Do you find yourself getting frustrated with the video coming out of your smartphone? Maybe it’s too dark, too shaky, or the audio sounds muffled and distant? Maybe it’s actually a loved one who’s suffering from this disappointing-phone-video syndrome, resulting in them sharing sub-par clips of youth soccer games, family reunions, and birthday parties? Either way, we have five products that might just solve the headaches and capture smartphone video that everyone will want to watch.
Step one, stop propping your phone against things! It will always slip at the most inopportune moments. A kickstand case is a good step one, but for more reliable phone filming, the Manfrotto PIXI Smart mini tripod is an easy gift recommendation. It’s small, strong, and includes a universal phone clamp right in the box. The rotatable ball head allows for precise positioning, and the whole thing folds down small enough to slip in a handbag. For those that need more height, go bigger, but if portability is the priority, give the PIXI a look.
Sure, most phones have a harsh little LED flash you can turn on to give your videos a horror movie aesthetic, but if you’re looking to add light that’s more naturalistic and flattering, consider the Godox LEDM32 smartphone mini light. It clips right onto your phone and actually contains 32 LEDs behind a diffusing panel to give a much softer output than your built-in phone light. Once again, compactness is key here, with the LEDM32 weighing only 1.1 oz. The brightness can be adjusted, and there’s a built-in battery that charges via the micro-USB port.
External smartphone SSDs are a must-have if you’re recording long high-quality clips that quickly fill up a phone’s internal storage. The SanDisk Creator Phone SSD is a great option, as it attaches directly to the back of your phone via MagSafe, has a durable silicone shell that gives it drop protection up to 9.8’, and has the blazing fast transfer speeds you’d expect from a video-focused SSD. Use it with iPhones or Androids to easily capture hours of video, be it a long international trip, a contentious gymnastics competition, or a multi-day hike. No more dreaded “Storage Full” notifications.
If you’re trying to get great audio but you or your subjects tend to wander away from the phone, consider the wireless DJI Mic Mini system. As far as wireless mics go, it’s as easy as it gets, simply plug the receiver into your phone and turn on the transmitter (or transmitters). You have to remember to charge them and carry them around, so it’s maybe not a go-to gift for grandma and grandpa, but for others, it can seriously step-up the quality of smartphone video, especially when cooking, playing games, or doing other activities that require people to be further away from their phone while recording.
With the audio upgraded, why not also take your video to the next level? Hohem’s iSteady M7 smartphone gimbal includes AI-assisted tracking that can follow you while you move around a space. Think similar situations to the Mic Mini where you’re more than a couple feet away from your phone. Whether it’s playing with a grandchild or showing off new dance moves, the iSteady will keep the action in frame. You can also hold the gimbal yourself for buttery smooth moving and walking shots thanks to the 3-axis stabilization. There might be a small learning curve at first, but the iSteady is a great way for you or a loved one to push the possibilities of smartphone video.
If you’d like to learn more about capturing great video with your phone, check out our other guides and articles on the B&H Explora page!
