Hohem iSteady M6: AI powered phone gimbal

The Hohem iSteady M6 ($167) is an AI-powered smartphone gimbal with a built-in fill light for recording dark scenes and a visual tracking module for framing the perfect shot. With the iSteady 7.0 Stabilization algorithm and advanced features, it’s the tool for stabilizing your smartphone video and adding trick shots along the way.

Nowadays, smartphones are most people’s main video recording devices and also the preferred tool for many social media creators. While top-tier phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max boast impressive built-in video stabilization, the results are still not as smooth as using a dedicated gimbal such as the Hohem iSteady M6.

Hohem iSteady M6 review (Not Sponsored!)

Before I get into details, I should mention that this review is not sponsored. I purchased the iSteady M6 gimbal for personal use. Over the past 10 years of blogging, I have tested more than 10 camera stabilizers from various brands, including DJI, ZHIYUN, and Gudsen Moza.

The iSteady M6 gimbal comes in a deluxe hand case with a mini tripod, charging cable, flexible phone cable, and, of course, the 2in1 magnetic AI tracking module with integrated fill light.

At a glance

When I first unboxed the Hohem iSteady M6 gimbal, I was immediately impressed by its sleek design and high-quality materials. In terms of physical size, it measures 11.7 x ‎6.54 x 2.13 inches, which is noticeably larger than other smartphone gimbals. It weighs 1.21 pounds (551 grams) and can accommodate a payload of up to 0.88 pounds (400 grams). It is important not to overload the gimbal with too much weight because it can affect its performance, stability, and battery life.

It has lock pins for roll and pan for easy balancing and securing during transportation. The iSteady M6 unfolds easily. The expandable phone clamp can accommodate 58 ~ 98mm wide devices. You can install your smartphone horizontally or vertically for selfies. Switching between landscape and portrait modes can also be done on the fly by rotating the handle.

The front panel has a 0.91“ OLED screen, mini 5D joystick, Mode button, Zoom lever, and Shutter button. On the left side is a multifunctional wheel for smooth control over the gimbal movements (pan/tilt). Like all phone stabilizers I reviewed before, the Hohem iSteady M6 also has a smart trigger on the back of the handler that allows toggling between normal and selfie modes. The power switch and Type-C charging port are on the right sight. All controls can be reached comfortably with your finger.

The three-motor design made the video rock solid even while I ran alongside my kids on their scooters. I was pleasantly surprised by how steady the footage appeared, especially given the friendly price of this stabilizer. The PAN motor’s ability to rotate 360 degrees without getting caught by a threshold makes capturing incredible barrel roll footage possible.

Hohem’s iSteady M6 has two standard 1/4-20 tripod mounts —one at the bottom for tripods or extension rods and another for external accessories such as a fill light or microphone.

Magnetic AI Tracking module

The AI tracking module measures about 5x3x2cm and incorporates a tiny camera and a fill light. It attaches to the gimbal’s body through magnets and can be attached in both directions (front and rear camera). The unit has a tiny switch that turns ON/OFF AI tracking. Gesture control works best in a range of 0.5~1.5m (1.64-4.92ft). It can track both persons and objects. During my tests, I found gesture controls surprisingly fast and precise.

The fill light can be adjusted from warm to cool tones (CCT) or ambient colors (RGB) in order to create different effects. Personally, I find the light weak and ineffective in a dark room. If you need to shoot in challenging light conditions, the Zhiyun FIVERAY M20C pocket video LED panel is a good option.

Gimbal models:

• [Pan Follow (PF)] The Tilt and roll axes are locked, and the camera can move smoothly left or right.
• [Pan&Tilt Follow (PTF)] The Roll axis is locked, and the camera can move to the left or right and tilt up or down.
• [All Lock (L)] Camera stays in its current orientation.
• [All Follow (POV)] Also known as a first-person shot. The tilt, roll, and pan axes follow the gimbal’s movement.
• [Sport Mode(S)] The gimbal’s follow speed increases for capturing quick-moving subjects and any fast-paced action.
• [Inception (ICP – Barrel Roll)]: 360° infinite spinning on the pan axis while holding the gimbal horizontally.
• [Manual Tilt mode] The tilt motor can be rotated by hand to a certain angle. Hold it for 2 seconds, and the camera angle will be fixed at that angle.

iSteady M6: Battery life

The iSteady M6 is powered by a 2600mAh 7.4V battery that can last up to 18 hours of continuous use. When fill light and AI tracking are activated, battery life is reduced to a third. While using it, the gimbal can charge your phone. Having the extra power for your phone could be the difference between missing the day’s shoot due to recharging your phone or getting your first million views on TikTok or YouTube.

Using a 5V/2A USB adapter, you can recharge this Hohem gimbal in about three hours. However, the manufacturer could improve this by supporting fast PD chargers.

Technical specifications

Hohem Joy mobile APP

The Hohem Joy app offers tight integration with the hardware to enhance the experience significantly. It’s user-friendly and packed with features, from object tracking to customizable settings. The APP also offers several software-assisted shooting modes designed to inspire and guide you in capturing more interesting clips.

The mobile tool includes built-in templates and a dedicated section with video tutorials about how to use Hohem products.

Pricing and availability

The iSteady M6 AI gimbal can be ordered from the manufacturer’s website, and like a lot of Hohem products, it’s priced competitively compared to what’s out there in the market. During the 2024 Sumer Sale, the base kit is priced at $167.20 ($229.00), and the combo kit that includes a tripod and remote controller for $199.20 ($269.00). For an extra 45 bucks, you can get a set of Hohem MIC-01 wireless microphones for enhanced audio quality.

Key features

• [Magnetically Removable AI Vision Sensor] With a removable AI-powered sensor, you can easily switch between the front and rear camera to achieve flexible “Follow You”, whether facing the phone screen or away from it. Thanks to its built-in AI vision sensor, AI tracking can be enabled in all mobile apps, including the native camera app and beauty apps, even if the gimbal-exclusive app is not connected to the gimbal device.
• [iSteady 7.0 Stabilization] iSteady M6 gimbal integrates the advanced iSteady 7.0 stabilization algorithms, helping users to capture on-the-move and shake-free creations that wow. In other words, whether you are walking or running, you can always film with flawless stabilization and create ultra-smooth footage.
• [Dual-Sided Powering On] Ultra-Wide-Angle Shots Made Easy. The iSteady M6 gimbal can be powered on whether your phone is in front of or behind the roll motor. It’s perfect for capturing an unobstructed view when your phone screen is facing the roll motor. To quickly switch between default and ultra-wide-angle shooting mode, you can press the trigger four times.
• [360° Infinite Spin Shot] Inception shooting without app. Just press the M button three times in a row to enable the Inception mode, and you will see 360° infinite panning, which rotates your phone’s camera 360° indefinitely. No gorgeous moment gets left out.
• [Cinematically Free Movements with 335° tilt rotation] The professional iSteady M6 gimbal with 335° tilt rotation and wider space between axes offers smooth movements from all perspectives, even at extremely low angles, allowing you to make blockbusters with ease.

You Can Trust Our Reviews!

Since 2014, FirstQuadcopter has reviewed, thoroughly tested, and rated hundreds of products, including drones, gimbals, power stations, action cameras, 3D printers,  and other high-tech gear to help you make better buying decisions.