The $299 Hohem iSteady M7 smartphone gimbal is built for creators who want maximum control over their shots. It’s large and hefty, but makes good use of its size with a removable remote control, an AI tracking module, and a telescoping extension rod in the handle. For power users, the iSteady M7 offers a lot of flexibility and produces Steadicam-like footage, but its size, weight, and price might be too much for casual filmmakers. For many of the same features in a smaller package, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P ($149) includes an AI tracker and produces beautifully smooth video at half the cost, making it our Editors' Choice winner.

Design: Oversized But Feature-Rich

The Hohem iSteady M7 is a sizable smartphone gimbal that measures 12.87 by 4.81 by 4.66 inches (HWD) unfolded and 13.22 by 2.24 by 6.26 inches folded. It weighs 1.39 pounds.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

It’s considerably larger and heavier than the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P, which measures 11.34 by 4.21 by 3.78 inches unfolded, 7.48 by 3.74 by 1.81 inches folded, and weighs 12.98 ounces. The closest comparison in size and price is the two-pound DJI RS 4 Mini ($369), which is designed for smaller cameras but can hold a phone with an optional $19 accessory. It measures 13.31 by 7.17 by 6.89 inches unfolded and 12.44 by 2.52 by 9.29 inches folded.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Inside the iSteady M7's box, you get the gimbal with its removable remote, a tripod, a coiled USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable, a USB-A-to-USB-C cable, a magnetic AI tracker, documentation, and a carrying case. When fully loaded, the whole package weighs 2.63 pounds. A charging brick is not included, so you’ll need to supply your own.

Remote and Controls

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Most of the M7's controls are on a removable remote control that docks into the handle. It features a 1.40-inch touch screen with a joystick, mode button, shutter/record button, and zoom control. The remote has its own power button on the right side and a USB-C port on the left side. It runs on a 240mAh battery; Hohem doesn’t specify its battery life.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Hohem says the remote works from up to about 33 feet away and can receive video transmissions up to 23 feet for viewing from afar. In testing, I found the remote and its video transmission feature worked as far away as 35 feet. Video comes from the AI tracker; you cannot view your phone's camera through it. The remote is exceedingly useful for one-person creators, opening up a world of creative possibilities.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

The left-side wheel controls focus, lighting, and zoom, with a central button for related functions. To the right of the wheel, the A and B buttons let you program movement between two points. The right side features the power button, a USB-C charging port, and a 1/4-20 mount, with a second mount on the bottom of the textured handgrip. A rear trigger quickly reorients the gimbal or switches modes. The phone arm adds a third 1/4-20 mount and a USB-C output. The controls are well spaced and easy to access, minimizing accidental presses.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Battery Life and Charging

The iSteady M7 has a 3,200mAh battery, and its longevity depends on how you use it. Hohem says it lasts up to 12 hours when balanced and stationary, eight hours with AI tracking enabled, and three to four hours with AI tracking and the fill light active at the same time. The screen displays two separate charging animations—one for the gimbal and another for the remote. A full charge takes about three hours.

AI Tracker Module

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

The magnetic AI tracker functions similarly to the one included with the Osmo Mobile 7P and allows subject tracking even when using third-party camera apps. You initiate the controls using gestures, or you can select an object to track using the remote's viewfinder. The device attaches to the phone holder, is reversible, and draws power from the gimbal via pogo pin connectors. It does not have an internal battery.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

The tracking module measures 0.77 by 1.67 by 1.16 inches and weighs 0.71 ounces. A 2MP camera is on the left, and a customizable light is on the right. The fill light can show 360 colors and has an adjustable color temperature range of 2,700K to 6,500K to fine-tune your lighting.

(Credit: Hohem/PCMag)

Officially, the module recognizes gestures from 1.64 feet to 16.40 feet away and can track subjects from 1.64 feet to 23 feet. I found that both recognition and tracking often exceeded Hohem’s stated limits by a few feet, though reliability drops beyond those distances.

