The Hohem iSteady X2 is a compact smartphone gimbal that also serves as a power bank
The upgraded Hohem iSteady X2 brings steady video and a sensible app that vloggers (and indeed any filmmakers who love their phones) will have no trouble carrying. Given the accessible price, good grip, and completeness of the package, this should be shortlisted by anyone looking to do pieces to the camera or get social-ready shots. High-end users might seek softer analog zoom controls and a pro-style trigger switch (but they should be prepared to pay for them).
The Hohem iSteady X2 gimbal makes no bones about its target market being vloggers taking on social media, and given the quality of the phone cameras it can handle, why should it? It is the second in Hohem’s iSteady line and, against its predecessor, the X2 has gained two more hours’ battery time, a bi-directional charging function, and an improved grip. Much of the mechanism is clearly the same but there is also now remote control in the box which was a paid-for upgrade for the previous edition.
Compatibility: Any smartphone, up to 11mm thick, and weighing100-280g
Stabilization: 3-axis
Weight: 259g
Dimensions (unfolded): 230x80x40mm
Dimensions (folded): 179x79x39mm
Battery life (approx): 10 hours
The Hohem Pro app which oversees all this does its main job, camera interface, well. My phone’s 4K 60fps recording option was there if I wanted it, and the ‘professional mode’ grants access to individual cameras on the phone (for example, on the iPhone the Back Wide, and Back Telephoto were options) as well as ISO and WB. If you want to explore the features of the app without the gimbal connected, that’s allowed too, which is handy for familiarization.
There are some filters and pre-programmed gimbal movements too, the most vaunted of which is the ‘inception effect’ but the smooth pan might be more useful. Since it doesn’t complicate the app (they’re well organized), it’s hard to complain about more features.
The app isn’t perfect though; the setup process cannot be achieved without following the in-box Quick Start guide (how else would you know to press the power button 7 times before the first time you turn on the remote?). There are also some dubious requests for location, email, and other data and it doesn’t seem to be battery efficient, but worst of all it won’t save a video if you rotate the camera 90˚ at any point – even by accident – while recording.
