As a passionate landscape photographer, I often stress that a phone will never completely replace a professional camera. However, in an age where social media dominates and more photos and videos are shot on personal phones than ever before, it’s important to recognize the innovations that allow phone users to capture incredible shots and photos. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is one such innovation worth mentioning.

Ten years ago, the idea of ​​content creators making money from daily content created entirely on their phones would have been laughable. Phone technology has come a long way since the days of one-megapixel cameras that produced grainy images. Today, phone capabilities can often rival those of traditional cameras, especially for social media content.

For video recording on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where videos are typically short, stable, high-quality footage is essential. Modern phones like the iPhone 15 offer excellent video quality and image stabilization, but sometimes they need extra support to produce the best results.

The Smooth 5S AI is more than just a stabilizing gimbal; it has features that help phone users enhance their content. One standout feature is the screw-on AI tracker, which turns your phone into a tracking device and allows it to continuously track subjects in the frame. This is especially useful for users of older phones who want to improve their video creation capabilities. Another notable addition is the screw-on light, which enables low-light shooting. The additional light comes with four different color filters, allowing users to adjust the color of their light to suit different scenes. The built-in light offers 680 lumens of brightness and can be positioned for either forward-facing or selfie shots, offering versatility in different shooting scenarios.

For many users who find traditional gimbals for mirrorless or DSLR cameras cumbersome, the Smooth 5S AI offers a lightweight alternative. It’s compatible with your phone, so it’s significantly lighter and easier to handle. The gimbal features familiar controls, including a dedicated focus and zoom button for quick adjustments and the ability to seamlessly switch between multiple phone cameras. It also has a 360-degree rotation feature, giving filmmakers more creative freedom.

Solo filmmakers will appreciate the gesture controls that allow them to start and stop recording without touching the phone. While the gesture controls to start the tracker work reliably most of the time, there may be interruptions when stopping. This feature simplifies the content creation process and makes it more efficient. Additionally, saving footage directly to your device makes it easier to upload to social media platforms quickly.

To make the most of the gimbal’s features, users need to download the ZY Cami app from the App Store or Google Play. The app offers more control than the native phone camera app and allows for live streaming and perfect panoramic photography. However, registration is required, which some users may find cumbersome. For those who want even more advanced features, an additional app called StaCam is available that offers pro features for €20. However, multiple apps can add complexity for users with multiple products.

Using the Smooth 5S AI with my iPhone was much easier than using its larger counterparts like the Weebill 3S/3E. The lighter weight and built-in AI controls resulted in much improved video quality. The gimbal features a 5D button for multi-directional movement, speed control settings, a dedicated record button, and various modes like lock, follow, POV, and vortex. It’s easy to set up and balance thanks to the auto calibration tool. Additionally, the battery life is impressive, lasting up to 26 hours on a single charge. The gimbal uses PD charging via USB-C and can also charge your phone via a dedicated USB-C port, offering a load capacity of up to 300g.

For content creators looking to enhance their videos with innovative controls and improved stabilization, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is a strong candidate. It comes with a well-designed ergonomic carrying case that keeps all the components safe and organized.

Per

• Lightweight and easy to handle compared to traditional gimbals.
• Integrated AI tracker for continuous subject tracking.
• Screw-on light for shooting in low light with four color filters.
• Gesture control for hands-free shooting.
• Seamlessly switch between multiple phone cameras.
• 360 degree rotation capability.
• Easy setup and balance with automatic calibration.
• Dedicated focus and zoom buttons for quick adjustments.
• Impressive battery life of 26 hours.
• Uses PD charging via USB-C and can charge your phone.
• Live streaming and panoramic photography features via ZY Cami app.
• Load capacity up to 300g.
• Integrated light with 680 lumens brightness.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages:

• Requires downloading and registering the ZY Cami app.
• The app registration process can be cumbersome.
• Additional app (StaCam) for pro features costs 20 €.
• The gesture control to stop tracking is temporary.
• Does not fold, making it less portable and does not fit in a pocket.

The addition of the LIDAR and light being magnetically connected is nice, but I’ve found that they can sometimes come loose and that could be a game changer when it comes to users who have to be constantly on the go and when you need the sensor or light, it might have been dropped in your pocket or worse, lost. I think a good improvement would be to incorporate this in the future.

In conclusion, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is a versatile and powerful tool for anyone looking to improve their smartphone filmmaking skills. Its features and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any content creator’s toolkit. I have captured some video footage of this gimbal in action, which you can see in the video linked above, which will give you an idea of ​​how easy it is to use and the end results that can be achieved. Will I switch to this for my video content? Possibly yes, if I need a run-and-gun scenario, and if I need to improve my smartphone footage by adding the many features that this gimbal offers. If you are someone who uses their smartphone for content creation, then this gimbal will meet many of your needs. Will it meet all of them? Possibly yes, and possibly not, but I am not sure if it lacks features that others on the market offer. Perhaps you can let me know in the comments below.