MOZA Nano SE – The Selfie Tripod Gimbal – Unboxing, Specs, Review

What happens when you cross-breed a 3-axis smartphone gimbal with a regular selfie stick tripod?

You get a selfie stick tripod gimbal!

https://youtu.be/-IJkNFYTnPQ

That’s what the MOZA Nano SE is.

We get the best of both worlds…

…especially for vloggers that need that extension rod for the wide shot and also a gimbal for the stabilization.

BUT WAIT!!!

You must know that the MOZA Nano SE is NOT a full gimbal and cannot do what a regular gimbal can do!

Like what? Let me explain…

First, what are the main features of the MOZA Nano SE, and what comes with it?

What’s in the box?

In the box, there is the Nano SE and the USBC-to-USB charging cable.
There is no AC power adaptor… just like the iPhone 12 series.
There is a tiny user manual that leads us to the full manual online.

Main Features

Telescopic rod – extendable up to 690mm (about 27 inches)
Built-in Tripod stand – so we don’t need to carry another one
Detachable remote control – to control the gimbal AND the phone wirelessly via Bluetooth from a distance up to 10m (about 33 feet)
Gimbal – to keep your shots steady and level with the ground while walking
Colors – Currently, there are 2 colors, black or green… I have the green one
Foldable – We can fold it into a compact size (173mm) that fits into a pocket
Lightweight – It weighs only 250g (about 0.55lb)

If it is so light, can it carry those large-screen heavy phones?

Payload Capacity

The Nano SE can carry phones from 140g up to 280g.
So yes, it can hold the iPhone 12 Pro Max (226g) or the Poco X3 (225g) or the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (208g).
What about small phones below 140g? It works with my iPhone 6 (129g).

If it can carry heavy phones, how long is the battery life?

Battery Life

There is a 950mAH rechargeable battery inside.
On paper, the battery life is 10 hours and the charging time is 2.5 hours.
The battery is not removable and is charged via a USB-C port.

When I showed this gimbal to my class, the younger students asked “Can it shoot vertical?”

Shooting Vertical

Just press the top button on the control panel once to switch to vertical instantly.
Press again to switch back to horizontal landscape orientation.
It stays vertical even when I hold the handle 90°.

Because of the gimbal, the phone is always level with the ground. What if I want it to follow my handle rotation.

Lock and Follow Mode

By default, the Nano SE is in Lock mode… The phone remains level and does not follow the handle rotation.
Press the top button twice to change it to Follow mode… The phone now follows the handle rotation.
When you make a drastic hand movement, the gimbal will respond slowly… hence keeping your shots smooth.

It looks like the MOZA Nano SE has only one axis instead of three. So can it really stabilize my video shots?

Stabilization Test

I will be recording a walking test and link the result here.
I will also be recording running test in both horizontal and vertical orientation.
This is not a a full 3-axis gimbal… so do not expect good results.

What other modes does it have?

Modes with Native Camera

Your phone’s native camera may be better than any third-party camera app.
The Nano SE works with the native camera when Bluetooth is connected.
Functions available: record button, vertical and landscape toggle, lock mode, and follow mode.

If we want to do more effects, we need to install the MOZA Genie app.

Do More with MOZA Genie app

Switch between front and rear camera, zoom in and out, use hand gestures to start and stop recording.
Manually adjust the focus, exposure, and white balance just like a pro camera.
Then there is Magic Mode, Double Exposure, Light Painting, Slow Motion, Timelapse, and more.

Ok, now tell me what it can’t do.

The Cons

Without the full gimbal head, it can’t do object tracking, and motion timelapse.
NANO SE is not waterproof. So do not touch it with wet hands. Clean it with a soft dry cloth.
I wish I can tilt the head forward and pan it sideways to shoot high-angle product shots.

Once again, the Nano SE is not a full 3-axis smartphone camera gimbal.

Who is it for

It is great for vloggers who record a lot selfies of themselves most of the time.

If you like what I have described so far, go to the link below to get your own set.

If you have already gotten your own set, then see the next post where I document how to use the MOZA Nano SE including setting it up and using the various modes.

Get MOZA Nano SE ⏩ ORDER YOURS TODAY

Video coming soon… https://youtube.com/videolane

Feel free to leave a comment or question.

Also, feel free to share this post with your friends.

See you in the next one.