STABILIZER PROTECTION
We tell you everything to avoid damage!
We get asked this question every day. Yes, many of you have seen your iPhone or other smartphones become unable to take a usable photo or video due to the camera’s optical stabilizer breaking.
Many tweets, forum messages, or YouTube videos have addressed this issue. Many of us have experienced this inconvenience. A smartphone without photo/video capabilities is quite limiting.
The concerned brands have even added warning messages on their websites for the past few months. We won’t name names, but all brands offering this type of support face the same issue.
Damaged camera
The problem?
Let’s start with the basics:
All smartphones have a stabilizer to take clear photos. This stabilizer is either mechanical or digital. If it’s digital, no problem. If it’s mechanical, that’s where the issues start (this is especially the case with iPhones).
We know vibrations are bad in many areas. In fact, the vibrations from motorcycles will resonate with the phone’s stabilizer, which will eventually break.
The result? No more photos or videos possible, which is quite frustrating. Not to mention the repair costs.
Is this true for all mounts? No.
And for all motorcycles? Neither.
THE VIBRATIONS
Inevitable?
If you have a rigid mount, made of plastic or metal, on your handlebar, where you attach your phone, which is also in a rigid case, it will transfer all the vibrations from the motorcycle or bike directly to the smartphone, increasing the risk of damage. And if you have a motorcycle that vibrates a lot, like a Harley or an MT07, for example, you know the outcome...
There's no strict rule. Some phones break after a few kilometers, others after a few months. It's a problem you need to anticipate. There are two solutions to prevent it.
Solution 1
Vibration absorbers
Some brands have recently released this kind of product. It seems to do the job in most cases. There are always exceptions, but it seems to work. The problem is that you have to spend an additional 20 to 35 euros.
Spending over 100 euros for a smartphone mount starts to get expensive. That’s the case with Quadlock or SP Connect, to name a few.
Solution 2
Our offer
Opt for a flexible silicone holder that will absorb some of the vibrations, coupled with a soft sleeve, which will also allow the phone to move slightly (imperceptible to the naked eye).
Shapeheart has taken this approach!
We’ve done a lot of testing on this, check out our explanations: