REVIEWS / GIMBALS / OWNER INSIGHTS
🦉 WE READ 51 OWNER COMMENTS
Zhiyun Smooth 5S: what owners actually say
Owners find the Smooth 5S hardware capable but repeatedly frustrated by app limitations, accessory availability, and cheaper competitors catching up on software features
What owners complain about
- App/camera compatibility issues SOME
Users report that ZY Cami and StaCam apps fail to work properly with certain phones (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra), with driver-level incompatibility suspected; unlocking 4K 60fps requires finding a hidden 'Experimental' option in the app, and some frame rates are unsupported on certain phone operating systems.
- Portrait mode instability FEW
One owner reports the gimbal kept flipping from portrait to landscape orientation if turned slightly, making vertical filming unreliable.
- External mic difficulty FEW
An owner reports it is very difficult to use an external microphone with the gimbal.
- Cheaper competitors outperforming on software SOME
Owners note that cheaper gimbals like Aochuan offer reliable tracking and gesture control without needing a separate AI tracker or subscriptions, and Hohem's iSteady M6 has a more useful OLED screen — suggesting Zhiyun's advantage is eroding on the app side.
- Parts and website availability FEW
Users unable to find replacement parts in stores, resorting to AliExpress; one owner calls Zhiyun's own website broken and unreliable.
What owners love
- Feature-rich for content creation
Owners describe it as packed with features that make it a strong option for covering events and creating content.
- Magnetic accessory ecosystem
The magnetic add-on capability for lights and other attachments is highlighted as a standout, with owners hoping Zhiyun expands the accessory range.
- Serviceable stabilisation
Owners acknowledge that Zhiyun is a leader in the gimbal space and the hardware is perfectly serviceable for phone-level stabilisation.
Surprising patterns
- Unlocking 4K 60fps requires navigating to a hidden 'Experimental' option inside the ZY Cami app's shooting page — not enabled by default and not well documented.
- Owners are trying to mount external SSDs directly to the gimbal using the 1mm screw slot or a 90-degree adapter, indicating a DIY workflow for ProRes video that Zhiyun doesn't officially address.
- The AI tracker may not be included in the box for the 5S AI variant, catching at least one buyer by surprise.
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT
Buyers who want reliable plug-and-play vertical/portrait shooting, seamless external mic use, or class-leading app tracking without subscriptions may find cheaper competitors better suited to their needs.
Synthesised from 51 real owner comments across 2 platforms. Every point is grounded in the comments — no marketing, no AI guessing. How we do it →