REVIEW – The latest iPhones and Android phones have image stabilization baked into the operating system, but a gimbal is still a useful piece of gear for anyone who likes to capture video with their smartphone. Today, I take a look at the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra smartphone gimbal. Let’s check it out.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $169.00
Where to buy: Hohem and Amazon
What is it?
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is a folding smartphone gimbal. What’s a gimbal? It’s a handheld, battery-powered device with motorized arms and sensors that stabilize a smartphone to capture smooth, cinematic-style video by counteracting unwanted hand movements.
Tech specs
What’s included?
- Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra
- USB-C charging cable
- Drawstring pouch
- Allen wrench
- Quick start guide
Design and features
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is one of the most compact gimbals that I’ve tested. It folds down into a form factor that won’t take up a lot of room in your gear bag or backpack.
This isn’t just a fancy selfie stick for your phone. This gimbal features several built-in functions, including a dial on the left side that controls the removable fill light.
On the other side of the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is the USB-C charging port and the power button.
The front of the handle has a tiny remote that you can use to control the gimbal functions.
The remote has a joystick (left) and a shutter button (right). It’s also a touchscreen.
The remote is even removable, and it’s something even more awesome…
It’s a live viewfinder! And it’s touch-enabled so that you can tap on an object to track.
Attached to the side of the spring-loaded mount is the AI tracker/fill light.
Like the remote, you can remove the fill light from the iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal. On the front of the fill light, you can see the panel of LEDs, and next to it is a small lens that is the AI tracker. The light/tracker can be installed on the gimbal facing forward or backward, depending on the way you’ll be capturing video.
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is easy to unfold when it’s time to put it to use.
Once you unfold it, you will see the built-in trigger on the handle, which you use to start the AI tracking feature, and it can be used to re-center the gimbal and switch the way your phone is facing.
Hohem thought of everything because they also put a tripod inside the handle! Three metal legs slide out to create a stable base for using the gimbal as a tripod on a stable surface.
Here’s how the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra looks holding my iPhone 17 Pro Max (caseless) in portrait orientation.
And here’s how it looks in landscape orientation.
But wait, there’s more! The phone holder extends up to 8 inches from the handle and if you need even more height, you can just screw the bottom of the handle into a traditional tripod. Yay!
Hohem Joy App
You don’t have to use the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra smartphone gimbal with the companion app, but it does provide customization of the camera and gimbal parameters. It functions as your camera/video capture app.
- Creative Studio – suggests effects based on scenes
- Gesture control settings
- AI Tracking
- Filter and beauty effects
- Panorama
- Timelapse
- Hyperlapse
- Slow motion
- Zoom features
and more…
Using the gimbal
Using the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra feels like other gimbals. It’s comfortable to hold and it keeps the camera (phone) steady while you’re walking, moving, etc. But honestly, most phones already have built-in stabilization. The iSteady V3 Ultra adds features for gesture controls, remote controls, tracking, and the removable live viewfinder which makes it a fun accessory.
See it in action
Final thoughts
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is a compact gimbal that packs in a ton of features, making it a handy tool for anyone serious about smooth smartphone video. The standout for me is how much creative control it puts in your hand (and even lets you step away, thanks to the removable touchscreen remote and live viewfinder). Whether tracking a pet in the backyard or framing a solo video, this gimbal is great with subject tracking, and the smart gesture controls are a nice touch.
What truly sets the V3 Ultra apart is the flexibility with the built-in tripod, extension pole, and the freedom to use it with or without Hohem’s app. The gimbal folds down to a small form factor, so tossing it into a backpack is no hassle for on-the-go content creation, making it a winner in my book.
What I like about the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra smartphone gimbal
- Compact
- Removable fill light/remote/AI tracker
- Built-in tripod
What needs to be improved?
- Nothing
Price: $169.00
Where to buy: Hohem and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hohem. They did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
Check out these other gimbal reviews!
- ZHIYUN Smooth 5S AI Smart Phone Gimbal review
- Feiyu SCORP 2 Gimbal review – Stabilize your video footage
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