Tired of shaky smartphone footage ruining your best shots?

You’ll want smooth, cinematic clips without hauling heavy gear.

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal is aimed at mobile filmmakers and content creators.

It promises pro-level steadiness without bulky rigs. It’s sold on that promise.

I personally field-tested the Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal and compared it with a couple of close rivals.

The differences showed up in real shooting situations.

If you’re a vlogger, wedding shooter, or indie filmmaker, you’ll get the most from it.

Its strong stabilization, long battery life, and creative modes pay off on shoots.

One clear trade-off is battery life when you use the optional fill light.

Crank that light and the runtime falls fast, so you’ll need to plan power.

In the field it felt like a pro tool that’s still easy to grab.

I’ll share a surprising tip for the Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal — keep reading.

Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal

Three-axis stabilization and powerful motors deliver ultra-smooth, cinematic smartphone footage. Intuitive controls, follow modes, and long battery life let creators capture professional pans, timelapses, and dynamic shots with studio-grade precision.

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The Numbers You Need

How It’s Built

In my testing the Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal’s grip stood out. The textured silicone feels good and keeps the gimbal from slipping during long shoots. Some versions even have a translucent textured look on the axis arms that actually looks cool and hides scuffs.

The control panel is clean and easy to use. I found the buttons and mode switch simple to learn, so you can change modes without digging into the app. For beginners that means less fumbling and more shooting.

The phone clamp is solid and adjusts to most phones, and there are locks on the axes to keep everything safe when you’re tossing it in a bag. It comes with a wrist strap, cable, and a soft bag, and combos add a tripod or diffuser. I liked the way the locks and folding design make travel painless.

One thing that could be better is the weight; after using it for a while I noticed it’s a bit heavier than ultra-light pocket options, so long handheld walks get tiring. You may also want to remove thick cases when balancing. Still, the build feels tough and reliable, which is reassuring for real shoots.

In Your Hands

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal’s motors feel noticeably robust, smoothing out fast pans and complex camera moves so handheld footage reads like deliberate cinema. In real shoots I’ve seen minimal jitters even when sprinting between setups, and footage retains natural motion without the overly damped look gimbals sometimes produce. Other shooters report the same — confidence to push the rig into dynamic moves.

The gimbal’s continuous pan capability opens up creative tricks — vortex spins and sweeping reveals work reliably without awkward arm collisions. Balancing is straightforward across a wide range of phones; getting to a shoot-ready state is fast enough that you actually end up shooting more. That ease of setup makes it practical for run-and-gun days as well as planned camera moves.

Battery life supports extended shooting sessions, though powering the optional fill light at high output noticeably shortens the window between charges. Fast recharge behavior keeps downtime to a minimum, and the onboard phone-charging function is a real lifesaver on long days. In practice you learn to manage light output and power sharing to match your shoot rhythm.

The physical controls — a tactile zoom/focus wheel and logically placed mode button — let you change shots on the fly without digging into an app. The magnetic fill light is genuinely useful in low light, but it’s worth being mindful of its impact on overall runtime.

The Good and Bad

• Powerful stabilization with wide mechanical movement range
• Long battery life for extended shooting sessions
• Quick mode switching via dedicated button
• Optional magnetic LED fill light and power bank capability

• Battery runtime drops significantly when fill light used at max brightness
• Slightly heavier than some ultra-compact competitors

Ideal Buyer

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal is aimed at mobile filmmakers and content creators who demand professional-grade stabilization for smartphone video. If you shoot fast-moving scenes, run-and-gun interviews, or cinematic B-roll, its strong motors and wide mechanical range keep footage smooth. Its payload capacity and optional accessories also make it a fit for heavier phones and more ambitious setups, while app integration and power-bank charging broaden on-set flexibility.

This gimbal suits shooters who need long run times and minimal downtime between takes. With up to 12 hours of normal use and fast USB-C charging, you can cover extended shoots and still top up between locations without long waits. Keep in mind the magnetic fill light cuts runtime dramatically at full brightness, but the built-in USB output lets you charge a phone during recording to stretch a session.

Creators chasing creative moves — vortex spins, dolly-zoom effects, and limitless pan shots — will appreciate the Smooth 5’s mechanical freedom, dedicated mode button, and ability to handle narrative or run-and-gun work. The tactile joystick, zoom/focus wheel, and quick mode switching mean you can work without diving into an app mid-shot. It’s slightly heavier than pocket gimbals, but the tradeoff favors control and professional results.

Better Alternatives?

We’ve already gone through the Zhiyun Smooth 5 and what makes it a strong choice for smartphone filmmakers — the big motors, long battery life, and those creative modes that let you pull off pro-looking moves. It’s a solid all-around gimbal when you need power and runtime for long shoots.

