If you're going to be moving around while shooting video with your iPhone, no amount of optical image stabilization will save you from particularly bumpy shots. Stabilize your footage and up your production value with these iPhone gimbals!
A solid, general-use gimbal is going to cost you anywhere from $100 to $300 (a professional one will run you a lot more). Our list of the best general-use gimbals ranges from around $150 to $300. There's no getting past it — a good, solid, reliable gimbal is definitely an investment.
LanParte HHG-01
Recommended by several video production sites and maintaining a 4-star rating on Amazon, the LanParte HHG-01 is a good-lookin' gimbal for GoPros and iPhones alike.
The gimbal includes two adjustable smartphone clamps and two counterweights so you can be sure to get the perfect fit and balance for your iPhone. The quick-release battery lasts about three hours and charges with a standard DC port — it also features a nifty LED battery indicator so you know how much juice you have left for your shoot!
This three-axis gimbal doesn't feature a joystick mechanism — it simply adjusts for the movement of your wrist to keep your iPhone or GoPro steady as you capture footage. The LanParte HHG-01 retails for around $180 on Amazon.
DJI Osmo Mobile 2
The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 is certainly one of the better-known iPhone gimbals on the market, and it comes from a company that knows a thing or two about image stabilization (thanks to most of its cameras being strapped to unmanned drones). The Osmo Mobile 2 comes highly recommended by many vloggers and videographers. If you're in a hurry to get an easy-to-learn-and-use gimbal, go with the Osmo Mobile 2 and don't look back.
The Osmo Mobile 2 grasps on to your phone and offers up image stabilization and tracking features to produce some great-looking shots no matter what you're shooting. You can hold the gimbal in four different positions, making it possible to get every shot — even the particularly artsy ones!
The gimbal's handle features a dedicated shutter button and joystick control and connects with your device over Bluetooth LE. You can also control ISO, shutter speed, and white balance from the handle.
With up to 4.5 hours of continuous use, you'll be shooting jaw-dropping, silky-smooth video 'til the cows come in … unless you're not doing a movie about cows.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 retails for around $140 from Amazon.
FeiyuTech SPG
The FeiyuTech SPG is a pretty popular smartphone gimbal, despite its less-than-memorable name.
This gimbal sports loads of different fancy features, like a live-streaming mode that uses an altimeter to determine orientation and position and adjusts on the fly. Its sliding arm balancing mechanism makes it easier to find the center of gravity whether you're shooting with an iPhone 7 Plus or an iPhone 4! FeiyuTech says this is also helpful if you attach lenses, lights, and other accessories to your phone, which shift the center of gravity.
The FeiyuTech SPG connects to your phone over Bluetooth LE and boasts an 8-hour usage time. The handle sports a joystick, multi-function button, and shutter button, so you can pan, tilt, and snap to your heart's content.
The SPG pans 360 degrees and tilts 320 degrees, but we're especially enamored of its ability to fold up into a small carrying case that'll fit in your backpack.
The FeiyuTech SPG retails for around $160 on Amazon.
Zhiyun Smooth 4
Recommended by mobile video professionals, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 was an easy choice for our list.
The Smooth 4 is an improvement on the often-lauded Smooth C and Smooth Q. You've got a five-way joystick that controls a full 360 degrees of panning, 320 degrees of tilt, and 320 degrees of roll. The Smooth 4 also sports a 5-hour battery life, plus it can charge your phone while it's in use. That's a nice feature, as shooting video can be a huge drain on battery life.
With a dedicated shutter button, rapid-start functionality, and Zhiyun's own super noise reduction technology, you're sure to get a smooth-as-butter shot with the Smooth 4. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 retails for about $140 on Amazon.
ikan FLY-X3-Plus
The ikan FLY-X3-Plus isn't meant for pan and tilt operation via a joystick (like the other gimbals on our list). Instead, it features a 6-axis inertial measurement chip and 3-axis accelerometer that keeps your device steady while you shoot handheld footage.
You can think of it as an external version of the optical image stabilization for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. As your hand and arm subtly shake, the device corrects for those movements to keep your phone steady. Plus, without the extra motorized functionality, you're looking at a $100 drop in price over our other picks.
The FLY-X3-Plus comes with a counterweight, which makes it easier to set up with large phones. Also, if you've got a GoPro camera, you can use the FLY-X3-PLUS with it.
With three hours of rechargeable battery life, you've got more than enough to shoot the tricky, handheld footage for your next short film! The Ikan FLY-X3-Plus retails for about $250 on Amazon.
What do you think?
Any of these gimbals catch your eye? Are you using another solution to stabilize your handheld iPhone footage? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!
Updated August 2018: This article has been updated with new pricing as well as the addition of the Zhiyun Smooth 4.
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