Consumer Reports

What we like: Compact, lightweight, and easy to use, this is the ideal choice for amateur shooters.

What we don't like: DJI says the battery delivers 6.5 hours per charge, which is relatively short.

TechGearLab

DJI has thoroughly impressed us with the OM 5. This device offers all of the features and capabilities we've come to love from the OM series, including a multitude of custom settings and a magnetic phone mounting system. Newly, the OM 5 also has an extendable telescoping rod to add more than eight inches of overall length for better selfies or getting low to the ground for action shots. Our testing team was also impressed by the tiny size and weight of the OM 5 when it's collapsed, especially considering the capabilities and features wrapped into such a small package. The true icing on the cake is the ActiveTrack 4.0 integrated software which produces the smoothest shots we've seen from an iPhone gimbal to date. 
The main flaw we found while testing the OM 5 is that its mechanical panoramic panning capability is limited to a range of 300 degrees. Although this may be a factor that won't affect your purchasing decision, some content creators may be looking for a gimbal that offers 360 or limitless panning for certain shots and projects. If you're looking for a model that also doubles as a power bank to ensure that your phone does not die in the middle of a shot, you'll need to look elsewhere as the OM 5 does not have a USB charging port and its overall battery life falls short when compared to other models. Lastly, there's no getting around it &mdash; this version is expensive. Despite these few drawbacks, we still think that the DJI OM 5 is the best iPhone gimbal for those that want a product with tons of features and capabilities that offers a high degree of performance. 

It's hard to top the overall performance of the DJI OM 5. We love the magnetic mounting system that essentially eliminates the trial and error method of balancing employed by many other models. The innovative telescoping arm helps you snap self-portraits with more friends or more background in the image and enables you to get low angles while shooting action videos. To further enhance the video capabilities, DJI has programmed the OM 5 with the same Active Track 4.0 software that is used on some of their professional-grade gimbals and drones. If you're looking for a smartphone gimbal that travels well while offering a plethora of capabilities, this is the one &mdash; the OM 5 is incredibly compact for this style of device. 
We found very few flaws during our assessment, but some may influence your purchasing decision. There are some models that offer greater than 360° or even limitless panoramic panning range &mdash; the OM 5 is limited to 300°. The battery lasts 6 hours which may be plenty enough for your purposes, but other models last more than twice as long. The OM 5 lacks a USB port for charging your phone while you're shooting, so be sure that your phone battery has lots of juice before embarking on your influencer adventures. Another drawback is the price. There are models available that are capable of many of the same shots as the OM 5 that won't put nearly as big of a dent in your bank account. Drawbacks aside, if you want a compact folding smartphone gimbal with stellar performance alongside fully customizable settings, we think the OM 5 is the way to go. 

DJI has thoroughly impressed us with the DJI OM 5. This device offers all of the features and capabilities we've come to love from the OM series, including a multitude of custom settings and a magnetic phone mounting system. Newly, the OM 5 also has an extendable telescoping rod to add more than eight inches of overall length for better selfies or getting low to the ground for action shots. Our testing team was also impressed by the tiny size and weight of the OM 5 when collapsed, especially considering the capabilities and features wrapped into such a small package. The true icing on the cake is the ActiveTrack 4.0 integrated software which produces the smoothest shots we've seen from an iPhone gimbal to date. 
Our main gripe with the OM 5 is that its mechanical panoramic panning capability is limited to a 300 degree range. While it's not a dealbreaker, some content creators may desire a full 360 degree gimbal or limitless panning for certain shots and projects. If you want an iPhone gimbal that doubles as a power bank to ensure your phone doesn't die mid-shot, you'll need to look elsewhere. The OM 5 does not have a USB charging port, and the overall battery life falls short compared to the competition. Lastly, there's no getting around it &mdash; this version is expensive. Despite these few drawbacks, we still think that the DJI OM 5 is the top choice for those who want a product with tons of features and capabilities as well as a high degree of performance. 

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The DJI OM 4 stabilizes video shot by even the shakiest of hands, and the company offers fast and helpful customer service.

If you want the bells & whistles offered by  DJI and need a long-lasting battery, we recommend the OM 4. With a larger body and overall weight than its smaller cousin, this model also has a significantly larger power bank. With a battery life of 15 hours and a USB output port for charging your phone, you can be sure that your devices won't die halfway through that perfect sunset time lapse. This model is a breeze to balance thanks to its magnetic phone clamp, and it has an abundance of features and capabilities ranging from motion time-lapses for panoramas to active tracking for action shots. There are easy-to-use controls on the gimbal itself as well as the touchscreen of your phone. Panning speed, zoom speed, camera options, and many other settings are highly customizable, making the DJI OM 4 a solid choice for those looking to take their content creation to the next level.  
Much like the OM 5, the fundamental flaw we found while testing the OM 4 is that the panning range is limited. If you want a gimbal that can shoot 360-degree panoramas, this is not the model for you. Although it functions exceptionally well once you get the hang of it, we found that with the abundance of settings and functions, it takes some time to learn the ins and outs of how to operate it. The OM 4 also falls behind the 5 regarding stability. Despite these drawbacks, the OM 4 is still one of the best iPhone gimbals out there, offering oodles of functionality. 

