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The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely is the twenty fifth gimbal I’ve examined and reviewed to this point for Digital Digicam World. I’ve seen gimbals evolve to embrace the emergence of AI, turning them from a instrument that permits a videographer to pan, tilt, and infrequently roll their digicam/smartphone, to an efficient robotic digicam operator that may observe their each transfer! Extra on that within the Efficiency part.
I’ve examined a variety of stabilisers too, from price range smartphone shifters such because the Insta360 Circulate 2 to heavy lifters just like the budget-gobbling DJI RS 4 Professional overview, which lets you glide a heavy DSLR round virtually effortlessly!
The topic of this overview – the Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely – is sort of similar to the earlier yr’s iSteady V3, however it boasts an progressive design characteristic that first appeared on the 2025’s dearer iSteady M7 – a video feed from the entrance of the stabiliser that you would be able to view on the rear management panel. Extra on this handy new characteristic within the subsequent part.
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely: Specs
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Payload |
14.11 oz/ 400g |
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Materials |
Excessive-performance composite materials |
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Mechanical Vary |
Pan: 360° Infinite, Roll: -195° to +135°, Tilt: -35° to +45° |
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Appropriate Telephone Width |
2.28 in~3.86 in/ 58mm~98mm |
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Battery Life |
9 hours (much less if utilizing Fill Mild and AI tracker) |
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Dimensions (unfolded) |
5.0 x 2.6 x12.3 in/ 127 x 65 x 312mm |
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Dimensions (folded) |
3.9 x 1.7 x 6.3 in/ 98 x 44 x 160.5mm |
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Weight |
15.1 oz / 428g |
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely: Worth
The Hohem V3 Extremely retails at $189/£189 and is offered in Shadow Black or Arctic White. The iSteady V3 Extremely’s $189 price ticket is cheaper than the iSteady M7 ($269/£269), however dearer than the equally specced iSteady V3 ($129/£129). It’s because the iSteady V3 Extremely’s detachable distant management panel incorporates a 1.22-inch touch-sensitive display that first appeared on the dearer iSteady M7. The older iSteady V3 did have a detachable distant management panel, however it lacked a display, so you would solely use its joystick to manage the gimbal’s strikes, set off recordings, and swap gimbal modes with the faucet of a button.
So this leaves you with a option to make. You should buy the earlier yr’s iSteady V3 for $50/$50 much less and nonetheless get pleasure from its means to carry out easy tilts and pans, plus AI-powered face monitoring. Or pay the additional $50/£50 for the newer iSteady V2 Extremely and revel in a removable distant with a touch-sensitive display that additionally feeds a video sign from the AI-tracker to the rear of the gimbal. Or you possibly can go for the iSteady M7 ($269/£269), which may raise a barely heavier payload, has the upgraded removable distant management panel, and might tilt via a wider vary than the iSteady V3 sequence.
You’ll find my evaluations of all of those stabilisers on this website, which ought to enable you make an knowledgeable determination, however I did benefit from the freedom and ease the iSteady V3 Extremely’s touchscreen offered when it got here to altering modes or swapping smartphone orientation between horizontal and vertical in a faucet of an icon.
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely: Design & Dealing with
At first look, the iSteady V3 Extremely seems to be similar to the earlier yr’s iSteady V3. And on condition that Hohem has saved the V3 prefix somewhat than calling it the V4, this means that it’s virtually the identical machine. There are some variations, nevertheless. For starters, the older mannequin might solely pan between a spread of -120° – 210°. The Hohem V3 Extremely is free to pan via 360°, which signifies that when monitoring you by way of AI, it should at all times preserve you within the body.
The brand new V3 Extremely has the identical compact dimensions because the V3, however it’s barely heavier by a negligible 8g. The most important distinction between the V3 and the V3 Extremely is that the latter has a touch-sensitive display that additionally doubles up as a video feed from the AI sensor on the entrance of the gimbal. This video feed is helpful when capturing selfies utilizing the higher-specced cameras on the entrance of your smartphone.
When the iSteady V3 appeared in July 2024, it enabled the stabiliser to be extra compact by storing its mini-tripod legs inside the primary deal with. Previous to this, many gimbals had a separate tripod that wanted to be connected by way of a thread. The brand new V3 Extremely has the identical compact tripod design because the older V3. Merely slide the three legs out of the deal with to deploy the gimbal in free-standing mode. You may then stroll and speak hands-free whereas the gimbal makes use of AI to trace your each transfer.
