Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W review
When I say charging station how do you feel? Are you filled with great excitement and enthusiasm? If not, the Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W, will almost certainly change that.
This charging station has six charging ports – four USB-C and two USB-A. You can monitor the electricity output levels for each port via the station’s onboard screen to ensure each device is getting the appropriate levels of power.
However, let’s say you’re charging six devices, but you want to ensure your phone gets back to 100% quickly. Fear not – with the Port Priority option, you can ensure your phone charges without delay. That’s not to say this station can’t handle six devices at once, of course. With a maximum output of 250W, you’ll likely have more than enough power to go around your phones, laptops, tablets and more.
I used the default charging configuration during testing, AI Power Mode. This uses artificial intelligence to optimize power allocation across the station. However, there are also three other modes – Port Priority, Dual-Laptop and Low Current mode. Most will find that the default is perfectly capable of performing their charging chores.
What I really like about this station is how many neat features it offers, making it easily one of the best Android chargers and best iPhone chargers. If you download the Anker app, you can connect to the charging station via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can add a clock screensaver to the station, with a number of different designs to choose from. The Anker app also lets you view real-time data on power output, schedule power on/off, and adjust the station's screen brightness.
One odd but welcome nugget is Secret Features, which includes a collection of fun animations for the station’s screen if you complete hidden tasks (such as switching Port Priority on and off 10 times).
So what’s the catch? Well, this station has a list price of $169.99 / £169.99, a lot to invest in what is, at the end of the day, just a multi-port charger. However, if you want a feature-rich, speedy station that’s perfect for your work desk, it’s not going to get much better than this. Ultimately, Anker has delivered a top-quality product here, but it's going to be a lot more than most people need.
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W?
Buy it if…
There are a lot of devices at your desk With six available charging ports, you’re unlikely to be left wanting more. Four ports are USB-C, two are USB-A – so you’ll be ready to charge all of your devices.
You want a feature-rich charging solution This station has an impressively long list of features, including port prioritization, power modes, screensavers and more. There's even a companion app.
Don't buy it if…
You’re on a tight budget You’re gonna have to pay a pretty penny for this one. At $169.99 / £169.99 (about AU$250), if you want a six-port charger, Anker also offers a screenless 200W alternative at half this price.
You only need to charge one or two devices simultaneously If you only need to charge one or two other devices, this isn’t for you. An Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger can also charge your devices for much less.
Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W: Also consider
Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN) Anker's Prime Charger delivers excellent quality and rapid charging. It has similar capabilities, with four USB-C and two USB-A ports, but a lower maximum power output of 200W. It costs $84.99 / £79.99 (about AU$120).View Deal
Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger review
The Mous 3 In 1 MagSafe Charger is a light and compact charger and one of the best iPhone chargers I've reviewed. It charges all AirPods and Apple Watch models, as well as third-party Qi-compatible earbud cases. It's compatible with any iPhone 12 to iPhone 16 model, so it will charge all of the best iPhones.
The Mous 3 In 1 costs $44.99 / £39.99 / (around AU $75). It’s worth noting purchases made from Australia are shipped from the US, so I’d recommend checking your local shipping fees and taxes before setting your heart on this charger.
If you’re partial to a cheap-and-cheerful travel charger, the Mous 3-in-1 Portable Charger is a good choice. It weighs just 3oz / 87g and has a footprint not far from the size of a credit card, with a depth of around half an inch / 13mm when folded, making it ideal for sliding into bags and pockets as you go off on your travels. Its 3-in-1 design comes in really handy, as there are no extra parts to keep track of. The charger is strongly held together magnetically, so it shouldn’t open up accidentally.
The charger is powered by a USB-C cable, which is included in the price. Unfortunately, a power adapter must be purchased separately. This is important: you'll need to put more thought into the power output of your wall charger. The Mous 3-in-1 Portable Charger requires one that can charge at 30W or higher. Mous sells 30W adapters for $29.99 / £24.99 / around AU$50, but this feels particularly steep at around two-thirds the cost of the device itself. Other 30W adapters can be sourced for less from Amazon, so don’t let that put you off.
I tested the Mous 3-in-1 Portable Charger on my iPhone and it didn’t exactly provide speedy results: it took three hours to fully charge my iPhone 13 Pro. This is a massive difference compared to a premium portable charger like the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, which fully charged the same iPhone 13 Pro in just under two hours.
