The Best Camera Gear for Your Smartphone

Mobile tripods are a dime a dozen, but KraftGeek's JustTap tripod is unique. As the name suggests, you tap the tripod on the ground to extend the three legs, and you can extend it upward for a total length of 65 inches. There are even two adjustment points at the top so you can angle the tripod properly.

The model I'm recommending here has a magnetic ring at the top for MagSafe and Qi2 devices, but KraftGeek offers a slightly cheaper version with a standard clamp. Regardless of which version you get, KraftGeek includes a small Bluetooth remote that attaches to the tripod magnetically so you don't have to touch your smartphone to hit the shutter button.

Gimbals are often incredibly annoying to work with, but if you think you'll benefit from one, there are two main mobile gimbals to consider: the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro and the DJI Omso Mobile 7P (DJI just announced a Mobile 8, but I haven't tested it yet). Out of the two, I prefer the Insta360. It's a tight race, but it comes with a handful of useful extras that justify its higher price, including a better tracking module that works across apps, and much more flexibility when it comes to rotating the gimbal around.

Although DJI's controls are more intuitive for someone coming from a proper DSLR gimbal, I found the Insta360 Flow 2's stabilization to hold up better, particularly at the edges of the range of motion where the DJI gimbal would start to rumble. If you're on a budget, the Osmo Mobile 7P is a great option. The Insta360 Flow 2 really shines with its Pro version, which comes with extra features like Apple DockKit support and infinite pan tracking.

Your smartphone's camera is already great, but its key shortcoming is the built-in tiny lens. A bigger lens means more detailed and more dramatic images. That's where Moment comes in. Using professional-grade optics, Moment lenses greatly expand your phone camera's capabilities. The company's T-Series lenses replace the older M-Series and take advantage of the larger image sensors in modern phones. We've tested several of these lenses and highly recommend the 1.33X Anamorphic Lens for anyone looking to capture cinematic video; the 10X Macro Mobile Lens for supreme close-ups; and the 14-mm Fisheye Mobile Lens, which is plain fun.

To use any of Moment's lenses, you will need a Moment Phone Case (available for recent iPhones), but the designs are stylish, and they offer excellent all-around protection. You will also need to purchase the $5 drop-in lens mount for the iPhone cases, which is how you screw the lenses into the case. iPhone owners will want to use Moment's Pro Camera app, which makes it easy to switch cameras and de-squeeze the footage from the anamorphic lens. If you'd like, you can also attach this filter to the lenses, which can let you cut glare from bodies of water, shoot long exposures, or get better photos of the sunrise or sunset.

I don't recommend buying these lenses if you have a Google Pixel or Samsung phone; Moment used to make cases for those devices, but it seems to have stopped making cases for Android.

Moment's Supercage is built like a tank. It's a sturdy, highly flexible camera rig for your phone, but what I love most about it is the integrated USB-C hub. Attach a cable to your phone, and you have outputs for wired headphones, a microphone, HDMI, an SD card, and two additional USB-C ports, which you can leverage for external accessories like an SSD or power bank.

The rig is built well, and Moment clearly thought through the practical use cases. A rail system runs around every edge for additional attachments, and you'll find dozens of threads of varying sizes on every surface, alongside cold shoe mounts. There are even a few extra cutouts for managing cables if things get out of hand.

The Supercage is expensive at $200, and you'll spend even more with accessories that range from $50 to $100. But as long as phones use USB-C, you'll be able to use the SuperCage for years (or even decades) to come. If you don't need the USB-C hub, Moment also offers the Basecage for a lot less cash, and it offers many of the same benefits in terms of attachment points.

I also tested the SmallRig x Brandon Li All-in-One Video Kit ($240), a solid iPhone-specific cage, but it's expensive. You get more accessories included in the box, but it lacks the integrated hub that really makes the Supercage shine.

The Peak Design Creator Kit is kind of like one of those handy USB-C hubs—it's the link between your phone and a variety of different mounting solutions. You get a magnetic locking mount that works with the Peak Design Everyday Case (available for select iPhones, Google Pixel, and Samsung phones), and a few different mounting options: a Peak Design Arca quick-release plate, a 1/4-inch tripod mount, and a GoPro mount adapter. That means you can easily mount this thing on almost any tripod or GoPro mount. Your phone, with the case protecting it, will easily slot into the SlimLink mount and stay secure. It's easy to remove with one hand, too.

You'll get the most out of it if you're already in the Peak Design ecosystem, since the Arca quick release (the plate that mounts to the company's Capture clip and Peak Design tripods) is the star of the show, making it super easy to swap mounting solutions without having to unscrew a bunch of things or get out an Allen wrench. With the Capture clip, you can use the Creator Kit to mount your phone to your body–via the strap of a backpack, a clip on your belt, or even a clip on your camera bag for vlogs or as a secure carrying solution.

