Ulanzi MT-44 Tripod Compact tripod and selfie stick hybrid for phones, action cams, and light mirrorless
Overview
A good tripod is a real working tool for a content creator, whether you're just starting out or already shooting professionally. It had been a long time since I last refreshed this part of my kit, and with so many tripods and selfie sticks on the market now, it felt like the right moment to see which of the newer features are actually practical, and which ones just look good in a product listing. The goal was simple: something that helps me set up faster and open a shot more easily, both at home or in a studio setup and out in the field.
What I was looking for specifically was a compact tripod that also works as a selfie stick. Most of the models I looked at seemed to be the same basic design with small cosmetic differences, so I decided to go with a brand I trust for accessible creator gear: the Ulanzi MT-44.
Product Description
The MT-44 folds between two configurations: as a tripod, the handle splits into three legs; as a selfie stick, it collapses back into a single aluminum center pole. The legs and pole are plastic, but they don't feel cheap or hollow. The handle, the rosette-style knob under the ball head, and the housing around the ball head itself all feel solid through repeated opening and closing.
A textured, ridged grip pattern runs along the handle to help hold it steady while shooting handheld, and the same kind of texture is used on the feet of the legs to help them grip surfaces instead of sliding.
The ball head allows 360-degree rotation and 90-degree vertical tilt, so both horizontal and vertical framing are possible. The mount attached to the ball head is fixed in place, and includes a cold shoe on top for a microphone or a small light. For a smartphone, the mount's clamp simply opens and grips the phone directly. For a camera, the clamp folds away, revealing a standard 1/4"-20 screw at its base, the mounting point a camera screws onto.
Color-wise, the pole and legs are a charcoal black rather than plain silver, with a metallic red ring that locks and unlocks the legs, a metal ball head housing, and the rosette-style knob that locks or releases the camera head.
Specifications
Dimensions & Weight
| Tripod Dimensions | |
| Closed length | 32.5 cm / 12.8" |
| Minimum working height (tripod) | 35 cm / 13.8" |
| Maximum working height | 149 cm / 58.7" |
| Weight | 422 g / 0.9 lb |
Capacity & Mounting
| Load & Mount | |
| Load capacity | 1 kg / 2.2 lb lightweight action cams and mirrorless bodies, not heavy DSLR setups |
| Camera mount | Standard 1/4"-20 screw, plus a cold shoe |
| Phone clamp width | 6 to 8 cm / 2.4 to 3.1" |
| Remote trigger | Not included on this model a Bluetooth remote is available separately |
Build & Head
| Materials & Mechanism | |
| Materials | Plastic legs and pole, aluminum center column |
| Pole lock | Twist lock, 6 telescopic sections |
| Head type | Ball head, 360° rotation, 90° vertical tilt |
Inside the box
Pros
Versatile shooting anglesFull 360-degree rotation and 90-degree vertical tilt make horizontal, vertical, and overhead shots all possible, useful for anything from talking-head clips to top-down cooking videos.
Not limited to phonesFold the clamp away and a standard 1/4"-20 screw underneath lets you mount an action camera or a light mirrorless/DSLR body instead, with a cold shoe up top for a mic or light either way.
Build quality feels premiumThe handle, ball head housing, and locking knob don't feel like hollow, cheap plastic, which is where a lot of similar-looking white-label tripods cut corners.
Sturdy through repeated useThe ball head and telescopic pole feel stable opening and closing them, without the looseness that shows up quickly on cheaper units.
Textured, grippy legsRidged feet help stop it from sliding on smooth surfaces, a small detail that matters more than it sounds like on location.
Attractive design detailsCharcoal black finish, a metallic red locking ring for the legs, a metal ball head housing, and a rosette knob for the camera head, small touches that make it feel less generic.
Cons
No pan/tilt handleThere's no dedicated handle for smooth panning movement, the main real drawback for anyone who wants controlled camera motion rather than static or handheld shots.
No MagSafe or remote includedSome competing tripods bundle a magnetic phone mount or a Bluetooth remote. Neither comes with this model, though both can be added separately if wanted.
No one-button leg deploymentOpening the legs means unlocking the red ring first, then pushing the handle base apart by hand. It works fine, but it's a bit more fiddly than designs with a single auto-deploy button.
Overall Verdict
The Ulanzi MT-44 left a good impression. It's a genuinely functional little tripod, and a strong pick if you shoot mostly on location, mainly with a smartphone but also with an action camera or a light mirrorless/DSLR body.
It's a good fit if you want something new, built with solid materials and assembly, and don't mind that flashier features like a built-in MagSafe mount or a remote aren't included (or you'd rather add those separately). The pan/tilt handle is the one real gap. Beyond that, it handles overhead angles well (think cooking or unboxing content), adjusts smoothly, and folds down into something compact and travel-friendly.
It's very stable at its minimum height, and reasonably stable with a phone at full extension, but I wouldn't treat it as a permanent studio tripod once it's fully extended. Where it earns its keep is as a field tripod, a lightweight second unit, or a tabletop option for extra angles, especially for cooking or unboxing-style content if you move between locations without a fixed setup.
A compact, well-built tripod/selfie stick hybrid that's excellent for on-location shooting with a phone or light camera, just don't expect pan/tilt control or bundled extras.
Where to buy
Below are the links to purchase the Ulanzi MT-44 (or similar models):
Photos
FAQ
Can the Ulanzi MT-44 hold a DSLR or mirrorless camera?
Does the MT-44 support MagSafe or a remote control?
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