The Best Cheap Gimbal for a Phone
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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Handheld video is shaky, but a stabilizer gimbal is designed to make it look fluid. Gyroscopic image stabilization dates back to 1976 when Garrett Brown’s “Steadicam” was used to film the movie Rocky. Remember how the camera follows Rocky Balboa as he runs up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art? The footage is shake-free because the camera was mounted on a gyroscopic gimbal. A gimbal is like a self-correcting level; a gyroscope uses two or three gimbals at once.
The best phone stabilizers use a three-axis gimbal, which is like a self-correcting level working in all dimensions. This makes a camera seem like it is floating in a bubble. On the other hand, a stabilizer stick without a gimbal is just a monopod. It’s not worth it, no matter how cheap it is.
How Much Does a Good Gimbal Stabilizer Cost?
A good smartphone gimbal (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $102, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same gimbal stabilizers cost around $88 while on sale: an average discount of 14%. This data also suggests that Amazon is the best place to buy a gimbal online.
Alternatively, an all-in-one gimbal stabilizer with an integrated 4K camera (like the DJI Osmo Pocket) costs approximately $325 on average and sometimes sells for as little as $249 (a 23% discount).
Even inexpensive smartphone gimbals are pricey for a phone accessory and using a stabilizer requires practice. Don’t expect buttery-smooth video out of the box. Nevertheless, a phone stabilizer is a wonderful tool for documenting travel, capturing sporting events and telling stories visually.
Here are the best budget smartphone gimbals for the money:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find smartphone gimbals with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any phone gimbal with a price above the mid-point.
To find mobile gimbals with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 25% of the analyzed products remain.
DJI Osmo Mobile 3: Combo 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $140 | Great Deal: $98
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DJI’s Osmo Mobile 3 is durable, intuitive and makes video silky smooth, according to several online customers. Many reviewers wish this stabilizer supported high frame rates; others say the Mimo app is buggy.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Amazon Prime Day.
Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus (+)
Good Value: $91 | Great Deal: $71
Hohem’s affordable gimbal is sturdy, durable and lightweight, according to several online customers. Many of those customers also praised the included carrying case. Some reviewers say this stabilizer is hard to calibrate; others had connectivity issues with the Hohem app.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
DJI osmo Mobile 2 Handheld Smartphone Gimbal
Good Value: $100 | Great Deal: $69
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The DJI osmo has mostly positive reviews, but even happy customers encountered challenges and frustrations while calibrating this gimbal and using the control app. The software isn’t compatible with all Android phones, so make sure to read the DJI website carefully before buying.
Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $115 | Great Deal: $89
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Several online customers praised the Smooth 4’s packaging, build quality and image stabilization, but some Android phone owners had issues with the gimbal’s control app. iPhone owners had less technical troubles with the gimbal, but some customers found the Smooth 4 harder to use than they had imagined.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Amazon Prime Day and Cyber Monday.
Zhiyun Smooth-Q 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $80 | Great Deal: $50
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Zhiyun’s Smooth-Q is a good beginner’s gimbal for use with small phones, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say this stabilizer is hard to calibrate; others say the app is twitchy and glitchy.
FeiyuTech VLOG Pocket Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $81 | Great Deal: $55
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The VLOG Pocket is an extremely compact and lightweight gimbal, according to several online customers. Many reviewers warn that this gimbal only functions well with small phones (and advise phablet owners to look elsewhere). Others say that the locks are confusing and the built-in object tracking doesn’t work well.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Hohem iSteady X 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $89 | Great Deal: $55
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Hohem’s affordable phone gimbal is lightweight, intuitive and it has excellent battery life, according to several customers. Some reviewers say this unit is made from cheap plastic; others had trouble getting a stable Bluetooth connection. A few customers say that they received a lemon that needed to be exchanged.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
MOZA Mini-S Foldable Gimbal Stabilizer
Good Value: $78 | Great Deal: $55
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Moza’s compact gimbal is a good smartphone stabilizer at a great price, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say this model has disappointing battery life and unreliable tracking (for anything except selfies). Samsung Galaxy S10+ owners warn that this stabilizer is not compatible with their phones.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Freevision Vilta M-Pro Phone Gimbal (FVDX80010)
Good Value: $120 | Great Deal: $100
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Freevision’s Vilta M-Pro is a durable gimbal designed for large phones and phablets, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say that this is a great piece of hardware that is marred by buggy software.
About the Author: John DeFeo is a graduate of NYU film school and has worked as a professional videographer. Later, he served as the head of editorial insights for product review sites like Tom’s Guide and Anandtech.
