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Review: OBSBOT Me auto-tracking phone mount

An AI-powered cameraperson for every type of content creator.

Obsbot with carrying case on wooden table
Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie
Budget Pick
The Pro's Choice
Best Choice For Home
$99.00
$279.00
$269.00$239.00
4.0
4.0
4.5
Budget Pick
The Pro's Choice
Best Choice For Home
$269.00$239.00
4.5
03/07/2024 12:07 pm GMT

KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale

Quick Verdict
OBSBOT Me
3.5
$149.00
Quick Verdict: The OBSBOT Me locks onto people quickly and has smooth motion tracking. It gives your video content the feel of having a cameraman without the need to actually have one. The AI can struggle a bit with multiple people in the shot and doesn't have the best battery life.
What We Like:
  • Compact design, locks on for quick tracking, smooth motion tracking, no need for an app or to connect to the Internet, and 300 degrees of rotation
See at Amazon
KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.
03/07/2024 12:07 pm GMT

Our world is increasingly becoming one in which video is the dominant platform for communication and consumption.

Social media, conference calls, and video calls with friends are a large reason for that trend. The OBSBOT Me looks to capitalize on this growing trend with its artificial intelligence (AI) powered phone gimbal.

The company already has an AI-powered webcam and smartphone gimbal, but the Me is more versatile and lets you easily move around.

By utilizing AI, the OBSBOT Me can lock onto a person and automatically track someone’s movements with its built-in camera.

This gives them the freedom to create their content, while giving the video the feel of having a hired cameraperson.

Short on time? Jump ahead

But before we move forward, let’s discuss who this is good for and save anyone’s time before we truck ahead.

Who is this good for?

  • Vloggers or content creators who want a cheap and portable option to play around with
  • Social media influencers who want to make their smartphone videos look less shaky
  • Students looking to create professional-quality footage
  • Travelers who need a light-weight option
  • Suitable for hobbyists, amateurs, students, and travelers
  • People who require high accuracy in their footage
  • Professional photographers or videographers
  • Anyone who prefers going all out on their purchases and doesn’t settle for starter products

The OBSBOT Me may not be the go-to smartphone gimbal for pro-level precision, but it’s a solid budget option for regular folks looking to smooth out their smartphone’s footage.

What’s a smartphone gimbal?

A smartphone gimbal is like a tiny robot for your phone that attaches to your phone.

Smartphone gimbals feature advanced stabilization tech that helps keep your phone’s camera steady and level, ensuring your videos and photos look polished, not like you’re running a marathon while filming.

And with most options, you can control the camera, angle, and more with the gimbal’s handle or app.

Design and setup

Obsbot in case on wooden table shot from above
Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie

The OBSBOT Me has a two-piece design that does its best to get out of your way. The plastic capsule-shaped body features a button, a camera lens, and a foldable phone holder.

It has a small, foldable three-legged stand to get you started, but the ¼-inch mount is compatible with most tripods. With the stand closed, it turns this device into a handheld gimbal.

The button on the OBSBOT Me has a few functions depending on what you are doing. It will power the device on if you are just getting started.

If it is already on, a quick press will let the camera pair with the person in front of it, and a long press will turn the OBSBOT off. 

The bottom half of the body is stationary, while the top half is where the magic happens.

OBSBOT Me Specifications

Size & WeightUnfolded Size: 2.17 inches x 2.62 inches x 8.23 inches
Folded Size: 2.68 inches x 2.20 inches x 5.47 inches
Weight: 7.05 ounces Compatible Phone Weight: 7.05±2.47 ounces Compatible Phone Width: 2.17-3.31 inches
Compatible Phone Thickness: ≤0.41 inches
BatteryMode: Li-polymer
Capacity: 950 mAh
Battery Life: 120 min
Time to Recharge: 75 min
Charging Voltage/Current: 5V/1A
GimbalGimbal Installation: Non-removable
Controllable Range: Pan: ±150°
Structurally Possible Range: Pan: ±160°
Max Control Speed: 120°/s
Charging Port:USB-C
In the BoxOBSBOT Me AI selfie mount
USB Type-C data power cable, tripod ball joint pick
User manual and warranty card

The device can rotate 150 degrees in either direction from center, for 300 degrees of rotation. Thanks to the spring-loaded phone holder, the OBSBOT Me should be able to hold just about any smartphone. 

The phone holder can be rotated, allowing your phone to be positioned vertically and horizontally. It can also be titled up and down.

The phone holder is attached to a foldable arm allowing the device to maintain a small footprint while traveling or when not in use. 

One of the best aspects of the OBSBOT Me is that all you need is the device itself and a phone. There is no app and no account to set up. It doesn’t even connect to the internet.

All of the magic happens on the device itself. Not only does this allow for lightning-fast setup, but it keeps your privacy intact.

Performance

Obsbot with iphone attached to it on top of wooden table
Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie

The OBSBOT Me performed well during my testing, and the camera never had trouble locking onto me.

Thanks to the brushless motor, the auto-tracking was smooth and steady. It was nice to see that the video recording was smooth, not jumpy or jarring.

The 300 degrees of rotation was more than enough for my needs. Unless someone plans to run around in circles, it should be more than enough for most people. 

You have two options to get the camera to lock onto you. You can either trigger it with a gesture (by raising your hand near your face) or push the only button on the OBSBOT.

I typically defaulted to the button, but the gesture worked well enough.

Osbot me status lights close-up on wooden table
Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie

When you first turn the device on, a green light lets you know it is ready to be paired. It will blink blue while acquiring a target and remains solid blue once it’s locked on.

