Key takeaways
- A large phone in a case weighs about 230 to 290 g.
- SmallRig rates its magnetic Arca mount for up to 500 g (17.6 oz), which leaves about 40 to 50 percent headroom.
- Add a 30 to 60 g wireless mic receiver or light on the phone’s case and the margin shrinks to about 30 percent.
- Pointing the phone steeply up or down uses even more of that margin, because the magnet must resist sliding as well as pulling.
The best phone tripod mount for most people is a metal screw-down clamp such as the Ulanzi ST-02S. It is cheap and rigid, and it has a cold shoe for a microphone or light. For long time-lapses or heavy phones, the Manfrotto PIXI Clamp’s locking lever stops the slow slip that spring clamps allow. For iPhones on tripods with an Arca-Swiss head, a MagSafe mount such as the Ulanzi MA38 or SmallRig’s magnetic adapter is the fastest to set up.
A tripod mount is the small adapter between your phone and the 1/4″-20 screw on a tripod, selfie stick or light stand. It matters more than it seems, because it decides how firmly the phone is held, whether you can switch quickly between portrait and landscape, and whether you have somewhere to put a mic.
Our top picks
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The three clamp designs
| Design | How it grips | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screw-down clamp | A threaded knob closes the jaws | Rigid, no spring pressure on side buttons, cheap | Slower to mount, limited maximum width |
| Spring clamp with lock | A spring pulls the jaws closed, then a lever locks them | Fast, fits a wide range, secure once locked | Springs can press side buttons, more parts to wear |
| Magnetic (MagSafe or Qi2) | A magnet ring on the phone or case | Fastest, one-handed portrait and landscape change | Less hold than a clamp, needs a magnetic phone or case |
Mount comparison
| Mount | Type | Phone width range | Accessory mounts | Arca-Swiss base | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulanzi ST-02S | Screw-down, aluminum | About 55–85 mm | Cold shoe, two 1/4″-20 | No | $10–$20 |
| Manfrotto PIXI Clamp | Spring with locking lever | 60–104 mm | Cold shoe, side and bottom 1/4″-20 | No | $25–$40 |
| JOBY GripTight Pro | Spring, portrait and landscape rotation | 56–91 mm | Tilt head | No | $30–$50 |
| JOBY GripTight Smart | Spring with Y-lock lever | 60–104 mm | Side and bottom 1/4″-20 | No | $20–$35 |
| Neewer SP-02 | Spring with locking button | Wide-phone range | Cold shoe | Yes | $15–$25 |
| Ulanzi MA38 | MagSafe magnetic | Any MagSafe phone or ring | Varies | Yes | $45–$65 |
| SmallRig MagSafe Arca mount | Magnetic | Any MagSafe phone or ring | 1/4″-20 | Yes | $15–$25 |
Width ranges come from manufacturer specs. Measure your phone in its case across the short side. A 6.9-inch phone in a rugged case can be close to 82 to 85 mm wide, which is at the top of some screw clamps’ range.
Picks by use
Everyday video and travel: Ulanzi ST-02S
The all-metal body and screw jaw make it the most rigid low-cost option. The cold shoe on top takes a small LED or wireless mic receiver, and the second thread on the back lets you mount the phone in portrait without a rotating head. The jaw is close to its limit with the largest phones in thick cases.
Time-lapse and long recordings: Manfrotto PIXI Clamp
Spring clamps can let a phone creep slowly when it is tilted, which ruins time-lapses and stop-motion shots. The PIXI’s lever locks the jaw after the spring closes. That double hold is the reason to choose it, and its 104 mm maximum width handles almost any phone, even in a case.
Switching orientation often: JOBY GripTight Pro
The clamp rotates between portrait and landscape without taking the phone off, and it tilts. That suits creators who post the same clip vertically and horizontally.
Arca-Swiss tripod owners: Neewer SP-02 or a MagSafe Arca mount
If your tripod has an Arca-Swiss head, a mount with an Arca dovetail slides straight in without a separate plate. The Neewer SP-02 does this with a clamp. The Ulanzi MA38 and SmallRig magnetic mounts do it with MagSafe, so you can attach the phone in a second.
How much can a magnetic mount hold?
Magnetic mounts are convenient, but the force holding the phone is limited. Here is a worked example:
- A large phone in a case weighs about 230 to 290 g.
- SmallRig rates its magnetic Arca mount for up to 500 g (17.6 oz), which leaves about 40 to 50 percent headroom.
- Add a 30 to 60 g wireless mic receiver or light on the phone’s case and the margin shrinks to about 30 percent.
- Pointing the phone steeply up or down uses even more of that margin, because the magnet must resist sliding as well as pulling.
For a static shot, that is fine. For a mount on a moving vehicle, a gimbal, or a tripod in wind, use a clamp, or a clamp plus a MagSafe case with a strong ring.
Setup checklist
- Center the phone in the jaw. Off-center mounting adds leverage and makes small tripods tip.
- Keep the clamp clear of side buttons. Screw clamps can be placed exactly. Spring clamps often press the volume rocker, which starts or stops recording on some phones.
- Tighten the tripod screw by hand only. Over-tightening strips the aluminum threads on cheap mounts.
- If you use the cold shoe, put the heaviest accessory on the side nearest the tripod column to balance it.
- For MagSafe, remove thick non-magnetic cases and check the phone sits flat on the ring.
What wears out
- Rubber jaw pads: they compress and peel over time. Replacement is not usually possible, so the mount gets replaced.
- Springs: they lose tension, especially if stored clamped open. Store spring clamps closed.
- Magnet coatings: the rubber ring on some magnetic heads can peel and scratch the case.
- Threads: brass inserts last longer than threads cut directly into aluminum.
FAQ
Do I need a separate mount if my selfie stick has a clamp?
Built-in selfie stick clamps work for handheld use but are usually less rigid on a full-size tripod. A separate metal mount gives sharper time-lapses and long exposures.
Will a clamp damage my phone?
Not with padded jaws and normal tightness. Avoid placing the jaws over the camera bump or over a button.
