Ranking of the best selfie sticks for 2022

A selfie stick (aka a mobile monopod) is an ideological successor to a one-legged tripod, on which photo / video recording equipment is fixed. If a standard monopod only allows the photographer to hold the camera steady, reducing the load on the hands, then the selfie stick will help to increase the shooting distance beyond arm's length, which makes it possible to choose the best option for creating a shot. At the same time, it will also capture more objects in the frame, including the photographer himself. Hence it is clear that getting into the frame of the shooter himself gave the conditional name to this device. As a rule, a modern selfie stick can be a great addition to a smartphone.

Selfie stick device

At one end there is a handle (usually rubberized), and at the other there is a spring-loaded mechanical holder - this is where the camera or smartphone is integrated. The tripod itself can be an extendable telescopic tube or a monopod with fixed dimensions. Sometimes, a rechargeable battery is placed inside this design, which is very convenient if you intend to use a wireless device with a separate power supply.

Any selfie stick must be properly balanced in terms of weight. The capture device fixed at the other end must not outweigh the end with the handle. Lightweight materials are considered the best material for the production of the devices in question, which reduces the load on the hands (strong “soft-touch” plastic can be called the traditional material for such industries).

The handle of the stick should not only have a certain softness, but also be rubberized, so that the hard plastic does not slip in the hand.

Some monopods are specifically designed to work with certain variants of smartphones or cameras.There may also be devices that are suitable for a specific model of the chosen brand, or the stick has functions that only work under iOS or Android.

The difference in the type of fastening of the filming apparatus

The vast majority of the devices under consideration use the same mounting principle - this is a spring-loaded clamping foot and a fixed platform. Therefore, before purchasing, it is worth comparing the dimensions of the mount and the device that will be installed in it (not every selfie stick supports phone models with a screen diagonal of more than 6 inches). At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the load from the device on the mount. It is preferable if the fixation point on the mount is covered with a soft material that cannot scratch the smartphone/camera case. However, in the original configuration, the stick may not have such a coating, then it is better to use insertable soft pads. Simplified models of monopods allow smartphones to be installed only in a horizontal position, while improved ones also support vertical placement. The best option is the ability to rotate the mount along with the camera at an angle of 180 degrees.

Features of modern selfie sticks

Most of them have a simplified design. It’s great if this design is represented by a telescopic pipe, which includes several sections and is able to extend to different lengths. This length is indicated in the description of the device by the manufacturer in the form of maximum and minimum values. The standard minimum is traditionally 13-17 centimeters, and the maximum is from a meter or more. The generally accepted rule is that the longer the tube, the more objects fit into the frame (and the extreme objects in the photo / video will not be distorted).

• Classic sizes

Using a long device will require special skill from the user - a tube over a meter long may seem heavy, which will create inconvenience in use. Experts advise not to stretch the tube to a length of more than 60-80 centimeters - it is this length that will allow the hand not to overstrain during the shooting process.

• Folding method

When buying a telescopic selfie stick, you need to check its folding mechanism - the tighter the individual sections fit into each other, the better. If a groove runs along the edge of the sections, then this is even better - it will ensure the stability of the stick and it will not scroll during use. However, these grooves must match exactly in their placement, otherwise the monopod will stop folding.

• Platform for mounting the filming device

The quality of this platform is considered an important parameter. Its reliability is a guarantee that the smartphone will not fall out of the clamp at the time of shooting. The fastener itself must be equipped with reliable springs, and to decompress it, the applied efforts must be significant. Elastic pads made of silicone or rubber should be installed on the side of the mount. They will allow you to keep your smartphone safe, while not damaging its case.

IMPORTANT! If the mount has a system for adjusting it, then this opens up additional opportunities for shooting, because it will allow you to tilt the smartphone at almost any angle.

Modern types of selfie monopods

The models of the devices in question may differ in the type of connection with a smartphone, which can be wired or wireless.Naturally, the type of connection will not affect the quality of the photos, but it only determines the usability of the entire structure, while imposing some requirements for its maintenance.

