Like many people today, I found myself needing a better way to record videos or participate in video calls without constantly juggling my phone or relying on someone else to hold it steady. The frustration of being out of frame or having shaky footage was real. This was a problem that absolutely needed solving; not addressing it meant settling for unprofessional content, missed opportunities in live streams, and awkward video chats. Finding something like the Auto Face Tracking Tripod would have been a game-changer much earlier on.
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What to Ponder Before Purchasing a Phone Tripod
When you’re looking for a phone holder or tripod, it’s usually to escape the limitations of holding your device yourself. These tools free up your hands for everything from video calls and live streaming to creating content like vlogs or tutorials. The ideal customer is anyone who needs a stable, versatile platform for their smartphone – content creators, students doing online classes, remote workers, or just someone who wants to take better hands-free photos and videos. Someone who might *not* be the best fit is a professional cinematographer needing heavy-duty support for large cameras, although some advanced phone tripods can bridge this gap. Before buying, you should consider factors like maximum height, stability (especially for outdoor use), compatibility with your device, portability, and any special features like remote controls or, crucially, automatic tracking.
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Introducing the Product
The Zarcaco ES-B180 Auto Face Tracking Tripod is essentially a smart phone holder combined with an extendable tripod and selfie stick tripod. It promises the ability to automatically track your face or body as you move, eliminating the need for manual adjustments during recording or calls. When you purchase it, you get the main tracking unit (the phone holder), the extendable tripod base, and a remote control. Compared to basic static tripods or older selfie sticks, its main innovation is the integrated AI-powered tracking that works without needing a separate app. While there are other tracking stands on the market, many require their own proprietary app, which can be clunky. This specific face tracking phone holder is ideal for casual to semi-serious content creators, remote workers, or anyone doing hands-free video, but perhaps less suited for professional camera work due to its weight limit and material.
Pros:
* App-free face and body tracking
* Intelligent gesture control (OK to start, Palm to pause)
* Extendable height (up to 70 inches) works as both a phone tripod and selfie stick
* Includes a remote control
* Standard 1/4″ screw interface for mounting on other tripods or adding accessories like a fill light
Cons:
* Tracking can lose focus if you move too quickly or too far away (optimal distance within 5M).
* Some users report the shutter remote doesn’t work with specific high-end phone models due to integrated pen/settings conflicts (e.g., Samsung S23 Ultra).
* The locking mechanism for the tripod legs can feel a bit flimsy or unreliable for some users.
* Might require added weight at the base for maximum stability, especially when fully extended or in windy conditions.
Features and Benefits Explained
Having used the Zarcaco ES-B180 for a decent amount of time, I can share how its features translate into real-world use.
360° Face Tracking & Smart AI
This is the headline feature, and it’s genuinely impressive. The smart tracking holder uses an internal camera and AI system to identify a face or body. Once locked on, the holder rotates smoothly on its base, following your movement across a full 360 degrees. In practice, this means I can walk around a room, talk, demonstrate something, or even do a little dance (if I were so inclined) during a video call or recording session, and the camera stays focused squarely on me. The benefit here is immense: no more staying glued to one spot, no more manually repositioning your phone, and no more cutting off your head or body mid-sentence. It makes solo shooting incredibly easy and professional-looking. It feels less like a static recording and more like having a personal camera operator, albeit one with specific movement limitations. The tracking is steady for the most part, rotating horizontally as I move. It really delivers on the promise of making you the constant focus.
Selfie Stick Tripod’s Built-in Tracking and Extendable Height
Unlike some older tracking stands that were just short tabletop units, the Zarcaco ES-B180 integrates this smart tracking into a full-fledged selfie stick tripod. This is a crucial design choice. The ability to extend the unit from a compact 12.4 inches all the way up to 70 inches (that’s almost 6 feet!) provides incredible versatility. I can place it on a desk for a video call at eye level, set it on the floor for a full-body shot for a workout video, or even use it in a shorter configuration like a regular selfie stick (though its bulk makes it less ideal for handheld outdoor selfies compared to a dedicated lightweight stick). The benefit is that you don’t need multiple gadgets; this one unit covers various height needs. This means you can achieve different angles and framing simply by adjusting the height, catering to different shooting styles or poses. It truly frees your hands whether you’re video conferencing or trying to capture that perfect shot from a distance.