The latest iPhone Pro models (15 and newer) can record up to 4K at 60 frames per second (or even up to 120 frames per second on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro) in Apple's ProRes format. There's just one problem—you can't record it natively. You need an external SSD, and if you don't want to invest in a case or have your portable SSD dangling off the back of your phone, you'll need something like the Dockcase Magnetic Visual SSD enclosure.

You'll need to bring your own SSD—it accepts 2242 and 2230 M.2 sizes—but this enclosure allows you to record in ProRes to an SSD that's attached to the back of your phone. It has a visual readout so you can make sure everything's functioning properly, and it even includes dual USB-C ports, allowing you to charge your phone while recording.

I could easily pack this guide full of different mobile lenses, but I want to highlight something unique: this probe lens from Sandmarc. If you aren't familiar, a probe lens is a long, thin macro lens, built to get into tight spaces for extreme close-ups. Combined with a wide field of view, a probe lens creates an effect that makes tiny details and objects look massive within a frame.

I've had a ton of fun playing around with Sandmarc's probe lens over the past several weeks. Along with an all-metal construction, Sandmarc includes a manual focus ring—it's paramount to nail focus with a probe lens—as well as a string of LED lights around the front element since macro photo and video requires a lot of light.

You'll need a case with a 17-mm thread to use Sandmarc's probe lens. I'm a fan of Sandmarc's own Pro Leather case, but there are cheaper options from brands like Neewer as well.

Shiftcam's ProGrip comes close to turning your phone into a full-on DSLR. Once you attach your phone, the ProGrip can pair via Bluetooth. Use its onboard buttons to control your shutter, and its included power pack keeps your phone charged (with wireless charging that should work with iPhones and Android phones). It's pretty bulky, but hey, it's way lighter than a DSLR.

It's a good choice if you're going to be out and about shooting a lot of photos, or if you want a grip that can do double duty as a tripod mount (it can prop your phone vertically or horizontally). I've taken this on a hike, and it was great—it makes you feel like your phone is very secure when you're crossing rough terrain. The extra battery life kept my handset alive much longer than usual. The starter kit includes a carrying case, a cold shoe mount to attach another camera accessory, like a video light, and a hand strap.

Good video is nothing without good audio. Microphones can get expensive and cumbersome, but since we're trying to keep things lean here, I'd recommend the Rode VideoMic Go. It's my personal go-to when I'm shooting something and want to keep my kit lightweight. It's super small, and it doesn't need an external power source; it just plugs into the phone's 3.5-mm jack (or your dongle) like a pair of headphones.

The audio quality isn't studio-grade by any means, but it's definitely better than the mic on your phone, and it's capable of picking up clean sound from a good distance.

Moment offers several tripod mounts compatible with MagSafe phones, but my favorite is the multi-threaded mount. It's just a flat disc of metal with several holes drilled in it, and each hole corresponds to a different size of tripod screw.

It's small enough to stick into any camera kit and versatile enough that I have yet to encounter a tripod I can't use it with. Once you pop your phone onto the mount, it clings to it with a surprisingly powerful magnetic grip. It's just an excellent tool to have on hand, and I've used it way more than I thought I would. It has worked for everything from stabilizing my phone for video calls to turning my phone into an “emergency” backup low-light landscape shooter–when I forgot to charge my camera batteries before going on a scenic walk on the beach. This one is specifically for use with Apple's MagSafe technology, but it should work just fine with Qi2 or Qi2 Ready phones.

KraftGeek's HaloGlow light quickly became one of my favorite camera accessories, mobile or otherwise. It's the size of a MagSafe ring, and it'll magnetically hook onto the back of your device. You can flip up the light from there for a soft glow, with three different color temperatures and brightness settings.

You don't need to connect the HaloGlow to the back of your phone, though. The magnetic ring serves as a stand, and you can recharge the light with USB-C. It's been a great little light to have around in my bag whenever I need a little extra oomph in my shots, and I've gotten a ton of mileage out of it even in my DLSR photography.

There are a lot of great camera bags floating around, but for a compact setup with your phone, it's tough to beat the Long Weekend Monterey Sling. It's tiny with just a 2-liter capacity, but WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu says that's enough space to fit a phone, gimbal, a few mobile lenses, and even a spare battery in the front pocket. Outside of being functional, it also looks fantastic. You're not going to find a bag that turns heads quite like the Monterey Sling with its unique retro colorways.

Check out our Best Camera Bags, Best Fanny Packs, and Best Messenger Bags guides if you're looking for more options.

The Nimble Champ has topped our Best Power Banks guide for a while, and the latest Series 2 update cements that lead. It's lightweight and powerful, with versions ranging from a 5,200-mAh bank that can charge at up to 15 watts, up to a 20,000-mAh battery that can output 65 watts. The small version is about the size of a credit card and weighs just 6.2 ounces, despite sporting dual USB-C ports. This is a traditional power bank, but we have a guide filled with MagSafe power banks as well. Those will magnetically stick to the back of your phone and wirelessly recharge it.