Shaky, jittery video is the unfortunate signature of amateur footage. It instantly pulls the viewer out of the moment, no matter how compelling the story or beautiful the scene. In a world where content is king, smooth, professional-looking video is the currency of credibility. This is where a high-quality smartphone gimbal becomes not just a tool, but an essential creative partner. Our comprehensive Zhiyun Smooth 5s Combo Review will dissect this popular stabilizer, exploring whether it truly has the power to transform your smartphone into a cinematic powerhouse and elevate your content from shaky to stunning.
What is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S?
At its core, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S is a 3-axis motorized gimbal stabilizer designed for smartphones. Think of it as a highly intelligent, robotic arm for your phone. Its primary function is to counteract unwanted movements—hand tremors, footsteps while walking, vibrations from a moving vehicle—to produce exceptionally smooth, gliding video footage. It accomplishes this through a sophisticated system of brushless motors and sensors that make thousands of micro-adjustments per second, keeping your phone perfectly level and stable on three axes: pan, tilt, and roll. This technology, once reserved for Hollywood productions, is now accessible to every creator with a smartphone.
Unboxing the Combo: What’s Inside?
The “Combo” in the product name is significant, as it offers a more complete filmmaking package right out of the box compared to the standard version. Understanding the value proposition starts with what you get.
- The Zhiyun Smooth 5S Gimbal: The central piece of the kit, featuring a robust build and ergonomic design.
- Tripod: A sturdy mini-tripod that screws into the base, perfect for static shots, time-lapses, or simply setting the gimbal down safely.
- USB-C Charging Cable: For powering up the gimbal’s internal battery.
- Magnetic Fill Light: A key differentiator. This compact, powerful LED light magnetically attaches to the gimbal.
- Four Color Filters: These slide over the fill light, allowing you to creatively adjust the mood and temperature of your lighting.
- Wrist Strap: An essential safety feature to prevent accidental drops.
- Protective Carrying Case: A high-quality, semi-rigid case that houses the entire combo, making it perfect for travel and protecting your investment.
This collection of accessories immediately addresses common needs, turning the gimbal from a single-purpose tool into a versatile vlogging and content creation rig.
Core Performance: The Science Behind the Stability
How does the Smooth 5S achieve its signature buttery-smooth footage? The magic lies in its upgraded motors and advanced stabilization algorithms. Compared to previous models, Zhiyun has engineered the 5S with more powerful magnetic steel motors and a wider phone clamp, allowing it to handle larger, heavier smartphones—even with accessories like external lenses or filters attached.
A 3-axis gimbal works by using Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to detect motion. When the IMU senses a tilt, pan, or roll, it instantly sends a signal to the corresponding motor, which moves in the opposite direction to cancel out the shake. It’s the electronic equivalent of a master waiter carrying a tray of drinks through a bustling crowd without spilling a single drop.
This powerful motor performance in our Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo review tests meant we could use flagship phones like the iPhone 14 Pro Max with confidence. The gimbal never struggled or showed signs of motor strain, which is a crucial factor for serious creators who rely on top-tier phones for their image quality. The stabilization is reliable and effective, effortlessly smoothing out walking shots and absorbing the minor bumps and jitters of everyday movement.
Key Features That Set It Apart
Beyond basic stabilization, the Smooth 5S is packed with professional-grade features that cater to aspiring filmmakers.
The Built-in Fill Light: A Game-Changer
One of the standout features of the Smooth 5S, and a major selling point of the Combo kit, is the integrated fill light. It’s a powerful 300-lumen LED built directly into the gimbal’s roll axis arm. But the Combo takes it a step further with the included magnetic fill light, which attaches to the phone clamp. This dual-lighting setup provides up to 600 lumens, which is incredibly bright for a mobile setup. This is invaluable for vloggers, interviewers, or anyone shooting in low-light conditions, eliminating the need to carry a separate, cumbersome lighting rig. The included color filters add another layer of creative control, allowing for warm or cool tones to match the scene’s ambiance.
Pro-Level Controls at Your Fingertips
The Smooth 5S distinguishes itself with a tactile, all-in-one control panel. Unlike minimalist gimbals that rely heavily on a companion app, the 5S gives you physical controls for nearly every function.
- Large Control Wheel: This can be configured for smooth focus pulls or seamless zooming, mimicking the feel of a professional cinema camera lens.
- Intuitive Joystick: For precise control over pan and tilt movements.