• Wired connection

It is carried out by means of a small cable, which is installed in the headset input on the smartphone. This connection is reliable: the selfie stick instantly transmits commands from the user. To shoot, you just need to press the button on the handle of the monopod. A separate advantage of such a connection is the absence of the need to recharge it, because it is powered by the smartphone's battery when connected. At the same time, the load exerted by them is so small that it practically does not affect the rate of discharge of the battery. The main disadvantage is the lack of compatibility between models - a monopod for iOS will not connect an Android smartphone, and vice versa. From this it is clear that a careful choice of such a connection is required.

• Wireless connection

It is made by means of the Bluetooth module. It is installed directly in the body of the stick and is responsible for transmitting commands. The absence of any wires will seem quite convenient - you just need to install a smartphone and connect it via Bluetooth wirelessly with a selfie stick. This solution can be very convenient for smartphones with a large diagonal, because. using them with cords is not ergonomic enough. However, the Bluetooth module on a monopod, as well as a smartphone, will require separate recharging. In addition, the activated Bluetooth module will severely drain the internal battery of the monopod, which currently cannot boast of a large capacity.Separately, it is worth mentioning that in the cold this discharge will occur twice as fast.

• Remote control

This method also involves the use of a Bluetooth connection channel. Which indicates the presence of the same advantages and disadvantages as the previous option. The only difference is that the button that activates the shooting is not on the handle of the monopod, but on a separate small remote control. Using the remote control will allow the owner to fix the stick with a smartphone on any base, move to the desired distance, and shoot by pressing a button on the remote control. Here, the length of the shooting distance will not depend on the length of the stick at all. But only from the desire of the shooter.

IMPORTANT! It is best to feel the fullness of the return from the model with the remote control on hand-held tripods. They have three retractable legs that will turn the monopod into a stable and full-fledged tripod.

Additional option

A very effective additional option can be the presence of several buttons on the remote control or monopod handle. For example, using additional buttons, you can remotely set the video / photo shooting mode without accessing the smartphone menu. As a rule, several buttons are located on models with a remote control, because this option is more convenient. Thus, you can comfortably set the focus, control the zoom in / out, and many other functions.

Another convenient option is a mirror, through which not a weak front camera is used, but a more powerful rear main camera. In the mirror, it is possible to observe what falls into the lens of a powerful camera, even if the smartphone case is turned upside down.

It is also worth mentioning the integrated gyroscope - it will track the position of the phone, responsible for the stability of the image, preventing its constant shaking. A stick equipped with such a stabilizer will prevent the creation of blurry shots, and will also allow you to capture high-quality video objects in motion.

Using a selfie stick

A child is also capable of operating a monopod for shooting. To get started, you need to install the gadget in the mount, turn it on and select the desired storyboard. If the selfie stick provides a wired connection type, then it needs the appropriate OS and a suitable application on the smartphone. If the monopod is equipped with a wireless connection, then it can be used on both Android and iOS. Direct connection is made:

1. for wired systems - through the appropriate headset;
2. for wireless - through the opening of the Bluetooth channel.

The procedure for connecting via Bluetooth includes the following steps:

• Activate the power of the selfie stick, after making sure that it is charged to the required level;
• Activate Bluetooth on your smartphone by setting the discovery of a new device;
• Select the desired device in the resulting list (usually, this is the name of the selfie stick model) by clicking on it;
• Wait for connection result.

The final steps will be to adjust the length of the monopod and choose the best angle. It is worth remembering that the handle should be as long as the larger frame you want to capture. Next, you should make sure that all the necessary objects are in the central part of the image, and its side edges are not distorted.

IMPORTANT! Shooting at a very close distance, in most cases, does not allow you to get a perfect shot: cameras will always “pull” objects, so you need to increase the length of the handle.

Difficulties of choice

Choice of tripod length

Most modern models have a telescopic design - tripods of various diameters can be extended and fixed at a certain distance. Such selfie sticks are compact, their total length when folded is unlikely to exceed 15 centimeters. When buying such a stick, you need to check the progress of each of its sections - it should be very smooth. The highest quality models have special grooves that add reliability by sealing the mechanism. For single photos, a length of 80 centimeters will be sufficient, however, group photos or panoramic shots will require a minimum length of one meter. It is always worth remembering that the longer the tripod, the more difficult it is to hold it in your hand, and this will affect the quality of the shooting.

Tripod "with button" and "without button"

Buttonless monopod models are the cheapest on the market, they are also considered the most inconvenient. The thing is that in order to take pictures, the smartphone’s photo application will have to be put on a timer and wait for the “shutter” to work. This is fraught with the possibility of missing any important short moment. Button models can take a photo exactly at the moment when the user needs it, without waiting for the shutter to automatically fire. Pressing the button is not limited by anything (except for battery power). This suggests a reasonable conclusion: push-button models will soon completely oust their brothers without buttons from the market.

Travel Models

For tourist purposes, the compactness of the monopod is important. A selfie stick should fit comfortably in a backpack (bag), without causing discomfort during its transportation. When choosing, you should take into account the weight of the device, because carrying a stick weighing more than 300 grams around with you for a long time is not a pleasant pleasure. The destination of the trip must also be taken into account. If we are talking about the sea and beaches, then it is better to choose a device with a fixed length size, because for telescopic models there is a risk of sand, dust, dirt or water getting into the folding sections. All this can lead to corrosion or simply make it difficult to fold or extend the stick.

IMPORTANT! Even protected selfie sticks are based on metal, which is covered with light plastic, which does not exclude the occurrence of corrosion manifestations.

Video models in action

Such monopods often have removable handles and are mounted on a head or helmet. Their kit comes with special mounts for different devices, including the GoPro, a variety of holder options for changing the position of the hands. There are also zooms and stabilizers. It is possible to recognize an expensive selfie stick for action shooting by its design: the original monopod can be unfolded into a full-fledged tripod.

Ranking of the best selfie sticks for 2022

Budget options

3rd place: "Cellular Line Total View"

In the design of this module there is a mirror that displays the image with the screen turned in the opposite direction, while shooting on the main cameras. The connection is only wired, through a classic 3.5 mm input.The whole device is compact, its weight is only 110 grams, the minimum distance is 14 centimeters, the maximum distance is 69 centimeters. Mobility is ensured due to the lightness of the PVC construction, but there are restrictions on the weight of the mounted devices - they should not be more than 300 grams. On the handle, you can control the zoom in / out and change cameras. The recommended cost for retail chains is 700 rubles.

• Very small dimensions;
• Light own weight;
• The presence of color variation of the case.

• Weight restrictions for integrable devices;
• Wired connection only.

2nd place: "Xiaomi Selfie Stick Tripod"

An excellent budget model that perfectly copes with all the necessary functions. Shooting length is from 19 to 51 centimeters, the rotation of the cameras allows for 360-degree rotation. The remote control can deliver commands from a remote distance. The unfolding tripod is stable, which means good stabilization quality. The body is made of lightweight aluminum and weighs only 150 grams. This device is focused on models of smartphones Samsung, Xiaomi, compatibility with "apple" devices is possible. There is a built-in 60 mAh battery. Various body colors are available. The recommended cost for retail chains is 1250 rubles.

• Possibility of use in travel;
• Wide range of compatible devices;
• Adequate cost.

• Not detected.

1st place: "MOMAX SelfiFit Bluetooth KMS1"

This model can support smartphones and action cameras weighing up to 750 grams.It is perfectly capable of fulfilling its purpose thanks to 4 sections and a retractable tripod with a length of 28 to 90 centimeters. There is a clip for the camera with a special thread on the end. All mechanisms provide a rigid fixation, there is practically no risk of dropping the gadget. Special technology allows you to achieve a rotation angle of up to 720 degrees. The design itself is made of lightweight plastic. The handle fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, tripod color may vary. Using the remote control, you can remotely release the shutter, which will definitely come in handy when traveling. The cost for retail chains is 2000 rubles.

• Rugged construction;
• Ability to work with an action camera;
• Sufficient length.

• Not detected.

Middle price segment

3rd place: Huawei AF15

Made of aluminum, this selfie stick weighs about 160 grams, the entire structure is covered with polycarbonate for protection. The device perfectly captures the image at a distance of 56 to 86 centimeters, 360-degree rotation is available. Remote control is possible by means of a remote control that operates via an open channel "Bluetooth" version 3.0. The model is compatible with both Android and iOS. The length can be fixed qualitatively, and a tripod is supplied as an additional option. Advanced functionality is available - the camera can be used as a mirror (for example, for applying makeup). The recommended cost for retail chains is 2300 rubles.

