbals have become a dime a dozen at this point, but who are the leaders right now? Here are our top three gimbals that you should be looking at if you are in the market for one.
Who is using a smartphone gimbal?
It feels like smartphone gimbals were all the rage with the rise of social media a decade or so ago. Back then, the only option was really just DJI, and they’re still the leader. However, with corporate America realizing they need a bigger social media team and being an “influencer” has now become an actual career path, more companies have entered the market.
Most of these options are tailored towards the casual consumer, someone that wants something for social media content or even as a webcam. However, in reality, most users of gimbals turn out to be members of a communication or social media team for companies looking for an easy content creation tool.
Although it’s a fun tool for those looking to have stabilized video for small-time filmmakers, aspiring influencers, or someone just wanting to capture some family moments.
Advertisement - scroll for more content
So, which one should you buy? Here are our suggestions.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P
Starting with the OG, DJI’s latest Osmo Mobile is jam-packed with features that would be useful for anyone needing a gimbal. From the included selfie stick, ActiveTrack, and support for pretty much any mainstream smartphone on the market.
What makes the Osmo Mobile 7P different from its predecessors is its addition of an external tracking module that provides enhanced tracking capabilities to your phone without the need to use the DJI Mimo app. It also doubles as a light to brighten up your subject and a receiver for your DJI Mic 2 and Mic Mini transmitters. However, you’ll see that they aren’t the only ones with similar accessories.
Overall, the Osmo Mobile is a solid gimbal for your phone. It’s not a risky purchase; they’ve always been great products, and that isn’t changing. The Osmo Mobile 7P comes in at $145 on Amazon, and for that price, it’s no wonder it’s the site’s number one seller in the category.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
The newer kid on the block, the competition between DJI and Insta360 has been heating up over the last few years; most recently, DJI entered the 360 camera market. The Flow 2 Pro is a worthy competitor, featuring most of the same capabilities you’d find on DJI’s, and it’s again tailored toward the common consumer, with a few extra features DJI doesn’t include.
The standout feature of the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is its integration with Apple DockKit. While not useful if you’re an Android user, it’s an amazing feature to have for the iPhone users out there. Using the NFC chip in the gimbal, you can begin using the Flow 2 Pro with any camera app on your iPhone. This is useful if you want to use the gimbal as a stand for FaceTime calls with friends or Zoom calls for work, allowing the gimbal to follow you as you move around the frame.
For price, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro comes in at $179.99 if you want it with their version of an AI tracking module and light. Which likely deserves its own comparison to DJI’s one day.
Hohem iSteady M7
Finally, the lesser-known provider that I absolutely love! Hohem’s gimbal changes the pace with a design more focused on serious creators using phones to capture the shot. The build and controls are closer to something like DJI’s RS series of gimbals. And you guessed it, it too features an AI tracking module you can attach.
However, its party trick is that its screen can be detached from the body and handed off to someone else. Is this entirely necessary for a smartphone gimbal? Probably not, but if you are someone who is taking your content to another level while sticking with budget phone options, then this could be useful for a director or client monitor, or to hand off to an assistant camera operator.
The iSteady M7 comes in at $269, making it the most expensive gimbal on this list. Is it worth it? Your decision depends on what you need.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.