No App, Intelligent Gesture Control, and Remote
One of the biggest conveniences of the Zarcaco ES-B180 is that it doesn’t require a dedicated app to function. This simplifies setup immensely; you just turn it on, mount your phone, and it’s ready to go. The intelligence is built directly into the device itself. This means it works with *any* app you use on your phone – TikTok, YouTube, Zoom, Facetime, your native camera app, whatever. The gesture control is another neat touch. Performing the “OK” gesture with your hand tells the tracker to start following you, while the “Palm” gesture tells it to pause. This is incredibly useful when you’re standing away from the stand and need to temporarily stop the tracking without fumbling for a remote or walking back over. The included remote control also adds convenience, allowing you to control your phone’s shutter from a distance. While the gesture control is great for starting/stopping tracking, the remote is essential for actually taking photos or starting/stopping video recording within your phone’s app. However, as noted in the cons, the remote’s shutter function doesn’t play nice with *all* phones, particularly some Samsung models with integrated stylus functions, which is a frustrating limitation if that’s your primary device.
Standard 1/4″ Interface & Fill Light Notch
The smart tracking holder unit has a standard 1/4″ screw thread at the top where the phone clamp attaches. This is a universally recognized standard in photography and videography. It means you’re not limited to using the included tripod base. If you already own a more robust or professional tripod, you can detach the smart tracking holder unit from its base and mount it onto your existing tripod. This gives you even greater flexibility in height, stability, and positioning. Additionally, there’s a notch that allows for the attachment of a fill light (not included). This demonstrates a thoughtful design for creators who need better lighting for their videos or calls. The universal compatibility with other tripods and the option to add lighting make this more than just a simple phone stand; it’s a potential component in a larger creative setup.
Horizontal & Vertical Shooting Versatility
Beyond just tracking, the design allows for easy switching between horizontal (landscape) and vertical (portrait) shooting orientations. This is critical because different platforms and content styles demand different aspect ratios (e.g., YouTube often uses horizontal, while TikTok and Instagram Reels favour vertical). The ability to adjust the angle up to 270° vertically and, combined with the 360° horizontal tracking, means you can capture a wide variety of shots and angles. Whether you need a low-angle shot looking up, a standard eye-level view, or an overhead perspective (by adjusting the angle on the ball head), this stand provides the flexibility. This adaptability makes the phone tripod suitable for a broad range of applications, from casual video calls to more deliberate content creation.
Feedback from Users
I looked around online to see what other people thought after using this product, and the feedback seems quite positive overall. Many users echo my experience with the tracking feature, finding that the AI does an amazing job of following movement, making it super convenient for recording videos or live streaming hands-free. People appreciate the height it can reach, noting that it’s tall enough for full-body shots or using it while standing. The ease of use, particularly not needing an app and the gesture control, is frequently praised as a major plus. However, some users did mention issues similar to what I’ve encountered or read about, specifically the remote shutter not working with certain phone models and concerns about the stability or flimsiness of the tripod legs and their locking mechanism.
Wrapping Things Up
The problem of needing a steady, reliable, and hands-free way to record video or make calls with your smartphone is a significant hurdle for anyone trying to create content or simply communicate effectively in the digital age. Not solving this can lead to frustrating, unprofessional results and limit what you can do independently. The Zarcaco ES-B180 Auto Face Tracking Tripod offers a compelling solution. Its standout feature, the app-free auto-tracking, genuinely works well and is incredibly convenient. The versatility provided by its extendable height, functioning as both a desktop stand and a tall tripod/selfie stick, makes it adaptable to many scenarios. While it has a couple of minor drawbacks regarding specific phone compatibility with the remote and some concerns about the tripod’s build, its core functionality and ease of use make it a great fit for solving that hands-free recording problem for most users. To check out the Auto Face Tracking Tripod and see if it’s the right tool for you, click here.
Last update on 2025-07-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API