Are Smartphone Gimbals Still Important in 2020

Are you looking for a straightforward answer based on the practical use of smartphone Gimbal? You are in the right place...

Yes, you must need a Gimbal for your smartphone in 2020 if, like me, you are using a smartphone from 2018 or earlier to make vlogs or videos whether it is a high-end machine or best midrange of its era.

We are asking this question because in 2020 the software to stabilize smartphone videos digitally has come a long way. A flagship or mid-range device of 2020 from one of the well-known brands such as Huawei, Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Redmi, RealMe or Oppo comes with a really good digital stabilization system that takes care of most of the handshakes from videos.

The resulting handheld video clips are decently smooth that you may not need a Gimbal. I myself was in denial at first, until I experienced it.

Having said that, I strongly suggest you seek, learn and practice the methods to record stabilized handheld shots successfully anywhere anytime.

This video is recorded on a mid-range smartphone strapped to rider's chest, with absolutely no external mean to stabilized the video other than in-built EIS enabled.

Or handheld when he is not on the bike.

Does that mean the Smartphone Gimbals are useless now?

No, because for buttery smooth videos and filmmaking, yes we need a good Gimbal and I cannot stress enough to go for a really good smartphone Gimbal. The most ^affordable^ Gimbal could come with compromises you do not want to have. And the possibility is that you will not notice those compromises through your own quick trials and not all reviewers may pick those shortcomings either.

For example in my case, I probably have watched and read every single review I could find before getting Moza Mini S. I thought I know all its cons, but there were more. I am hating its response time. Although the delay is only a second and some, it has been annoying during work. The folding design which I loved about Mini S before buying is not only my least favorite part of the Gimbal but it is cumbersome to carry. (I will talk more about Mini S in my review.)

So When Do You Need a Gimbal then?

Digital Image Stabilization in new smartphones may have reduced the use of Gimbal but Gimbals cannot be removed from the equation completely. You will need one for long walking scene. Gimbals can serve other functions vloggers and filmmakers would want to use every now and then. With the improvement of software based face and object tracking, a user can record complicated creative shots without the help of another person.

Gimbals can be programmed to move between two or more points any number of times, which enable filmmakers to create complex translational shots very easily, including motion time-lapse.

So you do not need a Gimbal to reduce shaking in your video clips. Not really, not always. If you have a smartphone of 2020 and know a few easy stability tricks for handheld shots, you can just whip your smartphone out and start recording good video clips without the need for extra equipment. It comes in handy when you are traveling.

But should you buy a smartphone gimbal then? Yes, however, invest in a good one. Don't rush to buy the cheapest. Save up and get the best you can get to improve your vlogging or filmmaking quality.

Drop me a comment if you agree with me or have a question. Do share your experience with a smartphone gimbal you are using.