Whereas this tripod design is progressive, it’s not excellent. The tripod’s three metallic legs are fairly spindly, so if you lengthen the gimbal’s selfie follow its full size, your gimbal-mounted smartphone may sway just a little when being panned and tilted in tripod mode. One other gimbal that shops its tripod contained in the deal with is the Insta360 Circulate 2, however this mannequin’s built-in tripod legs are chunkier (and due to this fact sturdier).
The opposite key characteristic of the iSteady V3 Extremely is its removable AI sensor. When filming by way of the Hohem Pleasure app, you don’t must activate the AI sensor. Merely draw a sq. round your topic on the display of your smartphone, and the app will management the stabiliser to maintain the topic within the centre of the body.
You may also use gesture management to make the gimbal observe you when it’s deployed in tripod mode, as you’ll see within the Efficiency part (and its supporting video).
The cool factor in regards to the AI sensor is that when it’s turned on, it should monitor your face if you end up utilizing a third-party app, such because the iPhone’s Digicam app. This lets you get pleasure from being tracked whereas filming within the iPhone Digicam app’s Cinematic mode – one thing the Hohem Pleasure app can’t do. Extra on the app within the subsequent part.
Oh, and the AI sensor additionally doubles up as a mini key mild! By tapping a button on the aspect of the V3 Extremely, you possibly can activate the sensor’s mild and rotate the dial to manage its depth. It can be set to a few color temperature presets: 6500K(Cool), 2700K(Heat), and 5000K(Impartial). The AI sensor’s built-in LED is just 2W, however it’s nonetheless highly effective sufficient to light up a selfie if you’re holding the stabiliser at arm’s size.
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely: Efficiency
To check the Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely, I took it into London in order that I might movie my regular mannequin, Maddy (@runway.voguish), whereas making a spread of digicam strikes. However first, I ended off on the Barbican Centre to check out the gimbal’s AI-powered face monitoring characteristic.
I popped the V3 Extremely on a step and deployed its mini tripod legs in order that it might stand by itself. I fired up the Hohem Pleasure app on my gimbal-mounted iPhone 16 Professional. The app linked the iPhone robotically to the iSteady by way of Bluetooth. To document audio, I plugged the Boya Magic mic’s tiny receiver into the USB-C port on my iPhone. On some smartphone stabilisers, the lean axis prohibits the usage of a wi-fi mic receiver, however the iSteady V3 Extremely has loads of clearance between the iPhone and the lean motor.
I used to be then in a position to stand in entrance of the gimbal-mounted smartphone and make an OK gesture to make the iSteady monitor my face. By extending two fingers vertically, I used to be in a position to begin recording footage. Due to the mix of the built-in tripod legs and the AI-powered face monitoring, I used to be in a position to stroll and speak freely whereas the iSteady V3 Extremely panned and tilted my iPhone 16 Professional to maintain me in shot. By putting my palm in direction of the digicam, I ought to have been in a position to cease the gimbal from monitoring me so I might stroll out of shot, however for some cause, it didn’t at all times recognise this explicit gesture.
I additionally powered on the AI tracker and used it to manage the gimbal whereas I recorded some Cinematic mode footage from the iPhone 16 Professional’s native digicam app. This capturing mode added a pleasant background blur to my footage. The AI tracker is sort of helpful as just a little standing mild helps you see when it has recognised a gesture by turning inexperienced.
After I tapped the set off on the entrance of the iSteady V3 Extremely, the digicam panned via 180º so I might movie myself in selfie mode utilizing the iPhone’s superior front-facing cameras. In consequence, I couldn’t see the iPhone’s show. I used to be, nevertheless, in a position to see my face on the 1.22” display on the rear of the gimbal, due to a video feed from the AI monitoring module on the entrance of the gimbal. This enabled me to make sure that my face was in shot. I used to be even in a position to faucet on my face on the show to set off face monitoring, which made it even simpler to seize self-footage.
This video feed is a game-changer for the self-shooter who wants to speak to the digicam whereas on the transfer. I used to be additionally in a position to wipe the distant management panel’s display to depart the dwell video feed and entry icons that allow you to vary working modes (equivalent to PF – Pan Observe) or zoom out and in utilizing + and – icons. This digital zoom solely labored once I was capturing video within the Hohem Pleasure app.
The touchscreen was additionally very helpful for fine-tuning the gimbal’s degree. I observed that the spirit degree in my iPhone’s Digicam app was indicating a barely tilted horizon. I used to be ready to make use of the touchscreen to tweak the roll axis’s angle by 0.5º to make the horizon completely degree. A pleasant contact! As I’ve already talked about, you possibly can detach the management panel and use it to manage the gimbal remotely (as much as round 30 ft). I’ve probably not encountered a capturing situation the place a distant management can be helpful, however at the very least it’s an possibility.
