Zhiyun Smooth X vs Zhiyun Smooth Q2 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 3

A small, pocket size gimbal is an essential tool for all vlogger using their smartphone. DJI and Zhiyun, both well known manufacturers of gimbals, made their latest gimbal version even smaller and therefore easy to carry with you. The question was: Which one is better to get Zhiyun Smooth Q2 or DJI Osmo Mobile 3? But now Zhiyun added a new even smaller model: Zhiyun Smooth X – so is this one better than both of them?

Zhiyun Smooth X vs Zhiyun Smooth Q2 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 3

Design

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 and DJI Osmo Mobile 3 are designed to be compact and easy to use. Both have a unique feature that stands out. DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is foldable to make it even more compact for travel:

Zhiyun Smoth Q2 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 3 (folded and unfolded) – photo by Potato Jet

But is it really pocket sized? Is Zhiyun Smooth Q2 even smaller and goes into your pocket? Well, this is a photo Zhiyun published:

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 3 (vs Zhiyun Smooth 4)

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 has another feature for easy use: a quick release plate. Remember with older gimbals you always needed to clamp your phone into the gimbal every time you wanted to use it. And then take it out of the clamp for other things to do? With Q2 they added a quick release. The clamp stays on the phone and easily attaches to the gimbal, while the clamp is not disturbing when doing other things like phone calls.

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 – Quick Release (click image for preview)

Another note on the design: Both have a standard 1/4″ tripod thread at the bottom.

Design Issues

Wide Angle Lens: Due to the design of Zhiyun Smooth Q2 with the motor facing forward you could get in trouble with wide angle lenses. Most newer phones come with that feature, so just to be aware of. You can avoid this problem by tilting the grip forward (Flashlight Mode).

Gimbal Tilted Forward (Flashlight mode): I like to hold my gimbal tilted forward to stabilize the up/down movement of my arm. While DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is tilted 15° forward you can’t hold it titled forward due to the construction of the arm holding your phone.

Controls

Zhiyun Smooth X got a dedicated button to switch from portrait to landscape mode. Important when you are recording different videos with your smartphone for different platforms such Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Some as most gimbals you got a joystick, record button and mode indicator. Smooth X also features a zoom lever – Smooth Q2 does not. More features are activated within the app.

Zhiyun Smooth X – Controls

One major change done by Zhiyun: For the first time, you no longer need an app to control the mounted phone! Zhiyun Smooth Q2 can connect to your phone via Bluetooth so you can control iOS and Android phones with the native camera. (Without using the ZY Play app). The App still exists for additional features like active track but you can also use 3rd party apps like Filmic Pro or the Moment Pro Camera app. Smooth Q2 simplified all the controls to one LED indicator, two buttons and one 5 way control joystick. The LED light shows the mode you are in: pitch follow, lock, follow and POV, there is a joystick to manually control the gimbal’s head and a trigger button that works, as mentions, also with the native camera app!

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 – Controls

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is focusing on the active track feature with a dedicated trigger button on the back of the gimbal. In contrast to Zhiyun, DJI also offers a zoom lever. DJI has another cool feature, you can browse the functions via app using the buttons and joystick.

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 – Controls

Features

All gimbals offer similar modes like Active Track, a very convenient feature where you can mark a subject on your screen and the gimbal automatically tracks it and keeps it within the frame. With DJI Osmo Mobile 3 there is a dedicated button – the trigger button – that activates active track.

Of course popular features like Panorama Photos and Motion Time-lapse are available on both of them. A feature only offered by Zhiyun is Vortex Mode where you can do a barrel roll.

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 – Vortex Mode (click image for preview)

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 and Zhiyun Smooth X offer a Zoom Lever, that’s missing on Smooth Q2:

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 – Zoom Mode (click image for preview)

A feature only offered by Zhiyun Smooth X is the extension arm. Great for selfies and simulating crane shots.

Zhiyun Smooth X – extended

Zhiyun Smooth Q2 vs Zhiyun Smooth X vs DJI Osmo Mobile 3 in a nutshell

So these are the pros & cons of both gimbals:

Video Review

I haven’t had the chance to test them myself, but here are some video reviews you might want to check out:

Price & Availability

Zhiyun Smooth X

• Aliexpress (official Zhiyun Store): 59 USD – visit store
• Gearbest: 59 USD – visit store

DJI Osmo Mobile 3

Best option is of course to get it via DJI Website, the gimbal is in stock and available for 119 USD.
But also keep an eye on Amazon as there are deals from time to time:

Zhiyun Smooth Q2

is available at several retailer:

• Aliexpress (official Zhiyun Store): 111 USD – visit store
• Gearbest: 119 USD – visit store
• Banggood: 139 USD – visit store
• Amazon: