Updated review of 'My latest piece of photography equipment, the Ulanzi Grip Holder' first published in May 2024.

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is an update about the Ulanzi Cap Grip II that I first reviewed in 2024. I have included that 2024 blog below for your information, which I suggest you read.

Hi! Welcome to my latest blog, which this week features a review of my latest piece of smartphone camera gear. I didn't used to be a gadget/gear type of person, that is, until I discovered smartphone photography, and now I can't get enough of them.

If you've read my Blog #33 titled What's in my smartphone photography bag? you'll have a good idea about the various bits of kit I have accumulated to go with my smartphone camera. My newest thing is a smartphone grip holder. 

In this blog I am going to set out the advantages of using a grip holder, as well as some instructions on how to set it up. The grip holder I will be reviewing is the Ulanzi Cap Grip II (See Photos 1- 4 below) which retails for less than £20 from Amazon.

Using a grip handle for smartphone photography offers several advantages.

Using a grip handle provides improved stability, better control, reducing camera shake, resulting in clearer, sharper photos.

Holding a smartphone for extended periods can be uncomfortable. I find when I hold my phone to take a photograph in landscape mode, for example, I tend to only use the tips of four of my fingers, which isn't a very secure way to hold a phone. A grip handle allows you a more ergonomic hold, reducing hand strain.

Many grip handles come with additional features such as shutter buttons, zoom controls, and tripod mounts, enhancing the functionality of the smartphone camera.

Grip handles often include mounts or compatibility with other photography accessories like tripods, lights, and microphones, making them suitable for more advanced photography setups.

Using a grip handle can make smartphone photography feel more like traditional camera photography, potentially improving the overall shooting experience.

Those are the main advantages. It is worth pointing out that the Ulanzi grip, and I suspect all other makes and models of grips, are made for right-handed people. This may be a problem if your dominant hand is your left hand and you really struggle to use your right one.

Photo 1.

Photo 2.

Photo 3.

Photo 4.

Setting up the grip holder is relatively easy. The first thing you must do, before you can use the device, is to remove the rechargeable battery (See Photos 5 and 6 below) and charge it with the charging cable that comes with it, and which is neatly stored in the handle.

Photos 5 and 6.

You next need to attach your phone in the same way as you'd attach your phone to selfie stick, by lining the two devices up and gently easing the phone between the two retaining clamps (See Photo 7 below). The edge of the grip  holder and the edge of the phone should be in line; this is more for comfort than anything else when you're holding the grip. 

Photo 7.

You can either do this next bit before you attach the your phone to the grip or after, it really doesn't make any difference. Activate Bluetooth on your phone, and turn on the grip by holding the button highlighted below for about three seconds until the green light is on (See Photos 8 and 9 below). Check your phone's Bluetooth menu, find Ulanzi and connect. There are additional instructions and information on the back of the device. 

Photo 8.

Photo 9.

 You are now all ready to go. 

You can hold your phone in one hand, as in Photo 10, or as I sometimes do, with two, as in Photo 11. Until you've tried the grip for yourself you won't appreciate how much easier it is taking photos with your phone.

Photo 10.

Photo 11.

You can slide the Bluetooth activation button off the top of the handle and use it to operate your camera shutter remotely (See Photo 12 below)

Photo 12.

You maybe wondering why anyone would want to hold their phone only using one hand when the advice is to use two in order to gain maximum stability whilst taking a photograph. I must admit to not always using two hands even before I started using the grip holder, and I never had a problem with camera shake. Because I am able to get a firmer grip on the grip holder, my phone and therefore the camera somehow feels more stable.

There is one thing I find a bit odd about this grip holder, and that is the detachable mirror (See Photos 13 and 14 below), whose purpose I can only guess at. 

Photo 13.

Photo 14.

On the bottom of the grip is a metal screw hole (See Photo 15) that is where you can attach a tripod. I haven't used the grip with a tripod, but to be quite honest can never envisage a situation when I would want to. 

Photo 15.

In summary, the Ulanzi grip holder is a great piece of gear for the smartphone photographer. It is easy to set up, easy to use, and one thing I particularly like is that the Bluetooth is ultra reliable, unlike other grips I have used. 

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope to see you next time. Until then you can follow me through my social media channels listed above.

© Mike Young 2024

Now here's my December 2025 update.

Despite getting off to a good start, the Bluetooth soon started to be a bit flaky and very unreliable. This wasn't helped by there not being an off/on switch on the grip, making it hard to tell if the device was turned on or was off. The instructions are a bit sparse, telling you that holding the button (Photo 12) for 3-seconds turned the grip on, but this didn't always work, so also didn't the Bluetooth connection with my phone. I don't know about you, but with the numerous and varied commands you have to remember for your Bluetooth earbuds, for example, having yet another one for this grip, does make operating the grip less than straightforward. But maybe that's just me. I have looked at purchasing a different grip, but a common negative comment was that the Bluetooth was unreliable. I have packed my Ulanzi grip holder away and have given up with the idea of ever using one again.

You can follow me on Instagram and Threads at @smart_phone_photographer_53.

© Mike Young 2025.