In the time where you can vlog for ten minutes a day and make six figures on YouTube, more and more people are relying on their smartphones to kick off their online career.
Photographs, videos, time lapses and panoramics—they all require a stable shot and a steady view (no screen shaking).
There’s no better way to achieve that than with a phone tripod.
iPhones are known to take better photographs than Android devices, which is why this list was made with a heavy emphasis on iPhones tripod mount units.
In short, you need to have the right stabilization to make eccentrically fantastic photos and really wow people.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best iPhone tripods on the market, and get you on your way to better photos and videos.
Best Smartphone Tripod
FUGETEK Selfie Stick & Tripod
Smartphone photography has gotten serious, and with that, Fugetek decided to provide a serious tripod stand.
I would argue that it’s the best tripod for iPhone users, because the rubber clamp is extra sensitive on zero bezel screens.
Crafted out of heavy duty aluminum, the stand has stabilizing support before getting to the central stick, which can extend up to 51” with ease.
Some smartphone tripods extend and then get wobbly, but Fugetek made this durable and unwavering.
Included with your stand, you’re going to get a bluetooth remote that syncs up with both iOS and Android devices, allowing you to take pictures, or start/stop recording at will.
While it’s safe to assume you’re not going to be too far away from your tripod while filming, it should be noted that the remote only works up to about 12 feet.
For the most part, bluetooth receivers start at about 33 feet worth of range, but this just doesn’t go the distance.
While I believe that iPhones are superior for photography, I feel bad for some Android users, because the bluetooth remote is only going to allow zoom functions on a few devices, even if those devices already have a zoom function on the camera.
As you might imagine based on the title, this isn’t just a tripod: it also doubles as a selfie stick.
You can use the flick locks along the stand to keep everything in place, I would just advise that you be careful when holding the base where the tripod legs fold up, because it can be a bit hulky.
If you extend some of the central stand, you can hold there when using it as a selfie stick.
Last thing I want to talk about is the warranty, which really helped Fugetek take the top spot on the list.
Individual products can fail, because manufacturing defects are sure to occur, which is why I’m happy to tell you that there’s a one-year hassle-free warranty here, which will cover manufacturer defects.
When I called them to test this out, they were not only ridiculously friendly, but they really didn’t pry and convince me to hold onto the stand (even though I planned on keeping it anyway), so even if you have to send it back for any reason, it’s a pain-free process.
UBeesize Portable iPhone Tripod
UBeesize made this portable, but not necessarily the number one pick for serious photographers.
Apart from this being extremely compact, it’s also vastly inexpensive, which is why I recommend it for vlogging in your car or in a coffee shop where you need to use both hands for whatever it is you’re doing.
As a tripod stand for iPhone users, it should have a bit more softness to the rubber clamp, but it’s actually very tough, so if you have a zero bezel screen you should be cautious before using this.
The main reason that people seem to love it comes from the ability to reposition your tripod at any time, in almost any angle.
The legs are made with heavy duty aluminum, as well as wiring underneath that allows you to bend the tripod legs in any way you see fit.
Works well for the top of your computer monitor if you want a webcam-style video.
For this price, I wasn’t expecting to find any tripods with bluetooth remotes, burt UBeesize developed one specifically for this.
Your bluetooth connection is fairly strong, and you get about 20 feet worth of range from the remote.
As one of the highest-rated smartphone tripods on the market, it hits the sweet spot between being high quality while also being affordable.
The phone mount is removable, so you could upgrade to a stationary camera and attach it to the top of the tripod as well.
The only downside here is that you’re not going to know if everything is level.
You’re going to have to bring a mini leveler around with you, or have a leveling app on your phone (uses the same hardware as your phone’s auto-rotate feature).
Wobrikosee Smartphone Tripod w/ Bluetooth Remote Control
As the perfect middle-of-the-road option, Wobrikosee (ain’t that a mouthful?) made a great tripod at an agreeable price.
Based on the construction alone, you’re getting your money’s worth in high quality aluminum.
The tripod has weights for stabilization at the bottom of each leg, which are also joined by a central metal joint that connects to the main stick.
All that stability comes in handy when you extend this up to 51” tall, allowing for some videos while you’re standing without having to stack your tripod on a desk.
Those weights are technically the joint lock, which we’ll get into a bit later.
It includes an iPhone holder for tripod use, which is compatible with the Xs, Xr, Max and 8, so for those of you who haven’t made the upgrade to the iPhone 10, this will work out perfectly.
