Tag Archives: gimbal

DJI RS 5 First Look: The New Sweet‑Spot Gimbal For Solo Creators And Mirrorless Rigs

Posted on by

DJI’s gimbal lineup has always operated on a clear hierarchy. At the bottom, the Osmo Mobile series keeps smartphone creators happy with pocket-friendly stabilization. At the top, the RS 4 Pro hauls cinema camera rigs with carbon fiber arms and 4.5kg payload capacity. The middle ground, though, has been trickier to nail down. Too light and you’re pushing mirrorless setups to their limits. Too heavy and solo operators end up fatigued halfway through a wedding shoot. The RS 5 arrives as DJI’s latest attempt to find that sweet spot, and judging by the spec sheet, they might have actually figured it out this time.

Weighing 1.46kg with a 3kg payload capacity, the RS 5 matches the physical footprint of the standard RS 4 while claiming a 50% boost in peak motor torque and 14 hours of runtime on the standard battery. More interesting is what DJI has prioritized here: the RS Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module (borrowed from the RS 4 Mini’s debut), an Electronic Briefcase Handle for high and low angles, and significantly faster charging that gets you back to work in an hour instead of waiting around for half a day. This isn’t about raw specs anymore. It’s about keeping solo commercial videographers moving efficiently through shoots without needing a full crew or endless battery swaps.

Designer: DJI

It’s one thing to hold a 3kg payload steady during a slow pan, but chasing a subject through a crowded event is a different beast entirely. That 50% peak motor torque improvement is where the RS 5 starts to justify its existence, especially when paired with their fifth-generation stabilization algorithm. This is the kind of power that prevents micro-jitters when you’re running or making sudden direction changes. It also means the native vertical switch, which lets you flip to a 9:16 aspect ratio in seconds, doesn’t come with a performance penalty. That’s a huge deal for anyone delivering social content alongside traditional horizontal video, as you’re not compromising stability just to get the shot framed for TikTok.

All that stabilization doesn’t mean much if your subject keeps drifting out of frame while you’re focused on your own footwork. The RS Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module, pulled from the RS 4 Mini and beefed up, handles the tracking with aplomb. It tracks more than just people; you can lock onto vehicles, pets, or any object you tap on the screen from up to 10 meters away. Even better, it can re-acquire a subject if they’re temporarily obscured, saving you from a ruined take. The fact that it attaches magnetically without needing extra adapters is a smart touch, acknowledging that setup time is a real currency for solo operators. It’s a clever bit of product strategy, bringing a killer entry-level feature up to the commercial tier where it’s arguably needed most.

The dirty secret of every solo videographer’s kit is a bag overflowing with batteries and a constant, low-grade anxiety about runtime. DJI seems to have finally gotten the message. The RS 5 hits a full charge in just one hour with a 65W PD charger, which is a massive quality-of-life improvement. The standard battery gives you 14 hours of juice, but the optional BG70 High-Capacity grip pushes that to a claimed 30 hours. Even if real-world use cuts that down significantly, it’s enough to get you through the longest wedding day without a panic. They’ve also expanded the Bluetooth shutter control to include Panasonic and Fujifilm cameras, a long-overdue nod to the fact that the camera world doesn’t just revolve around Sony, Canon, and Nikon.

You’re probably a good candidate for the RS 5 if you’re shooting paid work with mirrorless cameras and your current gimbal makes you want to throw it into a lake by hour three. Event videographers, wedding shooters, small production houses, anyone who’s working solo but needs results that look like a full crew showed up. If you’re hauling around a RED Komodo or a cinema rig that pushes past 3kg, skip this and go straight to the RS 4 Pro with its 4.5kg capacity and carbon fiber construction. On the flip side, if you’re still shooting with your phone or occasionally pulling out a compact camera for vlogs, the Osmo Mobile or Osmo Pocket lines will serve you better. Those devices are far more portable, cost a fraction of what the RS 5 demands, and honestly, DJI will probably refresh them in the coming months with similar intelligent tracking features trickling down from this generation. But if you’re already committed to proper camera gear and tired of fighting your equipment, this sits right where it needs to.

So this all sounds great, but it always comes down to the hole it leaves in your wallet. The standalone gimbal runs $671 (£485), which plants it firmly in that prosumer middle ground. The real conversation, though, is about the Combo kit at $856 (£619), which adds the tracking module and the electronic briefcase handle. For a working videographer, that’s the package that makes sense. You’re not just buying a stabilizer; you’re buying back time and reducing on-set frustration. It’s a tool built for the specific pressures of the one-person crew, and that focus is what makes it a compelling piece of hardware.

The post DJI RS 5 First Look: The New Sweet‑Spot Gimbal For Solo Creators And Mirrorless Rigs first appeared on Yanko Design.

First Look at HONOR’s Robot Phone at CES 2026: How is this real?!

