The Best Gimbals 2023

By Linus Tan
Published Feb 2023

Nowadays, all you need to reach a wide audience is a phone and a YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok account. But if you want your videos to look professional, you'll need an extra device: a gimbal.

It stabilises your camera and produces ultra-smooth footage. To make sure you get the most bang for your buck, we've compiled a list of the best gimbals available.

Best Overall: DJI OM 5

✓ Great tracking performance
✓ 3-axis stabilisation
✓ Compact & sleek design
✓ Budget-friendly

Buy on Amazon

Best Gimbal Camera: DJI Pocket 2

✓ Built-in camera
✓ 4K video at 60fps
✓ 3-axis stabilisation
✓ Great colour balance

Buy on Amazon

Best for Professionals: Zhiyun Smooth 5

✓ Impressive control
✓ Built-in control buttons
✓ Functional companion app
✓ Up to 12 hours of battery life

Buy on Amazon

Best for Value: Hohem iSteady V2

✓ 3-axis anti-shake stabilisation
✓ AI visual tracking
✓ Works as a power bank
✓ Budget-friendly

Buy on Amazon

#1 Best Overall: DJI OM 5

DJI OM 5

The DJI OM 5 is the smallest and lightest gimbal in DJI's lineup, making it ideal for those who don't want the bulk of a typical gimbal. It's perfect for anyone who wants a lightweight, yet powerful, stabilising solution.

The OM 5 is designed with organic curves that appear soft and natural. Once folded, it fits easily into a large pocket, making it perfect for your handbag or backpack. The rotate button is located at the back of the gimbal. Press it once to switch between the front or rear cameras, and press it twice to flip the orientation from landscape to portrait.

DJI OM 5

The DJI OM 5 stands out because of its versatility as it's made to use both in traditional gimbal mode and selfie-stick mode. To compensate for hand movement, the OM 5 will tilt, roll and pan, a product of the three-axis system. One thing to note is that when it comes to rolling, the OM 5 benefits from a greater downward range unlike the OM 4 which has a greater upward range. As for battery life, the DJI OM 5 will last around six hours.

To get the most out of the OM 5, you need to use it alongside the DJI Mimo app. The new ShotGuides feature will be handy for gimbal newbies and seasoned users looking for inspiration. As you shoot, you'll notice a floating window which guides you with positioning, levelling up what you're capturing and moving at an appropriate speed. There's also an ActiveTrack 4.0 which follows an object you've assigned. Other features that pop include gesture control, Story Mode Templates, Spin Shot Gimbal Movement, Panoramas, Hyperlapse, Motionlapse, Timelapse and DynamicZoom.

Overall, the DJI Osmo Mobile 5 is a fantastic gimbal stabiliser for smartphones, offering excellent stabilisation and smooth footage. It is extremely easy to use, with its intuitive design and features, allowing even novice users to capture amazing footage.

DJI OM 5

Best Overall

✓ Great tracking performance
✓ 3-axis stabilisation
✓ Compact & sleek design
✓ Budget-friendly

Buy on Amazon

#2 Best Gimbal Camera: DJI Pocket 2

DJI Pocket 2

If you're looking for a lightweight solution for capturing stabilised videos, the DJI Pocket 2 gimbal is a great option. It's super-compact and easy to use.

At only 117g, the Pocket 2 is lightweight, so you don't need to worry about hand fatigue. It also has a new side button, which prevents accidental shut-offs since only the side button can turn it off. Additionally, it comes with a hard plastic holster for protection. Thanks to DJI's Drop Aware feature, it will lock up the gimbal if it senses a potential drop.

DJI Pocket 2

The DJI Pocket 2 retains its 4K resolution even when zoomed in slightly—provided you shoot in well-lit areas. Otherwise, video outputs may have some grain and focus issues. It also has a wide 93-degree field of view, which is great for vloggers who want to capture more of what's behind them.

Shooting handheld on the Pocket 2 is unparalleled, offering fantastic stabilisation and a flattering colour balance. Plus, the gimbal's battery life can last over two hours, even when shooting at 4K quality.

The Pocket 2 has three main modes: FPV (full range of movement), Tilt Locked (up/down rotation disabled), and Follow (camera remains horizontal). However, the differences between them are not very noticeable. DJI also offers a Creator Combo, which includes a wireless microphone and other essential video production tools. With this combo, you have more options for ultra-wide capture, thanks to the external audio recording and clip-on lens.

