A lot of people vlog on smartphones. It’s been a thing for years. The problem is, with very few exceptions, the front cameras on smartphones are pretty basic and limited. But shooting with the rear camera means you can’t see your shot.
For iPhone users, though, there’s another option. This portable screen from NewMoma (buy here) mirrors your iPhone display and attaches to the back of your smartphone. This means you’re able to film yourself with your better cameras and still see yourself.
NewMoma Phone Vlog Selfie Monitor
The NewMoma Phone Vlog Selfie Monitor looks like an ideal solution for those vlogging with their smartphones. Well, iPhones. It appears there’s no Android compatibility at all (yet?). According to the review video above from Alex Yasni, Android devices will connect to the WiFI network, but there’s no way to cast to it.
Side note: It was Alex’s review that brought this little screen to my attention. I can see it being quite handy for a multitude of potential uses outside of just vlogging.
For iPhone users, though, you do get access to the functionality of your rear cameras. So, you’re able to switch between them, zoom, and all of the effects. It opens up a lot more options than simply using the front camera. Of course, it’s not perfect.
The company says that shooting 4K video when screen mirroring will cause the display to lag and stutter. So, they advise shooting 1080p to maintain smooth motion. They don’t say whether the lag and stutter are simply a display issue or if the issues are also captured in the video.
Includes a Bluetooth Remote to save storage space
One thing you get with the NewMoma Selfie Monitor is a Bluetooth Remote. It claims a range of up to 10 metres (33ft), and allows you to set up your phone, step back and start and stop recording at will.
This is great for vlogging on location, where you often set your phone down in different spots to film yourself talking to it. The usual way is to set it down, hit record and then let it just burn storage space while you get into position, ready to go.
Not recording when you don’t have to means smaller files and space saved on your phone’s storage – which isn’t exactly cheap with Apple.
It runs off an internal battery that charges over USB-C. So, it doesn’t drain your phone – other than the extra juice required to mirror the screen – and you can have them both plugged into a power bank during use to keep them topped up.
Is this the only solution?
There are various unpowered devices out there that let you see your screen when it’s facing away from you. One is the Ulanzi Smartphone Selfie Mirror (buy here) – which is compatible with Android. But are they worth it?
The mirrors don’t really give you the best view of the screen. They’re not really in an ideal spot for giving you a great image. They’re often curved to account for the positions they need to be placed in. So, you’re going to look a little distorted.
You’re also not able to use them as a touch-screen. So, interacting with what you see isn’t possible. Of course, the NewMoma Selfie Monitor also doesn’t support touch, but at least you’re going to see what your screen’s actually showing.
I think it’s still early days for these types of smartphone vlogging devices. But as more and more people dump cameras for smartphones for their day-to-day shooting, I expect they’ll evolve. 4K without screen lag, touchscreen, or maybe even its own internal storage to overcome the limitations of the iPhone.
And, of course, it’d be nice if it worked with Android one day, too.
Price and Availability
The NewMoma Phone Vlog Selfie Monitor is available to buy now for $69.99.