Despite taking longer to juice up the iPhone, it charged my Series 9 Apple Watch in the same amount of time as its competitor, two hours and ten minutes, which is pretty good going considering the $55 / £50 / AU$75 price difference. Mous claims on its website that you can charge more than just AirPods on this compact charger, and I can confirm that I had no problems charging my off-brand earbuds.
Although the space-saving design is useful for traveling, it means that you don’t get the benefit of a stand, so it's difficult to use your phone as it charges. With its flexible faux-leather hinge, I was tempted to fold the charger back on itself, but I found my phone began to overheat very quickly when I tried this. Another downside - this charger's lack of anti-slip areas means that it’s susceptible to movement, but this shouldn’t pose a problem if it’s charging somewhere out of the way.
If you’re looking for a lower-cost travel charger that’s perfectly portable, then the Mous MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Portable Charger is the way to go. If you want something a little more premium and faster charging for your travels, we recommend the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set instead. Alternatively, we have several other charger varieties to peruse in our pick of the best wireless chargers.
Should I buy the Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger?
Buy it if…
You want a compact travel companion The Mous 3-in-1 Portable Charger is super convenient. With a footprint just bigger than a credit card and around half an inch / 13mm when folded, it’ll have no problem fitting in pockets or bags.
You want to charge multiple chargers without compromising on space With an iPhone charging pad on one side and an AirPods charging pad on the other, along with a nifty pop-up Apple Watch charger, good things really do come in small packages.
Don't buy it if…
You need something that will stay put While its light weight makes it perfectly portable, if you accidentally catch the cable or knock it there are no anti-slip aids to stop the charger from whizzing off the surface it’s sitting on.
You want to continue using your phone as it charges Due to its design, phones lay flat as they charge, meaning you can’t easily carry on watching YouTube or playing games.
Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger review: Also consider
ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set For faster iPhone charging with a sturdier build, this premium 3-in-1 wireless charging set is a great choice. It's nowhere near as portable as the Mous charger, but it comes with a handy travel bag that holds all the components, plus the included 30W plug.View Deal
You'll likely know Insta360 for its diverse array of cameras, many of which you'll currently find on our shortlists of the best action cameras and best 360 cameras, but last year the company branched out into a new product category: gimbals.
The Insta360 Flow broke onto the scene with an impressive feature set, especially for the company's first attempt at a phone gimbal. Just over a year later and we have its successor; in the Insta360 Flow Pro. Not only does it address key limitations of the original, but it also sets itself apart from the competition by being the first gimbal to market with Apple DockKit support.
While there's a lot more to the Flow Pro than tighter Apple integration (despite the bias, this gimbal does still work with Android phones), it's hard to overstate just how much DockKit support expands the Pro's versatility; for the first time gaining the ability to track subjects in third-party apps. Everything from FaceTime to Zoom, WhatsApp, Filmic Pro and beyond, can now benefit from the Flow Pro's three-axis stabilization.
A near-identical design to its predecessor, the Flow Pro packs down impressively small and yet can be setup in seconds; thanks in-part to its magnetic mounting system. The gimbal's overly-stocky handle is one of its weaker design elements, but it does, at least, once again conceal a tripod and selfie stick; making it a more versatile self-contained offering than the likes of the Hohem iSteady M6, for example.
10-hours of run-time from an integrated 2,900mAh battery is respectably middle of the pack on paper, but proved more than ample for the gimbal-specific shots I wanted to capture during testing. What's more, the use of dual USB-C ports adds extra convenience, as it doubles as a power bank; not only extending shooting time, but also as a back-up, if you're ever caught short with low battery on your phone.
Between its slick design, holistic capture, organization and editing experience (provided by Insta360's companion app), and the wealth of additional functionality the Flow Pro delivers, it's hard to argue with this successor to the brand's debut gimbal.
DockKit support is a little limited in its implementation right now, but that's something Apple needs to work on, not Insta360. Otherwise, the Flow Pro is an incredibly competent smartphone gimbal that offers more value than its predecessor and serves as a more unique proposition compared to what else the market has to offer.
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Announced 6 July 2024
$149 / £139 / AU$229 list price for standalone kit
$10 / £6 / AU$10 cheaper than the original Flow
Unveiled a little over a year on from the company's debut gimbal, the Flow Pro manages to offer greater functionality than its predecessor at a lower starting price of $149 / £139 / AU$229. It's admittedly not a lot lower (only $10 / £6 / AU$10), but a reduction is a reduction that amounts to more for less.
