Content creators everywhere know the value of a steady shot, and the only way to get that shot is to use some sort of gimbal or camera cage. Whether we were at TIFF, CES, IFA, Summer Game Fest or Computex, CGM has been desperately in need of gear to help us take the perfect shots. We have spent the year testing various options to bring you our Best Gimbals 2025.
What makes the best gimbal entirely depends on your needs. Whether you’re looking for ultimate control for your device, the best battery life, the most features, or the easiest gimbal to use, we likely have something for you. Zhiyun, DJI, and Hohem top our list this year. Here are our Best Gimbals 2025!
Hohem iSteady V3 Gimbal
The iSteady V3 has a sleek, ergonomic design that combines aesthetics with practicality. It feels sturdy, with just enough weight to offer stability without becoming cumbersome over time. Its portability is a key feature, as it fits comfortably into most bags or even larger pockets, making it ideal for on-the-go shooting.
One of the standout features of the iSteady V3 is its foldable structure. The arms collapse, significantly reducing its size when not in use, enhancing both portability and protection for the motors and arms during transport. Additionally, the gimbal has a textured grip that provides comfort during extended use, minimizing hand fatigue.
The controls on the iSteady V3 are user-friendly, with a joystick for precise movements, a mode switch button, and a shutter button for capturing photos and starting/stopping video recordings. The joystick offers smooth control, allowing users to achieve cinematic shots with minimal effort. That being said, it did take me a bit to fully understand what each mode was used for and how to use each one properly. Even without that knowledge, the gimbal was easy to use.
The Hohem iSteady V3 is incredible. Its portability, battery life and ease of use make it essential for any content creation. If only the app that is a must to unlock all of its functions could be praised as highly.
- Your Personal AI Videographer: hohem iSteady V3 is an intelligent smartphone gimbal revolutionizing mobile photography and videography. With its standalone magnetic AI tracker, it achieves seamless face tracking with simple gestures, freeing you from manual operation. 300g/0.66lbs Max payload,with a built-in extension rod and tripod, along with an innovative detachable remote control, iSteady V3 frees up your hands, allowing you to capture stunning videos anytime, anywhere.
- Al Tracking Smartphone Gimbal: hohem iSteady V3 equipped with a Magnetic AI traker sensor, it works with all conferencing, live streaming and shooting apps. No app limitation and No need bluetooth conectation.Detached and Reversible design, makes the AI tracker can be mounted with front or rear camera.The Cutting-Edge Tracking Technology ensures human subjects remain consistently framed and sharply focused, boasting unparalleled accuracy and adaptability in tracking
Zhiyun Smooth 5S
Zhiyun offers the Smooth 5S in a standard package with just the gimbal and tripod or a combo kit that adds the carrying case and an extra fill light. For most users, the standard kit will suffice. But if you do a lot of low-light shooting, springing for the combo might be worth it.
Looking at the features of the Smooth 5S, Zhiyun has made significant improvements that make this iteration stand out from previous models. The motors have been enhanced to better handle larger, heavier phones like the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Additionally, the clamp now opens wider to accommodate these bigger devices and thicker cases. For mobile filmmakers using add-on lenses, this extra clearance is a welcome addition, and I hope more gimbal makers will take note of this improvement.
In use, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S feels like a professional tool made for content creators who want a range of options. The abundance of physical controls means you don’t have to constantly fiddle with on-screen menus. Want to adjust the focus? There’s a wheel for that. Want to tweak the exposure? There’s a dial. It’s this tactile control that sets the Smooth 5S apart from more consumer-oriented gimbals.
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S combines robust construction with versatile features, making it a top choice for serious smartphone filmmakers.
![Zhiyun Smooth 5S Ai [Official] 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer For Smartphone, Iphone Gimbal With Built-In Fill Light, Tripod, Phone Stabilizer For Video Recording Supports Gesture Control, 360° Inception](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tWVAYNlvL._SL160_.jpg "Best Gimbals 2025")
- [Pro-Level Stability] With the same orthogonal 3-axis structure as pro camera stabilizers and advanced stabilization algorithm, the ZHIYUN Smooth 5S AI stabilizer brings unparalleled stability and smoothness to your everyday mobile creation.