• Small mass;
• Availability of remote control;
• Compatible with popular operating systems.

• Not detected.

2nd place: "Harper RSB-304"

This monopod has a telescopic design and is able to turn from a 25 cm to an 87 cm selfie stick. Perfectly proved itself in photographing from hard-to-reach angles. The weight of the device is 140 grams, however, it can withstand an integrated device up to a laptop weighing three kilograms. There are 4 buttons on the handle: shutter release, focus change, camera switching, zoom. You can control the device with two hands at once. The built-in battery has a capacity of 100 mAh, can withstand more than 500 hours of operation. Operations are possible with both Android and Apple systems. There is a horizontal swivel. The recommended cost for retail chains is 2500 rubles.

• Ability to integrate massive devices;
• Capacious internal battery;
• Two-handed control is possible.

• There is no possibility of remote control.

1st place: "MOMAX Selfie Pro KMS4"

A very original selfie device in terms of external design. The handle is wrapped in eco-friendly leather and decorated with handmade seams. The color scheme for various options includes 6 colors - from classic black to youth yellow. Lengthening is possible up to 90 centimeters (when folded - 18 centimeters), the case is made of durable metal with an anti-corrosion coating, its weight is 750 grams. An action camera is allowed. The expansion is possible into five sections, and the mount has a special protection against scratches. The buttons located on the handle, in addition to the basic shooting functions, can turn on background music and sound recording. Optional - squeezing the handle with the palm of your hand can initiate a shutter release.The recommended cost for retail chains is 3,000 rubles.

• Comfortable control from the handle;
• original design;
• Adequate cost.

• Too massive.

Premium class

3rd place: "Denn DSS-LUX"

Despite the low weight of this monopod (160 grams), it has a strong latch that can withstand up to three kilograms. This will quite allow you to place action cameras, professional cameras and large gadgets in it. When folded, its length is 25 centimeters, and it can lengthen up to one meter. The case is made of aluminum with a leather strap. Built-in battery has a capacity of 55 mAh, fully charged within an hour. In addition to Android and iOS gadgets, it is compatible with Windows Phone system. On the case there is an indication of the remaining charge of its own battery, a connector for a USB cable. The recommended cost for retail chains is 3500 rubles.

• Strong retainer;
• Works with all common operating systems;
• Quality case.

• Not detected.

2nd place: "Huawei Selfie Stick CF33"

This model is multi-sectional (only 7 pieces) and has a two-dimensional head. Perfect for shooting in low light, it is quite possible to take it on trips. The length when folded is 18.5 centimeters, when unfolded - 62 centimeters. A feature of the model is its stylish design and the ability to use the device as a night light by the bed. The duration of pressing the button on the body will adjust the brightness of the glow of an impromptu night light.The case is made of metal, but is not able to withstand devices weighing more than 230 grams. Synchronization via Bluetooth is possible. The recommended cost for retail chains is 4,000 rubles.

• Adequate price;
• Originality of execution;
• Seven sections available.

• Not able to withstand the heavy weight of the connected devices.

1st place: "InterStep 3-axis"

This model can be called a really powerful tool, because it is equipped with a classic stabilizer and allows for high-quality shooting even while moving at an accelerated pace. The three-axis system marks the position of the phone, removes jitter and noise in the frame. Can support face recognition application, there are four shooting programs. The maximum weight of the integrated gadget cannot exceed 220 grams. The charge of the built-in accumulator maintains 12 hours. The total length is 26 centimeters. The recommended cost for retail chains is 10,000 rubles.

• The presence of an image stabilizer;
• Comfortable grip of the handle;
• Powerful built-in battery.

• No extension function;
• Too high cost.

Summarizing

Memorable moments are always nice to recreate while viewing photos. A solemn event, travel shots or outdoor activities must be captured on a smartphone, take a bright photo or shoot a short video. But there is not always someone nearby who will take the right shot, and sometimes the hands are busy or in an uncomfortable position. Then a monopod comes to the rescue: by connecting to a digital gadget, it can take pictures remotely, you just need to press a button.Some models can work in wireless mode, there are also other useful features. Before buying, you need to take into account your wishes, goals, take into account the budget available for purchase. Choosing the best selfie stick will make your photography and filming easier and better quality.