Insta360 also serves the Flow Pro up with a tripod bundle that – for a little extra – nabs you a threaded tripod accessory too. You can pick the Pro up (as well as its respective bundles) directly from Insta360's site or third-party retailers like Amazon for the same price.
The Flow Pro's most established rival – the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 – launched in late 2022 for $159 / £145 / AU$239, but has since dropped to $139 / £125 / AU$204. The far more recently released Hohem iSteady V3 costs $149 / £129 / AU$219, while the updated Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI comes in at: $169 / £169 (it's not available in Australia at the time of writing, but based on the trajectory of previous models, will be soon) or $219 / £219 if you want the additional magnetic AI module, which provides more comparable tracking to the Flow Pro.
All in, the Flow Pro seems fairly priced at the middle of the pack with regards to features and value against the competition.
Value score: 4.5 / 5
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Specs
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Design
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Integrated tripod, selfie stick and cold shoe
Tracking ring light is a great addition
Handle is on the short side
Despite packing a near-identical design and similarly-sized 2,900mAh battery as its predecessor, Insta360 has managed to make the Flow Pro a fraction lighter (by three grams), clocking in at 366 grams, unladen.
Even with a phone attached (mine spent most of its time connected to a 187-gram iPhone 15 Pro), wrist fatigue was minimal for the lengths and styles of shot I was capturing. Unless you plan on capturing a Kubrickesque number of takes without a break, it shouldn't prove cumbersome in normal shooting scenarios.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Included clamp magnetic mount (left) and MagSafe-compatible mount (right), sold separately.
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)
The magnetic clamp mount launched as part of the original Insta360 Flow (pictured).
Attaching a phone is simple enough, with an included sprung clamp that grips your phone tightly and snaps on with impressively strong magnets to the head of the Flow Pro. Work has been done to the clamp's design in order to avoid it pressing the buttons located towards to center edges of most devices, but in practice erroneous presses seemed unavoidable, in spite of the thoughtful design.
The silver lining is a new MagSafe-compatible mount, which Insta360 launched alongside the Flow Pro. It works with any of the best iPhones that are MagSafe-compatible, as well as cases for other phones that also support the standard, and was my preferred mounting method. Just note that this isn't included with the Flow Pro, it doesn't allow the attachment of accessories like the Insta360 Spotlight (which snaps neatly onto the included clamp mount just fine), and it will set you back an additional $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$34.99.
The MagSafe-compatible mount for the Flow Pro costs extra but is worth it if you don't need to attach the Spotlight accessory.(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
The Pro is clad in nicely-finished light gray plastic, with a smoky translucent spine to the gimbal's main arm (which Insta360 sells inserts for, should you wish to give your Flow Pro a more unique look), that also conceals a cold shoe; a rarity on most gimbals of this caliber that gives the Pro an edge; ideal for mounting accessories like a mic receiver. What's more, an integrated selfie stick (that although stiff to extend) allows for a more ergonomic angled grip on the handle, also providing up to 215mm of additional reach.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
The included tripod is convenient, if a little flimsy.
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
If possible, pair the Flow Pro with a dedicated tripod, for maximum stability.
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
The selfie stick is difficult to extend on a box-fresh Flow Pro, but undeniably useful.
At the other end of the handle is a concealed tripod, which pulls out and splits apart. Despite being more robust than the spindly legs of the equivalent system on the Hohem iSteady V3, you still need a stable, flat surface (and calm conditions, if you're shooting outside) to use it reliably; as it's not the most sturdy foundation.
The base also features a standard tripod thread, which when you consider that Insta360 also sells the Flow Pro as part of a tripod bundle, suggests that the company knows the built-in option should be considered a fallback.
Partially extending the Flow Pro's integrated tripod is the easiest way to improve the grip offered by its short handle, but it's not perfect.(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
For everything that the Flow Pro's handle manages to contain (all of the gimbal's physical controls live there too), like the last model, it's on the short side; meaning you need to keep a really firm grip on what little purchase it does provide, in order to wield it securely. Extending but not separating the integrated tripod (see image above), or attaching separate tripod legs via the provided thread goes some way to help extend the handle, but neither augmentation really solves the problem completely, ergonomically speaking. The Flow Pro does at least come with a silicone handle cover (as seen in all the pictures in this review), which adds a notable amount of grip.