Overall, the DJI Pocket 2 is an incredibly versatile and powerful camera that is perfect for capturing stunning photos and videos. It boasts an intuitive, easy-to-use design, as well as features such as ActiveTrack 3.0, 4K video recording, a 1/1.7-inch sensor, and 3-axis stabilisation to help you capture smooth, cinematic footage.

DJI Pocket 2

Best Gimbal Camera

✓ Built-in camera
✓ 4K video at 60fps
✓ 3-axis stabilisation
✓ Great colour balance

Buy on Amazon

#3 Best for Professionals: Zhiyun Smooth 5

Zhiyun Smooth 5

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 is designed for heavy-handed gimbal users. It offers a range of features that allow you to make adjustments quickly and easily. No more waiting around - you can get the results you need in an instant!

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 offers an impressive range of controls from the grip. When paired with the companion app, you can adjust almost all camera and gimbal settings, as well as navigate app menus, all while holding the gimbal in one hand. The buttons are conveniently placed, making it even easier to use. However, the Smooth 5 does not support rotating from portrait to landscape orientation with the buttons. To do this, you must rotate your phone, lock it in place, and rebalance it manually.

Zhiyun Smooth 5

We appreciate the stabilization feature of the Zhiyun Smooth 5. Users noted that footage taken with the Smooth 5 was steady, even when the camera was in motion. Despite being heavier than other gimbals, the extra weight of the Smooth 5 provides good pressure on the hand. Additionally, the Smooth 5 has a battery life of 12 hours on a single charge.

The app is incredibly useful, featuring a built-in editor that lets you edit content captured from your phone. It also provides tutorials, user guides, and content from other creators. Creative tools include modes for POV, panning, tracking, and following. Plus, there's a vortex mode for full 360-degree rotation shots.

Overall, the Zhiyun Smooth 5 gimbal stabiliser is an incredibly versatile and powerful tool that is ideal for capturing smooth, steady footage. It has an impressive array of features, including an advanced 3-axis stabiliser, a high-precision motor, and an ergonomic design, making it an excellent choice for both amateur and professional filmmakers.

Zhiyun Smooth 5

Best for Professionals

✓ Impressive control
✓ Built-in control buttons
✓ Functional companion app
✓ Up to 12 hours of battery life

Buy on Amazon

#4 Best for Value: Hohem iSteady V2

Hohem iSteady V2

The Hohem iSteady V2 is a nifty gimbal that's affordable, responsive and works like a charm for a lower price.

Once removed from the box, you'll notice the difference. Constructed from robust, non-slip plastic, the Hohem iSteady V2 is comfortable to hold and ergonomically designed. The two primary physical buttons are responsive, and the battery and Bluetooth indicators are a welcome addition.

Hohem iSteady V2

The Hohem iSteady V2 boasts a spectacular 3-axis anti-shake algorithm, powered by a brushless motor for stabilisation and smooth transitions. Whether you're dancing, walking, or turning, the gimbal ensures smooth footage without any glitches. It has a tilt motor that can rotate up to 60°, and roll and pan motors with a maximum rotation range of 320°. Additionally, the iSteady V2 has 9 hours of battery life and supports reverse charging, allowing it to act as a power bank for your phone.

The iSteady V2's most exciting feature is its AI visual tracking function. Perfect for video calls or action scenes, the gimbal does an excellent job of automatically rotating to keep the subject in the frame. Additionally, it has a built-in LED video light with a touch button on top for easy brightness adjustment according to the lighting conditions. The Hohem Pro app completes the iSteady 2 experience with templates to play around with and functionalities such as Auto-Calibration, Motion Timelapse, and Camera settings.

Overall, the Hohem iSteady V2 is a remarkable gimbal stabiliser that has been designed with the latest technology and features in mind that is also a little more wallet-friendly. It has an impressive array of features that make it the ideal choice for capturing smooth and stable shots.

Hohem iSteady V2

Best for Value

✓ 3-axis anti-shake stabilisation
✓ AI visual tracking
✓ Works as a power bank
✓ Budget-friendly

Buy on Amazon

Compare Gimbals

Final Thoughts

Using a gimbal with your smartphone can add a lot of production value to your videos. Shaky camera work can create an unfavourable impression and an amateurish feel, but the stabilization mechanics of a gimbal can help reduce this.

If you like to read more on Gimbals, check out our other relevant guides here:

Best Gimbals for iPhone (2023)

4 Best Gimbals for DSLR (2023) 

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI Osmo Mobile SE

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 5

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs Zhiyun Smooth 5S