For grassroots football clubs, the dream of filming matches like the pros usually dies the moment you see a €3,000+ price tag. It’s brilliant tech, sure, but not exactly in the “volunteer coach with a bag of bibs” budget range.
That’s why the XbotGo AI Sports Gimbal caught my attention. At roughly €300, it promises AI-powered auto-tracking, built-in editing tools, and a “set it and forget it” matchday experience using nothing more than your smartphone.
So when I heard about the XbotGo AI Sports Gimbal, I had to give it a go. I borrowed one from another coach and brought it down to a couple of Summerville Rovers games to see if it could actually deliver without the “there goes our subs for the season” price tag.
What’s in the Box
The XbotGo keeps things simple:
- The gimbal itself, compact and well-built
- USB-C charging cable
- Mini tripod
- Remote control
Straight out of the box, it feels solid, not premium, neat, lightweight, and built well made. It folds neatly into a gear bag and takes up less space than a flask and a notebook (which, let’s be honest, is what most of us have in our coaching bags anyway)
Setup & Ease of Use
Setup takes minutes. Download the XbotGo app, mount your phone on the tripod, choose your sport (football, basketball, rugby, etc.), and you’re good to go.
I tested it on a full-sized pitch, which is a big challenge for any tracking camera. The gimbal locks on reasonably quickly, using its FollowMe 2.0 AI tracking to identify players and follow the play automatically. It’s not perfect, but for €300, you’ll forgive a few slow pans and moments of “where’s the ball gone?” The app interface is simple enough, though you’ll need a try to get comfortable with framing and calibration.
The remote control is a great addition too, letting you manually adjust the view mid-game without leaving your spot on the sideline.
AI Tracking & Performance
Here’s where things get interesting. The AI ball tracking is good, not amazing. For kids’ games, training sessions, or social media clips, it’s spot-on. The AI tracking does well when play is steady and predictable. The gimbal keeps the action mostly in frame and gives a dynamic, broadcast-style feel that makes highlights look slick.
But when the play gets quick especially long balls or sudden switches of play it can lose the ball or pan a bit too slowly, leaving you with a few seconds of grass or sky. You’ll notice it more in 11-a-side matches than small-sided games.
That said, for training sessions, underage matches, or social media highlights, the tracking quality is absolutely fine. The footage looks clean, stable, and cinematic enough to turn Sunday League clips into watchable reels.
Image Quality
Because it uses your phone’s camera, the video quality depends on what you’re shooting with. Paired with a good phone (I tested using a Galaxy S25+), the footage looked crisp, and the gimbal’s stabilisation helped keep things smooth.
In bright daylight, the results are genuinely impressive proper sideline footage you’d be happy to post online or review with players. Low light is tougher, but again, that’s a phone limitation more than the gimbal’s fault.
Battery life is decent too: around two full halves before it starts warning you, though using a power bank helps. I will say by the time the game is done however my phone is holding on for dear life somewhere between 2 and 5%.
App Experience
The XbotGo app is where the product really shines.
- You can live stream games directly from your phone.
- It offers 20GB of free cloud storage for highlights — no subscriptions needed.
- The built-in editing tools make clipping and sharing moments easy without importing files into another app.
For small clubs or coaches who want to post matchday content quickly, that’s a huge win.
Battery Life
Expect around 90–100 minutes of continuous tracking about one full match if you’re conservative. A power bank helps, but it’s worth keeping an eye on both your phone and gimbal battery during longer sessions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy setup and use
- Great stabilisation and portability
- Strong AI tracking for casual games
- Excellent app with live streaming & editing
- No monthly fees
Cons
- Struggles with fast-paced or wide-pitch action
- Battery drains quickly under heavy use
- Tracking relies heavily on phone camera quality
Verdict: Perfect for Kids, Coaches & Content Creators
The XbotGo AI Sports Gimbal isn’t trying to replace Veo and that’s fine. What it is, is a clever, affordable tool for small clubs, coaches, and parents who want decent, shareable match footage without spending a fortune.
It’s perfect for training sessions, underage games, and social media content, but still a few steps away from the tactical analysis you’d get from high-end systems.
If your goal is to capture moments, not metrics, then this is an absolute no-brainer..
