Here&rsquo;s my full YouTube setup for 2025&mdash;budget-friendly but pro-quality. For the <strong data-start="79" data-end="89">camera, I use my <strong data-start="100" data-end="131">smartphone (iPhone/Android) with a <strong data-start="139" data-end="164">tripod and ring light combo (<del data-start="172" data-end="265">$40) for great lighting and stable shots. My <strong data-start="218" data-end="232">microphone is the <strong data-start="240" data-end="262">Boya BY-M1 lav mic (</del>$15), which gives surprisingly crisp audio. For lighting, I&rsquo;ve got <strong data-start="332" data-end="354">two softbox lights (~$60 for the pair) to keep things evenly lit. I film against a <strong data-start="419" data-end="452">clean wall or fabric backdrop (less than $20). I edit with <strong data-start="482" data-end="499">CapCut (free) and sometimes <strong data-start="514" data-end="545">DaVinci Resolve (also free). Thumbnails and graphics? All done in <strong data-start="584" data-end="605">Canva (free tier). My total setup cost is under <strong data-start="636" data-end="644">$150, and it gets the job done. You don&rsquo;t need fancy gear&mdash;just good content, consistency, and smart tools.

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