One way around this is to use a tracking phone mount. Many current gimbals feature a tracking function, but the OBSBOT Me is the first we’ve seen that doesn’t depend on a mobile app. Instead, it has its own built-in camera system, just for tracking. But will it improve your videos?

OBSBOT Me Kickstarter Campaign

The OBSBOT Me device was funded following a successful Kickstarter campaign, with 551 backers pledging $444,942 (HK$ 3,458,929) to make the project a reality. Our test unit comes from the Kickstarter, the discounted early-bird $109 KS Special - Extension Combo which features:

OBSBOT Me OBSBOT Me Tripod USB Type-C Cable OBSBOT Me Travel Case Selfie Ring Light Camera Remote Shutter

This review focuses on the OBSBOT Me core components available to buyers now rather than the ring light and remote shutter extras.

What You Get With the OBSBOT Me

The OBSBOT Me ships with a professional-looking box, which contains a small, molded carry pouch. This includes the tripod, OBSBOT Me, and charge cable. A user manual is also included, as is a small plastic coin-sized disc.

With a zip opening and rubber grip on the heavy-duty fabric handle, the carry pouch is clearly intended as a go-anywhere solution for the OBSBOT Me. After all, if the device is charged up and you’re ready to go, it’s small and flexible enough that you can use it almost anywhere.

Just remember, what you don’t get with the OBSBOT Me is a mobile app. Everything relies on the camera and AI-powered auto-tracking.

OBSBOT Me: It’s Not a Gimbal

While the unfolded and operational device resembles a Minion balancing a phone on its head, the OBSBOT Me has no mischievous motivations.

And it most certainly isn’t a gimbal.

Picking up the OBSBOT Me won’t give you the nice, smooth motion you would expect from a gimbal. That’s not what it’s for. With a tripod attached, the OBSBOT Me should be carefully placed, a smartphone attached, and footage recorded.

It’s not a gimbal – it’s far simpler than that.

What’s Inside the OBSBOT Me?

Weighing 7oz (200g) and unfolding to 2.68 x 2.2 x 5.47 inches (68 x 56 x 139mm), the OBSBOT Me is strong enough to hold a phone up to its own weight of 7oz (200g), 2.17-3.31 inches (55-84mm) wide, and less than 0.41 inches (10.5mm thick).

Inside the sturdy black plastic case is a brushless motor, powered by a Li-polymer battery with 950mAh capacity. The maximum operating time is 120 minutes, with a 75-minute charge, via a USB Type-C port. There is a safe usage range of 0-40 degrees Celsius.

The motor give you a controllable pan range across 150 degrees, to a structural maximum of 160 degrees. A maximum speed of 120 degrees per second has been cited, making it suitable for fast movement at a distance.

Along with the USB Type-C port, the outside of the OBSBOT Me features a multi-function power button and a ring LED to display status. When green, the device is powered on; when blue, it is searching for a subject to track.

While a small tripod is included in the kit, the OBSBOT Me also has a standard ¼-inch connector for full sized tripods and other mounting solutions.

Setting Up OBSBOT Me

It’s important to charge OBSBOT Me before use. While the USB Type-C cable is long enough to cope with any motion, the possibility remains that it might get tangled up.

Once this is done, you can unfold the device. Grab the odd-looking cylindrical section with one hand and rotate the arm at the back. This has locking stages every 90 degrees, a feature that comes in handy for some scenarios. It feels robust enough to last for a while, too.

With the arm in the preferred position, the tripod can be attached and the legs opened. Once the phone is gripped in position (portrait and landscape options are available), further adjustments can be made to the clamp using the coin-like disc. This slackens a ball joint in the back of the clamp, which should be tightened when the phone (or camera) is positioned as intended.

Key Features That Make OBSBOT Me Ideal for Vloggers

Why would a vlogger use the OBSBOT Me rather than a standard gimbal and phone mounted on a tripod? Well, it’s lightweight, foldable, and portable, for a start, and comes with a handy carry case.