But not every shooter needs that exact mix. Below are a few alternatives I’ve used in the field that solve different problems: more portability, better carry and protection, or a lighter, cheaper stabilizer. I’ll point out what each one does better and where it falls short compared to the Smooth 5, and who I’d recommend each for.

Alternative 1:

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal

Foldable, pocket-friendly stabilizer with magnetic phone attachment, Active tracking, and one-handed operation for effortless vlogging. Built-in tripod, gesture control, and creative shooting modes streamline on-the-go content creation.

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I’ve used the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on several trips where I wanted to travel light. It folds up small, the magnetic phone mount makes swapping phones quick, and the one-handed controls really speed up vlogging and run-and-gun shooting. For walking shots and day-to-day content it gives very smooth results and the DJI app tracking is easy to rely on.

Compared with the Smooth 5, the Osmo Mobile 6 is easier to carry and quicker to set up, but it doesn’t feel as brute-force strong when you push it — like fast panning while running or using heavier phone rigs. The Smooth 5’s motors handle heavier phones and more aggressive moves with less drama. Also, the Smooth 5 gives you longer battery life and extras like power-bank charging that the Osmo lacks.

If you’re a vlogger, solo creator, or travel shooter who values light weight and speed over raw motor power, the Osmo Mobile 6 is a great pick. It’s the one I grab when I need a pocket-friendly stabilizer that’s fast to use, not when I need the most muscle for heavy phones or all-day shoots.

Alternative 2:

PGYTECH Gimbal Bag

Custom-molded protective case with padded compartments and water-resistant fabric keeps stabilizers and accessories organized and safe. Durable zippers, adjustable dividers, and a comfortable shoulder strap for travel-ready convenience.

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The PGYTECH gimbal bag isn’t a gimbal, it’s the kind of case I use when I’m packing the Smooth 5 for travel. It keeps the gimbal, tripod, cables, and small accessories organized and protected. The padding and adjustable dividers mean I can toss in a small light, a mic, and a couple of phones without things banging together.

Obviously, it doesn’t replace the Smooth 5’s stabilization or battery, and it does add a bit of bulk when you carry it. I’ve had to choose between lighter carry and full protection — the bag wins if you want peace of mind during flights or long trips, but it’s not for a quick pocket setup.

Buy this if you travel with gear and want a safe, tidy way to carry your Smooth 5 (or other gimbals). It’s for the shooter who values gear protection and quick access to accessories more than squeezing out the lightest possible carry setup.

Alternative 3:

FeiyuTech Smartphone Gimbal

Lightweight smartphone stabilizer offering smooth 3-axis movement, responsive controls, and multiple follow modes. Fast charging, creative timelapse features, and ergonomic grip make it ideal for vloggers and mobile filmmakers.

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I’ve tested a few FeiyuTech gimbals and found them pleasantly light and simple to use. They smooth out handheld shake well for everyday shooting, charge quickly, and the app-driven timelapse and follow modes are useful for creative stuff without a steep learning curve. For short shoots and quick social clips they’re very handy.

Compared to the Smooth 5, FeiyuTech models usually feel a bit less heavy-duty. The motors aren’t as strong with larger phones or when you push for very fast moves, and the balance can feel less forgiving if you add accessories. The Smooth 5 still wins for longer shoots, heavy setups, and more demanding camera moves.

Pick a FeiyuTech gimbal if you want a lower-cost, lighter stabilizer for everyday vlogs, quick trips, or if you’re new to gimbals. It’s the one I reach for when I don’t need the extra muscle or battery of the Smooth 5 and prefer something simple, light, and fast to charge.

What People Ask Most

Conclusion

The Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal is a no-nonsense tool for mobile filmmakers who want pro-grade stabilization and versatility. Its motor performance and intuitive controls make it easy to nail complex moves and creative modes without wrestling the hardware, and the learning curve is minimal. Add-ons like the magnetic fill light, app integration, and phone-charging ability broaden its practical use on real shoots where time and reliability matter.

Those advantages come with sensible trade-offs: the fill light significantly shortens usable shooting time and the unit carries a bit more heft than ultra-compact rivals. If your priority is pocketable travel shooting or all-day, light-only operation, a lighter competitor will feel more comfortable and easier to stow. For most creators who need reliability and creative control, those compromises are forgivable and often worth it.

In short, I recommend the Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal to content creators who demand stable, flexible performance and real-world convenience. It’s a workhorse that favors capability over minimalist portability and rewards careful users with consistently usable results and fewer reshoots. If you value pro-level features and practical extras over absolute lightness, this is a strong, worthwhile choice and an easy one to justify.

Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal

Three-axis stabilization and powerful motors deliver ultra-smooth, cinematic smartphone footage. Intuitive controls, follow modes, and long battery life let creators capture professional pans, timelapses, and dynamic shots with studio-grade precision.

Check Price