Controls consist of a trigger on the back of the handle, while on the front of the handle you'll find three buttons, a four-way joystick and a jog wheel. What isn't immediately obvious is that the black circular control panel is itself also a touch surface, and the most tactile way two switch between four of the gimbal's main modes.
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Don't been fooled by the Flow Pro's seemingly minimalist control scheme, though. Practically every one of these physical elements works double or triple duty, based on the number of presses used or mode set. Learning how to navigate all of them effectively takes some getting used to, with the touchpad proving the least elegant and ergonomic.
On balance, the addition of a green LED ring just above the control panel that lets you know when tracking is engaged from almost any angle is an ingenious addition, which helps you know what's going on when shooting solo and unable to view your phone's screen.
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
For all the Flow Pro offers in addition to its fundamental gimbal components, it packs down impressively small, and can be collapsed or redeployed in sections, with a self-balancing setup that makes the process of being stowed to ready-for-action impressively quick and easy, and a far cry from higher-end offerings, meant for dedicated cameras used by professionals.
Design score: 4 / 5
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Features
The new integrated NFC tag makes initial pairing and setup with an iPhone a cinch.(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Unlike predecessor, supports 360-degree infinite pan
2,900mAh battery can double as a power bank
First gimbal to market with Apple DockKit support for 200+ apps
Perhaps one of the bigger limitations of the original Insta360 Flow was its range of motion. With the Flow Pro, the horizontal pan motor has been redesigned to allow for continuous 360-degree rotation. You could theoretically rotate the Flow Pro clockwise or anti-clockwise as many times as you like, adding greater versatility to the kinds of shots capable; especially when capturing using automated tracking, timelapses or 360 photos.
The Insta360 app is where you can access the bulk of the Flow Pro's functionality, with ten dedicated shooting modes; ranging from simple photo and video capture, to Hoop Mode (specialized basketball game recording), timelapses and more. You can also drill down and – depending on the mode – access additional features like HDR capture or Apple ProRes recording, on iPhones that support it.
These capture modes work in tandem with the gimbal's six modes of stabilization:
Auto – follows your pan and tilt movements, with automated adaptive sensitivity.
Follow – follows your pan and tilt movements, with high sensitivity.
Pan Follow – follows your pan movements, while keeping the tilt and roll axes locked.
FPV – follows movement on all three axes. Jog wheel now controls roll axis instead of zoom.
Lock – ignores movement through all three axes while trigger is held.
Active Plus – brings increased sensitivity and responsiveness to Auto, Follow, Pan Follow and FPV modes, by pressing and then quickly pressing again but this time holding the trigger.
The Insta360 app also contains tutorials, its own album and an impressively powerful editor, with predefined themes to make cutting clips together as painless as possible. You do also have the option to edit manually, if you prefer, with the ability to add music, effects and more, all provided in-app. Insta360 has clearly worked hard to build a robust production pipeline for its products, and the result is impressive, even if it comes with a learning curve.
There's also the matter of the Flow Pro's currently-unique party piece: Apple DockKit support. Provided you're OK leaving the depth of the Insta360 app behind, DockKit delivers native face tracking across approximately 200 apps, with a list that continues to grow all the time. It's a truly impressive bonus that grants extra utility to the Flow Pro over its competition; making it a great tool for everything from video conferencing via Zoom, to motion-tracked footage while recording via the BlackMagic Camera app.
The Insta360 app is feature-packed(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
As is stands, DockKit tracking is only available when capturing video, which means you can't use it to frame a time-delayed photo, for example, but for the first of its kind, this new support means the Flow Pro is suddenly far more competent outside of its native app than any of its respective competitors.
To clarify, DockKit is an Apple-owned technology, meaning Android phones are left out in the cold when it comes to the same third-party support (and remain confined to the Insta360 app which, admittedly, isn't much of a hardship). Provided you have an iPhone 12 or newer – running iOS 17 or newer, you should be good to go for DockKit.
Pairing for DockKit support takes place by a new integrated NFC tag, right above the gimbal's main controls. When tapping your iPhone to it for the first time, you see an AirPods-like card pop up to initiate pairing, after which point the gimbal will forever whir into action when it's switched on while you're in a DockKit-supported app; a truly snappy and seamless setup which Android has no direct comparison for.
