Hohem iSteady M7 review: the heavy-duty smartphone stabilizer to beat
Hohem iSteady M7: Two-minute review
The Hohem iSteady M7 is Hohem’s latest top-of-the-line gimbal, adding another premium option to the booming smartphone stabilizer market. It can carry almost any smartphone, including heavier or larger models that other gimbals can’t stabilize effectively, and has a wide range of features to justify its high price and (with some) bulky proportions.
Hohem provides the iSteady M7 with a detachable mini tripod (which screws into a standard tripod mounting point on the bottom of the gimbal handle), a detachable AI tracking module/fill light, and two USB charging cables: one USB-C to USB-C and a USB-C to USB-A. There’s no AC adapter included, so you’ll have to connect this cable to another device to charge the battery. All of the above items fit snugly into the hard-shell zipper suitcase, which also has a mesh space on the lid for extra items like manuals or additional cables.
The stabilizer folds flat for storage, and three locks hold the gimbal arm securely in place. When in use, these locks must be manually unlocked so that the arms can move freely, and the arms also require some simple manual balancing once the phone is mounted. To install, place the phone inside a sturdy spring-loaded clip that rotates 90° to switch the phone between landscape (16:9) and portrait (9:16) orientation.
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The handle and gimbal motor are powerful enough to accommodate smartphones weighing up to 500 grams and 12.5 mm thick. This impressed me because the last flagship gimbal I reviewed was Zhiyun Smooth 5S AIcan only manage mobile phones up to 300g and 10mm. If you own one of the larger smartphone models (including foldables, e.g. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6) or prefer a thick protective case or lens accessory for your phone, that extra capacity can make all the difference.
Hohem has done a great job designing and building the iSteady M7. The gimbal feels comfortable in my hand, and I found all the main controls—from the front trigger to the customizable zoom/focus/tilt/pan wheel on the left—to be well designed and easy to operate. There’s even a built-in extension that allowed me to increase the distance of the gimbal arm by 20 centimeters and achieve some otherwise impossible shooting angles.
As far as I’m concerned, though, the best design touch (and a feature no other gimbal can offer as far as I’m aware) is the 1.4-inch touchscreen panel on the handle. Not only does this provide swipe and tap access to a range of settings, meaning I didn’t need to use the Hohem Joy companion app to delve into some of the gimbal’s deeper features, but it also works by releasing it from the handle. A remote control unit. This meant I was able to set up the iSteady M7 on a flat surface using a tripod, and then use the remote to control gimbal movement, etc., from a distance of up to about 10m.
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It doesn’t stop there. The iSteady M7, like the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI, comes with a small detachable module for AI-assisted subject tracking. It mounts securely to a gimbal arm (facing forward or rear), and with its tiny camera, it can track human subjects no matter which camera app you use on your phone. Some gimbals only track when using the manufacturer’s app, but this module means I can use the native iPhone app, Blackmagic Cam, TikTok, or any other app I like. The Hohem Joy app itself is fine, although due to some poorly translated text and odd design choices, I’d rather use another app I’m more familiar with. Well there’s room for improvement there.
The module also comes with a very useful LED fill light (which can be customized in brightness and color), but perhaps even more impressive is the way it integrates perfectly with the remote unit. Not only am I able to track the camera’s POV via remote screen preview, but I can also double-tap the screen to track other objects. This far exceeds the AI ​​tracking capabilities of the Zhiyun gimbal.
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As for the three-axis gimbal stabilization itself, I have absolutely no complaints. The usual modes (Pan Follow, Pan Tilt Follow, and POV) are complemented by fully customizable modes that allow me to tailor the movement speed to my needs, and the gimbal’s ability to rotate 360° on the pan axis gives me a lot of freedom in moving through the camera. Get creative. The settings menu also features an ultra-wide mode, which moves the gimbal arm out of the camera when shooting ultra-wide.
The battery life is up to 12 hours when the stabilizer is basically static, and up to 8 hours when AI tracking is enabled. You may need to bring a power bank for long weekend shooting, but I am satisfied with this capacity. Very satisfied. A USB-C socket on the gimbal arm even lets you charge your phone’s battery while it’s mounted—just another example of the Hohem iSteady M7’s thoughtful design touches, so to speak. The best mobile phone gimbal Now on the market.
Hohem iSteady M7 review: Price and availability
The Hohem iSteady M7 is available now, priced at around $299 / £269 / AU$459. This makes it one of the most expensive smartphone gimbals out there, but given its level of specs, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing – especially if you have a heavier phone that cheaper gimbals can’t accommodate.
Hohem iSteady M7: Specs
| aspect: | 335.7 x 159 x 57 mm (folded) |
| weight: | 629g (727.5g, including tripod) |
| Compatible mobile phone weight: | Maximum 500 g |
| Compatible mobile phone thickness: | 6.9 to 12.5 mm |
| Compatible mobile phone width: | 58 to 90 mm |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C |
| Battery life: | About 8 hours (using AI tracking) |
Hohem iSteady M7 review: Also consider
Should I buy the Hohem iSteady M7?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Hohem iSteady M7
- Used for one week
- Tested with iPhone 13
- For behind-the-scenes footage and vlogs
I spent a week using the Hohem iSteady M7 in and around my home, recording footage both handheld and sitting on the ground or on a table using a tripod. I tested it on my Apple computer iPhone 13 and multiple camera apps, including the native iPhone camera app and Hohem Joy, and record behind-the-scenes and vlog videos using your phone’s front- and rear-facing cameras.
The first review will be in January 2025
