Camera phones are all the rage for creating short-form videos, making a compact gimbal a must-have. The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is that must-have.
Smartphone gimbals have been around quite a while. I’ve never seen one with so many features at an amazing price as the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra. Hohem gave me the gimbal to use in this review.
iSteady V3 Ultra first impressions
Video creators have the challenge of getting steady video while being on camera themselves or when showing off their subject. The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is a perfect solution. It is small, folding into a compact size that fits in a pocket, pocketbook, purse or tote. It comes with a soft cloth storage pouch. It weighs in at 15.1 ounces (428 grams). It is completely self-contained, requiring no wires to connect to Apple or Android smartphones from 2.3 to 3.9 inches (5.8 to 9.8 cm) in width. Its three powerful tilt, roll and pan motors handle phones up to 14.1 ounces (400 grams). It easily keeps my Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max rock solid, even when I am walking at a fast pace.
The iSteady V3 Ultra is quick to unfold and set up with a smartphone. The clamp is strong, giving confidence that the phone will not slip when the gimbal is in motion. Balancing is easy, too. Slide the phone in the clamp until it is centered and… done! Handy instruction stickers on the gimbal help with folding, as well as the touchscreen controls. A QR code opens a video tutorial.
The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra’s battery is built into the handle. The 1600 mAh battery provides 9 hours of battery life. This falls to 4 to 5 hours using the fill light and AI tracker. It charges with a supplied USB-C cable in 2.5 hours. It does not include a power brick. It also comes with a detachable remote control screen and a magnetic AI tracker with adjustable color temperature fill light. These accessories are stored on the gimbal.
Remote shooting with the iSteady V3 Ultra
One of the most impressive and useful features of the iSteady V3 Ultra is the detachable touchscreen remote control. It has a 1.2-inch screen to command the gimbal and provides live video of what the smartphone is seeing. A joy-stick and side wheel control the gimbal’s movements and the fill light, respectively. It works up to 32.8 feet (10 meters) from the gimbal. Other settings are lighting control, shooting modes, quick tracking and subject reframing. Presets include auto roll and pan, panorama and time-lapse.
Gesture control
When the iSteady V3 Ultra is sitting on a table or fixed to a tripod, gestures control it. Hold up a hand with the “OK” sign and the AI tracker starts up. Use a palm-forward gesture to stop the tracking. Gestures can change the composition, start or stop recording (in Photo mode to take a photo) and switch from portrait to landscape modes.
The remote makes it easy for creators to be in the shot when the iSteady V3 Ultra is sitting on a table or other stable place.
When it’s mounted on the gimbal, it allows one-handed control of the gimbal’s features.
Switch from landscape to portrait
Changing the capture orientation of the cameraphone can be a pain with other gimbals. The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra does it with a single tap on the touchscreen or using a gesture. There is no way this could be easier!
iSteady V3 Ultra mounting options
The iSteady V3 has a small integrated moon-lander style tripod and a 1/4-20 standard socket for mounting on a tripod or light stand.
One of the iSteady V3’s best features is a built-in 3-section extension pole. This lifts the smartphone above the crowd for overhead shots or to act like a gimbal selfie-stick. The extension features a joint at the top, allowing the gimbal/smartphone to be tilted into the proper orientation for the situation. Note: With heavier phones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the joint will slip during a sudden motion. Hohem provides a hex wrench to tighten this joint. Keep the wrench with the gimbal. You never know when it will be needed.
iSteady V3 Ultra AI features
Tell the gimbal with a gesture or on the remote what the subject is. The iSteady V3 Ultra will follow it automatically. This makes tracking shots easy and better than most professional operators can accomplish every time.
Whether at the gym, shooting your workout routine or tracking a friend walking along side you, the AI tracker function does the work while you see the super smooth results.
Tutorial videos
Hohem has a range of video tutorials for the iSteady V3 Ultra from setup to using the remote control and gestures. It is easy to understand and quite complete.
