Test Reviews
Gimball Hohem iSteady X : test / review
Published on: 15-11-2020 / Modified: 31-01-2026
I hadn't tested a video stabilizer / gimball with this product yet and I think I probably could have done it earlier because I test many smartphones that don't have video stabilization. There are many products on the market (Feiyu, Zhiyun, Moza, DJI, ...), I can't test all of them and I have to start somewhere so I'll start with the Hohem iSteady X stabilizer.
Hohem is a brand that markets several types of video stabilizers, this model (Hohem iSteady X) is designed to stabilize videos made with a smartphone.
I have a coupon code offering a 15% discount:
Tiktech.com
Coupon code: Hohemx80m
Stock in Europe so no customs tax.
Price Hohem iSteady X
Unpacking
The Hohem iSteady X box contains the stabilizer, a USB cable to charge it, a wrist strap, a user manual, a mini tripod and a carrying pouch. The box contains everything you need to use the stabilizer without having to buy other accessories.
Functioning
The Hohem iSteady X stabilizes videos from three axes:
- panoramic rotation axis (at the end of the tripod)
- axis of rotation of the phone (at the phone attachment)
- an axis of rotation on the arm holding the phone
These three axes allow the phone to be oriented in almost any position, however, the movements are limited by brakes that prevent the phone from rotating indefinitely around an axis.
The installation of the phone is very simple, just wedge it into the clamps provided. The clamps work with any type of telephone. I tried them with small phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 or bigger phones like the Poco X3. The clamps tighten quite tightly, so the smartphone is well attached.
After installing the phone between the clamps, you have to release all the brakes to be able to configure the stabilizer for the first time, don't forget this step because without releasing the brakes you won't be able to configure the stabilizer.
The joystick allows you to control the movements of the phone horizontally and vertically. The top right button turns on the stabilizer and the left button allows you to take pictures or trigger videos. On the left side there is a button to control the zoom level and on the right side there is a USB port type C to charge the stabilizer.
Attention, all these features do not work without the Hohem application, so you must download the Hohem Pro application before you can use the stabilizer.
Configuration
To configure the stabilizer, you must first download the Hohem Pro application from the Play Store or the equivalent from Apple. This application does not score very well and you will probably understand why after this first configuration. The stabilizer works in bluetooth, so the bluetooth must be turned on on the phone before starting. The initial setup can be a real headache if you don't do things in the right order. Once the phone is installed in the clamp, it will be less easy to access the different menus, so I advise you to do all this beforehand.
Here is the order I recommend:
1. Attach the tripod to the stabilizer
2. Release all stabilizer brakes
3. Turn on the bluetooth on the phone
4. Download the Hohem Pro application, it will require you to register, it is not possible to use the stabilizer without registration. I don't find this very normal but you have no choice. It's better to go through this step before attaching the phone because doing it with the phone in the stabilizer is much less convenient. Keep the application open to establish the connection between the smartphone and the stabilizer.
5. Attach the phone to the Stabilizer and lay the Stabilizer flat with the tripod. Adjust the position of the phone in the clamps so that it balances horizontally, by this I mean slide it to the left or right so that it naturally moves into a horizontal position. If the phone tilts too much to the side, the stabilizer will have difficulty controlling it. I had done the test with a fairly heavy smartphone and it was not horizontal, the stabilizer was unable to bring it back to a normal position.
6. Turn on the stabilizer (button on the bottom right below the joystick). If the phone does not position itself correctly, it is not in the correct position.
7. Connect the smartphone with the stabilizer, there is a button in the middle of the application's screen to connect the two devices. I had started the test with a phone I was busy testing (Oukitel C21) but I never managed to associate the phone with the stabilizer, the application never found the stabilizer. I then tried to do the same thing with a Poco X3 and there the Poco detected the stabilizer right away.
8. If everything went correctly, the smartphone will move to the horizontal position to start filming. If the stabilizer emits sounds, something has gone wrong. In my case it was either because the brakes were not released or the smartphone was leaning too far to one side.
Hohem Pro application
If you read the application reviews, you will see that this is one of the weak points of the application. Others have also encountered problems with Bluetooth and the stability of the application. With the procedure described in the previous paragraph, you should already be able to avoid some of the problems. I have not encountered any stability problems, I have not had any crashes. However, the application is not always correctly translated and the location of the functionalities is not always intuitive, but this is a matter of habit.
Of course the application allows you to film and take photos but it has some features specific to this stabilizer such as rotation effects or timelapses. I will detail these features in the following paragraphs.
Features
Not yet available.
Stabilization
Not yet available.
Face tracking
Not yet available.
Automatic rotation (inception mode)
Not yet available.
Timelapse
Not yet available.
Slide zoom in and out
Not yet available.
Conclusion of this final test/opinion
Not yet available.
LAURENT WILLEN
Head of myself on this blog
I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.
My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.
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Questions/Comments