AOCHUAN Official Store via Amazon has
AOCHUAN 3-Axis Smart XE Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphones (Smart XE, iPhone/Android) for $51.99 - $20.79 when you visit the
promo code page to activate (or apply promo code
V7CYILWT at checkout) =
$31.19.
Shipping is free.
- Note: Promo codes are typically for one-time use and don't always apply seamlessly. If you run into this issue, refresh the page, re-enter the code, or revisit the cart page.
Thanks to Deal Hunter
Navy-Wife for finding this deal.
About this item:
- Product Dimensions: 11.76" D x 1.65" W x 1.81" H
- Item Weight: 345 Grams
- Folded Size: 163 x 108 x 55 mm
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Review on Amazon: Affordable Gimbal for Tripod based tracking. https://www.amazon.com/gp/custome...uage=
1. Movement Performance: When the camera is moving (e.g., while walking) and the subject is also moving, the gimbal does not perform well. My videos were often jittery, making steady recording while walking a genuine challenge.
2. App Dependency & Resolution: Recording and tracking work exclusively through the Aochuan app. I was disappointed to find that the app did not offer a 4K video option for my Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Confusing "3-Axis" Claim: The technical specifications are a bit misleading. This gimbal features only two main rotating axis motors for stabilization. The third motor simply rotates the phone between landscape and portrait orientations. Other premium gimbals typically feature three actual stabilizing rotating motors, separate from the rotation motor.
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Review on Amazon: Affordable Gimbal for Tripod based tracking. https://www.amazon.com/gp/custome...uage=
1. Movement Performance: When the camera is moving (e.g., while walking) and the subject is also moving, the gimbal does not perform well. My videos were often jittery, making steady recording while walking a genuine challenge.
2. App Dependency & Resolution: Recording and tracking work exclusively through the Aochuan app. I was disappointed to find that the app did not offer a 4K video option for my Pixel 8 Pro.
3. Confusing "3-Axis" Claim: The technical specifications are a bit misleading. This gimbal features only two main rotating axis motors for stabilization. The third motor simply rotates the phone between landscape and portrait orientations. Other premium gimbals typically feature three actual stabilizing rotating motors, separate from the rotation motor.
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Edit: I have an iphone 17
I'm very beginner but I think I got a hand of most of the modes now- People on the ship think I'm a professional videographer or some YouTube personality. You don't need to use the app for the simple modes, but way more fine tuning is available if use the app, such as adjusting the scroll speed.
Attached it to a cheap tripod and I get great balcony and astronomy shots on my phone.
The first one I ordered did come missing some parts 😅
It's more than a toy, but not a power-user device, IMO. If you want to play around with it, you likely won't find better for the price.
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My normal gimbal is the Insta360 Flow 2. The software is way way ahead of the Smart V8 (or XE). It can track multiple people, say 3 people and keep them all in frame. It is quick and has no problem keeping your face centered. If you walk away it can zoom in and if you come closer it will zoom out. The 180/360 degree & sphere panoramas work and have color matching so they are seamless - the AOCHUAN is like a badly stitched panorama from the early days. Insta360 really has good software on their entire product line.
My recommended models:
Insta360 Flow 2 - $75.99 - https://www.amazon.com/Insta360-F...B0F671CKSW
DJI Osmo Mobile 7 - $59 (lowest price ever) - https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Stabil...B07FSS
I don't have experience with the DJI, but I've watched many reviews and people generally love it. There are reviews on Youtube that directly compare those two so watch one if you want to see the differences.
What you are paying for with the DJI & Insta360 is the software and it's worth the extra money.
For the price, it is works. It has a few glitches or issues but one that is a deal breaker. Several times while filming the camera rocked violently 45 degrees and bounces back. Shot over, start over. What... If... It was a once in a lifetime event, the bride and groom are about to be announced as man and wife, your baby is taking first steps and..... Violent camera movement occurs.
I have a small, very small Youtube channel about my hobby, and it has been a big change for me and the way I shoot my content. Not going to lie, it helps. but... The shortcomings outweigh the benefits.
Cons:
- Not great for BIG phones, check the model you have, it may have issues and hit the gimbal arm when using.
- The clip the phone locks into is not great with my phone case, so I have to remove the case and put it in my pocket (I have lost my case twice) in order to get it to work. My Rockform Case is heavy, and bulky. The weight of the case, and the thickness has made it impossible to use with my case. While this is not unusual with gimbals, it is annoying. DJI has an option for a magnetic mount that allows you to keep the case on.
- Randomly it will glitch while using and do a 1/8th rotation that ruins the shot and cause a reshoot. Sometimes it is my fault, phone is not centered, I have it on wrong setting it did not like the way I turned, and othertimes... no clue. It does not do it a lot but has done it and I am not sure why.
- Hand Gestures... I found myself giving a hand gesture that was not supported. The ol' Gen-X middle figure. The OK or Palm movement did nothing. I could not get it to work. I had to start and stop shots manually and edit later.
- Head or Body follow. It works sometimes. Really well on the selfie camera, but flip it around to use the main back camera, it was hit or miss. If someone was in frame it would follow and capture. If I started a shot walked into frame... nothing. This... was the final deal breaker. I want to use it, gave it a week of effort, watched videos, and nobody addressed it...