- [Make Every Moment Shine] Smooth 5S AI gimbal features a built-in high-power, you can easily adjust the brightness directly from the stabilizer. Take full control of your lighting setup without the need for additional equipment or complicated setups. **The magnetic fill light can be purchased separately.
DJI RS4 Pro
Use of the base gimbal without all the flashy toys is fairly straightforward if you have ever used one before. You need to secure your camera to the appropriate mount (there are shorter ones, but also a longer one that supports a longer lens. You adjust various parts of the gimbal so that it can naturally balance with the camera in place, and then you turn it on. You are able to determine how much of the gimbal you can control so that you don’t accidentally rotate the camera when you are trying to tilt forward. Using the trigger will let you re-center the camera or even set it to selfie mode.
The DJI RS4 Pro is capable of vertical shooting with the use of the included horizontal plate that will allow you to effortlessly switch back and forth. The gimbal can connect to your camera via Bluetooth (if applicable) to control the camera shutter and zoom control. It can support up to 10 lbs on the gimbal thanks to the 20% increase in motor torque, letting it easily move around without struggling with the weight of your gear.
The DJI RS4 Pro connects to your camera via the Ronin app and gives you a lot of controls from your phone. It will give control over the gimbal’s basic controls to the phone in a couple of different ways. You can use a virtual joystick to control the gimbal without touching it or, even cooler, you can use Force Mobile, using the gyroscope on your own phone to move the camera with the simple move of your wrist. If that isn’t enough for you, you can connect a PS4 (and maybe PS5, but the app specifically says 4) or Xbox controller to the gimbal and control it with that instead.
The DJI RS4 Pro is a top-end gimbal that is fantastic for the solo content creator or a serious filmmaker and everyone in between. Its simple on-board controls, remote controls and accessories make for a gimbal that can adapt to your every need.
- 2nd-Gen Native Vertical Shooting – Camera gimbal stabilizer, just release the horizontal plate and secure it into the vertical position for an effortless switch to vertical social content.
- 4.5kg (10lbs) Payload Capacity, 20% Increase in Motor Torque – Equipped with carbon fiber axis arms and an increase in capacity and torque, DJI RS 4 Pro easily accommodates mainstream mirrorless/cinema camera and lens setups.
Hohem iSteady M6 Kit Smartphone Gimbal
Once I got the hohem iSteady M6 all set up, I was impressed by the build quality. It utilizes high-performance composites that strike an excellent balance between durability and weight. At 551g, including the battery, it’s light enough for all-day carry but robust enough to handle your smartphone securely. The gimbal can support a payload of up to 400g, easily accommodating larger devices like the iPhone 14 Pro Max or my current daily driver, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
While I have liked many of the recent stabilizers I have tried, including the Zhiyun, few have presented such a user-friendly overall experience as the iSteady M6. This is partially due to the choice to include a 0.91-inch OLED display that takes a lot of the guesswork out of using the device. This bright, crisp screen provides all the essential information at a glance, from battery life to current mode settings. It’s a small detail that significantly enhances usability, and I am hooked on just how simple everything is with the M6 overall.
The gimbal offers a variety of shooting modes to get your creative juices flowing. From 360° Infinite Spin Shot for stunning Inception-style shots to Ultra Wide Angle mode for capturing expansive landscapes, the iSteady M6 has you covered. It can be a little overwhelming, but thankfully, even the more advanced features are easy to learn and take little time to get the hang of. Most people will use the basic set of features, but it’s nice to see that hohem has delivered a very well-rounded experience that appeals to both new and experienced creators.
The hohem iSteady M6 offers exceptional value for money, making it an easy recommendation for both amateur and professional videographers.
- 【Magnetic fill light with AI vision sensor】With an AI vision sensor, you can switch between the front and rear cameras to achieve flexible “Follow You”. With Magnetic Fill Light, you can use different lighting for your shooting: Cold light, warm light, and RGB light.Color temperature: 2700K – 6500K. Al Tracking In All Mobile AppsFull Camera Control for Social Media Video Creation.
- 【iSteady 7.0 Stabilization&Wide compability】iSteady M6 gimbal integrates the iSteady 7.0 stabilization algorithms, helping you to capture on-the-move and shake-free creations that wow. No matter if you are walking or running, you can always film with flawless stabilization and create smooth footage. The payload is up to 400g which makes the gimbal work with most smartphones.