Posted on by

Tucked away in a suite at the Encore Hotel lay perhaps the most interesting phone of all. No, not Samsung’s trifold, not even TCL’s NXTPaper phone, not some absurd rolling phone concept, nothing from Motorola. Away from the chaos of CES, in this room, on one table, lay a prototype of HONOR’s Robot Phone. Unlike the video we saw months back, this time, the phone was literally inches from us, showing exactly how HONOR managed to cram an entire 3-axis gimbal and a camera into a smartphone’s bump.

There were a few mandatory guidelines, though. Nobody could touch the phone, and this phone was just a prototype – a taste of the actual device that HONOR plans on revealing at Mobile World Congress. Even though the device wasn’t operational, or even switched on, just seeing a physical prototype was enough to get a VERY clear picture of what HONOR managed to build. Needless to say, it felt unbelievable just yesterday… but today, it was absolutely real. For what it’s worth, HONOR really did manage to engineer a camera and gimbal small enough to tuck itself away into a smartphone’s camera bump.

Designer: HONOR

It’s worth noting. The device isn’t a static model. The camera actually rotates, and goes right back into the phone’s bump. The mechanics work, but for now, they were just manual given that the phone was just a prototype. Physically, HONOR’s prototype is a working proof of concept, which is way more reassuring than a video which most people will assume is a bit of CGI. Knowing that fitting a gimbal into a phone is a pretty important milestone because now that HONOR’s proved at least the first step, it’s interesting to see how other tech companies will respond (if DJI makes a smartphone I will absolutely lose my mind).

The gimbal results in a fairly chunky camera bump, but the tradeoff is really small if you think about what you’re getting. A camera that can point anywhere, track subjects, respond to gestures, and work without a tripod or a gimbal. It’s autonomous in every aspect, which means for the first time in history, you don’t control the smartphone’s camera. It controls itself. And it can literally follow you around the room, turning probably anywhere up to 360° to do so. HONOR’s team mentioned that this would change content creation almost overnight, especially in its home market of China, which sees a massive number of livestreamers using fancy smartphone rigs to film video in realtime. Here, all you need is a phone and a surface to place it on.

The details are otherwise incredibly scarce. There’s no availability timeline, no pricing structure, not even anything on the camera’s quality or the phone’s battery life. For now, this proof-of-concept does two things, ushers in HONOR’s ‘Alpha’ era, with the company making great leaps in their new AI division (the phone has an Alpha logo on the back to mark this new era too)… and secondly, proves that electronic/optical image stabilization is probably dead when your phone literally packs a goshdarn 3-axis gimbal that can point anywhere and move on its own.

The post First Look at HONOR’s Robot Phone at CES 2026: How is this real?! first appeared on Yanko Design.

MagSafe phone stand concept adds hands-free face tracking for perfect framing

Posted on by

Video calls have become a staple of online communication today, whether it’s for meetings or even just personal one-on-one calls. Unfortunately, the devices we use for video calls haven’t caught up quickly with the trend, and we’re only recently seeing webcams with better sensors or phone stands with better angles. Even then, however, there is still some missing aspects to make these videos more engaging and natural.

This simple-looking phone stand tries to deliver that missing piece by making sure that the user’s face is always within the frame during those video calls. It isn’t a one-trick pony, though, and can keep your phone’s battery topped up or be an interesting piece of desk decor even when not in use.

Designer: Kunal Wagh

Webcams are admittedly getting more sophisticated, both in terms of hardware as well as software. While those integrated into laptop screen bezels are limited to simply upgrading their imaging sensors, external cameras are now sporting stabilizers and gimbals. There are also apps that do automatic focus, zooming, and framing. That’s all fine if you’re using your computer, but not if your smartphone is your device of choice.

Orbit is a design concept for a phone stand that brings those features to mobile devices. It’s practically a MagSafe-compatible charging stand with a unique, minimalist design that makes it look good even when not in use. It pretty much looks like a miniature trophy, with a dome-like shape on top held aloft by two thin arms.

Simply place the phone on the stand and go about your video call or even watch videos. Orbit will simply follow your face to make sure that you always have a clear view of the screen or that your face is always in frame. The concept doesn’t exactly explain the software that makes this possible, but it’s not that difficult to pull off given today’s technology.

Of course, it also functions as a charger to make sure your battery never goes empty, whether you’re on a call or not. Unlike a phone gimbal, Orbit’s simpler design makes it suitable for use almost anywhere, even when away from your desk, as long as you have a power source to keep that charger and internal motors running.

The post MagSafe phone stand concept adds hands-free face tracking for perfect framing first appeared on Yanko Design.

Forget the iPhone 16 Camera Control, this Gimbal Attachment gives any smartphone a DSLR experience

Posted on by

A shutter button, a built-in gimbal for landscape and portrait shooting, a zoom wheel, an integrated LED ring light, a tripod setting, and even an external battery pack to boost your phone’s battery. The Snappy offers way more for photography enthusiasts than the iPhone 16 does. It attaches onto any smartphone, giving you a bona fide DSLR-like experience, complete with an ergonomic grip. When you don’t need to shoot content, the Snappy pops right off, turning your handheld camera back into a daily driver smartphone.

