The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely is a brand new smartphone gimbal that we determined to check throughout real-world solo capturing situations. The foldable design, removable 1.22-inch touchscreen distant with stay AI preview, and true 360° pan make it probably the most succesful compact telephone gimbals we’ve used. It isn’t flawless: tilt clearance and payload geometry nonetheless restrict heavy lens add-ons, and battery life shortens as soon as the tracker and fill mild are in play. However let’s dive proper in – right here is our balanced take.
Let me get this out of the best way: I don’t prefer to be tethered to proprietary apps when utilizing a smartphone gimbal. The excellent news is that Hohem is leaning right into a “no-app-required” workflow for monitoring, and that alternative pays off. Having the ability to lock topic monitoring from the gimbal’s personal module whereas working our most popular digital camera apps stored shoots easy and versatile. The V3 Extremely is a travel-friendly stabilizer geared toward creators who wish to transfer quick with out giving up management.
The iSteady V3 Extremely gimbal reveals how far smartphone gimbals have come. Picture credit score: CineD
Why are we testing a smartphone gimbal?
At CineD, we often cowl filmmaking instruments constructed for skilled workflows, starting from mirrorless cameras to cinema rigs. Smartphone gimbals just like the iSteady V3 Extremely usually are not our typical focus, as a result of lots of our readers don’t depend on telephones for his or her major productions. That mentioned, instances are altering: smartphones preserve gaining severe video options, and a rising variety of professionals additionally use them for behind-the-scenes content material, fast social posts, and even total tasks when discretion and portability matter. Taking a look at gimbals like this due to this fact is sensible in 2025, each to know the place the expertise is heading and to acknowledge how phone-based filmmaking is evolving. So anticipate extra opinions like this one within the close to future.
Very compact footprint when folded down for transport. Picture credit score: CineD
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely design concerns and setup
The iSteady V3 Extremely folds small and weighs round 430 g, so it slips right into a aspect pocket or small pouch. Constructed-in tripod legs slide out of the deal with, which suggests no separate mini-tripod to lose. This can be a very sensible thought – I can’t inform you how usually I’ve misplaced the removable legs of assorted DJI gimbals over time. Sure, as a result of these legs want house throughout the grip, this probably prices battery capability, however I don’t see this as a giant drawback in a smartphone gimbal whose brushless motors are undoubtedly beneath much less pressure than your typical mirrorless gimbal motors (and due to this fact they want a higher-capacity battery).
Constructed-in ft show very helpful, nothing to lose. Credit score: CineD
The gimbal has an extension rod constructed through which may be prolonged from the highest of the grip, and it reaches roughly 205 mm for larger vantage factors, overheads, or fast “crane” reveals. Whereas I like to have this additionally constructed into the gimbal, I want the rod might be prolonged even additional for numerous utilization situations, but it surely’s definitely very helpful as it’s. I’m a selected fan of the hinge on high of the rod, which lets you angle / tilt the gimbal, which suggests you don’t have to show right into a pretzel when you find yourself going for some uncommon high-vantage level angles.
Extension rod in-built, with a really helpful hinge on high. Credit score: CineDAt instances, a fair longer rod extension might be helpful, but it surely’s so nice to have built-in. Picture credit score: CineD
The grip is certainly not too lengthy, and I generally felt like for my arms (that are on the bigger aspect) it might be one or two centimeters longer on the backside. Nevertheless after utilizing the iSteady for some time I acquired used to it and it didn’t hassle me anymore, this once more was a desire based mostly on my common utilization of bigger gimbals like a DJI RS4 Professional with mirrorless cameras, which has a significantly longer grip because of the bigger battery that grip homes.
As you possibly can see on the underside proper, the grip might be a bit bigger when you’ve got massive arms. Picture credit score: CineD
Hohem charges iSteady V3 Extremely’s payload as much as 400 g with assist for typical flagship telephones; in our use, steadiness issues greater than uncooked motor power when you add equipment. I largely shot with an iPhone 16 Professional Max with and with out the case and it labored like a attraction.
Setup is actually drop-in. There isn’t any prolonged balancing ritual. A hinge on the roll aspect offers a bit further clearance while you want steeper tilt. This makes taking the telephone out for a fast name a no brainer, since it should take you virtually no time to get it again in afterwards. As somebody who’s used to largely mirrorless gimbals, this can be a good revelation and time-saver.
The necessity for balancing is virtually non-existent for smartphones. Picture credit score: CineD
Orientation switches in-place through a button, so panorama to portrait takes a faucet slightly than remounting the clamp. Extraordinarily helpful and helpful when switching between capturing situations for conventional and social content material.
