The ZhiYun Smooth 4 and the Smove Mobile. What are the differences? Which smartphone stabilizer is better?
ZhiYun Smooth 4 ➡ https://amzn.to/2z7AdAF
Smove Mobile ➡ https://videolane.com/smovemobile/
(There is another ➡ OSMO MOBILE 2, but that will be later)
I have two of them in my hands. Let me tell you the straight answer.
The Smooth 4 is for the serious filmmaker and the Smove Mobile is more for the selfie vlogger.
Which one is for you?
To help you decide, let me compare the features and show you the differences.
But first please note that both stabilizers do very well using any camera app.
Each brand has got their own downloadable app that will make them more powerful.
I am going to break the comparison into 2 parts. One part without the app and the other with the apps.
Smove Mobile Full Review | The Extendable Smartphone Stabilizer
ZhiYun Smooth 4 Full Review | Made for Mobile Filmmakers
Using the Stabilizers Without the Apps
As I mentioned, both stabilizers do very well using any camera app.
So let’s take a look at these 16 feature comparisons.
SIZE – On the first look, the Smooth 4 looks taller by 2cm. But wait, the Smove Mobile can extend some more. Let’s measure.
WEIGHT – When I pick them up, they both weigh almost the same. Let’s measure.
TRIPOD MOUNT – Both have the 1/4-inch thread hole for mounting on standard tripods.
LOAD CAPACITY – Both can carry phones up to 210 grams.
BATTERY POWER – When you power on the sticks, the Smooth 4 shows 4 blue battery level status bars, while the Smove Mobile shows green when the battery is good and red when the battery is low.
PHONE CHARGING – Both act like the power bank and can charge your phone on the go. The Smove Mobile has the cable for you, You have to borrow one for the Smooth 4.
GIMBAL CHARGING – WARNING! Still in the subject of power charging. Beware not to charge your gimbal using the micro-USB port for the phone (or your device will blow up). There is another port. The Smooth 4 has the USB-C and the Smove Mobile has the micro-USB. These are for charging the gimbal.
PAN FOLLOW MODE – Both starts with the default pan follow mode. It means the phone follows the handle. On the Smooth 4, the Mode Switch must be in PF. On the Smove Mobile, press the Function Button once, if it is not in Pan Follow mode.
LOCK MODE – On the Smooth 4, slide the Mode Switch to L. On the Smove Mobile, hold the trigger. The Lock mode locks the phone to face one direction all the time no matter where you move.
FOLLOW MODE – On the Smooth 4, press and hold the follow button. On the Smove Mobile, press the function button twice. The phone stays with the handle like there is no pan-tilt head.
PHONE-GO MODE – Only available on Smooth 4. Press and hold the Phone-go button. It simply speeds up it’s reaction to your change in movement.
JOYSTICK – Only available on Smove Mobile
LEFT-HAND MODE – Only available on Smove Mobile
VERTICAL/PORTRAIT MODE – Only available on Smove Mobile
ROTATION – The Smooth 4 can pan up to 300 degrees and tilt up to 240 degrees. The Smove Mobile can do 320 degrees on both the pan and tilt axis.
CONTROL BUTTONS – That’s a big difference. Lots of buttons the on Smooth 4 and minimalist style on the Smove Mobile. That brings us to the next section.
Using the Stabilizers With the Apps
The stabilizers become more powerful when used with their apps.
This will be the topic for the next post. We will be using the control buttons.
- Smooth 4 vs Smove Mobile (with the App)
- Apps: ZY Play vs Smove Mobile
- Control Buttons: Complicated vs Simple to use interface
- Wireless Control without touching the screen
- Menu selection on front wheel and button.
- Focus Pull and Zoom
- Vertigo Shoot
- Motion timelapse
- Face Tracking
- Object Tracking
Which stabilizer is for you? Please share in the comment.
ZhiYun Smooth 4 ➡ https://amzn.to/2z7AdAF
Smove Mobile ➡ https://videolane.com/smovemobile/
(There is another ➡ OSMO MOBILE 2, but that will be later)
Adrian Lee
VIDEOLANE.COM
PS: Join me to learn more about my experience with YouTube, Vlogging, and Live Video Streaming! Register for the upcoming 2-Day Camera Videography and Video Editing Course for BEGINNERS [in Singapore]… https://videolane.com/courses/basic-videography/
PPS:
ABOUT THE SMOOTH 4
Everything you wanted to know about the Zhiyun Smooth 4.
- Top 10 Requests: 1. Review, 2. Price, 3. Manual, 4. Firmware, 5. Tutorial, 6. Android, 7. Case, 8. Weight Limit, 9. vs Smooth Q, 10. vs OSMO mobile 2
- A to Z
- A – azon, Accessories, Android App / Reviews / Problems / Compatibility / Issues / Update, App, Active Tracking, Autofocus
- B – Battery Life, Buy Online, Black vs White, Bag, Bluetooth, Balance
- C – Carrying Case, Calibration, Charging, Charge Phone, Compatibility, Compatible Phones, Comparison, Counterweight, Counterbalance, Cost, Cable, Camera, Coupon, Controls
- D – dimensions, download, driver
- E – external microphone, error, extension
- F – firmware upgrade, filmic pro, features, forum, follow mode, follow focus, face tracking, facebook live, focus pull, footage
- G – gopro mount, gimbal stabilizer, guide, galaxy note 8
- H – how to use, hyperlapse, handheld, huawei P20 Pro
- I – iPhone X / 8 plus / 8 / 7 plus / 7 / 6S plus / 6S / SE , instructions, instruction manual, issues
- J – Joystick
- L – load capacity
- M – mic mount/attachment, modes, moment lens, motion timelapse
- N – no joystick, not working, new features
- O – object tracking, overheating, Oneplus 5
- P – price, payload, problems, pros and cons, pan, panorama, pixel / 2 / 2XL, portrait mode
- R – review, red light, remote, reset
- S – specs, setup, settings, selfie mode, Samsung s8/s9/s9 plus/note 8, size, software, standby mode, slow motion, support
- T – tutorial, tracking, troubleshooting, tripod, test, tips, timelapse, tilt
- U – user guide/manual, update firmware, unboxing, usb, user review
- V – vertigo, vertical mode, vs smooth q, vs dji osmo mobile 2, vs freefly movi, vs vimble 2, vs smove mobile
- W – weight, weight limit, with gopro, with filmic pro, with iphone 8 plus, with android, with moment lens, with mic, with iphone x, with samsung s9+, waterproof, water resistant, warranty
