And if you’re really interested in smartphone astrophotography, a tripod enables you to capture multiple frames of the same image for stacking, to make use of astrophotography apps that feature a star trails function, or to produce long exposure images that tease out detail from the night sky.

One additional feature to consider when choosing a smartphone tripod is a wireless remote shutter, such as one that operates via Bluetooth.

These handheld devices link up with your phone and enable you to press ‘capture’ without actually touching the handset itself, meaning there’s less risk of accidentally nudging your setup out of place.

Here are some of the best smartphone tripods available to buy online.

5 of the best smartphone tripods

The ZETONG Phone Tripod is good value for smartphone photography beginners. The tripod is lightweight and easy to set up, while the smartphone clamp offers ease of movement, enabling the camera to be adjusted from side-to-side and up and down.

We were impressed with the Bluetooth handheld shutter control, which was easy to connect to our iPhone and enables images to be captured from a distance. This avoids the need to physically touch the handset itself and risk nudging it out of place.

The tripod is height-adjustable, meaning it’s suitable for both desk-top and outdoor use, although some users may find it too lightweight for their purposes. If you’re interested in getting into smartphone astrophotography, the ZETONG and an astrophotography app like NightCap would be a good place to start.

The Joby smartphone tripods are among the coolest and most popular smartphone gadgets, and make for great desktop options. The Joby GripTight ONE GP Stand is a funky, flexible tripod offering an adjustable grip that should accommodate most smartphones, while its rubber feet provide extra grip and sturdiness.

While you’ll most likely be putting the Joby on a flat surface, its legs can wrap around a handrail or other vertical structure to provide you with more height without the need to take a large, extendable tripod with you wherever you go.

The Manfrotto PIXI may require a hard surface to rest on, but this mini tripod makes for a neatly small and portable all-in-one device. The PIXI Mini is very solid and its compactness means it will fit nicely into hand luggage and travelling gear if you happen to be shooting in far-flung corners or making your way to a dark-sky site for astrophotography.

It comes with a well-made ball head that means you can attach compact or DSLR cameras, which are fixed into place with a push-button locking mechanism. This version also comes with a smartphone clamp, making it one of the better low-budget smartphone tripods.

As we break the £100 budget barrier, we’re really looking for value for money. After all, it is a lot to spend on a tripod alone, and serious or even professional smartphone photographers and vloggers will be wanting their hard-earned money to go on a device that’s well-made and reliable.

If you want something really upmarket to clamp your smartphone into, the Benro 3XS Lite gimbal is certainly worth consideration. It’s a three-axis gimbal designed for amateur filmmakers. The Benro 3XS Lite allows the user to zoom using a button on its column and take manual photos via its app. Plus, the whole device features a 1/4 inch tripod thread that enables it to be mounted on a full-size tripod.

The VEO 3GO 235AB 23mm tripod features rubber but also spiked feet so that it can be used on softer, more uneven terrain. But the device can also be adapted into a monopod, enabling it to be used as a selfie stick or for vlogging in the field.

It weighs 1,240g, extends to 136cm, folds to 33cm and, according to the manufacturer, offers a max load capacity of 4kg.

The VEO 3GO 235AB can be used with a DSLR camera, but the included smartphone adaptor makes this a tripod for those who are really serious about smartphone photography. It also includes a Bluetooth remote shutter for capturing shots without shaking your setup while doing so.