Orientation switching by the faucet of a (touchscreen) button on the distant. Credit score: CineD
Multimodal AI tracker and removable distant
One headline characteristic of the iSteady V3 Extremely is the AI monitoring module that clips to the top. It combines a small digital camera and a three-temperature fill mild, and it streams a stay view to the removable 1.22-inch touchscreen distant. From as much as roughly 10 meters (which is spectacular!) you possibly can see what the tracker sees, choose a topic with a double faucet, begin or cease monitoring, flip orientation, and nudge framing with the distant’s joystick. As a result of monitoring runs on the module, it really works throughout apps: native digital camera, Blackmagic Digital camera, social apps, or stay platforms.
The principle management unit is a detachable distant that often lives within the grip. It offers you preview from the monitoring module digital camera and entry to all settings. Very neat implementation. Picture credit score: CineD
This is without doubt one of the most releasing use circumstances for me as you’re not pressured to make use of a proprietary app for capturing. The little touchscreen distant shows a tiny picture which is comparatively wide-angle and reveals an identical field-of view than the usual digital camera on a smartphone. It’s actually only a tiny, tiny preview although, so tapping on objects or topics may be fiddly. I want the little distant monitor could be a bit bigger, however actually when you get your head round it, it actually works properly.
The distant often “lives” contained in the gimbal deal with base. Picture credit score: CineD
Gesture management and monitoring efficiency
Gesture management is supported and works very well. A easy “OK” hand signal begins monitoring, a palm stops it, and a framing gesture enables you to recompose off-center. We appreciated with the ability to disable gestures within the menu when working round individuals who had been unintentionally triggering them. I discovered the “OK” gesture to be acknowledged simply virtually each time, simply the palm gesture generally didn’t instantly get acknowledged, however having your hand nearer to your face appeared to assist.
This “OK” gesture will begin monitoring Johnnie, as displayed through a inexperienced rectangle on the distant on the backside. Picture credit score: CineDThe palm gesture will cease monitoring. Picture credit score: CineD
Hohem calls its monitoring system “multimodal” as a result of it might probably comply with extra than simply faces. In follow it dealt with folks reliably outdoor, coped with pets and easy objects, and was adequate for crafting or cooking demos the place arms transfer across the body. It’s additionally doing a superb job monitoring while you change the space to the gimbal, for instance when placing it on a desk with the built-in tripod and have it comply with you when you show one thing for the digital camera. It does nevertheless not reconnect after shedding a face or object behind one thing else – that works with some AF-tracking modes on some digital camera techniques, however not this gimbal monitoring.
Stabilization and capturing modes
The V3 Extremely is a three-axis stabilizer with 5 core modes: Pan Observe, Pan-Tilt Observe, POV, Lock, and a quicker comply with profile for sportier motion. Infinite pan rotation removes the standard laborious cease throughout wraps and orbits, and it helps monitoring proceed if you happen to circle behind the gimbal.
I used to be very proud of stabilization efficiency for a gimbal of this (small) dimension. Picture credit score: CineD
Footage whereas strolling could be very clear for a compact foldable gimbal. Quick jogging or staircase sprints reveal the bounds of short-arm geometry, particularly on the lean axis, however that’s typical on this dimension class. The extension rod broadens transfer selection, from low-angle passes to overheads, with out further rigging, and I didn’t see that the prolonged rod would adversely have an effect on stabilization efficiency.
Battery life and charging
Hohem quotes as much as about 9 hours in mild use. With the AI tracker lively, and particularly with the fill mild on, I landed nearer to 4–5 hours relying on motion and ambient temperature. Charging is through USB-C on the deal with. The distant fees whereas docked, and each gadgets report their battery standing on the touchscreen. There isn’t any energy output to high up your telephone, so lengthy days profit from an influence financial institution.
Fill mild and tips on how to cope with audio
The built-in fill mild is adjustable in three coloration temperatures (so helpful and vital!) and tops out round 110 lux at very shut vary. It lifts faces in dim rooms or at nightfall however won’t substitute an actual key. Plus after all, I’m not a giant fan of on-camera lights usually anyway since they make your topic look “flat”, but as a small fill mild it might probably actually assist if you happen to movie somebody or one thing transferring within the shade.
