This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
The manufacturer provided this product for review.
Quick take
The rear camera on a phone gives the best image quality for selfies, but you cannot see the screen, so framing is guesswork. The Sookoto Wireless Selfie Monitor clips onto the back of the phone and shows the rear-camera view. I compared it with a wired monitor I reviewed before. Because it is wireless, you can put the phone wherever you like, and with zoom and shutter controls on the monitor itself it works brilliantly as a camera remote with a screen.
What I tested
- Sookoto Wireless Selfie Monitor for smartphones: Bluetooth connection, no cable
- Shutter button and zoom dial on the monitor
- Mirror mode that flips the image like a mirror
- Attaches with MagSafe; a metal ring is included for phones without MagSafe
- Compared with a wired model, the Vlogmate Mini
- Used with an iPhone, handheld and on a tripod
What I found
- Fitting it is easy: it simply snaps onto the back of the phone with MagSafe.
- It weighed about 50 g on my scale, so it is light.
- The wired Vlogmate Mini has no lag and is powered by the phone. The wireless Sookoto has no cable, so it looks and handles more neatly.
- Setup on iPhone has a quirk: pairing over Bluetooth is not enough. You also need to turn on Zoom in the Accessibility settings. It took me a moment the first time, but after that it connects smoothly.
- The zoom dial adjusts zoom right on the monitor, including switching across all three lenses. With the shutter button too, you can put the phone on a tripod, check the framing from a distance and shoot. This was the most useful part.
- Mirror mode makes rear-camera selfies feel as natural as using the front camera.
A few downsides: if you talk while watching the monitor on the back, your eyes drift slightly away from the lens. Being wireless, there was a little lag at times, and the monitor tended to get warm with long use.
Who it’s for
It is a handy way to use the iPhone’s high-quality rear camera from any angle. It suits selfies, and especially anyone who wants to put the phone on a tripod and check or control the shot from a distance. If no lag and easy setup matter most, go for a wired model. If you want to control the camera from across the room, go wireless.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
I tested it with an iPhone only, and the lag and warmth are my impressions rather than measurements. The weight is from my own scale. I could not find a current Amazon Japan listing for the Sookoto monitor, so only the wired model I compared it with is linked below.
Products
Vlogmate Mini selfie monitor for phones (the wired model I compared): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Camera & Desk Setup (42) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.