Every single accessories brand apparently has to have a “creator starter bundle”. They range in quality from “this belongs in a Christmas cracker and then the bin” to “finally, a one-stop-shop”. This Belkin Stage Creator Kit is one of, if not the best, starter kits I have tried in this price bracket.
The $199 kit includes a tripod, a magnetic phone mount, and a wireless lapel mic set. It’s a companion set to the great $99 Stage PowerGrip, which is a magnetic powerbank that doubles as a camera grip for your phone.
Obviously, it’s not on the same quality level as professional kit, but as a bundle, it also costs less than half the professional version of just one of these items. It’s also significantly better quality than I would expect from a ‘starter’ bundle. In my weeks of testing this kit, I have been very impressed by what it has to offer.
Table of contents
- First impressions
- Specifications and price
- Magnetic phone tripod mount
- Tripod
- Wireless microphones
- Who is the Belkin Stage Creator Kit for?
First impressions
My first impression of the Belkin Stage Creator Kit is of how straightforward the box setup is. Nothing takes up more space than it needs to, which bodes very well for how I’m going to store it for future use, and how budding creators will be able to pack it to take on their adventures.
The second thing was just how easy it was to set up. I screwed the magnetic phone mount to the tripod (though you can use any standard mount with the tripod if you also want to be able to take GoPro footage, for example). Then I angled the tripod to point my phone at what I wanted to film, and I started filming. Ridiculously easy.
The mic setup was also straightforward — I took the mic out of the charging box and attached it to my lapel, then I plugged the dongle into my iPhone, and it just worked.
Belkin Stage Creator Kit specifications and price
| Price | $199 |
| Warranty | 1 year in addition to your Australian consumer law rights |
| Manufacturer’s website | Belkin Australia |
| What’s in the box? | 2x omnidirectional microphones USB-C receiver Charging case Tripod stand Magnetic phone tripod mount USB-C to USB-C cable Carrying case |
Magnetic phone tripod mount
I love a good magnetic mount. That said, I have used plenty of magnetic mounts in my time, where the magnets weren’t strong enough to hold my phone against a decent breeze. So, I went into using this mount sceptically.
However, my scepticism was not warranted. This is one hell of a strong magnet. Not so strong that I can’t get my phone off, but strong enough that vigorously shaking the mount didn’t dismount the phone.
I’ve used a wide variety of tripod phone mounts, and usually favour a clamp mount (even though I hate them and they almost never fit properly) for peace of mind. But with the magnet, the phone is always centred, I never have to worry about taking my MagSafe case off. It’s just good. It’s one less thing I have to think about.
Of course, this won’t be as helpful for non-magnetic phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S26 range. But most mainstream phones generally have a magnetic case option these days, which would solve the problem.
Tripod
On the one hand, this isn’t the fanciest tripod on the market. There are tripods that feel more sturdy, and allow for more adjustments. However, those tripods cost double the price of this whole pack. For an inclusion in a sub-$200 pack, this is a ridiculously good tripod.
It’s super light to carry around, which could be a challenge in very windy or unstable areas, but it is a godsend for those of us who have to carry it in our backpacks or luggage on the way to capture whatever it is we’re trying to film.
That lightweight nature means it’s always going to be better suited to mobile phone photography. Sure, it says that it’s rated to 2kg, but I would be surprised if those leg locks would be able to stand up to repeated 2kg camera use long-term. It is, however, excellent for phones.
There are little bubble level windows to see if you have it level. However, I found them difficult to read and not as helpful or intuitive as bubble levels on some other tripod models, just because they were too small.
I do like how adjustable the height and positioning are. I was able to film an unboxing while sitting on the ground with the phone sitting in front of me, and then I could extend the legs tall enough to get the camera bang on to my eye level (iPhone 17 Pro Max; I am 175cm tall).
Obviously, I haven’t been able to do any long-term testing on the locks, but they seem solid enough for now.
Wireless microphones
This is the item I was most excited about in the pack, because an affordable wireless lapel mic set that doesn’t sound like it’s at the bottom of the ocean is so hard to find. While it’s definitely not perfect, and I do have a few issues with it, overall it’s a solid option for those starting out on a limited budget.
The recording quality is about half a step down from just recording a voice memo on the phone’s built-in microphone in a quiet room. However, this connects two microphones, and both users can stand a good 15m away from the phone and still get a clear recording. It might not sound as good as the iPhone microphone in ideal conditions, but it sounds a lot better than the iPhone microphone in a busy environment with two speakers standing away from the phone. Given fancier brands’ wireless lapel mic sets start at around the $150 mark, this is excellent value for people starting out.
My big complaint about the set, though, is that without the magnetic clips to attach the mics to, the microphones are a nightmare to attach. Basically useless. So, why are the special magnetic clips left to cling onto the outside of the charging case? They’re going to get bumped off the case in any bag they’re thrown into. Surely Belkin could spare a little room in the case to store them? Even just a tray on the lid? This is the one ridiculously poor design aspect of the set, and I find it frustrating. It’s not a dealbreaker, but I really dislike it.
Who is the Belkin Stage Creator Kit for?
The Belkin Stage Creator Kit is for people who want a decent tripod and lapel mic setup without breaking the bank. It’s for hobbyists, people starting out, and those who just want to upgrade their setup to record interviews, speeches, TikToks, home movies, short films, and anything else that would utilise a tripod and a wireless lapel microphone.
The kit is easy to use, and it’s good value for the price.
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