Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI review: the smartphone stabilizer that always follows
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: Two-minute review
Smartphone stabilizers, which use self-leveling gimbals to keep the mounted phone smooth, stable and shake-free when shooting video, have become an important part of many content creators’ toolkits. So there are now dozens of options for anyone looking to turn their smartphone into a cut-price Steadicam, and Zhiyun has as much experience in this area as any competing manufacturer.
Smooth 5S AI is Zhiyun’s current flagship mobile phone stabilizer, directly competing with mobile phone stabilizers such as Zhiyun. Insta360 Flow Professional Edition and DJI Osmo 6. As the name suggests, it’s an upgraded version of the Smooth 5, with a very similar design but with a few improvements – most notably the AI-driven tracking module, which I think is its most attractive selling point.
I’ll explain why shortly, but in terms of overall design, I found the Smooth 5S AI to be very impressive. It’s made from lightweight yet sturdy black plastic and has a professional look that shows it’s designed for serious creative work. The texture of the handle aids grip, and I’m pleased with the control layout that puts plenty of buttons and dials within easy, comfortable reach when I hold it in my hand. While the tripod attachment allows the gimbal to stand on a flat surface, there’s no extension rod to increase its length (many competing stabilizers have such things), making it less useful for selfie vlogging.
The Smooth 5S AI’s gimbal arm locks into place when not in use. I secretly wish it folded up like the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI OM 6 (both of which are close to pocket-sized when not in use), but Zhiyun will undoubtedly consider the Smooth 5S AI a larger, more sophisticated gimbal that offers Greater functionality. The range of movement and stability are better than similar products from these competitors (note: Zhiyun also offers a smaller folding stabilizer, the Cinepeer CQ5, for those who need something more portable than the Smooth 5S AI).
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To use the stabilizer, place your phone within the “jaws” of the gripper mechanism; it’s firmly secured, but installation and removal are faster and easier using the magnetic clamp method used by DJI and Insta360 stabilizers. The Smooth 5S AI’s clip can accommodate phones up to 10mm thick and weighing up to 300 grams, and can be manually rotated 90 degrees to switch between shooting portrait and landscape content. Once the phone is in place, some balancing of the gimbal’s roll axis arms is required to improve stability, but it only takes a few seconds.
After the gimbal is turned on, it will automatically balance to keep the phone level with the horizon; it can also connect to the phone via Bluetooth, provided it has been paired before. If you feel the level is slightly off, you can adjust manually using the ZY Cami companion app (more on that later) or ask the app to recalibrate automatically. I found that I did need to manually adjust it to get a satisfactory level, but once it was set up correctly I never needed to touch it again.
To a certain extent, stabilization works very well. The three-axis gimbal successfully kept my iPhone 13 level and smoothly followed my movements, but if I tilted the handle more than 40 degrees or so in either direction, the gimbal suddenly gave up and the phone tilted. This isn’t a big deal as long as you’re aware of it, but I wish the stability was more robust.
There are several stabilization modes to choose from. I generally find Pan Follow, which follows your movements while preventing the phone from tilting up and down, most useful for standard vlogs or B-roll content, but other users may prefer Point Of View or Swirl modes.
Gimbal movement can also be manually adjusted using the onboard joystick controls, while two taps on the trigger on the front of the handle reset it to its standard position; three taps flip the phone to the opposite orientation. Other notable controls include an on/off button for the useful front-facing LED fill light and a thick wheel that can be used to adjust the camera’s zoom and gimbal tilt.
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App-agnostic tracking is what really sets the Smooth 5S AI apart from the competition. Thanks to a small magnetic “AI” module with a built-in camera that sits on the clip and can face or face away from the user, the gimbal is able to track faces while using any app. While some rival models, like the DJI OM 6, will only track people when using their own companion app, the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit-enabled tracking means it can be tracked while using the native iPhone camera app (as well as many third-party app), but the Smooth 5S AI’s tracking is hardware-based, meaning it will work with any phone or camera app around it.
Of course, this is great for anyone willing to use a third-party app, but I would like to caution that the tracking when using the ZY Cami app is significantly smoother and more responsive than when using the AI ​​module. sensitive. With the latter, the gimbal movement is more jerky and delayed, which does take away from the appeal of the AI ​​module somewhat (interestingly, this is also the case with the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit tracking and its companion app tracking).
The AI ​​module supports gesture control: hit the “OK” gesture to start tracking (the green light turns on to indicate you have been locked), raise your palm to stop tracking, and use the “victory” gesture to start and stop recording. In my experience these work well.
The ZY Cami app can be used to shoot videos and photos, offering a variety of special shooting modes such as panorama, mobile zoom and slow motion. It also allows you to adjust image quality, add beauty filters, adjust gimbal settings, share content via social media, and more. I found it to be a decent enough camera app, and using it isn’t a huge disadvantage compared to the iPhone’s built-in camera app.
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Finally, a quick word on battery life. Impressively, Zhiyun claims seven hours of use with the AI ​​tracker and fill light turned on—and my real-world testing showed that figure to be accurate. You can also use the Smooth 5S AI as a power bank, using the second USB-C port on the gimbal arm to charge your phone while it’s mounted.
While I find simpler, more compact products like the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI Osmo Mobile 6 more attractive in terms of usability and portability, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is certainly an impressive alternative with a solid Stability, and through its AI tracking module, can provide better performance. Built-in topic tracking is better than any competitor.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: price and availability
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI costs $249 / £169 / AU$309 and is available now. Keep an eye out for price drops as we do see this gimbal on sale from time to time. You can view live prices at the link above.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: Specifications
| aspect: | 311 x 168 x 52 mm (folded) |
| weight: | 575g |
| Weight (with AI tracker and tripod): | 648 grams |
| Compatible mobile phone weight: | 150 to 300 grams |
| Compatible mobile phone thickness: | Below 10 mm |
| Compatible mobile phone width: | 50 to 90 mm |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C |
| Battery life: | about 7 hours |
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: Can also be considered
Should I buy Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI?
Buy it if…
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How I tested the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI
- Used for one week
- Tested with iPhone 13
- For behind-the-scenes footage and vlogs
I spent a week using the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI in and around my home, using it to record footage on the move and while sitting on a table using a tripod. I tested with my Apple iPhone 13 and a variety of camera apps, including Zhiyun’s own ZY Cami and the iPhone’s native camera app, and recorded b-roll and vlog style using the phone’s front and rear cameras video.
First review time: November 2024
