Mini test: Rode Phone Cage

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 by Pro Moviemaker

Turn your phone into a pro video rig with Rode’s clever, budget-friendly mounting kits – perfect for mobile filmmakers who want flexibility without the faff

For not a huge investment, the Rode Phone Cage turns your smartphone into a far more usable filmmaking rig. The wide aluminium frame makes it easy to grip, but the real bonus is the 38 attachment points for accessories.

There are five coldshoes, 14 standard 1/4in threads, 17 Arri 1/4in threads with pin holes and a pair of 3/8in threads. So you can mount on extras like a mic, wireless receiver, small LED light, clamps to hold an SSD and pretty much anything else you can imagine. There are even slots to manage your cables, and it’s easy to fix the rig to a tripod or stand.

The phone connects via a Magsafe magnetic attachment. For the most secure fix, we found it best to remove any case you have on the phone.

When it comes to compatibility, the king of Apple phones for filmmakers currently is the iPhone 15 Pro Max as it has a large screen, up to 1TB of internal memory, USB-C connection and can shoot Apple ProRes video. This large phone clamps nicely to the magnetic mount, but we found many standard USB-C or Thunderbolt cables foul the Phone Cage, pushing the phone away from the magnet.

All that’s needed is a USB-C cable with a short connector, like Rode supplies with its Wireless kits. For a smaller, non-Max iPhone, it can use any USB-C cable. With lots of connection points and a decent grip, it’s a great tool for mobile filmmaking and not too bulky.

A smartphone connected magnetically to a mount with a light on the end

The Rode Phone Cage attaches via Magsafe and has lots of mounting points for extras

Rode also has a more minimalist and cheaper solution, the £80/$81 Magnetic Mount kit. This uses the same Magsafe clamp as found on the Phone Cage, but has three arms that securely click into place around its edge. The longer arm has a 1/4in thread, so is ideal for fitting onto a tripod, while the other two arms are shorter and have coldshoe mounts – perfect for an LED and wireless mic.

This is a great set-up for travelling light – and works well, with the arms clicking securely into the central magnetic attachment.

The good news is that all standard USB-C cables don’t foul the accessory arm – even on the larger Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

To use it, you have to be careful that the long arm doesn’t obscure one of the camera lenses. You need to ensure the main cameras are clear, so you may have to remove the arm and move it through 90°.

Both kits are good value and well built with a premium feel, but make sure you have the right cable if you buy the Cage.

£109/$115

rode.com

Specifications

Mounting options: 5x coldshoes, 14x 1/4in threads, 17x Arri 1/4in threads, 2x 3/8in threads
Compatibility: Apple Magsafe
Material: Aluminium
Dimensions (wxhxd): 246x126x35.5mm/9.6x5x1.4in
Weight: 285g/0.63lb