review – Adding value by taking multiple products and building them into one innovative and well-structured package often seems like a good idea, and that’s the Hohem iSteady Q joint. It does a great job. But in my experience, I keep coming back to the same question: Who is it for?
What is it?
Hohem iSteady Q has a lot! It’s a cell phone tripod. This is a selfie stick.is a single axis PTZ. This is a wireless remote control. It’s an integrated app for your phone. This is a great value. All in all, it’s a low-cost, compact tool for making high-quality videos with your phone.
what’s in the box
- Hohem iSteady Q gimbal with integrated wireless remote
- Quick Start Guide (built into the package)
- storage bag
- USB-C charging cable
- manual
Hardware Specifications
- Product Type: Stable Selfie Stick
- Weight: 195 grams
- Material: High quality plastic, ABS and aluminium
- Dimensions: 140mm x 54mm x 36mm (folded)
- Color: black or white
- Mobile phone compatibility: <280g weight, <11mm thickness, 55.5-100mm width
- Wireless: Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0
- App Compatibility: IOS 10 and Android 6 and above
Design and Features
The iSteady Q’s design is impressive. For this feature, it folds into a very small package that fits in a pocket (probably not your tightest jeans pocket, but definitely a jacket pocket!). It’s sturdy and well made with premium materials. iSteady Q is a standard selfie stick with wireless remote control, single axis gimbal, tripod and 360 degree motorized face tracking tripod. These functions work well together and independently.
installation and setup
Hohem iSteady Q is an integrated app with extended functionality. The Quick Start Guide provides a QR code link to a web page that contains links to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. When you click on the Google Play Store link, the page directs you to download the direct .apk file for the app, but it doesn’t actually link to the Play Store. I find this misleading and somewhat dangerous, as most phones will reject these types of apps without changing some settings. This is even more confusing because I can easily find the app in the Google Play Store, so linking directly there prevents confusion.
Once I installed the app on my phone, connecting the iSteady Q to the app via Bluetooth was easy. Installing my phone in iSteady Q is slightly less easy. The phone on which I tested this device is the OnePlus 7T, and according to the specs, it should work. However, the placement of the power and volume buttons on the phone caused some problems. The Hohem iSteady Q gimbal works best when the phone is balanced in the center of the phone clip. Doing this with this phone means the clip is actually pressing the volume or power button. So I had to mount the phone off center. Most functions still work, but the phone doesn’t have a fully electric 360-degree rotation in “selfie stick” mode because the lower end of the phone doesn’t clear the iSteady Q’s frame. No big deal, but one thing to know if your phone has buttons on the side.
Performance
The world of single axis gimbal is very good. Unfortunately, people don’t move on one axis. To really produce a very stable professional video, a 2-axis gimbal is preferred, and a 3-axis gimbal is the best. Honestly, I don’t think a single-axis gimbal is much necessary – you still have to walk very awkwardly to get a smooth shot. But the design does work for some other neat features.
Perhaps most interesting is the 360-degree “follow me” feature when the device is in “desktop mode,” which basically means using it as a tripod. When used with the app, the iSteady Q will use its gimbal motor to rotate and follow your face as you move around (left and right only – it can’t move up or down, which means your face must stay on the same level) .Remember – single axis.). This function performs well and produces interesting effects.
As a selfie stick, the Hohem iSteady Q gimbal is overkill. This is mainly because the gimbal motor is not used in selfie stick mode. If all you need is a selfie stick, there are smaller, lighter, and less expensive options. If you really need a gimbal, you probably don’t need a single axis.
what do I like
The Hohem iSteady Q is well designed, well built and very compact. It does a lot in a small package and has a lot of value. The Follow Me 360 feature is fun and the app adds a lot of functionality.
what would i change
I’m not sure if it’s possible to create a truly universal installation system that works on all phones, but I know it doesn’t work on mine. That said, I tried it on the iPhone SE and it worked fine. The installation is firm and very easy to use.
The buttons on the remote (and the remote itself) are small and not very intuitive. Many buttons have different functions such as one-button, two-button, etc. This creates a steep learning curve. Finally, I’ll fix the quick launch site so that the google play button goes to the google play store instead of the direct .apk file that needs to be sideloaded.
final thoughts
The Hohem iSteady Q gimbal is well made and well executed, but I’m not sure who it’s for. If you need a gimbal, you probably need a 3-axis one. If you need a selfie stick, you probably don’t need a selfie stick with a motor. Same goes for tripods. Hohem created the iSteady Q in order to manufacture high-value, low-cost products. While well done, I ultimately think most users will be more comfortable with one of Hohem’s high-end offerings, such as the 3-axis iSteady X gimbal at a slightly higher cost.
price: $38.00
where to buy: Premium Store or Amazon
source: Samples for this review provided by High.