Designer: Buddiesman

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $149 (40% Off) Hurry! Only 21 of 520 left. Raised over $101,000.

Just three weeks ago, Apple debuted the iPhone 16 line-up, adding one crucial new hardware feature to their phones – a Camera Control ‘button’. Designed to help intuitively capture photos without having to fiddle with on-screen controls, the capacitive button lets you perform a variety of actions from zooming, switching between presets, adjusting focal length, or even accessing other key camera features. With the Camera Control, Apple’s reinforced its idea that the smartphone is a great camera first, and then a good mobile device… the only problem is that great cameras are more than just fancy lenses and sensors. Enter the Snappy mobile grip, a device designed to transform the way we take photos on our phones. With its motorized gimbal providing single-axis stabilization, Snappy quickly becomes a trusted companion for anyone tired of blurry images or shaky videos. Unlike larger gimbals such as DJI’s Osmo, Snappy brings stabilization in a small, portable form—making it a solution that fits right into your pocket.

Designed by Buddiesman, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of photographic gear, Snappy’s centerpiece is its motorized, spring-loaded clamp that securely grips your smartphone. This clamp adjusts easily to accommodate a range of phone sizes, so you won’t have to worry about removing your phone case to make it fit. The ergonomic grip attached to the clamp gives the device a comfortable feel, while an articulated arm allows the phone to be rotated seamlessly between landscape and portrait modes with the flick of a thumbwheel. Powered by a brushless motor, this feature also gives the Snappy stabilizing gimbal-like abilities, ensuring your phone stays level, even during handheld video shoots.

Plug your phone in and it literally feels like a professional camera-mimicking rig for your phone. Use any phone you want with the Snappy and it gives you the added benefit of being able to intuitively capture content the way you would with a more pro-facing device like a DSLR or mirrorless camera. A shutter button on the top lets you easily take photos and record videos without fumbling to touch the screen or hit a volume button to take the shot (like you would with most smartphones). The grip feels instantaneously comfortable, allowing you to point and shoot with a single hand. Worried you’ll accidentally drop your phone? The Snappy has a built-in strap that lets you secure it to your hand too, so even the largest, heaviest of phones don’t put too much strain on that wrist of yours.

If there’s something a photographer hates more than phone cameras, it’s the flashlight on phone cameras. The flashlight is way too coarse, and no self-respecting photographer uses it unless absolutely necessary. To fix that, the Snappy comes with its own multi-LED built-in ring light. Located just beside the phone’s lenses (where you’d expect the MagSafe ring to line up), users can toggle between cool and warm light settings simply by tapping the touch-sensitive zone inside the ring, adjusting brightness to get the perfect shot regardless of the lighting conditions. This feature is perfect for low-light environments where smartphone cameras traditionally struggle.

For even greater flexibility, Snappy allows users to detach the grip from the main body, turning it into a wireless remote. With a range of up to 10 meters (33 feet), you can take photos and videos from a distance, offering a new level of creativity and control in framing your shots. With the remote detached (or even with the remote unit still on), the Snappy can be used as a tripod of sorts, propping your phone up so you don’t need to hold it in your hands. Perfect for using as a phone stand while reviewing the footage you’ve shot, or propping your phone up to take a remote video/photo while you stand away from your camera, this feature gives the Snappy one remarkable ability that neither phones nor DSLR cameras have, barring actually buying a tripod of course. And just in case you’re a tripod purist, the Snappy has a tripod mount too. Want to add accessories to your smartphone camera? The Snappy also includes a cold shoe mount for attaching additional peripherals like microphones or even external lights just in case the ring light on the device isn’t enough.

The Snappy relies on a built-in battery that powers this entire experience. Although the battery’s capacity (and use time) is a bit of a mystery, the folks at Buddiesman tout that the Snappy can transform into a power bank for your smartphone when you’re running low on juice. Just connect your phone to the Snappy’s charging port via a USB-C cable and it instantly begins recharging your phone, giving you the benefit of a gimbal that also enhances your phone’s battery life along with its camera capabilities.

Currently available on Kickstarter, early adopters can secure a Snappy with a pledge of $89, while the retail price is set to be $149 once it hits the market. The $89 kit includes the Snappy itself, although you can upgrade to a bundle that also includes an add-on tripod and an external light that mounts into the Snappy’s cold shoe adapter. With its combination of user-friendly design and professional-grade features, Snappy could very well bridge the gap between smartphones and traditional cameras, bringing the best of both worlds to your pocket. They say the best camera is the one that’s in your pocket. No matter whether it’s the Google Pixel, a Samsung Galaxy, or even older variants of the iPhone, the Snappy turns your phone’s camera into a makeshift pro-grade shooter that’s perfect for turning average photos and videos into polished content.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $149 (40% Off) Hurry! Only 21 of 520 left. Raised over $101,000.

The post Forget the iPhone 16 Camera Control, this Gimbal Attachment gives any smartphone a DSLR experience first appeared on Yanko Design.