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Beyond its fundamental function as a three-axis smartphone gimbal, even when powered off, the Flow Pro's design also means you're carrying around a selfie stick and a tripod too, not to mention the keen-eyed amongst you who spotted the gimbal's pair of USB-C ports; one near the physical controls, used for power in (i.e. charging the gimbal), and one hidden underneath the shorter tilt axis arm of the Flow Pro.
This second port is actually a power-out, meant to keep accessories like the aforementioned Insta360 Spotlight shining. However, it also allows for power bank-like functionality, meaning your phone can keep itself topped up from the Pro's 2,900mAh internal battery, be it as a means to extend shooting time, or simply for those times when you need to recharge your phone after a long day.
Features score: 5 / 5
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Performance
2,900mAh 10-hour battery
Control ergonomics could be better
Control over tracking experience within DockKit remains limited
Besides the learning curve demanded by the multi-functional hardware controls, the Flow Pro's improved range of motion, compared to its predecessor and whisper-quiet brushless motors – on top of the Swiss Army Knife of additional functionality it already offers – render it an incredibly competent option, if you're in the market for a smartphone gimbal, right now.
Despite the cited two-hour reduction in battery longevity versus the original Flow, it took three days of real-world usage to see the battery percentage drop down below 75% charge, during my time with it, meaning most will find the Flow Pro's battery life wholly reliable on shoot days. Fast charging to storm past the current two-hour full recharge time would be one area of improvement Insta360 should consider going forward, but rivals are generally slower, while also falling short on use-time per charge.
There are also promised features that suggest the Flow Pro is actually going to continue to improve over time, with iOS' Cinematic Mode reportedly set to work with the Apple's DockKit protocol by the time iOS 18 rolls around.
Its ergonomics aren't perfect, with Hohem's iSteady V3 letting you pull the controls out of the gimbal completely for more comfortable and remote operation, while DJI managed to include rotation speed control within the OM 6's joystick (speed for the effect of the Flow Pro's joystick can only be altered in the Insta360 app).
As the video above highlights, the stability provided by the Flow Pro is a clear step-up from even the best iPhone's in-camera stabilization system, however, it doesn't iron the bounce of regular footfall completely. So, as numerous experienced gimbal users have suggested already, considered physicality to optimize the smoothness of final footage is still recommended (Google 'gimbal ninja walk' for more insight on this).
The test footage also highlights Insta360's Deep Track 3.0 technology, which does a stirling job of keeping tabs on people, pets or objects as set up, but is more likely to throw in the towel when tracking conditions become less than ideal, when shooting handheld (if tracking was lost while I used the gimbal freehand, rather than on a stable surface, object tracking would disable itself after losing the target for mere seconds, while it proved far more tenacious when set down on.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Insta360 Flow Pro?
Buy it if...
You want the best gimbal for iPhone The Insta360's first-to-market position as a gimbal with DockKit support grants it far more utility for iPhone users than its competitors.
You like to travel light As well as acing its duties as a smartphone gimbal, the Insta360 Flow Pro's ability to double as a selfie stick, tripod and power bank, while also neatly collapsing down making it a perfect companion for travelers who want to up their shooting game.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best ergonomics If you're looking for a gimbal to accompany you on long shoot days, the short handle and awkward touch controls mean this Flow Pro is far from the most comfortable gimbal out there.
You want the best gimbal for Android While the Flow Pro is positioned as one of the best-placed gimbals for iPhone users right now, functionality for Android users is more in-line with the original Insta360 Flow and many other rival gimbals.
Insta360 Flow Pro review: Also consider
While it's easy to see the benefits of the Insta360 Flow Pro, there are identifiable shortcomings that rivals below address in one area or another.
How I tested the Insta360 Flow Pro
(Image credit: Future| Alex Walker-Todd)
Review test period: three weeks
Tested with: iPhone 15 Pro, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Insta360 app + various iOS apps w/ camera support
Test conditions: Carried the Insta360 Flow Pro around with me and used it to shoot the test footage featured in this review, as well as additional unfeatured footage, plus use in apps like Facebook Messenger
Having picked the Insta360 Flow Pro up from TechRadar's offices, I immediately set about familiarizing myself with the hardware, how it collapses down and deploys, how the additional accessories Insta360 had sent as part of the review functioned (and how they differed from the in-box contents) and then started to film with it.
It took a decent amount of time to become au fait with the button combinations needed to quickly move to the modes and setup I typically preferred, but once learnt, it made from an impressively quick way to jump to elevated smartphone videography, quickly.