- Mode Button, Record Button, and Custom FN Button: Allows for quick switching between shooting modes (like Pan Follow, Lock, and POV) without touching your phone’s screen.
This physical interface is a massive workflow improvement. It keeps your hands on the gimbal and your eyes on the shot, allowing for a more immersive and efficient filming experience.
Robust Build and Payload Capacity
The gimbal feels solid and well-constructed. The wider axis arms and strong motors provide a maximum payload capacity that instills confidence. This is crucial because it ensures compatibility not just with current flagship phones, but likely with future, potentially heavier models as well. This future-proofing is a key consideration when investing in creative hardware.
Is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo Worth It?
This is a central question for any potential buyer. The Combo package costs more than the standard version, so the value must be clear. The primary additions are the magnetic fill light with its filters and the premium carrying case.
| Feature | Standard Package | Combo Package |
|---|---|---|
| Gimbal & Tripod | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Fill Light | Yes (300 Lumens) | Yes (300 Lumens) |
| Magnetic Fill Light | No | Yes (Adds 300 Lumens) |
| Color Filters | No | Yes (Set of 4) |
| Carrying Case | Simple Styrofoam Box | Premium Semi-Rigid Case |
| Wrist Strap | No | Yes |
For content creators who frequently shoot on the go, vlog, or film in varied lighting conditions, the Combo is unquestionably the better choice. The dual lighting capability is a powerful tool, and the protective case is essential for travel. If you are a casual user who will only film in bright daylight, you might save some money with the standard package, but you’ll miss out on the full potential of the system.
Real-World Use: Who is the Smooth 5S Combo For?
After extensive testing, the ideal user for the Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo becomes clear. This gimbal is for the serious mobile creator who wants to push the boundaries of what’s possible with a smartphone.
- Vloggers and YouTubers: The combination of rock-solid stabilization, excellent lighting, and a travel-ready case makes this an all-in-one solution for creating high-quality vlogs.
- Aspiring Filmmakers: The manual focus/zoom wheel and tactile controls provide a taste of professional filmmaking, allowing for the practice of advanced techniques like focus pulls.
- Real Estate Agents and Small Business Owners: Creating smooth, professional property tours or product videos becomes incredibly simple, dramatically increasing production value.
- Social Media Content Creators: For creating polished TikToks, Instagram Reels, and Shorts that stand out from the sea of shaky, handheld content.
However, it may be overkill for a casual family vacation shooter. Its size and the complexity of its controls present a steeper learning curve than simpler, more compact gimbals on the market. If you are just starting, you may want to explore some of our guides for beginner stabilizers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the battery life of the Zhiyun Smooth 5S?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S offers up to 2.5 hours of battery life with the fill lights at maximum brightness and can last up to 24 hours under ideal conditions with the lights off. It can be fully charged in about 2 hours via its USB-C port.
Do I need to use the ZY Cami app with the Smooth 5S?
While the gimbal provides basic stabilization with your phone’s native camera app, you’ll need Zhiyun’s ZY Cami app or the third-party FiLMiC Pro app to unlock its full potential, including features like the control wheel, object tracking, and advanced shooting modes like Dolly Zoom.
Can the Zhiyun Smooth 5S hold any smartphone?
The Smooth 5S has an impressive payload capacity and a wide clamp, making it compatible with most modern smartphones, including larger models like the iPhone Pro Max series and Samsung Galaxy Ultra series, even with a thin case on.
Is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S waterproof?
No, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S is not waterproof or water-resistant. You should avoid using it in the rain or exposing it to moisture, as this can damage the electronic components and motors.
What is the main difference between the Smooth 5 and the Smooth 5S?
The primary upgrade in the Smooth 5S is the powerful, built-in LED fill light on the tilt axis arm. The 5S also features slightly improved motors and a refined design for better performance with heavier phones.
Final Verdict: A Powerful Tool for Ambitious Creators
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S is a serious piece of hardware that delivers on its promise of cinematic stabilization. It’s robust, powerful, and packed with professional-grade controls that will satisfy even the most demanding mobile filmmakers. Our Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo review concludes that for creators who need a reliable, all-in-one solution with excellent lighting and protection, the Combo package represents outstanding value. It’s a significant step up from entry-level gimbals, offering a tangible improvement in both video quality and creative control, empowering you to leave shaky footage behind and truly bring your vision to life.