Xiaomi Selfie Stick | Tripod with Bluetooth remote

I, for one, am always bothered by all of the above. That's why the moment I knew that the Xiaomi Selfie Stick was coming to our warehouse, I had to get my hands on it. I am passionate about mobile photography, but still have a lot to learn. And with the Xiaomi Selfie Stick, I was hoping to take my photos to a new level: this handy gadget does not only help you take better selfies, but also acts as a tripod holder helping you take clearer photos with your phone camera.

Xiaomi Selfie Stick Tripod Overview

So what is in the box? One selfie stick, a detachable Bluetooth remote control and a warranty card. That's it! Incredibly minimalist and simple - just like the selfie stick itself.

Detachable Bluetooth remote control is the highlight of this product as well as the selfie stick's small and delicate, all black body with polished finish with a shutter button and Mi logo on the top of the surface.

The selfie stick needs to be charged if you want to make use of its Bluetooth remote control feature: you can charge it via a micro USB port located on the front - it is really convenient for quick charging.

Like most other selfie sticks, Xiaomi selfie stick tripod can fold into 190mm for portability. Plus, it tips the scales at just 155 grams. Lightweight and compact, it can fit easily into your small handbag or even a pocket.

Another bonus of this selfie stick is its tripod holder with anti-skid design, which enables the tripod to stand firmly on the table.

The selfie stick comes with a telescopic lever made from aluminum alloy, which can extend for up to 510mm and a frosted handle lets you have a firm grip at all times.

At the end of the stick, there is a durable bracket and a phone clip, both of which can rotate for up to 360 degrees, and the phone clip is adjustable for a width from 56mm to 89mm (suitable for all large phones on the market)

For security, both sides of the phone clip are equipped with rubber pads, which can protect your phone from scratching, and help secure it steadily, giving you a worry-free photo taking experience.

Bluetooth remote control enables the Xiaomi Selfie Stick to connect to smartphones running Android 4.3 as well as iOS 5 and higher. In this example, I will use the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and pair it with the selfie stick.

Step 1: Press the shutter button for about 2 seconds until the blue LED light flashes, indicating that the selfie stick has entered into pairing mode.

Step 2: Go to Settings on the phone, turn on Bluetooth and search for nearby Bluetooth devices - the Xiaomi Selfie Stick will show up as XMZPG (7D7D).

Step 3: Choose XMZPG - once the devices are paired successfully, the blue LED light will be steady.

As the famous saying goes, you cannot have your cake and eat it too. But in the case of the Xiaomi Selfie Stick, I have to say that you can. You will get both: a selfie stick and a tripod.

You can start off by using it just as any other selfie stick. Simply mount your phone into the phone clip and rotate the bracket to get the right angle. Then, pull out the telescopic lever, adjust it to desirable length and get ready to pose shamelessly - there are no strangers behind the camera to judge you.

I must say, though, that I would have preferred a longer telescopic lever. This one is 510mm at most - so I had to raise my hand higher to get a better view.

Then, you can move on to trying out the stick's tripod mode. Coming with an anti-slip pad, the tripod will stand steadily on any flat surface. Just separate the feet at the end of the handle and start shooting.

Essentially, the tripod holder is suitable for indoor use, especially for hands-free recording, video chatting, or basic shooting purpose. I am not sure how well the tripod would do outdoors: it comes with a pretty lightweight design and may not be able to handle rocky terrain or rough weather conditions.

With that said, having a tripod is incredibly handy - you won't need to carry additional equipment and will be able to snap selfies from afar thanks to the Bluetooth remote control.

I like the detachable design of the Bluetooth remote control, since it enables you to have time to pose properly before triggering the shutter. The remote control can be attached to the stem of the device but is removable. You can move around with it as long as the remote control is within the Bluetooth range (10m).

If you are really into selfies, then you probably won't find a better companion than the Xiaomi Selfie Stick. With its 2-in-1 functionality, detachable Bluetooth remote control, minimalist design and an easily rechargeable 60mAh Li-ion battery, it is a fun, reliable and durable photo gadget for your travels.