With smartphone cameras getting incredibly better over the past few years, the saying “the best camera is the one in your pocket” is truer than ever. Plus, many Android phones have excellent cameras.
But while they’re incredibly comfortable and can take some really great photos, some accessories are meant to help enhance your photo-taking experience. ShiftCam’s SnapGrip gives you a full grip with a physical shutter button, plus some other great features, all at a reasonable price.
Shift cam snap grip
ShiftCam’s SnapGrip is a unique accessory that offers some great functionality. It helps you take better photos with your smartphone while keeping it charged. But it’s hard to find a need for it outside of a specific use case.
- easy to use
- It offers some useful functions.
- Includes wireless battery bank.
- There are no software features or companion app.
- Magnets can be stronger.
Pricing and Availability
The colors are fun, but the price isn’t too high.
The SnapGrip starts at $69, and you can get the Creator Kit with a tripod and light for $129 or the Creator Kit Plus with a tripod, light, cold shoe, and microphone, all for $259. There are five different colors to choose from: two shades of pink, two shades of blue, and black. It’s currently available from ShiftCam, Amazon, and B&H Photo.
I was sent the lighting kit, which includes a small magnetic lighting ring. At the time of publication, it was only available as a limited edition with five color options: Lilac Haze, Canary Yellow, Ocean Breeze, Forest Trek, and Peach Fuzz.
What’s good about SnapGrip?
He’s good at what he does, even if he doesn’t do much.
There’s a lot to like about this little gadget. It’s small, lightweight, and easy to use. The comfortable grip on the right side made of a textured material helps you hold it tight, and there are two buttons on top. The large one is the shutter button, and the smaller one turns on its secret ability—a wireless power bank for your phone. Indicator lights near the bottom of the grip tell you when it’s ready to shoot, whether the power bank is on, and how much battery you have left.
The whole thing attaches to your phone magnetically via MagSafe magnets, and for all of us non-Apple users, there’s a sticker in the box that you can attach to your Android phone or case to allow it to mount. The magnetic connection also allows it to rotate, so you can keep it attached to your phone and shoot horizontally or vertically. You can also place it on the handle to act as a mount for your phone on the go if needed. It’s fun.
The SnapGrip interface also has magnets, allowing you to attach a variety of accessories to it. At the moment, there are only three: the ring light I received, a mini tripod mount, and a cold shoe, but the clever design means you can attach as many or as few of them as you like.
Setup is super simple, too. Just take it out of the box, press the shutter button once to turn it on, and connect it to Bluetooth. I was hooked up and snapping photos in seconds. Fun fact: Since it works over Bluetooth, you don’t need to connect your phone to the SnapGrip to take photos, which opens up some fun new camera options.
Pressing the smaller button turns on the wireless power bank, which charges via USB-C. At 3,200mAh, it’s not a huge power bank, and the 5W charging is slow, but it’s meant to help you in times of stress, so you don’t miss a photo opportunity, and it does a good job of that.
Overall, ShiftCam has done a good job of making sure the SnapGrip does its job perfectly. Once it’s paired with your phone, simply open the camera app and press the shutter button to take photos.
The Magnetic Ring Light is basically just what it says: a ring light that magnetically attaches directly to your phone or SnapGrip. It has three different brightness levels that you can switch between with the single button that also turns it on and off. It also flips up to add some light to your selfies, and the center of the ring light is reflective, so from the looks of it on the website, you can check your makeup before taking a photo.
To enhance the on-the-go creativity that SnapGrip is designed for, a durable, high-quality carrying case is included. You don’t have to worry about anything getting damaged.
What’s not good about SnapGrip?
Good hardware, but no software compatible with it
While the simple, easy-to-use design is great, there are a few drawbacks to the SnapGrip. First, the magnets felt a bit weak to me. I’ve been using it with an iPhone with a case, but it’s a full MagSafe case that sticks well to all of my other MagSafe accessories, so I’m a little concerned about how well it’ll hold my phone.
However, I’ve also used it with my Galaxy S23 Ultra with a MagSafe case, which has held up much better. It’s still not quite as secure as I’d like, but it’s better than the iPhone. I’ve used the MagSafe sticker with my OnePlus 12, and it held up almost as tightly as the S23 Ultra — that is, it’s strong enough to keep it in place, but not strong enough that a strong shake can’t knock it off. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but just something to note.
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Second, there are no software features that come with the SnapGrip. It does act as a shutter button, but pressing the button doesn’t even act as a shortcut to automatically open the camera app or anything like that. In fact, I would press the shutter button while on the home screen, which seemed to increase and decrease the volume instead of anything else.
Plus, there’s no comparable app that has extra controls, filters, or anything else. For $70, I don’t think that’s a lot of money, even if it’s just a few extra filters or something to fit your new camera grip.
There’s only one MagSafe sticker in the box, and they don’t sell it separately, so if you’ve upgraded your phone, you’re out of luck. You’ll either have to buy a whole new SnapGrip or contact customer service directly to get a new one. You can also buy a MagSafe case for your new phone, but that’s not a great option. This probably isn’t a huge deal for someone who isn’t a smartphone reviewer (like me), but it’s still annoying.
Should you buy it?
It is a good choice for the right people.
ShiftCam does a good job of providing a simple, easy-to-use tool that helps you harness the power of your smartphone’s camera to take great photos. However, aside from some extra stabilization and a few useful accessories, it doesn’t add much. It doesn’t give you any extra lenses, camera controls, or even extra filters for your photos.
If you’re a content creator or amateur photographer who uses your smartphone a lot to take photos, the SnapGrip is the perfect choice for you. It’s portable, easy to use, and offers some great features. For others, I have a hard time finding a need for it.
Shift cam snap grip
The ShiftCam SnapGrip is a great accessory for smartphone photographers or budding content creators. It provides added stability and functionality when taking photos and helps you stay charged. However, it may not be worth it for others.
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