Hohem iSteady V3 — A Must-Have for Solo Content Creators

Smartphone gimbals do a great job keeping your clips smooth and stabilized, but most are still very much hands-on. You need to handle them and do most of the work yourself. The Hohem iSteady V3 aims to take us into a new era with some nice tricks that will definitely get content creators excited. It comes jam-packed with features, a versatile design, and the help of AI, turning it into “your personal videographer.”

What makes the Hohem iSteady V3 different?

AI smarts and advanced gesture control

Let’s start with the most exciting stuff. The Hohem iSteady V3 isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill gimbal. It is powered by artificial intelligence, and in a very special way. There is an AI module that operates on its own. This module attaches to the gimbal magnetically. This is also where you can find the multi-temperature fill light.

One of the best parts about this system is that these AI features don’t require an app connection. The AI accessory has a standalone camera and can handle all the tracking on its own. This means the gimbal’s unique features will work with any application, whether you’re recording, video chatting, or using your camera in any way you prefer.

So, how do you control it? When in action, you can simply use gestures to enable AI tracking and change the composition of the frame. The AI will then work its magic to recognize the subject’s face and body, and follow it wherever it moves. You can also use gestures to start/stop, switch between portrait/landscape, control the shutter, and more.

There’s a detachable remote control

Because the Hohem iSteady V3 gimbal is all about being hands-off, the brand has thought of including a magnetically detachable remote. Simply pull it off the gimbal and use either the physical buttons or touchscreen to control everything, including the fill light. When done, simply throw it back into its docking area and let it recharge for the next time you’re ready to capture any moments.

It features an extendable rod and integrated tripod

Again, the Hohem iSteady V3 is all about freeing your hands, so it can be assumed you won’t be holding it all the time. This is why it comes with an integrated tripod, which also works in a very unique way. The three legs will come out of the bottom of the handle and extend to the sides. This is a much more discrete approach, as you won’t even notice these tripod legs when you’re handholding the gimbal, but the convenience is just a few movements away when you want to set the device somewhere. Of course, there is also a 1/4″-20 screw hole for those who prefer using a traditional tripod.

When handholding the Hohem iSteady V3 gimbal, you’ll also get the added benefit of an extendable rod. This means you can turn it into a selfie stick, except it would be one with much more capabilities. You can use it to more easily achieve better angles, get lower to the ground, or record yourself from a distance than your arm’s length.

How good is the Hohem iSteady V3 as a gimbal?

All of these fun and unique features would be meaningless if the Hohem iSteady V3 didn’t also perform in all the other normal departments. It needs to be a good gimbal, too. We’re glad to inform you that, unique features aside, this is actually a pretty awesome gimbal.

For starters, it comes with a 3-axis stabilization system, which is always what we recommend unless you want to go with one of the much smaller units. This means the gimbal will stabilize the tilt, pan, and roll movements. A 2-axis stabilizer would not correct the pan movements.

Despite the advanced stabilization system, this gimbal is still pretty small and portable. It weighs only 420g, and measures 3.85 x 1.73 x 6.32in when folded closed. It can actually fit in a regular pants pocket, even if a little tight.

Battery life is also pretty outstanding at 13 hours. That’s pretty much a full day of shooting. Of course, this will vary depending on usage. The operating time can be reduced to 4-5 hours when using both AI tracking and the fill light, which is still quite outstanding.

While we mentioned you don’t necessarily need the app, you can enable certain extra features with the official Hohem Joy application. These additional shooting modes include panorama, time-lapse, and slow motion. It also has some creative templates to more easily make fun creations.

How much does the Hohem iSteady V3 cost?

Are you liking what you see here? The Hohem iSteady V3 is a very interesting gimbal with a futuristic touch you’ll have a hard time finding elsewhere. The AI features and gesture controls are amazing, the removable remote is convenient, and the unit performs very well elsewhere. The integrated tripod and extendable rod will allow for more freedom to capture fantastic content, and the 3-axis stabilization will ensure all your footage is as smooth as possible. All while fitting perfectly in a normal pocket and still managing to achieve a full day of shooting.

Surely, all of this must be expensive, right? Well, you’d be surprised to learn the price is pretty competitive. The Hohem iSteady V3 retails for $149, but right now, you can find it at $129 from both the official Hohem site and Amazon.

To put matters into perspective, the closest competitor is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI, and that one is $169. The Insta360 Flow Pro ($149 at Amazon) also has AI capabilities, but not as advanced, and that one is also $149. In terms of value per dollar, the Hohem iSteady V3 is the better alternative right now.