This handy phone accessory is my new must-have for work and travel

The Hohem iSteady M7 gimbal is one of the most impressive pieces of technology I’ve tried in a while. I’ve used plenty of gimbals over the years (even a DIY gimbal I created for my old GoPro Hero) and have found the results to be a mixed bag of features and user-friendliness.

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I’ve used gimbals that were too simplistic to be worth their time, too complicated to bother with, too unreliable to use for important projects, and too hard to balance. I’ve also used gimbals that struck the perfect sweet spot, such as the DJI Ronin 4 Pro (my go-to gimbal for filmmaking). 

Recently, when Hohem asked me to review the iSteady M7, I expected the device would be no more than a toy to make phone users feel like serious videographers. I was wrong: The M7 gimbal is quite impressive.

The specs

• 1.4-inch removable touchscreen
• Built-in extension pole
• RGB CCT fill light
• 3-axis design for 360-degree pan rotation and 325-degree tilt rotation
• Dimensions – 335.7 x 159 x 57mm (folded)
• Weight – 629g (727.5g inc. tripod)
• Compatible phone thickness – 6.9 to 12.5mm
• Compatible phone width – 58 to 90mm
• Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C

My experience with the iSteady M7 gimbal

No gimbal is worth using if it’s too complex to set up. I’ve experienced gimbals that took forever to balance and even once you nailed it, there was no guarantee the balance would stick. Then, I used the DJI Ronin 4 Pro, which proved that balancing a gimbal didn’t require a degree in rocket science and a major source of luck.

Like the Ronin 4 Pro, the M7 is incredibly easy to balance: Insert your phone into the holder, loosen the latch, and slide the arm to the left or right until the phone remains balanced. Tighten the last, and you’re done. It took me about 30 seconds to balance my Pixel 9 Pro.

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I connected the phone and gimbal via Bluetooth and then connected the Hohem Joy app (Android/iOS) to the gimbal.  I was ready to go.

I quickly tested walking through the house, up the stairs, and back down. I initially thought the gimbal was smooth as butter, even with my bouncy gate. With the joystick’s help, I could turn corners and pull off orbit shots with ease (something that’s considerably more complicated with my Ronin 4 Pro gimbal and ZCAM E2 F6 camera).

I took some test footage but realized I was filming at 30 fps (you can film up to 60 fps via the Hohem Joy app), and my pans were too quick to be smooth. You can view the test footage (which includes a test of the AI tracking) here.

How effective is the auto-tracking?

After that, I tested the auto-tracking feature. To do that, you open the Hohem Joy app, connect it to the gimbal, tap on the hand icon, and enable Gesture Control. Set up your M7, give it the OK sign, and auto-tracking will do its thing. 

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The M7 auto-tracking is pretty impressive. There were a few moments when it had to “jerk” to keep up with me, but as long as I’m moving naturally, the AI tracking works very well. This feature makes the M7 great if you like to create presentation-like videos and don’t have a crew available to keep you in focus.

I found the auto-tracking far easier to use than other auto-tracking I’ve tested. One great benefit of the M7 is that you can use the auto-tracking feature with any app. Once you’ve paired the gimbal with your phone, a handy record button is available, so you don’t have to reach around to your phone’s touchscreen and tap Record.

The iSteady M7 is also light enough to use for extended periods without tiring your arms.

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Here’s another nice feature: The iSteady M7’s 1.4-inch removable touchscreen can be a handy remote control for the gimbal. The touchscreen simplifies scrolling through the gimbal menu system; when used as a remote, you can work the gimbal with the joystick and even use the touchscreen for things like focus areas. 

Finally, there’s a nice built-in fill light, which you switch on by long-pressing the button in the center of the wheel on the gimbal’s side. Once the light is on, you can adjust the color of the fill light by rotating the wheel. That’s a nice touch.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Hohem iSteady M7 sells for around $269 on Amazon (thanks to a 33% discount). If you’re serious about filming with your phone and are tired of not being able to get smooth shots (or need an auto-tracking feature), this is as sure a bet as you’ll find on the market (without having to spend two or three times as much). 

And with an eight hour battery life on a full charge (even with using AI tracking), this is a steal. I’d go so far as to say that the iSteady M7 is the single best phone gimbal on the market.