How to Choose the Best Tripod For Your Phone

Mark Preston

With the popularity of TikTok and Instagram Reels in the previous year, many people are looking for ways to capture content by themselves. With the current restrictions around the world, many people have found themselves all alone and struggling to create fun videos to share online without any assistance. That’s where a tripod for your phone comes into play. A phone tripod can prop up your phone in any location, whether that’s at home or out and about exploring your city. Today we’re going to share with you everything you need to know about choosing the best tripod for your phone, so you can enjoy capturing images and videos by yourself when needed.

What Material Should a Tripod Be Made From?

Depending on your budget, you’ll find your material options will vary. If you are just looking for an inexpensive tripod for your smartphone, you’ll generally find they are made of plastic. However, an improved model, such as the LINKCOOL Phone Tripod, would be made from aluminum. This tripod is a lightweight tool that you would enjoy traveling with anywhere in the world without it being too heavy to carry around all day. Another popular material for high-quality tripods is carbon fiber. A carbon fiber tripod is your best bet for a long-lasting tripod that will last you for over five years. Aluminum tripods generally don’t last much longer than four or five years but come at a lower price point.

Head Types

In comparison to camera tripods, you’ll find tripods for phones are a little more limited in their head type. You are likely to mainly see ball or tilt heads, which are very easy for beginners to use. A classic tripod for an iPhone or similar device, such as the Mpow Tripod, will offer 360-degree rotation so you can place it on any surface and capture the perfect image each time. Ensure the tripod you purchase is easy to swivel around, especially if you are looking to use it to create panoramas or videos of your surroundings. This will help to avoid jolty movements, which can look terrible on camera.

Weight

When comparing the best tripods for your phone, we always recommend looking for a lightweight option. As we mentioned above, aluminum is one of the best materials for a lightweight device, and you’ll find it easy to carry around with you everywhere you go. If you are planning to take your tripod out and about with you, find a tripod that is easy to pack down and that won’t take up much weight or space in your luggage. 

Also, ensure any tripod you purchase is designed for your model of phone. If you have an iPhone 12, for example, look for tripods specifically for this device. We all know that phones come in all shapes and sizes today, and there’s no point in purchasing a tripod that won’t carry the weight of the device you have. While a phone tripod is quite different from a regular tripod, these considerations are still very important to ensure you purchase a useful tool for your needs.

Height or Length

If you are looking to film videos of you dancing for TikTok, there’s absolutely no point in having a tripod that’s going to sit low to the ground and cut off your head in each shot. For the optimum setup, find a phone tripod that will allow you to have your whole body in each shot regardless of where you set it up. Also, if you are planning to use your tripod from behind, you’ll want to ensure you can have your phone at about eye level. You don’t want to be slouching over your phone or rounding your back just to see what’s happening on the screen. Find an adjustable tripod that you can move up and down to fit your shooting requirements for the day.

The Tripod Legs

The tripod legs are possibly the most important part of the device and can make or break how successful the tripod is to use. A traditional tripod will come with three separate legs, which can all be adjusted from the head. However, some tripods today have one main leg, which then splits into three smaller feet. The more sections and legs your tripod has, the more stable it will be on any surface you place it on. Stability is usually one of the most important considerations for more serious photography, so look for a device with leg locks. While a more inexpensive phone holder may seem like a good idea, this is generally a more casual photography device than a tripod.

Lighting

Tripods for phones have advanced greatly in the past few years. For the perfect self-filming setup, consider a tripod with a light. These devices, such as the ones from AIXPI, come with a ring light attached to the tripod. You’ll no longer have to worry about having the perfect lighting for your business social media updates or your personal videos, as they’ll put you in the best light regardless of the time of day you are filming.

A tripod is one of the best accessories you could purchase this year for your phone. It allows you to capture stable and professional photos even if you are traveling or working by yourself. With the current restrictions around the world, many people are finding this to be a great tool for both personal and business use this year.