If it loses its target, it will light up orange, letting you know it ran into a tracking issue. This only happened when testing if I went beyond 300 degrees of rotation. It was even able to track me 20 feet away.

The OBSBOT doesn’t have the best battery life. It can make it almost two hours between charges.

The good news is that you can use it while plugged in, which you will need to do for longer recording sessions.

It charges through a USB-C cable and can take up to 75 minutes to reach full power.

Potential issues

Osbot me arm extended with phone holder
Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie

What can be frustrating for some is the lack of any vertical movement. While the device works quite well on a horizontal plane, there is no automatic vertical movement.

You have to manually tilt the phone, which may work for a video call, but would otherwise likely ruin your shot. It also can’t track anything but people, so don’t try it with your pets.

It also struggled a bit if someone walked into my shot. During testing, my kids would jump in and out of the shot.

There were times when the AI got confused and accidentally locked onto my son’s or daughter’s face.

It would quickly adjust back to me, but it would result in a bit of a bounce in the video. This is particularly important for people who record with multiple individuals.

Another issue I found was that the phone holder is made of hard plastic.

When trying to open the clips to get my Pixel 6a into it, it marked up the back of my case. Not a huge deal, but something that should be known.

Alternative options

While the OBSBOT Me is great with its automated AI tracking, other options can get similar results.

There are traditional gimbals for DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, AI-powered webcams that stay stationary on the desk, and non-AI-powered handheld gimbals for smartphones.

  1. Obsbot tiny 4k webcam ai powered framing
    4.5
    $269.00 $239.00

    Why We Like It:

    Depending on your use case, the Obsbot Tiny 4K could be a good fit. Sure, it's not the most portable option, but it's perfect for those of you who mostly film at home.

    With 4K resolution, your footage displays super clearly and detailed. And that webcam? Your viewers will be mind-blown by how smoothly it follows you around.

    See at Amazon Read Our Review

    KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

    03/07/2024 08:02 am GMT
  2. Zhiyun weebill s [official] 3-axis gimbal stabilizer for dslr cameras
    4.0
    $279.00

    Why We Like it:

    The Zhiyun Weebil S gimbal is compatible with a wide range of cameras and lenses, so you can use whatever you already own. In addition, its 8th Instune algorithm makes it super responsive and eliminates jitters for smooth, stable shots.

    And with 14 hours of battery life and an OLED display for easy monitoring, you'll never have to worry about running out of power mid-shoot.

    Buy Now Read Our Review

    KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.

    03/06/2024 04:58 am GMT
  3. Hohem isteady mobile+
    4.0
    $99.00

    Why We Like It:

    The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus may not have the fanciest design, but it's a performance powerhouse that can go toe-to-toe with some of the best options out there.

    It's also packed with fun features like face tracking, object tracking, and various shooting modes. All in all, it's an excellent value for the price. 

    Dive Deeper Read Our Review

    Hohem sponsored deal posts on KnowTechie over the course of a few months in 2023, but that did not influence their spot on this list in any way. Business and editorial remains independent. and will continue to stay independent.

    03/07/2024 12:07 pm GMT

The OBSBOT Tiny 4K is an AI-powered webcam. It features 4K video, HDR, and 4x zoom. While it offers similar AI-powered features, it is stationary and can’t be easily moved around. Read our review below:

The Zhiyun Weebill-S is a great choice for people who need a gimbal for their DSLR or Mirrorless camera.

It has a lot of different accessories to expand its capabilities and has a lightweight and strong motor. Again, here’s some more reading material below.

Lastly, the Hohem iSteady gimbal is perfect for people who want to spend a bit less or don’t need the AI features.

This smartphone gimbal has steady tracking and 12 hours of battery runtime. And it’s built like a rock, says Kevin, our editor-in-chief, “It really has some weight behind it,” he claims.

While each of these offers similar functionality in its own right, only the OBSBOT combines the power of AI for smooth automatic tracking and the convenience of a battery-powered package.

Final verdict

My time with the OBSBOT Me was a pleasant surprise. From the minimal setup to the overall performance, the device generally just worked.

It wasn’t perfect, and it definitely had some tracking hiccups. But maybe all hope isn’t lost.

The good news is that OBSBOT makes a tool that allows for firmware updates, so I hope that can be fixed in a future software update.

You can find the OBSBOT Me at Amazon, OBSBOT, B&H, or Walmart.

Final Verdict
OBSBOT Me
3.5
$149.00

Also available at Amazon, OBSBOT, B&H, Walmart, GameStop, and Newegg.

Quick Verdict: The OBSBOT Me locks onto people quickly and has smooth motion tracking. It gives your video content the feel of having a cameraman without the need to actually have one. The AI can struggle a bit with multiple people in the shot and doesn't have the best battery life.
What We Like:
  • Compact design, locks on for quick tracking, smooth motion tracking, no need for an app or to connect to the Internet, and 300 degrees of rotation
See at Amazon See at B&H
KnowTechie is supported by its audience, so if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale.
03/07/2024 12:07 pm GMT

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Reader Rating0 Votes
0
The Good
Compact design
Locks on for quick tracking
Smooth motion tracking
No need for an app or to connect to the Internet
300 degrees of rotation
The Bad
Mediocre battery life
AI can get confused
No automatic vertical movement
Can only track people
7.5
Overall

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Steve is a tech enthusiast and an avid gamer. He loves writing about, tinkering with, researching, and reviewing the latest technology. When not doing something tech related, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, and hiking.

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