I'm a pro photographer and these are my favorite gimbals for iPhone or Android in 2025

Let’s start with the main downside. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is not as portable. It is significantly larger than the DJI’s top dog at 311 x 168 x 52mm when folded, compared to 190 x 95 x 46mm. That said, many would argue that the build quality is significantly better (including myself). It has more physical buttons, too, and the side wheel is considerably bigger, giving you a more comfortable grip.

If you don’t mind carrying around a bigger gimbal, you’ll be rewarded with more comfort and controls. Another reason why this is not exactly our favorite is that the module functionality isn’t multi-functional. In this case, the AI module only does the tracking. It’s not multi-functional. A separate fill light can be attached to the bottom, and a second fill light is built into the gimbal’s arm. The cool thing is that you can actually use two magnetic fill lights if you don’t need the AI tracker, so you get a bit more flexibility.

Otherwise, the functions are the same. You can control AI tracking using gestures, as well as tapping. You can also use any camera app with it, and don’t need to stick to Zhiyun’s ZY Cami app.

Overall, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI might be a better option for those who take their mobile filmmaking a bit more seriously. The controls are much more advanced, the build is nicer, and the magnetic connections give you more flexibility to play with fill lights. It just sacrifices portability and costs more.

The one tricky part is that it’s not cheap at $159.99 for the base bundle, which doesn’t come with the AI tracker. If you want to get that, you’ll have to fork out $179.99 for the bundle that comes with the AI tracker.

Also, some sacrifices had to be made to keep the gimbal small and light. For example, the ergonomics and build quality aren’t up there with the top options. That said, it has some really nifty things going for it. Using it is super simple; it has a magnetic phone holder, it can rotate the full 360 degrees (which is rare for gimbals), and it has a really cool mirror on the back if you want to use the rear cameras and still see how you look. Oh, and this one also has Apple Watch support.

This one has a conveniently built-in tripod and selfie stick, which is nice for solo recording. The AI tracker does come with a fill light for a more seamless experience with fewer accessories. It can track you regardless of which camera app you use and also supports gesture controls, which is quite convenient.

At this price, we would probably recommend the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P instead, but if you care about portability and want something more user-friendly, it’s hard to beat this one. It is an excellent acquisition for casual vloggers.

The DJI Osmo Mobile SE gets some of the best features you’ll find on the bigger brothers. It has 3-axis stabilization, a magnetic design, and a very similar control interface. Not to mention, it has a foldable design and is very portable. It measures only 167 × 108.5 × 46.5mm when folded, and weighs 352g.

The battery life isn’t as amazing as the new DJI high-end models, but you still get eight hours per charge.

Of course, you won’t get any fancy features like standalone AI tracking or a built-in selfie stick and tripod. There’s no control wheel, either, but you get a rocker for some added control. That said, you can’t expect advanced features from such an affordable product. Especially one that’s pretty nice, like this one.

First, let’s talk about the main downside. It has no magnetic, removable phone holder. But hey, if that saves you cash, clamping a phone and removing it every time doesn’t seem like a big issue.

It does feature an AI tracking module, so you can use it to track people without using the official app, and you can opt for any camera application. It’s also nice that it supports voice commands, something that is actually pretty rare. This one is magnetic, and so is the fill light. That said, remember that the base model doesn’t come with these. You’ll need to get the “combo” bundle to get the AI tracker and fil light.

The design is ergonomic and comfortable to use. In addition, it comes with a convenient selfie stick that can extend by 215mm. It will be great for selfies and self-recording. That said, the tripod is removable. Some of us prefer the tripod legs to be built in, but again, you’re paying $99!

Most affordable gimbals suffer in the battery life department, but this one gets a pretty nice 11 hours per charge.

Considering all factors, we would recommend this to any beginner mobile videographer. It is pretty affordable, has a dedicated AI tracking module, comes with a built-in expandable rod, is pretty portable, and has a great battery life. It’s a great solo gimbal for your vlogs, or for recording your adventures.