- Software... Can I trust some random Chinese companies' software on my phone? Don't mean to sound paranoid, but... Most of the companies are government owned... No idea what maybe lurking in the app. Besides it has some bloat in it that is taking up memory that I can use for other things, like an extra video or two.
Pros
- The app is has some pretty good features, but... Most gimbal apps have similar features. They are also there on DJI App. All better camera settings that what comes loaded on iPhone or Android cameras
- You can manupulate ISO speeds and exposures easily it has a ton of features.
-The follow me feature,is good when it works.
-Time lapse, There is not guesswork anymore. Pick a shooting time, want it to be a minute or 30 seconds? It will take the clip and calculate it for that time frame. Or... You can choose an interval of .5s to a second for each shot to be taken to create the time lapse. No more just setting up a shot, have a bit of real time video before the time lapse, and no editing it to the duration.
-Trajectory delay - I set up a shot that I wanted the camera to start on this tree, pan and stop on a product on a table. I clicked on both spots and got a smooth "overhead dolly shot" with no effort.
-Want a panoramic photo, but don't want to follow that line with arrow? Just start on one side hit record and perfectly smooth shot is taken. This worked VERY well and is a great feature.
I did not know how much I would like using a Gimbal until I tried this one. I was willing to try to make it work, but a DJI version was just posted for $100 at Bestbuy and matched by many other online retailers. I am going to try that one. My friend has one and swears by it. I looked at it last night, and played with it on his phone. It is an improvement.
I also used American Airlines Retail portal, got 500 miles for purchase over $100 (needed a filler) and x2 miles for purchasing off Best Buy. Plus x2 points on credit card. Was not my reason to buy it but 700+ miles keeps my frequent flyer account active another year. Whenever I can get a bonus on a purchase I try to max it out.
For the price, it is fabulous. It has a few glitches or issues but nothing that is a deal breaker.
(trimmed)
Trajectory travel (slowly over time) - I think the time lapse in the app is a different setting that is for a static shot. For trajectory, you can set multiple points that the camera moves through very slowly. I set two points and had it move from A to B. B had sunlight in frame, A did not. What happened was the final clip sped up once the sun was in the shot. The reason is it wasn't considering exposure time in the translation. It moves a tiny bit, takes a photo, waits time, repeats. Problem is the time it waits should be adjusted by the exposure time. Insta360 does this.
Any panorama shot will likely have color issues because it's not locking color nor exposure for the shot. I tried setting a point to lock exposure before then hitting record for the panorama, but it ignores it. Now Insta360 also operates using unlocked color and exposure, but the software is so good that it stitches everything together perfectly. Insta360 has been working on stitching algorithms for a decade and they have possibly the best in the business. If AOCHUAN can't stitch properly then they should give the option to lock color & exposure.
The follow me on Flow 2 is quicker to follow and you can also toggle automatic zoom in and out. This app is sluggish. It's fine if you are in frame and moving slightly, but if you move significantly it can be slow enough that your body becomes partially out of view.
These may seem like nit-picks, but I was expecting better. For what you are describing I am happy it meets your needs and it certainly isn't a bad value at this price. At full price of $55-$60, there is absolutely no reason to get this - get the Flow 2 for $75 instead or DJI.
What I was expecting for this gimbal was a device with less features than the Flow 2, but it did them well. My review of this unit (well, the V8 which is similar & same app) is that this unit tries to do all the features of the Flow 2 but it does them in mediocre fashion. The Flow 2 performs exceptionally well and the Flow 2 Pro (for about $50 more) adds only a couple more improvements, such as it can follow you around in full 360 rotation.
The biggest pro for this budget gimbal is that it lets you get introduced to this world at a low price. You can see how much it helps improve your shots and learn some techniques. If you use it often and it helps you, I would suggest upgrading to the DJI or Insta360 product lines.
Attached is an example of a panorama (3x3) taken with the AOCHUAN app. Note the major color disparities along stitch lines. There is no line of color change on the left in real life, that's an artifact from the stitching process.
also trimmed .
I was VERY frustrated with the AOCHAUN two nights ago. It kept ruining shots and acting like a digital toddler. It would not follow with the follow me feature, it would not respond to hand gestures, and kept violently resetting in middle of shot.
Talked to my buddy who convinced me to start a Youtube. He uses all DJI, but with his Youtube income, the channel pays for his toys so he has a bunch. I played around with his set up and saw how much smoother and easier it was to use.
So... Got one. I am returning this AOCHUAN, It was... OK... I look at it as a gateway device. It showed me the potential, I love the idea, but did not love this device after reallllllly using it. Thanks for the input. I ended up seeing the light after the fact. You were right
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I just edited my previous post and saw this. I picked up the DJI Osmo last night for $100.
I was VERY frustrated with the AOCHAUN two nights ago. It kept ruining shots and acting like a digital toddler. It would not follow with the follow me feature, it would not respond to hand gestures, and kept violently resetting in middle of shot.
Talked to my buddy who convinced me to start a Youtube. He uses all DJI, but with his Youtube income, the channel pays for his toys so he has a bunch. I played around with his set up and saw how much smoother and easier it was to use.
So... Got one. I am returning this AOCHUAN, It was... OK... I look at it as a gateway device. It showed me the potential, I love the idea, but did not love this device after reallllllly using it. Thanks for the input. I ended up seeing the light after the fact. You were right
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