As well as filming when out and about, with the evidently strong battery longevity, I used the Flow Pro as an elaborate a desktop phone holder, using its DockKit talents to upgrade video calls with colleagues and friends, while also using it as a power bank when I couldn't find my phone charger on a couple of occasions.
As a reviewer with 13 years experience, and having reviewed numerous smartphones, alongside camera-centric smartphone accessories, I felt confident assessing and scoring the Insta360 Flow Pro in the context of the wider smartphone gimbal market in which it competes.
While probably best known for being the market leader in consumer drones, DJI also has a strong pedigree in content creation accessories. That includes smartphone stabilizers, of which the Osmo Mobile 6 is its current flagship model. Designed to keep your smartphone levelled and steady during video shooting, the Osmo Mobile 6 is basically a handle with a 3-axis gimbal (and extendable selfie stick) attached.
Some of the best phone gimbals feel too large and bulky, and therefore awkward to carry around, or too small and fiddly, and therefore hard to hold comfortably, but the OM 6 sits in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ for me: when folded down it’s almost pocketable, but when unfolded with a phone mounted it feels nicely balanced and pleasingly secure in my hand. It also comes with a mini tripod that threads into the standard tripod mount at the base of the handle. Also inside the box is a USB-A to USB-C cable for battery charging, a magnetic clamp, and a soft microfiber drawstring bag to keep everything together.
Whichever phone you're using (the OM 6 is compatible with a wide range of the best Android phones and best iPhones, although you'll want to check DJI's phone compatibility list) is fixed to the gimbal arm via the magnetic clamp: the clamp squeezes across the width of the phone tightly, and the powerful magnet in its center clicks into place on the arm with a reassuring thunk. I never had any reason to feel like my iPhone would detach while using the gimbal, no matter how much I waved it around, while the magnet meant I could quickly take it out of the clamp and use it if I received a call, or when I’d finished filming.
I found that unfolding and refolding the OM 6 took a bit of getting used to, but once I’d mastered the process I appreciated the fact that I could get the stabilizer functioning in seconds. The quick-launch function immediately turns on the power when the gimbal arm is unfolded, as well as automatically launching the Mimo companion app on your phone (assuming you use a MagSafe iPhone, and it’s been paired with the OM 6 via Bluetooth at least once before) when the magnetic clamp clicks into place. That meant I didn’t have to waste much time setting the thing up – I could pull it out of my bag, unfold it, mount my phone, and get filming in a matter of seconds.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 key specs
Folded dimensions: 189 x 84.5 x 44mm
Unfolded dimensions: 276 x 111.5 x 99mm
Weight (including magnetic clamp): 330g
Grip tripod weight: 72g
Compatible phone weight: 170 to 290g
Compatible phone thickness: 6.9 to 10mm
Compatible phone width: 67 to 84mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C
Battery life: Approx 6.5 hours
The control scheme is refreshingly simple. The M button can be used to cycle between the gimbal modes, or held down to power the OM 6 on and off. Below it is a video and shutter button. Below that is the Switch button: hitting it once switches between the phone’s back and front cameras; twice flips between portrait and landscape mode; and three times switches between photo and video shooting. To the left of those buttons is a thumb stick, which is used to manually control the gimbal movement. On the left side of the handle is the zoom and focus wheel, new to the Osmo Mobile series; pushing this in enables manual focus, while twisting it zooms the camera view in and out. Finally, a trigger on the front can be tapped twice to reset the gimbal position, or held down to ‘lock’ the view in place.
It might sound like a lot to take in, but I found it easy to grasp while handling most of the most-used controls. Anything else that needs adjustment is covered by the Mimo app’s menus and camera controls.
The stabilization offered by the gimbal is excellent, or at least it was for my iPhone 13. The gimbal auto-levels the phone (it can be quickly recalibrated in the Mimo settings menu if you think it’s off, though), and moves it according to the currently selected gimbal mode. 'Follow' is the general-use mode, with the camera view following the gimbal’s movements while remaining level with the horizon. 'Tilt Locked' is similar, but the view won’t tilt up or down. 'FPV' will pan, tilt and roll the camera view according to the gimbal’s movement, and works well for dynamic moving shots. Finally, 'SpinShot' allows the user to rotate the camera view with the joystick while keeping it pointed in the same direction; it can create some dramatic effects, but probably won’t be anyone’s most-used option.
