The Short Answer
Choose the V3 Ultra (₱9,711, 428 g) for travel and a light kit with a touchscreen remote. Choose the M7 (₱11,699, 629 g) for heavy phones, add-on mics or lights, and up to 12 hours of battery.
Both have AI tracking that works in any app. Both have a detachable touchscreen remote. Both are Hohem's top phone gimbals. So the question is not "which is better" but "which will you actually carry, and what will you hang on it?"
This head-to-head compares the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra and the iSteady M7 using Hohem's specs and published reviews of both models.
Side by Side
| Spec | V3 Ultra | M7 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (VMI Direct) | ₱9,711 | ₱11,699 |
| Gimbal weight | 428 g | 629 g |
| Max phone weight | 400 g | 500 g |
| Phone width / thickness | 58 to 98 mm / up to 12.5 mm | 58 to 90 mm / 6.9 to 12.5 mm |
| Remote screen | 1.22-inch touchscreen | 1.4-inch touchscreen |
| Battery | about 9 hrs; 4 with tracking + light | 3,200 mAh, 3 to 12 hrs by load; reverse charging |
| Fill light | 2 W, three color temps | RGB and CCT |
| Tilt range | -35° to 45° controllable | 325° tilt range |
| Reach | 8-inch built-in rod | 193 mm built-in pole |
| Tripod | Built into the handle | Separate tripod (adds about 118 g) |
Specs from Hohem's published specifications.
Why the V3 Ultra Wins for Most Travelers
- About 200 g lighter, with the tripod built in. That is less weight on your wrist during a long walk-and-talk.
- Folds small to about 16 cm, easy to pocket in a sling bag.
- Wider clamp (up to 98 mm), for wide phones and foldables in landscape.
- TechRadar called it the best small smartphone stabilizer for subject tracking it had tested.
Why the M7 Wins for Heavy Rigs
- 500 g payload. Room for a cased Pro Max plus a mic receiver and light. ProVideo Coalition even mounted an SSD.
- Longer battery and reverse charging to top up your phone mid-shoot.
- Wider tilt range for low "pet's-eye" and high overhead angles.
- Bigger screen on the remote, easier to read in daylight.
- Trade-offs: ProVideo Coalition found setup slower than lighter rivals, and switching portrait/landscape needs a power-down and manual clamp rotation.
A Simple Rule
Weigh your phone with its case and everything you clip on it. Under about 320 g, get the V3 Ultra and enjoy the lighter carry. Over that, get the M7. If you are between the two, think about where you film: city walks and travel favor the Ultra; studio, events and long live streams favor the M7. Our heavy phone guide has the full payload math.
Three Creators, Three Picks
The backpacking vlogger
Two weeks across Palawan with one bag. Every gram and centimeter counts, and the phone is a standard size in a slim case. V3 Ultra.
The event live-streamer
Three-hour church or company events, phone on a tripod at the back, a wireless mic receiver plugged in, fill light on. Payload and battery come first. M7.
The pet content creator
A dog that will not sit still and a creator who wants low, ground-level angles. Both models track pets; the M7's wider tilt makes those low "pet's-eye" shots easier, while the Ultra is easier to carry on walks. Pick by whether you film more at home (M7) or outdoors (V3 Ultra).
Battery in Real Use
Hohem's headline numbers are measured balanced and stationary. Real shooting uses more power: tracking and fill light together cut the V3 Ultra to about 4 hours, and the M7's own range runs from 3 to 12 hours depending on load. For a full day, the M7's reverse charging can top up your phone, while the V3 Ultra pairs better with a small power bank in your pocket. Either way, charge both the gimbal and the remote the night before.
Try Before You Commit
If you are in Metro Manila, you can arrange an office pick-up appointment in Malate and ask to see both units. Bring your phone in its usual case. Thirty seconds of holding each one with your own phone mounted tells you more about weight and balance than any table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the M7 an upgrade over the V3 Ultra?
It is a different class: heavier and stronger. For light phones and travel, the V3 Ultra is the better fit.
Which has better AI tracking?
Both use magnetic AI trackers that work in any app. Choose on weight, payload and battery rather than tracking.
Can the M7 track pets and objects?
Yes. Synced's comparison notes the M7's magnetic tracker follows people, animals and objects across any app.
More in this series: V3 Ultra review, M7 vs Osmo Mobile 8 and the three-brand comparison.
Questions? Contact our team. VMI Direct is an authorized Hohem distributor in the Philippines.
Written by Johannes Yu, VMI Direct. Review findings from TechRadar, ProVideo Coalition and Synced.
