With the iSteady M6 kit, you can comfortably record videos without shaking. Among other things, the gimbal supports the large and heavy smartphones of today, and the specified battery life of up to 18 hours is also impressive. AI tracking is also on board, so that the iSteady M6 can be set up in one place, for example, and the gimbal itself takes over the rotation via autofocus.
How well these functions can be used in everyday life and whether we are convinced by the gimbal, you can find out in the following review.
Technical data
| Model | iSteady M6 Kit |
| Weight of gimbal with battery | 551 gram |
| Load | 400 gram |
| Supported smartphone widths | 58 mm – 98 mm |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh, 7.4 V / 19.24 Wh |
| Battery life |
|
| Charge time | approx. 3 hours |
| Mechanical range of swing angle | Stepless 360 degree rotation |
| Mechanical range of rollers | 335 degrees |
| Mechanical range of tilt angle | 335 degrees |
| Operating Temperatures | -10 to +45 degrees Celsius |
| Protection features | Automatic shutdown in case of improper operation |
| Price | € 229.00 * |
Scope of delivery
- Valuable storage box
- Many accessories included in this kit
- User manual with German part
The complete kit includes the Hohem iSteady M6 itself as well as some accessories. Thus, the storage bag includes a fill light as an attachment to the gimbal, as well as a tripod. Furthermore, the kit includes a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, a USB-C cable and a user manual.
Optics & Workmanship
- modern design
- excellent OLED display
- 3-axis stabilizer for different orientations
At first glance, the Hohem iSteady M6 kit impresses with a high-quality and also modern design. The gimbal gives a stable impression due to the use of robust materials and at the same time appears durable. The iSteady M6 has a 3-axis stabilizer and can therefore stabilize the smartphone in various orientations. As for the placement of the controls, they are kept very ergonomic and easy to reach with the hand. All pressure points are decent and provide direct feedback to the user. This facilitates handling immensely. With a weight of about half a kilo, the iSteady M6 is no lightweight, though, and can definitely be a bit heavy on the arms when stretched out for a longer period of time in combination with the weight of the user’s own smartphone.
The built-in 0.91-inch OLED display on the front of the gimbal turns out to be a highlight. Even in bright light, all information can be read via the reflective panel. In order to display a lot of details in a small space, Hohem mainly relies on the use of icons or shortcuts. After a three-hour charging process, the gimbal’s 2600 mAh battery is fully charged. A dedicated USB-C output for charging the phone is also integrated on the smartphone mount.
Rotation options
- vertical as well as horizontal mode possible
- own joystick for control
The Hohem iSteady M6 kit can film in both vertical and horizontal modes, with a very good range of motion. Panning is possible over 360 degrees, while a range of 335 degrees is covered for tilt and roll.
A dedicated joystick is used to control the tilt and pan movements, and a zoom lever is also on board. The latter, however, requires the Hohem Joy app to be used. On the back, there is a button that serves as a quick trigger for the sports mode or causes a re-centering of the gimbal. Due to the multiple button assignment, it’s definitely worth going through the user manual at the beginning.
Features of the gimbal
- Various modes for a variety of applications
- Fill light with strong brightness and RGB support
- AI tracking with gesture control
On the front of the gimbal, the M button lets us navigate through the numerous modes. Here we can distinguish between several following modes with pan or tilt, sport, inception as well as a mode with locked motors. Depending on the selection, the tilt, roll and swivel axes are significantly influenced. In addition, the multifunctional control wheel on the left side of the gimbal supports focus control, roll axis rotation and adjustment of the magnetic fill light. On top of that, the fill light is detachable and can be mounted facing forward as well as backward. The color temperature of the light ranges from 2700K to 6500K. Integrated is also a support for RGB colors, which is especially good in dark environments.
On a positive note, the AI tracking can be activated via a button on the fill light and subsequent gesture control. After setting up the gimbal, the built-in sensor tracks a person fully automatically. There is no restriction at this point, since the motor can be rotated 360 degrees here as well. Only a clear view of the object must be available. In the test, this function worked flawlessly.
App scope
- Optional Hohem Joy app for Android and IOS
- Scope of functions partially limited on Android smartphones
- Vital explanatory videos on how to use the gimbal included
The manufacturer offers an app for the Hohem iSteady M6 in which a variety of functions are explained by video and some additional extras of the gimbal can be called. However, the use of the app for the gimbal is not mandatory. The Hohem Joy app is available for iOS devices in the App Store and for our device, the OnePlus 8T, in the Google Play Store. At the time of testing, the app required around 224 MB of memory. A connection to the gimbal is established via Bluetooth.
When we first arrive in the app, an overview of videos for all Hohem devices awaits us on the home screen. More exciting for us is the camera function, which can be accessed via a tap in the center of the bottom bar. The scope is very diverse because we can, among other things, also switch to a so-called moment mode that constantly rotates the smartphone around its own axis by 360 degrees. Those who want to clone themselves several times in their own picture or specifically set themselves in the scene in the background via virtual zoom can also do this. This not only results in very cool shots, but there are also almost no limits to creativity!
As we noticed during the course of the test, the iSteady M6 gimbal is packed with features that are worth exploring first. That’s why we really like the dedicated “Tutorial” category, in which we are introduced to the gimbal via a variety of English-language explainer videos.
Conclusion
From our point of view, the Hohem iSteady M6 Kit is a thoroughly impressive and, above all, versatile gimbal. However, the gimbal is more aimed at experienced people, as the many features are focused on the advanced area of photography. After all, it is important to take the time to explore at the beginning. The gimbal is not intended for a quick purchase as a vacation gadget, since the functions can be rather overwhelming. Without first balancing and aligning the smartphone on the iSteady M6, the motor would also overload, resulting in the gimbal shutting down as a result.
Keeping this in mind, the Hohem iSteady M6 provides excellent stabilization and on top of that, allows for buttery smooth shots, even in motion-intensive situations. Built-in features like time-lapse, panoramic photos and object tracking offer additional creative possibilities.
The small OLED display is particularly praiseworthy, as it can selectively display many details in a small space. The long battery life also impressed us and ensures an extensive usage time without having to be constantly plugged in.
Nevertheless, there is room for improvement, especially in terms of app functionality and compatibility with some smartphone models. Users of an iPhone, for example, can interact with all available cameras of the device, which are partly withheld from the Android range. We would also have wished for an info in the manual when error codes are shown on the display, such as “Error 03”, since this is unfortunately not explained further.
All in all, the Hohem iSteady M6 kit is a wise investment for anyone who wants to record high-quality and professional-looking videos. With its numerous modes and solid performance, it is a reliable tool for content creators and videographers of advanced experience level.
Hohem iSteady M6 Kit
Workmanship
Hardware
Performance
Value for money
88/100
A very well thought-out gimbal with useful AI functions, which is aimed at advanced content creators. Unfortunately, not all features can be fully used depending on the smartphone.
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