The fill mild additionally holds the AI monitoring module digital camera, and the sunshine has bi-color adjustment. Picture credit score: CineDThe monitoring / mild module can simply be rotated 180 levels for POV or ego capturing. Credit score: CineDSwapping instructions with the sunshine and tracker is finished in seconds. Picture credit score: CineD
As all the time with any digital camera or telephone rigs, we suggest an exterior mic for essential audio. Relying on handset placement and achieve, I’ve heard some folks complain a couple of faint motor noise with inner mics, however I haven’t skilled that. A small on-phone digital receiver is essentially the most elegant pairing right here, as bigger cold-shoe receivers can tip the steadiness. In case you have one thing just like the RØDE Wi-fi Micro, you possibly can even use the transmitter with out the receiver now after the most recent firmware replace, which is after all a terrific choice to file audio within the telephone with out including any further bulk.
App, controls and quality-of-life
The touchscreen distant is the rationale the V3 Extremely feels extra “camera-like” than LED-code rivals. It exposes mode modifications, comply with speeds, motor power, fast calibrations, mild controls, panoramas, movement timelapse, and automatic rotations with out digging right into a telephone UI. Outside, the show remained readable, which lowered guesswork throughout run-and-gun.
I just like the clear standing bar: it reveals AI lock state, Bluetooth hyperlink, and separate battery ranges for gimbal and distant. The aspect button mirrors the set off features on the deal with, together with re-center and flip to selfie. Zoom buttons work inside Hohem’s app; third-party app assist varies.
The standing bar on high could be very helpful. Picture credit score: CineD
With out ever connecting the telephone through Bluetooth to the gimbal or distant, I used to be in a position to make use of the beginning/cease set off button on the distant each time. Seems like wizardry and works very well, no pairing wanted.
Payload, lenses and mounting
Throughout the 400 g telephone restrict, the motors really feel assured, which suggests they completely tolerate a slight imbalance in case you are utilizing a big telephone like I do. The sensible constraint is tilt steadiness while you add mass far ahead of the clamp. Slim case plus telephone is okay, and a lightweight snap-on filter is often OK. Giant telephoto or anamorphic lens attachments, heavy cages, or cumbersome wi-fi receivers can push the system into “ping and give up” territory. There are not any enlargement ports on the arm itself, which retains the bundle clear however limits mounting choices. So I might undoubtedly suggest utilizing a regular telephone setup on this gimbal, slightly than a rig that feels pimped up like a correct mirrorless digital camera. (In that case: go for the mirrorless and a bigger gimbal, clearly!)
A typical smartphone setup is certainly providing you with the perfect efficiency on the Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely gimbal. Picture credit score: CineD
Limitations
- Tilt clearance is modest for excessive low-angle strikes until you lengthen the hinge.
- Heavy front-weighted lens add-ons can exceed steadiness tolerance even when whole mass is beneath 400 g.
- Battery life drops meaningfully as soon as the AI tracker and light-weight are in common use.
- No telephone charging passthrough; plan energy for lengthy stay streams.
- App-level file triggers differ by platform and OS; the distant is most seamless with Hohem’s app and can management primary features elsewhere. However as talked about above, I had nice expertise utilizing the usual Digital camera app on iPhone.
- Grip might be a bit longer when you’ve got massive arms.
How the Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely gimbal compares
The Insta360 Circulate 2 Professional integrates deeply with iPhone options and has a slick app, but it surely lacks a removable touchscreen distant with a stay AI feed. DJI’s compact OM-series gimbals are polished and inexpensive; once more, there isn’t a dockable display screen that permits you to handle monitoring whereas standing away from the rig. Hohem’s personal iSteady M7 affords extra headroom and related distant/AI advantages in a bigger chassis. The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely appears your best option to me if portability and the remote-driven workflow are the precedence – it’s merely beautiful having this little distant and I’ll miss it as soon as I am going again to different gimbals.
Who it’s for
Solo creators, educators, health instructors, actual property shooters, dad and mom documenting household life, and anybody who wants dependable self-tracking with out being tethered to an app. In case you run heavy telephone lenses, cages, or massive wi-fi kits, step as much as a bigger telephone gimbal or a camera-based system.
Conclusion
The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely will get the basics proper after which provides a removable touchscreen distant that meaningfully improves solo operation. Stabilization is powerful for the scale, infinite pan expands artistic strikes, and app-agnostic monitoring suits actual workflows. Respect its steadiness limits and plan for reasonable battery life, and it turns into a really succesful on a regular basis device. Whereas this isn’t the sort of product most CineD readers would usually think about for skilled shoots, it’s a signal of the place phone-based content material creation is heading. As smartphones proceed to achieve superior video options, instruments just like the iSteady V3 Extremely present how far assist gear has come to make them viable for greater than informal use.
Pricing and availability
The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely is obtainable in black or white (with equivalent options) for $169 from B&H, and €190 in Europe from Amazon.
Would you combine a gimbal like this alongside your major equipment? Tell us within the feedback.