It’s still compatible with plenty of Android devices as well, but is definitely better suited for Samsung phones as well.
It’s the little things that make us feel like our money was well spent.
For this price, you get a leveling bubble built right into the stand, so you can be sure you’re getting perfect shots every time.
Nothing is worse than editing your videos to find out that the camera was sitting on a very slight angle (because the comments section is going to point it out).
The rubber feet do a decent enough job at preventing it from moving. However, when you extend the joint locks all the way, some of that stability starts to wane.
Because of the weight distribution of this tripod, I would recommend having extra rubber feet handy just in case they start to fade.
They’re a big reason as to why this stays so nice and steady when fully extended.
LEKNES Extendable Tripod and Selfie Stick Combo
Stability is one of the biggest selling points for any tripod, whether that’s for full-sized cameras or smartphones.
We need to have the perfect stability for video recording as well as still images, which is why it’s important to include deathgrip-like flip locks, just like LEKNES does with this tall iPhone tripod.
All of those flip locks help stabilize this when it’s being used as a selfie stick.
Because of the heavy duty aluminum construction, you would think that this would be heavy, but it sits at just over one pound in total.
The only resistance you’re really going to see while using this as a selfie stick is based on the weight of your phone pulling down when it’s extended.
Speaking of extending, this one is the tallest tripod on this list at 54 inches, which puts this at neck or eye level for most people if you’re standing in front of the camera for a video.
I wanted LEKNES to rank higher than they did, but when it comes to their bluetooth remote, they fell a little flat.
The range is okay, but the button just sometimes doesn’t actually send the action over to your phone, which means you could think you’re recording a ten-minute vlog, then find out that it wasn’t rolling.
If you end up with upgraded camera equipment and you’re no longer using your iPhone, then don’t worry; this tripod is still perfect.
You can unscrew the phone mount and rubber brackets to attach a digital camera screw, or a sports camera stand if you’re using a GoPro outside.
When you break it down piece by piece, LEKNES did a good job at ensuring the head swivels up to 180°, as well as making the phone holder turn to go from landscape to portrait mode while filming.
It’s about as versatile as you’re going to get.
LEKNES isn’t the most well-known brand out there, so it’s always good to inspect their customer service and warranty information prior to deciding if they’re a good fit.
The thing is, we couldn’t even find any warranty information.
They make it difficult to acquire, and we know this because when we called the customer service line, it took sixteen minutes before we were transferred to another hold.
The good news is that it’s covered by Amazon’s usual 90-day return policy, so you have that going for you.
8” Light Ring Stand for iPhone
You know all about lighting and why it’s important.
Well, if you’re going to be filming yourself, you need the light to actually illuminate your face as well as possible to light up every shadow.
VIEWOW wanted to live up to their name and give you the best possible view.
You can switch your phone around to the front-facing camera, or back around if you’d like during filming.
The light is completely ready-to-go right out of the box. There’s no bulb installation or snapping the plastic casing over it; it’s just plug-and-play.
Flip through the simple button settings to raise or lower the brightness, as well as change the lighting mode to offer a softer light with more color temperatures.
While this is a simple kit, it also comes with the option to buy more ring lights and attach them on the left and right sides of the light that comes with the package.
While the light is obviously important, we also have to account for the actual tripod.
This has one of the least flexible user interfaces, which is primarily what makes it stick to the bottom of our list.
You have to twist the rod when loosening or tightening the central stick, and that can be a pain when you’re trying to find the perfect height. Flip locks would have done better here.
The base of the tripod does its job though, keeping stable and steady the entire time during filming.
In the package, you get the tripod, ring light, remote control (which can be used with iOS or Android by the way), as well as a tripod ball head, the manual, and a smartphone holder.
Phone Tripod Buying Guide & FAQ
Features to Look for in Phone Tripods
Maximum Extension
The taller your tripod can get, the stronger the construction needs to be.
You want a high extension if you plan on using this as a selfie stick when it’s not positioned in one place, and enough height to stand on its own without needing to be on a desk if you’re trying to vlog. Around 50” is a good maximum extension.
Primary Material
This isn’t just about what the strongest material is, it’s about what you need to use in certain situations.
You see a lot of heavy duty aluminum on this list, and that’s because it stands the test of time and can hold a lot of weight without shaking or swaying.
