Review: Haida MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder for Smartphones

Friday 23 January 2026, 13:13 by Nando Harmsen | 3,878 views | 3 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Are you a smartphone photographer or videographer? The Haida MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder and smartphone filters could give you some extra options. Haida provided me with a set. Curious? Read about my findings in this review.

Using a smartphone as a camera works perfectly well, of course. The quality can be surprisingly good, especially with high-end models. Just as with real cameras, you can also use filters with smartphones. This offers extra creativity.

Haida has also entered the smartphone photography accessories market with a set of smartphone filters using a MagSafe system. This set consists of a Golden and Blue Streak filter, an X-Star filter, a Black Mist 1/4 filter and a polarising filter.

With the set, which fits in a nice case, you get the filter holder that can be attached to the smartphone using MagSafe. This filter holder can also be used as a small smartphone tripod. Or you can screw the holder onto a 1/4"-20 screw on a 'real' tripod.

How the MagSafe holder works

The name says it all, MagSafe. The holder uses this reasonably standardised system, which uses the magnet in the smartphone. It simply clicks into place, after which you rotate the holder in front of the camera.

The holder is designed to also serve as a small smartphone tripod. However, this means that it cannot act as a filter holder at the same time. You choose one or the other.

If you have a (mini) tripod, you can screw the specially supplied ring onto it. You can then screw the filter holder onto that.

This is, of course, multifunctional use of the filter holder. However, it is primarily intended for using the smartphone filter. Just as MagSafe holds the holder magnetically, the filters are also placed magnetically in the holder.

The magnets are strong enough that you do not have to worry about losing the filters. The holder is made of metal and the hinges are stiff enough to keep everything in place. If required, you can tighten or loosen the screws.

The filters

When you buy the filter holder, you get a Black Mist 1/4 filter and a polarising filter. The Black Mist 1/4 creates a glow around light sources, while the polarising filter can, of course, remove reflections.

The Black Mist 1/4 filter
The special effect filters, which you can buy as an additional set, consist of an X-Star filter and a Blue and Yellow Streak filter. The effects are intended for light sources. The strength of the effect depends on the intensity of the light source. If you are not careful, it can become very extreme.

The Yellow Streak filter can produce extreme effects if you are not careful.
You can, of course, use this type of filter for photography. However, it is more suitable for video. The Blue and Yellow Streak filters produce a similar effect to what you also see with anamorphic lenses.

Using the filters

Using the filter holder is simple. The filters click easily into place. Once a filter has been fitted, it feels firmly locked in place. If required, you can also use several filters at the same time.

The magnet makes it easy to position the filter holder. If required, several filters can be used at the same time.
You do need to make sure that the filter is positioned correctly in front of the smartphone camera. If it is even slightly off to the side, you will photograph the edge of it. This happens particularly quickly if your smartphone has a wide-angle lens.

With a wide-angle lens, you look directly at the edge of the filter if you do not position it correctly.
If the smartphone cannot focus, there is a risk that the Streak filters will focus on the pattern of the filter. This risk is particularly high with a wide-angle lens. In practice, this is hardly a problem.

With a wide-angle lens, the camera may focus on the pattern of the filter itself. Fortunately, there is always a clear subject to focus on, so this hardly happens in practice. Reflections are also possible.
Another problem you may encounter is reflections. Because the filters do not fit perfectly, light sources behind you can be reflected. This is clearly visible in the photo above.

Using them in practice

Because the effect of the filters depends on light sources, I went out photographing in the evening. Using the filter holder is simple. The filters click easily into place. Once a filter has been fitted, it feels firmly locked in place.

X-Star filter.

Black Mist 1/4 filter.

The most efficient way to work is to fit or change the filter first, and only then click the holder onto the smartphone. You need to keep paying attention to the position of the filters, especially when using a wide-angle lens.

Yellow Streak filter

X-Star filter.

The result of the effect filters depends greatly on the light sources in the frame and their brightness. The brighter they are, the stronger the effect. Sensible use of the filters is recommended.

Be careful when using a wide-angle lens, especially with the Blue and Yellow Streak filters. Distortion and unwanted effects can occur quickly. You may also sometimes see reflections because of the gap between the filter and the lenses of the smartphone cameras.

The Yellow Streak with a wide-angle lens produced a strange and distorted effect.

My findings

The filters work well for smartphone photography and videography. The effect filters add extra atmosphere to your footage, provided you use them sparingly and in the right conditions.

It is a shame that the MagSafe holder does not have some kind of felt to protect the smartphone. The metal can cause scratches. Using a smartphone case with MagSafe prevents this.

The MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder can cause scratches when used. A little felt would have prevented this.
The system is designed so that there is always space between the lenses and the filters. In some situations, this can cause light leaks or unwanted reflections. You need to be very alert to this.

When the light comes from the right direction, the filters work almost like mirrors.

Although the MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder can also be used as a mini tripod, this is not possible while using filters. You then need to use a separate small tripod. If this separate tripod also has MagSafe, you can combine the two.

This tripod has a MagSafe magnet built in, so the Haida filter holder can be placed on it. It should really have been the other way round.
Bear in mind that combining a tripod and filter holder increases the distance between the filter and the lens. This can increase the chance of reflections, or of focusing on the effect filters as mentioned earlier.

The distance between the filters and the smartphone camera is too great, and becomes even greater when a smartphone case and/or small tripod is used.
The filter needs to be rotatable when using the effect filters and the polarising filter. Because of the strength of the magnet holding the filter in place, this is not very easy. You often rotate the filter holder on the smartphone as well.

But if you want to use filters occasionally, they are a nice addition to smartphone photography and video.

Pros

Nice, well-presented set with case and basic filter set
Good-quality materials
Filter holder can be used as a tripod
Connection ring for a 'real' tripod
Several filters can be used at the same time
Strong filter magnets
Easy to position on the smartphone

Cons

Risk of scratches when using the MagSafe filter holder
Distance between filter and camera increases the chance of light leaks and reflections
Filter holder has no extra magnet for other MagSafe accessories
Filter holder's freedom of rotation makes precise positioning important
Strength of the filter magnets makes rotating the filters difficult
Using the holder as a tripod and using filters at the same time is not possible
Screwing the filter holder onto a tripod plate is difficult

The Haida MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder is an accessible accessory for using filters. However, the system is not perfect.

There are a few things that would make the Haida MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder better. A seal between the filter and camera to prevent reflections, and an extra magnet on the filter holder itself for attaching an additional MagSafe tripod or other MagSafe accessory.

Can you live with this drawback, or does it not matter for how you use it? Then the Haida MagSafe Magnetic Filter Holder is a nice addition to your smartphone photography and videography.

Thanks to Haida for providing the filter holder and filters.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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3 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Friday 23 January 2026 at 13:32 | reply
But be careful if you want to use the AR feature of PhotoPills. The magnets affect the accuracy of PhotoPills.
Translated from Dutch.

smartzine wrote on Sunday 1 February 2026 at 22:55 | reply
Nice review. What I am curious about, though, is whether you can also use the filter holder in combination with a conversion lens. In other words: can you position the filter holder at a greater distance from the camera mount?
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 3 February 2026 at 09:20 | reply
I don't think the filter holder can be used in combination with a close-up lens.
It does of course depend on the size and format of the close-up lens.
Translated from Dutch.

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