The DJI OM 4 is an excellent, hard-to-beat choice in the smartphone gimbal market. This model's magnetic phone clamp makes balance easy to achieve. The OM 4 offers a wide range of capabilities, including features we've come to love like active tracking, excellent motion lapse capabilities, and controls on both the phone's touchscreen and the device itself. The OM 4 captured exceptionally smooth video in our many hands-on tests. The zoom and pan rates on this model are perfect, and for the true tech nerds, you'll enjoy the many settings that can be adjusted to personalize your format and get you shooting the best shots possible.
We found a few downsides with the DJI OM 4. The biggest drawback is its limited panning range. If you know you want 360-degree panoramas, this model will not work for you. Also, we found other models were better at low follow-cam angles, like those you'd use in a sport like skateboarding. Finally, with its many functions and settings, there is a bit of a learning curve that makes programming and operation take some getting used to. Even with these shortcomings, the OM 4 remains an outstanding option for those looking for a high-performance smartphone gimbal.

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The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is another excellent product that has a ton to offer content creators. While still finite, the central panoramic axis can rotate 600 degrees while the secondary and tertiary pivots each rotate 320 degrees. Working in concert, the mechanical range of panning, tilting, and rolling offers a treasure trove of capabilities for photo nerds and video geeks alike. We love how customizable the settings are on the iSteady Mobile Plus. There are options for reversing the joystick controls, adjusting the speed of the pan, adjusting the speed of the zoom… The list goes on and on. Nearly every setting on the gimbal can be customized to your preferences. To top it off, Hohem packed the gimbal, the tripod, and the cord up into a nice low-profile case. 
Although we prize the iSteady Mobile Plus, we found a few small flaws. It's not ideal that balancing is required every time you attach your iPhone or that it must be rebalanced to switch between portrait and landscape mode. We've tested gimbals that require minimal balancing and switch between modes with the push of a button. We also found that the tripod's rubber feet and thin arms allow for a bit of swaying and wiggling while in use. This can be annoying while shooting a time-lapse or other shot that requires absolutely no camera movement &mdash; in fact, it might even ruin the images altogether. Still, we think the Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is an excellent option for those looking for an iPhone gimbal with a substantial mechanical range that can be fine-tuned beyond settings that other manufacturers seem to have overlooked. 

The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is another one of our favorite smartphone gimbals. It is capable of panning horizontally 600 degrees while the second and third axis can pivot up to 320 degrees. Combining the range of all three axes allows the user to pan, tilt, and roll in any number of combinations that both photographers and videographers can genuinely appreciate. This model also offers a ton of customizable settings to personalize your shots to the max. One feature we really love is that you can adjust and customize the mechanical action in ways such as adjusting zoom speed, panning speed, and even reversing the joystick's action. The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus comes with a great case that houses the cord, tripod, and gimbal so that you can rest assured that your investment will be protected from impacts and elements while traveling. 
There are a few ways that the Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus falls behind some of the competitors. When switching between portrait and landscape mode, you are required to rebalance your phone &mdash; not ideal. It also doesn't include the best tripod. The feet are made of soft rubber, allowing the whole gimbal to sway a bit in the wind. This can completely ruin an otherwise great panorama or time-lapse but can easily be remedied with a stiffer tripod which can be an inexpensive solution. Despite these flaws, we think the Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is a fantastic choice if you're in the market for a smartphone gimbal with phenomenal mechanical abilities that offers custom settings beyond what much of the competition has considered. 

The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is another excellent product that has a ton to offer content creators. While still finite, the central panoramic axis can rotate 600 degrees while the secondary and tertiary pivots each rotate 320 degrees. Working in concert, the mechanical range of panning, tilting, and rolling offers a treasure trove of capabilities for photo nerds and video geeks alike. We love how customizable the settings are on the iSteady Mobile Plus. There are options for reversing the joystick controls, adjusting the speed of the pan, adjusting the speed of the zoom — the list goes on and on. Nearly every setting on the gimbal can be customized to your preferences. To top it off, Hohem packed the gimbal, the tripod, and the cord up into a nice low-profile case. 
Although we prize the iSteady Mobile Plus, we found a few small flaws. Balancing is required every time you attach your iPhone, and you must rebalance to switch between portrait and landscape mode, which is not ideal. Other gimbals we tested require minimal balancing and switch between modes with the push of a button. We also found the rubber feet and thin arms on the tripod allow for a bit of swaying and wiggling during use. This can be annoying while shooting a time-lapse or other shot that requires absolutely no camera movement &mdash; in fact, it might even ruin the images altogether. Still, we think the Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus is an excellent option for those looking for an iPhone gimbal with a substantial mechanical range that can be fine-tuned beyond settings that other manufacturers seem to have overlooked.

What we like: The model is very adept at performing basic gimbal tasks.

What we don't like: The software is subpar, particularly when it comes to in-app color accuracy.

If you're in the market for a smartphone gimbal but don't want to break the bank to purchase one, we recommend the Hohem iSteady X. One of our favorite features of the X is that you can switch between landscape and portrait modes by merely touching a button. Few other gimbals provide this feature which is a considerable step up from having to rebalance your phone. Though it's not quite pocket or purse size, it is relatively small and light for a device that offers so many capabilities, and it comes with a handy storage bag. Hohem boasts an improved anti-shake algorithm for the X that provides ultra-smooth footage even while driving over rugged terrain or following a friend down the ski slope. 
The Hohem iSteady X has a limited mechanical range. While other handheld gimbals provide 360 degrees and even infinite panoramic panning, the X is limited to 320 degrees. We've found that the tripod included with this device is a bit flimsy, which may lead to some shakiness while shooting motion lapses and time lapses in windy conditions. Despite these minor drawbacks, this is still our recommended smartphone gimbal for those shopping on a budget. 

What we like: The giant battery gets you 24 hours' worth of shooting, according to the manufacturer.

What we don't like: The unique mounting mechanism doesn’t live up to its billing.

What we like: The manual controls and greater range of movement will please advanced shooters.

What we don't like: The bulky size, involved setup, and buggy software require patience.

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