Supports Most Phones

The iSteady M7 supports phones that weigh up to 17.64 ounces (1.10 pounds) and measure between 2.28 and 3.54 inches wide and 0.27 to 0.49 inches thick. That means large phones like the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.42 by 3.06 by 0.32 inches, 7.99 ounces), the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.41 by 3.02 by 0.33 inches, 7.80 ounces), and even the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 when closed (6.04 by 2.68 by 0.48 inches, 8.43 ounces) fit.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

If you have a bulky case, you may need to remove it for a secure fit. The clamp’s contact points are rubberized to protect and stabilize your phone. A built-in telescoping pole extends up to 7.60 inches for overhead shots, though it can be tricky to keep the gimbal balanced when the rod is fully extended.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Setup

You'll want to download the free Hohem Joy app (available for Android and iOS) to get the most out of the gimbal. The app is organized with a top menu (Home, Hot, Event) and a lower menu (Community, Tutorial, Camera, Editor, and Me). You will spend most of your time in the Camera section. The tutorials explain the iSteady M7's features thoroughly. I did most of my testing with a Samsung Galaxy S24, which has optical image stabilization (OIS) on its rear camera, but not on the front.

(Credit: Hohem/PCMag)

The gimbal's three locks (one for each axis) must be manually unlocked before using the device. Balance your phone by moving it left or right with the adjustable arm until it is level with the ground, then lock the placement. Power on the gimbal to activate the motors and launch the Hohem app to pair the gimbal over Bluetooth. I found that pairing worked reliably and didn't drop while testing.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Hohem's camera app is information-dense. Settings for recording are on the left and right sides of the screen, with a Bluetooth indicator, current mode, and battery information for both the gimbal and remote. After pairing, the gimbal's physical controls can record video, take pictures, or zoom. The joystick allows you to direct your phone and works regardless of whether the gimbal is paired.

(Credit: Hohem/PCMag)

Tapping the yellow camera icon brings you to a set of tutorials. Selecting one opens the camera interface with shooting guidance overlaid. This is similar to the Shot Guides found in DJI's Mimo app and is a fun way to get started with the gimbal and familiarize yourself with its features. Preset movements are found in the Moments shooting mode menu to the right, so you can easily take an Inception-style rotating video.

(Credit: Hohem/PCMag)

To start tracking in the Hohem app, tap the screen to draw a green box around your subject. As long as the subject remains visible, the iSteady M7 tracks effectively. However, if an object obstructs the subject for a few seconds, the gimbal often loses track and does not reacquire the subject once it reappears.

I found the AI module does a better job of keeping the subject in the shot even if they exit the frame or are temporarily obstructed. I wish this level of persistent tracking existed in the Hohem app, but it doesn't. You can track subjects with the AI module or the Hohem app—you can't use both at the same time.

Performance and Stabilization

Most of the physical controls and some virtual ones are easily reached with one hand. Diving into menus with small targets or using the left-side wheel requires both hands.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Panning and tilting work well out of the box, and you can speed it up or slow it down in the settings. The Mode button cycles through four shooting modes. Pan Follow keeps the camera steady while allowing horizontal movement for smooth side-to-side shots. Pan Tilt Follow expands that by letting the camera move up and down as well. A POV mode enables full-range movement, allowing the camera to mirror your wrist and hand motions. Lastly, there is an option for a customized mode.

(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)

Tapping the trigger twice resets the camera to its default position. Four taps call up the ultra-wide mode, where the gimbal flips its arm out of the frame. Even when running down the sidewalk, it was easy to switch things up with the trigger and joystick. The grip felt secure in my hand while the phone remained held in place. A full sprint introduces some minor jitter, but the results remain impressively stable.

Trying to focus or find a particular lighting color with the side wheel takes a little time, but it works. You can also use the wheel to operate one of the gimbal's axes, though this takes some practice for smooth movements.

The Hohem iSteady M7 delivers excellent stabilization after a brief learning curve. Once you get the hang of its controls, recorded footage looks significantly steadier than handheld shots. In the clip below, I ran up four flights of stairs, and the footage looks like a scene from an old video game, thanks to its smoothness.