The gimbal movements feel smooth and, for want of a better word, ‘logical’. By which I mean they didn’t surprise me and, in general, went where I wanted them to go. Coupled with the comfortable, well-balanced grip (which can be extended by screwing in the folding mini tripod), it made for an intuitive, responsive and all-round pleasant experience.
Image 1 of 4
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 with selfie stick extended (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 4
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 control panel (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 3 of 4
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 trigger and zoom/focus wheel (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 4 of 4
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on mini tripod (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
DJI’s Mimo camera app feels refined and intuitive. The UI layout is simple and easy to get to grips with, with the shooting modes displayed at the bottom and selectable via swipes to the left and right. As well as video and photo modes, Mimo allows the OM 6 to shoot auto-stitched panorama photos as well as slow-motion, hyper-lapse, time-lapse and ‘dyna-zoom’ videos (the latter being Hitchcockian dolly zooms, essentially). It also offers two special modes: Parents&Kids, for automatically capturing family interactions from a static position, and Story, for filming and editing (which includes transitions, music and color grading) short videos to be immediately shared to social media.
The OM 6 also offers ActiveTrack 6.0, DJI’s object-tracking system. This will recognize and track faces automatically, but any object can be tracked by drawing a box around it in the camera view. Then, as the object moves, the gimbal will adjust the camera view to keep it in frame. It’s something that’s great for vlogging, either while walking with the gimbal or with it set up on its tripod nearby, as the vlogger can move around without having to worry about moving out of frame. That being said, the Insta360 Flow Pro’s tracking is faster and smoother, and its design allows it to ‘infinitely’ track a subject as it moves around and around it; the OM 6 will spin to a certain extent but then hit its limit, and be unable to follow if its subject leaves the frame.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 price and availability
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is available now, costing from £125 on the DJI UK website and from $139 on Amazon US. It comes in two colour finishes (Slate Gray and Platinum Gray) and can be purchased in a bundle with the first-generation DJI Mic for £344.
In fact, there are a few other areas in which I found the newer, slightly pricier Insta360 Flow Pro a bit more impressive than the Osmo Mobile 6. The Flow Pro has longer battery life (about 10 hours to the OM 6’s 6.5), and a second USB-C port that allows it to act as a power bank, sharing its battery with a phone or other gadget. The Flow Pro also supports Apple’s DockKit framework for iPhones, which means it supports subject tracking not only via its companion app but through the iPhone’s native camera app and 200-plus camera-related apps (including TikTok, Zoom and Blackmagic Camera). For the OM 6, tracking only works through the Mimo app.
The OM 6 does feel more pleasant to use though, with better-placed physical controls and smoother gimbal stabilizer movement. So, it doesn’t feel like a distant runner-up to the Insta360 Flow Pro, but more like a worthy alternative that certain users might prefer.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 3 of 3
DJI Mimo app Stories shooting mode (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
DJI Osmo Mobile 6: Also consider
Insta360 Flow Pro Despite being a relative newcomer to the smartphone gimbal space, Insta360’s compact foldable gimbal feels like the current model to beat – on tech at least. With excellent battery life, a power bank function and the ability to subject track when using third-party iPhone apps (or the native iPhone camera), it’s an impressive all-rounder, and only slightly more expensive than the Osmo Mobile 6.
DJI Osmo Mobile SE Available for a significantly less than the Osmo Mobile 6, its DJI stablemate offers very similar features in a similar-sized product, including ActiveTrack 6.0 and the magnetic phone clamp. Interestingly, its battery life is slightly better than the Osmo Mobile 6’s, but it lacks the extendable selfie stick and doesn’t quick launch (i.e. immediately turn on when unfolded).
Should I buy the DJI Osmo Mobile 6?
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Buy it if...
You want the best smartphone stabilizer user experience Smartphone stabilizers can be fiddly – but not this one. The comfy grip, well-placed controls and intuitive gimbal movements make the OM 6 a joy to use.
Don't buy it if...
How I tested the DJI Osmo Mobile 6
One week of use
Tested with iPhone 13
Used for B-roll and vlogs
I spent a week using the Osmo Mobile 6 in a variety of situations with my iPhone 13. I tested out all of the video and photo modes available in the Mimo app in both outdoor and indoor situations, and found the OM 6’s compact size and lightweight build a great asset for on-the-go vlogging.
