When I first got into mobile videography, I thought gimbals were just for pros with fancy gear. But here we are in 2025, and things have changed – a lot. These days, even beginner-friendly smartphone gimbals offer some seriously impressive features, and many are both budget-conscious and easy to use.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my top picks for the best smartphone gimbals for beginners in 2025, all of which I’ve tested myself.
Best Smartphone Gimbals for Beginners in 2025
1. Hohem iSteady M6 – A Feature-Packed Starter Gimbal
For its price, the Hohem iSteady M6 punches way above its weight. What I love most about this one is the intuitive interface. It doesn’t overwhelm you with settings, but it still gives you control over pan, tilt, and follow modes. There’s also built-in AI tracking and a built-in light, which is great if you’re shooting in low light or doing a lot of selfie content.
It also has a surprisingly decent battery life (about 10 hours in my testing), which is plenty for a day of filming.
Check the price of the Hohem iSteady M6 on amazon
2. Zhiyun Smooth Q4 – Budget-Friendly and Easy to Learn
Zhiyun has done a great job simplifying their tech for new users with the Smooth Q4. It’s compact, folds up nicely, and has a built-in extension rod for easy vlogging. The app isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done, and the stabilization is fantastic for the price.
If you’re brand new to gimbals and want something that works straight out of the box, this is a top contender.
Check the price of the Zhiyun Smooth Q4 on amazon
3. DJI OM 5 – The Most Polished Beginner Experience
Yes, it’s been around for a little while, but the DJI OM 5 is still one of the best smartphone gimbals for beginners in 2025, thanks to its refined build, excellent app support, and smart tracking features. The learning curve is gentle, and everything just works. The companion app walks you through setup, shooting modes, and even creative shot templates.
It’s a little more expensive than the others here, but if you’re serious about learning mobile videography, this one’s a great investment.
Check the price of the DJI OM 5 on amazon here
What to Look for in a Beginner Gimbal
Here are a few quick things I always recommend checking before buying your first gimbal:
- Weight and Portability: If you’re using it all day, it should be comfortable to hold.
- Battery Life: At least 6-8 hours is a good baseline for casual creators.
- App Support: A good app makes all the difference when you’re just learning.
- Tracking Features: Face or object tracking can help when filming yourself.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to smartphone videography, you don’t need to drop hundreds on pro gear to get cinematic results. The models I’ve covered here offer an awesome balance of price, performance, and ease of use – and I honestly wish they existed when I was getting started.
I’ll be posting more in-depth reviews of each of these models over the coming weeks, so feel free to check back or browse my other gimbal reviews here. And if you’re leaning more toward GoPros or action cameras, don’t miss this Thursday’s post – it’ll be all about the best gimbals for GoPros in 2025.
Happy filming!