If you were to take photos or videos outside, an aluminum stand would be difficult to use once the locks and joints froze up.
For outdoor photography, most people use PVC or wooden tripods.
Since we’re using smartphones, the operating temperatures require you to be inside in the extreme cold anyway, making aluminum the best choice.
Tripod Head/Phone Mount
The whole point of a phone tripod is to mount your phone, right?
The tripod itself isn’t as relevant as the tripod head, which will either hold sports cameras, camcorders, or smartphones with a rubber clamp system.
These tripods are sized to handle small amounts of weight from a lightweight iPhone, so if you were to use a full-sized camcorder, you would have to get a bigger tripod, and certainly a larger mount.
High-end tripods for traditional photography can cost hundreds on their own without any tripod heads, which is just another way that iPhone photography can save you money in the long haul.
Locks
While the locks might not seem like the most important thing, they are what separates a selfie stick combo from a standard phone tripod.
Your locks will also dictate just how easy it is to use your tripod.
Twist-and-lock poles are common among phone tripods, but they can be a right pain to use.
Ideally you will use a tripod with flip locks for better stabilization.
Is There a Tripod for iPhones?
There are phone mounts for tripods, and tripods specifically designed for smartphones, but to ensure they don’t alienate their Android audience, most brands don’t have an exclusive iPhone tripod.
Phone mounts are almost universal.
I say almost because they have minimum widths and maximum widths, and newer generations of iPhones (and even Samsung Androids phones) might not be usable with certain mounts.
You can usually find an additional tripod head for larger phones.
How to Properly Use a Tripod?
Whether you have a camcorder tripod, or a tripod for iPhones, there are a few basic guidelines to follow during setup and use that ensure better photographs every time.
Here are some steps to take.
- Extend the legs of your tripod before you do anything else. You want to position one of the legs to point at your subject so that you can stand in between the other two tripod legs to direct the photography.
- Attach your tripod head and lock it into place. If you’re using a camera strap, get it ready now.
- Check your leveler to see if you’re getting a straight shot, and if the situation even calls for it. If your tripod is not level, find out which leg needs to be adjusted.
- Use your tripod locks to keep your position when the time calls for it.
- Attach your phone/camera to the appropriate tripod head and set up your shot with framing and lighting.
Are All Tripod Mounts the Same?
Not at all.
All of the products you’ve seen on this list come with a rubber phone mount to actually position your phone on top.
That’s called a tripod head, and it works differently for other pieces of equipment.
Tripod heads are expensive on their own. There are different screw hole diameters in the bottom of some cameras for you to add tripods.
For example, a sports camera or GoPro will have a smaller diameter screw than a full sized camcorder. You would need different tripod heads for each of them.
Does this mean you have to buy additional mounts if you have different cameras?
Yes, you do, and it’s a pain. However, it’s not just some ploy by camera companies; it has to do with visibility and positioning.
If you used a full sized camcorder tripod mount and positioned your phone on top of it, you might see a very little bit of that mount poking out in the bottom of your photo or video.
Smaller mounts cater to the size of the camera used, while bigger mounts do that while providing good support, especially when you’re using the handle to reposition your shots.
Why do Tripods Have 3 Legs?
There’s actually a lot of scientific reasons behind this, and it has to do with our center of gravity.
Or in this case, the center of gravity of the camera as it’s resting on top of the tripod.
Even notice how you will wobble when you sit on a chair with four legs, but a three-legged stool doesn’t give you any of that trouble?
It’s because with a four-legged chair or stool, your weight is distributed against two of the legs, and the others are just sort of there as minor support.
It’s why you might remember the front right and back left leg of a chair being on the ground, but you can rock forward and back to get the other legs to gently tap on the floor.
That’s not because it’s a poorly made chair, it has to do with weight distribution.
With three-legged stool and the way the legs are aligned, much like a tripod, the weight sits in the center of the three legs and is distributed evenly.
Tripods use the way that the legs are angled to anticipate where weight will be distributed.
If you put a lot of weight on the gimbal, it’s going to transfers down the central stick and out to the three legs, each taking on a part of the load, and creating stability.
Better Photographs from Even Angles
You need more stable videos and even photographs if you want to be taken seriously.
iPhone photography is becoming more and more popular now that Apple is introducing higher megapixel cameras and more lenses, which gives you the perfect tool to get started with videos and photographs.
Grab a good tripod, get a stable shot, and make some top-tier level work.