It’s also very easy to use. Gesture control and AI tracking are handled by an “advanced neural network” to ensure the subject is tracked in the center of the video. The wide-angle camera has a 120-degree sensor, rotating left and right as required thanks to the brushless motor.

Using Your Phone With the OBSBOT Me

And, of course, there’s no pairing required between the OBSBOT Me and your phone. You can just position the OBSBOT Me, mount the phone, launch the camera app, and power up the AI-powered selfie phone mount.

Tracking is initiated using a gesture. The idea here is that you raise a hand, palm forward, so it is next to your head, as if waving. When detected, this can lock and unlock tracking.

However, gesture detection isn’t always reliable. Fortunately, the OBSBOT Me features manual target locking. A quick press of the power button will lock the OBSBOT Me to whatever it is pointing at. If no target is found, the LED ring will flash blue as the device searches for a target.

Tracking distance is optimal between around two to eight feet, but detection should work up to 50 feet. It can work at greater distances, too, but this will depend on local environmental factors such as lighting. For this review, we tried forcing the OBSBOT Me to lock onto inanimate objects and animals. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to want to know, apparently interested only in tracking humans. While this might have been useful for following a ball, or a car, for example, it sadly proved impossible.

Another shortcoming is that tracking occurs on a single, horizontal plane. Whereas gimbals with motion tracking can tilt up and down if necessary, the OBSBOT Me is limited to flat left/right tracking. This isn’t a deal-breaker as the phone’s tilt can be altered, but it does restrict what might have been possible with the device.

All of This Without a Mobile App

Usually, apps are required for use with a gimbal and similar stands. They pair the phone with the gimbal, enabling complete control, and record the footage. It’s a smart relationship, albeit not one without problems. Bluetooth isn’t perfect; it also contributes to battery drain, not just on the phone but the gimbal.

A smart stand like the OBSBOT Me, capable of tracking, doesn’t just make everything easier, it lets you use the camera app you prefer, rather than the one included in an associated mobile app as with gimbals.

It doesn’t matter if this is the native camera or a third-party app. OBSBOT Me will work with any smartphone camera app because it has no idea what app is running. You might even be livestreaming on Twitter.

On the other hand…

You Might Prefer a Gimbal

As remarkable as the OBSBOT Me is, you might prefer a gimbal that includes a tripod.

After all, not only do you get the advantage of remote control and various advanced camera movements, you can also pick it up and take it with you. This level of flexibility is excluded from the OBSBOT Me. In fairness, it isn’t trying to be anything more than a motion detection unit with a camera mount and motor. But it lacks the flexibility you can enjoy from a single unit gimbal with tripod attachment.

Basically, you’re looking at a trade-off between pick-up-and-go and I’ll-leave-it-here. If you’re likely to be recording on location regularly, the OBSBOT Me is not for you. For regular indoor shoots and vlogs, meanwhile, it is the perfect solution.

Other Cameras and the OBSBOT Me

With its ¼-inch connector, you can mount the OBSBOT Me on any compatible tripod. But what about adding other cameras?

Well, they’re largely out. If the camera cannot be held by the mounting clasp, it can’t be used with OBSBOT Me. GoPro and similar action cams can be used, but not without what is termed on the website as a “platform adapter” but which probably refers to a mount plate adapter.

Remember, the OBSBOT Me is pretty light, so the camera you use should not be too heavy. It won’t work with DSLRs.

The OBSBOT Me: It’s Basically for Vlogging

If you’re vlogging or making video calls and want to look awesome, the OBSBOT Me is a great piece of kit to have to hand. It’s light, recharges reasonably quickly, and can be mounted on a standard tripod.

But most importantly, it doesn’t require a mobile app to sync with your phone. The motion detection provided by the OBSBOT Me is all in the little camera on the base. There’s no Bluetooth connection to mess around up, so setup is minimal. In short, you switch it on, mount your phone, launch the preferred video app, and hit record or stream.

This instant-start capability and consequent ease of use make the OBSBOT Me a highly recommended device for all vloggers. However, you can get the same functionality from a gimbal, so it all depends on how much you like your camera app, and whether you have the budget for the OBSBOT Me.