You can start making YouTube videos with just a phone and an internet connection — but that setup only takes you so far. This guide covers the YouTube video equipment that's actually worth buying to fill in the gaps, whether you're just starting or upgrading what you already have.
7 pieces of equipment recommended for making YouTube videos
You don't need a studio to start. Your phone covers the basics — the rest of this YouTube video equipment list closes the gaps that make phone videos look amateur. Start with whatever your videos are missing most.
- Camera (or your phone) — Your phone works fine, so don't let the lack of a "real" camera hold you back.
- Microphone — Audio matters more than sharp video. An external mic cuts wind noise and distortion for clear sound.
- Tripod — Keeps your shot stable and lets you record hands-free for talking-head videos, vlogs, and time-lapses.
- Lighting — Indoor light is often dim or uneven. A simple LED or ring light gives you consistent, professional-looking lighting.
- Monitor — If you film with your phone's rear camera, a monitor lets you check framing in real time.
- Memory card — Most cameras can't store footage internally. A 32GB or 64GB SD card holds a full day of shooting.
- Editing software — You'll need to cut mistakes and tighten your videos before uploading. DaVinci Resolve is powerful and free; Filmora is paid but capable.
4 picks of YouTube video recording equipment at Moman Store
If you'd rather skip the research, here are 4 budget-friendly picks from Moman Store for shooting YouTube videos with a phone.
1. Moman TT07 tripod for YouTube videos, auto-tracking for easy framing
🛒 Price: $49.99
The TT07 solves the "who's holding the camera?" problem every solo YouTuber runs into. Its built-in face-tracking lens locks onto your face, and the mount rotates to follow you.
With the auto-tracking, you can walk through a tutorial, step back for a wide shot, or gesture at a product without stopping to adjust the angle.
Setup is fast: the base auto-opens, the height adjusts from 18" to 69", and the remote works from up to 33 ft away.
✨ Key features:
- Face tracking with 360° rotation
- An auto-open base for quick setup between takes
- A wireless remote that starts and stops recording up to 33 ft away
2. Moman Coin wireless microphone, one-click noise reduction for clear audio
🛒 Price: $49 (for Lightning/USB-C), $59 (for Lightning/USB-C/3.5mm)
The Coin is a tiny magnetic button mic for YouTubers. Clip it to your shirt, and it stays out of sight on camera.
One press of the noise-cancellation button cuts background noise. Whether you're recording a voiceover or talking on camera, the audio comes out clean with no post-production cleanup.
The charging case extends total battery life to 48 hours, enough for a full day of video shooting. It comes in Lightning/USB-C and 3.5mm versions, so it works with most phones and cameras.
✨ Key features:
- One-touch noise cancellation while recording
- Magnetic design, just 10g, so it stays hidden on camera
- Up to 48 hours of total battery life with the charging case
- 48kHz/16-bit audio for clear, low-latency recordings
3. COLBOR CL60R LED light for YouTube videos, RGB lighting for a cinematic look
🛒 Price: $199.00
▶️ Review video of the COLBOR CL60R LED video light:
Video by Nightowl
The CL60R is a 65W LED light that keeps skin tones accurate on camera and lets you adjust from warm to cool white, plus full RGB for colored effects.
You can set colored lighting effects for your background to give your YouTube channel a distinct look. It also has a sound-control mode that changes the lighting with your voice or music in real time — handy for reaction videos or gaming streams.
✨ Key features:
- 65W COB LED, 2700K–6500K, CRI 97+
- Full RGB with 13 built-in lighting effects
- Sound-control mode for audio-reactive lighting
- Bowens mount for softboxes and modifiers
4. Moman XView M4 AI phone monitor, rear-camera preview and gesture shutter for solo filming
🛒 Price: $59.00
The XView M4 AI mirrors your phone's rear-camera view onto a wireless screen, so you can check your framing before a talking-head take—instead of filming the whole thing off-center and having to redo it.
It mounts magnetically to iPhone's MagSafe ring, so setup takes seconds. The AI gesture shutter starts or stops recording with a hand sign, so you don't have to walk back and tap the phone between takes.
✨ Key features:
- Real-time rear-camera preview on a wireless screen
- AI gesture control for hands-free recording and shutter
- Magnetic mount for quick setup
- Around 3 hours of battery per charge
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people ask most before buying YouTube video equipment.
Do you need a dedicated camera for making YouTube videos, or will your phone do?
A phone is enough to start. Modern smartphones shoot clear video and are the fastest way to get your first uploads out.
Upgrade to a dedicated camera only when your phone is clearly holding you back — for example, when you need better low-light performance, interchangeable lenses, or cleaner background blur.
Do you need a microphone for YouTube videos?
Yes, if you want clean, professional-sounding audio. Phone and camera mics pick up wind, echo, and room noise, which viewers notice immediately.
An external microphone — even a cheap clip-on or wireless one — records clear speech with far less background noise, and it's usually the single biggest upgrade you can make.
What is the best video lighting for YouTube?
There's no single "best" — it depends on where you film.
Natural light works well if you shoot near a window during the day.
Indoors or at night, a compact LED video light gives you consistent, professional-looking lighting, and you can shape it with a softbox or diffuser.
Start with one light and learn to position it; you can add more later.
Is a phone monitor worth it for recording YouTube videos?
It depends on how you film. If you use your phone's front camera, you can already see yourself, so a monitor is optional.
But if you film with the rear camera for better quality, a phone monitor lets you see your framing in real time — very useful for solo creators who don't have anyone behind the camera.
