Just sharing my experience: I went through this last year when I started shooting with the iPhone+13+128GB&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iPhone 13 128GB. Honestly, those other suggestions are great, but as someone who’s been vlogging for ages, I found a few other gems that handled that camera bump way better than I expected!

1. Insta360 Flow AI-Powered Smartphone Stabilizer vs DJI Osmo Mobile 6: I actually switched to the Flow because the tracking is just NEXT LEVEL for walking shots. Plus, it has a built-in tripod which is amazing for quick b-roll. The Osmo 6 is cool, but the Flow felt more solid with the iPhone+weight+distribution&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iPhone weight distribution IMO.

2. Hohem iSteady M6 Kit: This was a total sleeper hit for me. It actually has a much higher payload capacity (up to 400g!) than most budget gimbals, so it literally didn't care about the lens weight at all. Plus, the AI sensor is great if you're shooting solo.

So yeah, I've spent way too much money testing these lol but the Insta360 Flow basically lives in my bag now cuz it's so fast to set up... hope that helps!

Honestly, I'd go with the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 for your iPhone 13. It's basically the industry standard for a reason... it handles the weight way better than the Zhiyun Smooth 5 without needing counterweights, which is a HUGE plus since that camera bump is basically a brick lol. The DJI motors are super strong so you wont get that annoying vibration when you're doing walking shots. Plus, the DJI Mimo app is literally so much more stable than the ZY Cami software. It fits your sub-$150 budget perfectly too. Gl!

Honestly, after using my iPhone 13 for over a year now for daily vlogging, I have learned that motor strength is way more important than fancy software. If you want something that realy lasts and handles that huge camera bump without complaining, just go with Hohem. You can't go wrong with their gear honestly. I have had one of their stabilizers for a long time and the motors are still silent, even after a bunch of outdoor shoots in the heat and dust. Another brand that gets it right for the long haul is Moza. Their builds feel so much more rugged and less like a plastic toy compared to what everyone else is using. Just get any of the newer options from either of those brands. They usually have a much higher weight capacity which is exactly what you need for the 13 so the motors dont get stressed during walking shots. A few things I have noticed after owning these for a while:

• Always balance it manually as much as possible before turning it on to save the battery life.
• Dont worry about the camera bump hitting the arm if the brand has strong enough motors to offset the center of gravity.
• Check for firmware updates every few months because it realy helps with those micro-jitters in cinematic b-roll. Tbh, focus on the hardware durability and payload over the app features and you will be way happier in six months.

> Since the iPhone 13 has a pretty hefty camera bump, I’m worried about balancing issues or the motors getting blocked. Honestly its ridiculous that we even have to worry about this. I've had so many issues with this exact thing... the weight distribution on these newer iPhones is a nightmare and most of these companies just dont care. It drives me crazy that you spend over a hundred bucks and the thing still struggles with a basic camera bump. Its such a scam how they keep releasing new models that are basically the same plastic junk with a different sticker. Every time I think I found a solid one, the motor starts whining after a week because of the weight. Quality has gone totally downhill lately while prices just keep climbing. Just super disappointing when you're trying to stay on a budget but everything under 150 feels like a toy that wasnt even tested with a real phone. Companies are just lazy now tho...

Regarding what #7 said about "> Since the iPhone 13 has a pretty hefty camera bump, I’m worried about balancing issues," I honestly think that is the most important point here. People really underestimate how much that offset weight ruins the longevity of these devices. You might want to consider that even with strong motors, if you are constantly pushing the limits, the battery life is gonna tank and you will probably get micro-jitters in your footage anyway. I would suggest being really careful with the "stronger is better" mentality because it doesnt always mean smoother results. Before you pull the trigger on anything tho, I have a couple questions to make sure you dont waste your cash. Are you planning on using a heavy case or any clip-on filters with the phone? Also, do you strictly need it to be pocketable for travel, or is a larger, more stable frame okay for your b-roll? Knowing that would help narrow things down without risking your phone or the gimbal motors.

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100% agree

Bump - same question here