Zhiyun Smooth 4 Vs DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Best Gimbal Stabilizer in 2024

Zhiyun and DJI are probably the two biggest companies that offer high-quality video stabilizing gimbals right now. There are a lot of gimbals on the market, but not all of them can achieve the quality that Zhiyun and DJI have. Many off-brand and budget gimbals aren’t able to handle the weight of some smartphones, and others don’t have the functions that you need to access right on the handle. Some of them even have poor electronic motors that straight up don’t work.

That said, your choices have essentially come down to DJI and Zhiyun. DJI makes an excellent gimbal — the Osmo Mobile 2. DJI has packed the impressive video stabilization technology found in its camera drones in this gimbal, so you can imagine the level of quality you get in the Osmo Mobile 2.

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is another great video stabilizing gimbal, but it’s mainly made to be a more affordable version (with many of the same functions) of the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. So, which one do you pick up? If you follow along below, we’re pitting the two against each other to show you which one has more value for money.

 

DJI Osmo Mobile 2

DJI has packed only the best video stabilizing technology in the Osmo Mobile 2 — this gimbal will keep your footage smooth in almost any situation. Whether you’re skateboarding and getting small vibrations from movement or doing something a little more aggressive, such as jumping, the Osmo Mobile 2 will keep your footage stable and secure.

The Osmo Mobile 2 operates off of Bluetooth, so you do have to connect up your phone to it before you’re able to use various functions of the Osmo Mobile 2. That does also mean that the Osmo Mobile 2 has its battery that you’ll have to make sure is charged. However, the impressive thing is that DJI can get the maximum amount of efficiency out of its batteries. You can get up to a whopping 15 hours of life off of a single charge.

DJI includes a bunch of shortcuts right on the handle for filming video. You have buttons for a start and stop video recording, shutter, live streaming, zoom in and out, time-lapse, auto-tracking, and a whole lot more. The neat thing about the Osmo Mobile 2 is that it comes with a camera adapter that allows use with various GoPro Hero models, the Xiaomi Yi, and much more.

The Osmo Mobile 2 is compatible with most smartphones on the market right now as well — you won’t have trouble using the Osmo Mobile 2 with your iPhone X, iPhone 8, or Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

Zhiyun Smooth 4

If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, then you’ll want to consider the Zhiyun Smooth 4. This was made as a cheaper option to the Osmo Mobile 2, and people seem to love it.

Its price point is a lot of cheaper than the Osmo Mobile 2 — that’s the main attraction, but you do get many similar features in the Smooth 4. For example, things like start and stop video recording, shutter, auto-tracking, time-lapse, slow motion, and more are all found on the handle.

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 also does operate off of Bluetooth. That means you must connect it to your smartphone before you can use 52all of those remote functions on the handle. Since it is Bluetooth — and not operating from your phone’s battery — the Smooth 4 does have its battery that has to be kept charged.

The one con that the Smooth 4 has is that you have to adjust the gimbal before you can start recording manually. Zhiyun includes a handful of videos to show you how to do this, but you have to essentially move it towards the tilt motor to activate proper stabilization.

You can check out the gimbal for yourself at the link below.

Buy it now: Amazon

Verdict

If you want the best of the best in video stabilizing gimbals, there’s no doubt that you should go for the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. It has great material quality, and DJI has been able to pack the industry-leading stabilization technology found in its drones in this gimbal. That said, you won’t get a smooth video with anything else. But, if you don’t like the large price that the Osmo Mobile 2, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 isn’t a bad runner-up, though it does have a couple of cons that make the gimbal difficult to get set up straight away.