I then popped throughout the river to satisfy up with Maddy so I might check out numerous gimbal modes, equivalent to Pan Observe (the place it pans to observe my hand actions with out tilting up or down an excessive amount of). I additionally used PTF (Pan, Tilt, Observe), the place the digicam additionally tilts up and down whereas panning. In each of those modes, the horizon stays fully degree, which is tough to do when filming handheld with no gimbal. I additionally used the POV (Level of View) to make the gimbal pan, tilt, and roll. This mode captured extra organic-looking strikes that simulated Maddy’s viewpoint of the native structure as she walked via an industrial space. Try my supporting video to see the V3 Extremely and Maddy in motion.
As a filmmaker who’s lengthy within the tooth, I actually don’t like capturing video in vertical (portrait) orientation. Nonetheless, I discover that vertical view reels in Instagram get much more love (and display house) than horizontally shot footage. Usually, I shoot horizontal footage after which crop it in Ultimate Minimize Professional to create a vertical model. With the iSteady V3 Extremely, it was fast and straightforward to shoot vertical and horizontal variations of a scene by merely tapping an icon on the show. This brought about the gimbal to rapidly rotate the iPhone from portrait to panorama orientation and vice versa.
Speaking of gimbal rotation, I did encounter a difficulty when making an attempt to shoot a sideways monitoring shot of Maddy strolling down the road. Sometimes, the gimbal would roll my iPhone via 180º, which in impact turned Maddy the other way up. This occurred a couple of instances, however solely in a single explicit location. I assume it might need been a balancing concern the place the gimbal was looking for the optimum orientation for my iPhone. I wanted to show the iSteady V3 Extremely on and off a couple of instances and re-attach the iPhone earlier than I might get it to carry out my desired monitoring transfer, which was just a little irritating as I used to be working with a mannequin who’s paid by the hour!
The Hohem Pleasure app is designed that will help you get extra from the iSteady V3 Extremely. Among the app’s additional modes are a bit gimmicky – equivalent to the choice so as to add raindrops to your footage that you would be able to ‘management’ by way of gestures (in case your topic will get the timing of their hand actions proper!).
I did just like the app’s one-tap Inception mode although, because it causes the gimbal to slowly rotate the digicam by way of the roll axis as you monitor ahead via a location. Try my video to see that mode in motion. The app additionally has a TimeWarp mode that captures high-speed ‘hyperlapse’ footage as you stroll via a metropolis, however in observe, this solely captured a jerky, barely sped-up model of the footage. The Insta360 Circulate 2 Professional produced a lot quicker and smoother hyperlapse footage when used along with its Insta360 app.
Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely: Verdict
I did encounter some points with the iSteady V3 Extremely, such because it flipping 180º to all of a sudden seize upside-down footage (see video). I additionally discovered that the lean angle had a comparatively restricted vary of -35° to +45° (in comparison with the Insta360 Circulate 2’s wider tilt vary of -99° to 231°). Nonetheless, on the entire, the iSteady V3 Extremely carried out nicely, and I used to be in a position to document a variety of cinematic digicam strikes equivalent to pans, tilts, and POV pictures when filming a mannequin exploring the streets of London. I additionally loved the liberty the V3 Extremely gave me to stroll and speak to my gimbal-mounted iPhone 16 Professional whereas it panned and tilted to maintain me in shot, courtesy of a really efficient AI-powered face monitoring module.
The removable remote-control panel with its means to ship a video feed from the entrance of the gimbal makes the iSteady V3 Extremely stand out from the stabiliser crowd, particularly as this characteristic was solely beforehand out there on the dearer Hohem iSteady M7. If you happen to already personal an iSteady V3, then I don’t assume the upgraded management panel makes the iSteady V3 Extremely a ‘should purchase’, however for those who’re in search of your first compact and reasonably priced smartphone gimbal to take your digicam strikes to the subsequent degree, then the iSteady V3 Extremely is definitely really useful.
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Options ★★★★★ |
The Hohem iSteady V3 Extremely lets you monitor dwell video footage by way of the removable contact management panel. AI face monitoring at all times retains you within the image. |
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Design ★★★☆☆ |
Constructed-in tripod provides it a extra compact storage profile (although spindly tripod legs may cause wobble.) Restricted tilt vary in comparison with different gimbals. 3 color fill mild might come in useful for higher selfies. |
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Efficiency ★★★★☆ |
Performs tilts, pans and crane pictures with ease. Additionally tilts and pans easily when monitoring your face by way of AI. Some app modes a bit gimmicky. |
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Worth ★★★★☆ |
There are barely cheaper stabilisers available on the market however they don’t have the progressive removable touch-screen distant. |