I Tried the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra Gimbal: Here’s How It Changed My Videos

I’ve used a handful of smartphone gimbals over the years, but the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra feels like a step forward. It’s compact enough to carry anywhere, packed with smart features, and intuitive enough that I didn’t need to fiddle endlessly to get smooth footage.

After a week of filming walks, family moments, and even some solo travel clips, I feel like I’ve gotten a good sense of what this little stabilizer can and can’t do.

Unfolding Creativity: First Impressions & Setup

Right out of the box, the Hohem V3 Ultra felt premium without being heavy. At just under a pound, it’s easy to hold for long stretches, yet it doesn’t feel flimsy. The folding design meant it fit easily into my backpack’s side pocket, and I even slipped it into a jacket pocket when I didn’t want to carry a bag.

The setup process was straightforward. I mounted my phone, made a quick balance adjustment, and powered it on. Within seconds, it was stabilizing smoothly. The built-in extension pole was an instant win for me—it let me capture wide shots and vlogging angles without having to attach any extra gear. The integrated tripod legs were just as handy; I could quickly set it down for time-lapse shots or when I wanted to step into the frame.

The touchscreen remote immediately caught my attention. Being able to monitor settings and controls on a bright little screen right on the gimbal itself gave me confidence. Instead of guessing whether tracking was on or fumbling through menus on my phone, I could see everything at a glance.

Smooth Moves with AI Flair

The standout feature for me was the AI tracking module. Unlike most stabilizers that depend entirely on your phone’s camera software, the iSteady V3 Ultra has its own AI-powered hardware. That means tracking is faster, smoother, and doesn’t drain my phone’s battery.

In practice, this made a big difference. I tested it by filming my dog running around the yard. A simple hand gesture was enough to trigger the tracker, and the gimbal locked on to her, following her zig-zag movements like it was anticipating her next turn. Later, when filming myself, I switched to selfie mode and walked around. It tracked me steadily, even when I drifted toward the edges of the frame.

I especially liked how responsive the subject switching was. A quick tap on the touchscreen, and it instantly adjusted to follow a new person. That made group shots much smoother, since I didn’t need to restart or pause shooting just to change focus.

Remote Control That Feels Empowering

One of my favorite parts of using the V3 Ultra was the detachable remote. Having a live view and controls in hand—even while stepping away from the gimbal—made solo shooting so much easier.

For example, I set it up in my living room, extended the pole a bit, and stepped into frame. From the remote, I could adjust the angle, switch between portrait and landscape, and even tweak the brightness of the built-in fill light. It was a relief not having to sprint back and forth between the gimbal and my phone.

This also made group filming a lot more fun. Someone could hold the remote while the rest of us posed, making little adjustments in real time to get everyone framed perfectly. No more guesswork, no more “we’ll check the shot later and hope it worked.”

Built for Real Use

Over several filming sessions, the stabilization impressed me the most. Walking shots that would normally have a lot of up-and-down bounce came out smooth, almost gliding. Slow pans and tilts looked polished, and I didn’t notice the mechanical jitters that cheaper gimbals sometimes introduce.

Battery life lived up to expectations. On lighter sessions where I wasn’t using heavy AI tracking or the light, it lasted almost 9 hours. When I pushed it harder—tracking, fill light, extension pole—the runtime dropped closer to 4–5 hours, which still covered most of my filming needs. Charging back up took a couple of hours, and since it uses USB-C, I could top it off with the same charger I use for my phone.

The weight balance felt good too. It’s light enough for travel but sturdy enough that I never felt like I was fighting it. I carried it around during a city walk, and after about an hour, I was still comfortable shooting.

What Could Be Better

No device is perfect, and the V3 Ultra has its quirks.

• The tripod legs are convenient, but when fully extended, they feel a little wobbly. On uneven ground, I didn’t completely trust it to stand steady without me keeping an eye on it.
• The tilt range is somewhat limited compared to larger gimbals. Low-angle shots, like filming close to the ground, took a bit of maneuvering, and I sometimes had to manually adjust instead of relying on smooth gimbal movement.
• There’s a slight learning curve if you’re completely new to gimbals. While I got the hang of it quickly, beginners might need a few test runs before feeling fully confident.

Final Verdict

The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra feels like more than just a stabilizer—it’s like carrying a mini production setup in your pocket. Between the AI tracking, detachable remote, extension pole, and smooth stabilization, it made filming solo projects, pet videos, and group moments genuinely fun instead of stressful.

While it has small limitations, the ease of use and creative control outweigh them by a long shot. For anyone who wants to elevate smartphone videography without lugging around bulky equipment, this gimbal is a seriously capable companion.

Although it’s currently available on the Hohem website and Amazon, the iSteady V3 and V3 Ultra will officially go live at Best Buy starting September 14th.