Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 improves app, adds image stabilization and it's amazing! See the video!

Xiaomi updated their app to fix a few things, including enabling users to export gyro-stabilized 360 videos from the Mi Sphere 360 camera!  Check out the video!

I've had the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K and the camera itself is amazing.  The photo and video quality are impressive (see here for photo comparison, and see here for video comparison).

The only problem was the Mi Sphere's app.  The Mi Sphere app can connect to the Mi Sphere easily and I can control the camera, see the live preview, etc.  The issue is the stitching and export of videos.  In short, I wasn't able to export stabilized 360 video on previous versions of the Mi Sphere app.

On an iPhone 6 and SE, it seemed that export resolution was limited to 2304 x 1152.  On my Samsung S6, I could only get 1920 x 960.  On my Samsung S8+, I could get the full resolution, but only by using their video editor, which was limited to 5 minutes.

I also noticed that there was image stabilization, but somehow, exported videos were not stabilized.

I pleaded with my GearBest contact person to talk to Xiaomi to fix the app of an otherwise amazing camera.  I don't know if it's because of that, but last Saturday, Xiaomi released an app update (1.6.4.12888) that did fix the exporting.  Moreover, the exported video now included image stabilization!

With that update, the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere now becomes the first 360 camera for consumers with built-in image stabilization.  (Insta360 Nano and Insta360 Air have image stabilization but they require the phone's gyro and must be attached to the phone.)

DEMONSTRATION
Here's the video:


What an incredible feature! :D

ADVANTAGES
Having image stabilization built into the camera has many advantages over a stabilized gimbal for 360 cameras:
- No additional cost: 360 gimbals cost $300 to $350.  On the Xiaomi, stabilization comes included with the camera.
- Nothing to carry: 360 gimbals can be bulky to carry and take up quite a bit of space in your camera bag.  With the Xiaomi, there's nothing extra to carry.
- Nothing to charge: 360 gimbals have long-lasting batteries but they need to be charged nonetheless.  On the Xiaomi, there's nothing extra that you need to charge to get the stabilization feature.
- No obstruction: 360 gimbals have limits to the way you can move the camera to avoid bumping the counterweight or support arm with the handle.  With the Xiaomi, there's nothing to bump and you have total freedom of movement.
- No additional weight.   Current 360 gimbals have counterweights and after a couple of minutes holding the gimbal, you'll feel the weight, especially if you're using the gimbal with a monopod.  The Xiaomi Mi Sphere is very light and easy to carry for long periods of time.
- No setup time.  To use a 360 camera on a gimbal, you at least need to attach the camera to the gimbal, which can take at least a couple of minutes.  If you're switching between cameras, the gimbal will have to be re-balanced.  By contrast, the Xiaomi is ready to shoot anytime.
- Nothing visible.  Perhaps the most significant advantage for 360 content producers is that the Xiaomi's stabilization is totally invisible to the camera.  If you forgo a ballhead and simply attach the Xiaomi in line with the selfie stick or monopod, the Xiaomi and selfie stick will disappear from the camera's view! (except for their shadow).

LIMITS
These are significant advantages for any 360 shooter, whether casual or professional.  However, as I mentioned in the video, there are several limits with the Xiaomi's stabilization:

1. It seems that a few (around 1 in 10) videos will not have stabilization (the gyro option doesn't appear) when viewing the video in the app.  I don't know if this is fixable.
2. When gyro stabilization is turned on, the horizon rolls to the right gradually (compare 4:00 of the video with around 4:30 of the video) up to around 30 degrees.  I don't know if this is a defect in my unit or in all cameras, or in the app. --> UPDATE: I tested this at my workplace, and there was no gyro error. My hypothesis is that the gyros were being affected by the powerlines near our house.
3. I can't seem to export non-stabilized 360 video in this version of the app.
4. Exporting video with gyro stabilization requires Android app version 1.6.4.12888 or higher.
5. Most significantly, I've only been able to export stabilized video using a Samsung S7* or S8. On other phones I tried, I can see the stabilization in the app, but I haven't been able to do it yet on a Samsung S6, iPhone 6, or iPhone SE.
*I don't have an S7 but I sent unstitched files from the Xiaomi to my friend and tech vlogger Pepe Vazquez, who confirmed that he was able to get full resolution stabilized video from them.

There are third party apps that can be used to stitch Xiaomi videos in full resolution -- Muvee for Mac OS, Video Stitch, and Mettle Skybox plug-in are some of them (Autopano Video likely can, too).  However, I don't think the videos will be stabilized (I could be wrong).

WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COMPATIBLE PHONE?

Here's my suggestion: if you don't have an S7 or S8 or a phone with Snapdragon 820 or higher, buy a used Samsung S7 to render Xiaomi videos (not to replace your phone).  This might sound extreme, but you saw the long list of advantages, and for many people, the advantages may outweigh the disadvantages, even factoring the cost of getting a Samsung S7.

A stabilized gimbal is not cheap at around $300 to $350.  If you hunt carefully on eBay, you can find a Samsung S7  below $300, especially if the screen has a crack (which won't affect the rendering of course).  See here.  I don't suggest one with Bad ESN because you might not be able to update the Android OS which might be needed to run the app properly.

HOW TO USE THE GYRO STABILIZATION FEATURE

1. If you haven't done so, download the Xiaomi app.  Android version here. iOS version here (although as of May 22, 2017, I haven't been able to export stabilized 360 video from the iOS version of the Xiaomi app).

2. Update the app to version 1.6.4.12888 or later.  On iOS, go to the App Store to update (As of 5/22/17, the version I have is 1.6.3).  For the Android version, here's how to update: a. on the main screen "discover" on top, tap on the person icon on top left.  b. tap on "more help".  c. tap on app version. it will tell you if there is an update available.
3.  Update the firmware.  Here's how to update: a. on the main screen "discover" on top, tap on the person icon on top left.  b. tap on "more help".  c. tap on firmware version. it will tell you if there is an update available.  If there is, it can update your firmware wirelessly -- be sure your camera is charged!
4. Record the video as normal (you don't need to have the camera connected to the phone while recording).
5.  Download the video to the app.  On the gallery screen of the Xiaomi app, tap on the video, then on the bottom, tap on "download".
6.  When the video is downloaded, go back to the gallery screen of the Xiaomi app, and select the "Local" tab on top.
7.  On the Local tab, tap on the newly downloaded video.  On the bottom, tap on the icon with three dots to bring up the menu.  You should see the option for "Gyro calibration," which toggles the stabilization effect.
8.  To export the video, tap on "Export to phone."  You can also tap on "Edit" on the bottom to use the video editor to trim the video or add music.  (At this time, in version 1.6.4.12888, I can't seem to export a non-stabilized 360 video).

WHERE TO BUY
Notwithstanding the limitations, Xiaomi Mi Sphere's image stabilization is an incredibly useful feature, which catapults the Mi Sphere to the top of my recommended list.  If you'd like to buy one, you can buy one here from GearBest, which ships to around 260+ countries around the world.  They also ship pretty quickly. I paid $9 for expedited shipping and got my order in less than a week (I'm based in Los Angeles).  Thank you very much for using the link above to support 360 Rumors at no additional cost to you so I can do more tests and reviews!